Kendall was a beloved and respected president and teacher. In 1973 he received Gustavus' highest teaching honor, the Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award citation stated: "John Kendall has an infectious interest in ideas; he likes stories; he likes his students; he has a zest for life..." He was well respected for his professionalism and for being a man of action, but he was also revered for his cheerful and humorous personality. Students flocked to his classes, which included those in animal behavior.
During his 10-year presidency Kendall was a leader who brought about many positive changes. It was during his tenure that Gustavus became a Phi Beta Kappa institution and received a prestigious grant from the F.W. Olin Foundation. The grant funded the building of a new science hall and additional science initiatives, but it also greatly increased the college's reputation for high quality science education.
Kendall was born Aug. 28, 1928 in Rockford, Ill., and grew up in Minneapolis where he attended public schools. He received a B.A. in psychology (cum laude) from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1949, an M.A. in psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1951, a B.D. from Augustana Theological Seminary (now Lutheran School of Theology) in Chicago in 1954, and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1959.
Prior to his long career as a college teacher and administrator Kendall served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Ironwood, Mich., from 1955-57. From 1957-58 he was a research fellow at the Bureau of Institutional Research at the University of Minnesota.
A licensed consulting psychologist, Kendall was a member of many professional associations, including the Midwest Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He was also a member of the Minnesota Gerontological Society, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, the American Swedish Institute, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Ministerium of the Minnesota Synod of the Lutheran Church in America (later the ELCA).
Throughout his life he was an active consultant or board member for numerous organizations. He was a consulting clinical psychologist for the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare for nearly two decades, a longtime panelist with the National Science Foundation, a member of the board of directors for Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota for many years, and a commissioner for the North Central Association (a major higher education accrediting body in the Midwest).
His survivors include his wife, Joanne (whom he married June 19, 1953 in Minneapolis), their three grown children, Mary, Peter, and David, and grandchildren.
He had residences in Falcon Heights and Sand Lake, Minn., and had lived in St. Peter for many years, where he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
The family requests that memorials be given to the Christ Chapel Endowment Fund at Gustauvs Adolphus College, or to the building fund at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
The funeral service will be held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, with the Rev. M. Susan Peterson of Gloria Dei and the Rev. Dennis Johnson of Gustavus officiating. Additional information may be obtained from the funeral home handling the arrangements Bradshaw Funeral Home in St. Paul.
The family requests that memorials be given to the Christ Chapel Endowment Fund at Gustavus Adolphus College or to the building fund at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minn., that prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service, and lifelong learning. The oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota, Gustavus was founded in 1862 by Swedish immigrants and named for Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. At Gustavus, students receive personal attention in small-sized classes and engage in collaborative research with their professors. Fully accredited and known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs, Gustavus hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and is internationally recognized for its annual Nobel Conference.
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