The halls of Chesterton House are filled with love and legacy.

For more than twenty-five years, countless people have poured out their lives in service to God and the students of Cornell. Among them, four couples stand out for their extraordinary, hands-on dedication to our community. To honor their impact, dozens of supporters have stepped forward to make gifts in their name—securing a permanent named room for each couple as a lasting tribute to their faithful service.

Read more about each of these special couples:

Dick and Carol Baer:

A legend in the Cornell Christian community, Dick Baer taught a beloved course on “Religion, Ethics, and the Environment” that Andy Crouch once called a “rite of passage for Christian undergraduate students.” He and his wife Carol were tireless advocates for a thoughtful but bold Christian witness on campus, with dozens of students baptized and joining the church as a byproduct of taking Dick’s course. Beyond their direct impact at Cornell, the Baers helped lay the foundation for Chesterton House—Dick served as Karl Johnson’s PhD advisor and later as a Board member. Their influence in shaping students’ lives and the Christian intellectual community in Ithaca is truly legendary.

 

Bob and Carol Fay:

The quiet, steady service and sacrifice of Bob and Carol Fay was a behind-the-scenes bulwark that helped sustain Chesterton House in its early years. An inorganic chemist who joined the Cornell faculty in 1962, Bob was a quiet giant of spiritual leadership at the university, in Ithaca, and within the Chesterton House community. A founding board member and frequent volunteer, he also contributed original scholarship at the intersection of faith and science. Bob and Carol together embodied warm, devoted care—offering humble, gracious, and hospitable leadership that helped lay the foundation for Chesterton House.

 

Merold and Marageret Stern:

Rev. Merold Stern and his beloved wife Margaret served as spiritual leaders in Ithaca for decades. In 1967, Merold accepted a call to be pastor at Bethel Grove Bible Church in Ithaca, NY, and Chaplain for the National Association of Evangelicals with Cornell United Religious Work at Cornell University. In 1984 he became the founding pastor at Christ Chapel in Ithaca. Together, Merold and Margaret nurtured relationships that laid the spiritual foundation for Chesterton House, mentoring early graduate students who became instrumental in its academic programming. Their steady, faithful leadership continues to shape Ithaca and Chesterton House to this day. 

 

Chuck and Ann Tompkins:

Chuck and Ann came to Ithaca, from the Syracuse area, in 1985 to pastor Bethel Grove Bible church. Coming here, they were particularly excited about Cornell University and the student population. After Chuck “retired” from pastoring, Chesterton House founder Karl Johnson engaged him to disciple students and provide spiritual direction at Chesterton House. During a time of financial hardship, Chuck had to be laid off. …But he kept showing up. And keeps showing up. One of the most faithful attenders and supporters of Chesterton House to this day, Chuck is like the Bishop of Ithaca and serves as a humble, uniting force amongst not only the Chesterton House community, but the entire Christian community in Ithaca.