Benjamin McKendall ’52

Benjamin McKendall ’52, of Mountain View, Calif.; Jan. 11. He worked as the dean of admissions and student affairs at Occidental College, Reed College, and SUNY Old Westbury and was an administrator at the College Board’s Palo Alto office. Throughout his career he was a leader in advancing diversity and inclusion in American universities and participated in the civil rights movement. During the summer of 1964 he ran the communications center of the Council of Federated Organizations in Jackson, Miss., and in 1973 he took a position at San Jose State University, from which he retired 21 years later as associate vice president of student services. He earned his private pilot’s license and enjoyed traveling widely. For 21 years he was a docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He enjoyed photography, storytelling, and river rafting. He was survived by his wife, Patty; seven daughters; a stepson; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his brother, David ’54.