Wiederhold, Kenneth L., 1946-1995

Biography

Kenneth L. Wiederhold was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 26, 1946, the fourth child of Henry and Freda Wiederhold. He graduated from Creston High School, where he participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), in 1964. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Wiederhold moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for Blue Cross, and, from the late 1970s, for Citi-Corp Bank, where he rose to the rank of Vice President. In 1977, he enrolled at Pepperdine University, from which he received an MA in Psychology in 1981. Wiederhold and his then partner became involved with EST (Erhard Seminars Training) and the Advocate Experience in the late 1970s, and later were very active with the Recreation Committee of SAGA (Gay Ski, Snowboard and Social Club), of which Wiederhold served as Vice President in 1984-1985 and President in 1985-1986. He was also later involved with the funding and remodeling of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center. After several long-term relationships, in 1994, Wiederhold met Drew Staffen, whom he married at their Los Angeles home in September of that year in front of friends and family. Wiederhold died of AIDS on July 22, 1995.

Source: Ron Morse, Box #24, 1995 Scrapbook, Kenneth L. Wiederhold Papers, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.