Writings & Remarks

Donald R. Kendall '74

September 15, 2026

Tags In Memoriam

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues, and Current and Past Members of the Board of Trustees,

We recently received word that former alumni trustee Don Kendall ’74 died suddenly while traveling in Africa where he regularly pursued philanthropic work. He was 74.

Don was a social entrepreneur and philanthropist. His three passions in life were his family, Hamilton, and the Jane Goodall Institute, for which he served as director, co-chair, and vice chair. As a long-time friend of Jane Goodall, he devoted many years working with – and raising money for – the Institute, where his experience with organizations associated with finance, energy, and conservation proved invaluable. 

Don received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Hamilton in 1974 and his MBA from Dartmouth in 1976. A multi-sport athlete at Hamilton as a pole vaulter and diver, he was beloved by his TKE brothers. Throughout his career he was involved in establishing significant private equity programs at Morgan Stanley, Drexel Burnham, and First Boston. Most recently, he was general partner for New Climate Ventures, a Houston-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on climate-related innovations that seek to transform how energy is produced, consumed, and managed.

In addition to serving as an alumni trustee from 1994 to 1998, Don was a member of the Joel Bristol Associates and the Couper Guild, and he served on the Alumni Council and the Investment Committee. He also volunteered for the career center, several capital campaigns, and was a co-gift chair for his class’s 50th Reunion Gift Committee. He and his wife, Diane, a writer and editor with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage in July, established the Diane and Donald Kendall Jr. Family Scholarship. They were always happy to host Hamilton friends in Houston, including every Hamilton president since Gene Tobin.

On behalf of the College, I extend our deepest sympathy to the Kendall Family on Don’s unexpected passing.

Steven