This Month's Featured Member - Kennan Beckstrand
Kennan Beckstrand was born and raised in Price, Utah and was graduated from Carbon High School in 1975. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Japan for two years. Upon returning home, he attended Brigham Young University where he received four Bachelor’s degrees – art, Japanese, Elementary Education and Special Education.
Kennan met and married his wife when he was in university and began a family. He has three sons and two daughters-in-law, After teaching elementary school, he received a Fulbright Scholarship and moved his family to Japan where he lived for 12 years and taught in military base schools. There he learned massage therapy, Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), and Bonsai.
After returning to the US, he received his Master’s and his PHD in brain research from San Diego State. He returned to Utah and worked in educational administration until 4 years ago when he was forced out of the closet and began living a life of integrity and honesty. He is not bitter. He is better.
Kennan moved to Rochester last February to become Dean at Bryant and Stratton College. He misses his family and friends in Utah, but is proud to be an adopted New Yorker.
Kennan is single and lives in Gates with his two rescued dogs, Gordon and Ai-chan. He speaks fluent Japanese and enjoys painting and sketching, Ikebana, Bonsai, massage, traveling, swimming and playing his bagpipes.
He attended his first RGMC concert in March and answered the call to join. The chorus has given him new friends and family in Rochester. He looks forward to Thursday rehearsals and fellowship as well as a long and happy future as a RGMC chorine.
Photo © Kennan Beckstrand