For Rochester Christian University, community has always meant more than shared space. It is about shared history, relationships and a commitment to growth. Few embody that spirit more fully than Frank Rewold, whose connection to the university spans decades, generations and nearly every role imaginable.
Rewold’s story with RCU begins not as a builder, but as a boy.
“In the late 1960s, I started off playing basketball in the old gym, with the leaky roof and buckled floor,” he said. Rewold was introduced to the campus through Dr. Joseph Jones, former dean of Michigan Christian College, and Garth Pleasant, retired coach and athletic director. Rewold spent countless hours there. “We would get in that gym and play basketball forever and ever.”
That early connection grew deeper over time. Later as a father, Rewold watched his own children take part in Lake Norcentra Basketball Camp, which they still talk about today, especially the unforgettable “one more degree” speech that Pleasant coined as a hallmark of the program.
Rewold also played on a traveling men’s softball team with Pleasant. “We traveled, won and had a lot of fun,” he said.
Those years of friendship and camaraderie would eventually lead to a professional partnership when Frank Rewold and Sons, his family’s construction company, built several facilities on campus, including Ferndale-Hoggatt Hall in 1997, Ham Library in 2002, Richardson Academic Center in 2004 and the Garth Pleasant Arena in 2017.
“I’ve been around the world at the college. From a 10-year-old boy playing basketball in a leaky gym, to basketball camps, to becoming good friends with both Garth and Klint Pleasant, to building many of the buildings on campus.”
His involvement also goes far beyond construction. Rewold has stepped into classrooms as a guest instructor, investing in students directly and sharing his professional experience.
His connection to RCU extends deep into downtown Rochester. Rewold was the builder, owner and operator of the Royal Park Hotel, where the annual Partnership Dinner has been hosted for many years.
“I’ve been a friend, a coach, a player, a teacher, a teammate, a customer, a donor, all of the above for RCU,” he said.
That sense of legacy is rooted deeply in both family and community. The Rewold construction business dates back to 1918, beginning at Meadowbrook Hall with Matilda Dodge. Now in its fourth generation, the company has spent over a century shaping the Rochester landscape, completing more than 90 buildings throughout the city.
Rewold’s personal life is just as grounded in longevity and connection. He and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 40 years, raising three children, Ashley, Jason and Sean, and now enjoying six grandchildren. His mother, Beverly, also supported the university, and Garth Pleasant officiated Rewold’s father’s funeral.
“It’s a pretty deep bond with the college that is very special,” Rewold said.
He continues to champion RCU’s mission within the broader community. “I always tell people how blessed we are to have a gem like Rochester Christian University. I want to help RCU grow and continue to spread the word and the mission.”
Rewold said he remains confident in the university’s foundation and is committed to building upon it. “The message here is the partnership we’ve had,” he said. “The relationship is a two-way street. We’ve helped each other grow, and we want to be a part of more of that in the future.”
Rewold’s journey reflects what makes RCU unique — a place where relationships last and community partners support the mission — and help build it.
Read the full issue of the North Star, RCU’s annual magazine for alumni & friends, here.
article written by Emily Carroll
