Boynton M. Schmitt ’44

Boynton “DeDe” Schmitt ’44 arrived at Kent in the fall of 1939 when he was 13 years old. His brother, Peter “Otto” Schmitt, followed twelve years later, graduating with the Class of 1956. “Right from the start I loved Kent, particularly the sports. Football, hockey and baseball were wonderful experiences. Bill Nadal and Larry Filson – among others – were great coaches! And Pop Woods was always a great supporter. When I return for a game now, it brings back many good memories. I loved the School as it was in the 1940s, but I’m also impressed with how it has evolved since then.”

Like most of his classmates, DeDe went into the service after Kent and served for two years in the Air Force. After graduating from Yale, he began a career in business – Aetna, Proctor and Gamble and, finally, Transamerica, an insurance and financial services business.

“Towards the end of my career at Transamerica, I worked in estate planning, so naturally that work prompted me to consider my own estate plans. I was particularly interested in doing something to benefit Kent, the school where I spent five important years of my life and that shaped me in so many ways.”

Contributing to the Annual Fund has always been important to DeDe (he is a charter member of the K-E-Y Society). To ensure that he will always be there for Kent, DeDe recently established an Endowed Annual Giving Fund – this year and every year in perpetuity the draw from the fund will go to the Kent Annual Fund in his name.

“Through my work I was aware of planned gifts that would enable me to contribute to a charity and benefit my family. It’s important to me to support Kent, where I feel my contributions make a difference.”

DeDe is building his Endowed Annual Giving Fund with contributions from a Charitable Lead Trust he set up with Kent. At the end of the term of the trust, the remainder will pass to DeDe’s beneficiaries.

“Kent has been an important part of my life for sixty-five years. The School contributed to the person I have become, and I feel fortunate that I can contribute to the School’s future in this way.”

Office of Planned Giving
Kent School
P.O. Box 2006
Kent, CT 06757
860-927-6023 | 877-770-KENT | Fax: 860-927-6027
E-mail: kerrj@kent-school.edu