"History alone will be able to judge whether my presidency was good or what my record is worth," Kemeny told the Boston Alumni Association in 1981, as he prepared to hand over the presidency to Dave McLaughlin '54 TU'55. "But there is one thing I do know for certain: I'm one hell of a good teacher." He and Jean had made Hanover their home, and, after Jean, teaching was his deepest passion. After stepping down as president, Kemeny returned to the Dartmouth classroom, to the subject and the students he loved. "My commitment to this College is the same as my commitment to my wife," he said. "'Til death do us part." Kemeny died at his home in Etna in 1992. Wrote Nardi Reeder Campion: "The newspaper said John G. Kemeny, 13th president of Dartmouth College, died of heart failure. Clearly this was a mistake. John Kemeny's heart never failed anyone."