Dr. Kenneth D. Nordin

Dr. Kenneth D. Nordin, professor of communication arts at Benedictine University, avid triathlete, and enthusiastic supporter of the arts, passed away February 4. A memorial service for Dr. Nordin will be held March 3 at 5 p.m on the second floor of the Krasa building on the Benedictine University campus, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL. Dr. Nordin was born on July 26, 1937 in Berwyn, IL to the late Ruth and Dayton Nordin of Downers Grove, IL. He graduated from Downers Grove Community High School in 1955. Dr. Nordin earned Bachelor and Master's degrees from the University of Chicago where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and a standout member of the fencing team, serving as team captain and competing successfully in the sabre division. He also played defense for Chicago's fledgling soccer team. Dr. Nordin earned a PhD in American studies from the University of Michigan. Following his time at the University of Chicago, Dr. Nordin joined the staff of The Christian Science Monitor in Boston, Mass. as a reporter covering New England and eastern Canada. He left Boston to earn his Doctoral degree and then taught in the journalism department at the University of Wisconsin in Madison for several years. Following a time in New Hampshire where he raised and trained Arabian horses for trail riding, Dr. Nordin returned to the Chicago area to further pursue his career in teaching. After serving as a writing instructor at Triton College in River Grove, Il. Dr. Nordin joined the humanities department of Benedictine University in 1991 where he also served for more than 10 years as the faculty advisor for The Candor, Benedictine University's student newspaper. Dr. Nordin is survived by his brother David Nordin; his sisters Diane Maloney and Linnea Nordin; his children, Dayton Nordin and Kendra Nordin; and two grandchildren.