Remembering Donald Kennedy

Donald Kennedy, who served as Stanford’s eighth president, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. In addition to being an accomplished neurobiologist, he was also passionate about world affairs. As described in the remembrance below by Kennedy’s close friend and colleague Coit D. Blacker, he played an integral role in establishing the Institute for International Studies at Stanford, which would eventually become the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. 

On the margins of a task force meeting that had nothing to do with world affairs, I remember Don pulling me aside to ask what I thought Stanford should be doing in the area of international studies.  This was in the mid-1980's. Several months later, he appointed a faculty committee to come up with an answer to exactly that question. The result was the recommendation to establish a new “independent laboratory” under the dean of research that would rationalize and promote the study of the most pressing international issues then confronting the United States and the world. Thus was born in 1987 the Institute for International Studies, the precursor to the Freeman Spogli Institute.

The entire process was classic Don Kennedy. He had done the same thing with the Human Biology Program in the early 1970s, in environmental studies several years after that and then, in the 1980's, in relation to public service at Stanford.  

What I most admired about Don — beyond his keen sense of humor and his wonderful story-telling ability — was his willingness to run risks in pursuit of excellence. In this he had many allies at Stanford. But Don  was always comfortable taking the lead — and the heat — in such efforts, inspiring others to join the struggle. Without Don’s leadership international studies at Stanford would look very different. Our debt to him is profound and enduring. May this quintessential Stanford mover and shaker rest in peace.  I will miss him more than I could ever hope to put into words.

- Coit D. Blacker