Lindsey Alexander Stout and Steve Stout, Class of 1967
They owe it all to Mrs. Hunter (Gail Hunter Myers, Class of ‘54) who taught both Lindsey Alexander and Steve Stout in elementary school (Cassingham and Montrose). She predicted, and shared, that she thought Lindsey and Steve would make a cute couple in junior high. It didn't take Steve long to notice Lindsey and Lindsey’s sixth grade diary reflects his early flirtation attempts. They “liked” each other through junior high and developed a friendship that lasted into high school.
Things changed for Lindsey and Steve during their senior year at Bexley when they became a serious couple after having shared a New Year’s Eve kiss. Being a couple, however, had its challenges including Steve not sharing Lindsey’s Jewish faith. After graduation, Lindsey had planned to start her studies at Ohio State but Steve’s enlistment in the Army issued new challenges and concerns especially as Steve’s enlistment came at the height of the Vietnam War.
During Steve’s tour of duty their relationship grew stronger . “We wrote letters almost daily but we only spoke by phone once the whole year because it cost $24 for two minutes from Bangkok to Columbus,” said Lindsey.
Upon Steve’s safe return, the two wed (Steve converted to Judaism) and lived on the OSU campus where both of them completed their education. Steve went on to work in medical sales and Lindsey taught school for a few years before starting their family and moving back to Bexley to raise daughters Jillian ‘94 and Griffin ‘99.
Steve’s time in Vietnam greatly affected him so 40 years later, in 2008, he began to take medical mission trips bringing supplies to hospitals in Vietnam and later Cambodia for the next 10 years. He convinced many business clients to donate medical goods and equipment to help alleviate suffering, particularly among children in those countries. He eventually donated over $100,000 worth of supplies.
During her years of teaching in London, Ohio, Lindsey continued her artistic pursuits. She and fellow Bexley artist, Marti Steffi hosted an annual art sale for 21 years in her home. The sale also featured the works of fellow local artists. Today, Lindsey uses her creative talents to beautify her unique home in German Village and works with Spacesarchives.org which preserves and promotes art environments around the world.
The Stouts are very proud of their daughters, Jillian and Griffin. Jillian resides in Bexley with her two children. She shares her mother’s involvement in the arts, as a docent for the Wexner Center For the Arts and teaching classes at Columbus College of Art and Design. Griffin resides in Dublin, Ohio with her two children and is a psychiatrist with her own practice, Collaborative Psychiatry.
Lindsey and Steve continue to stay in touch with many of their Bexley friends and credit their long and successful marriage of 54 years to that time when they couldn’t be together. They have, “so much love and history and friendship” and according to Lindsey, “we were both unconventional, hung out with a fun offbeat crowd and we were crazy together and still are!”
