Feature Friday: Kent Foutty

Number one fan of The Cubs, his wife's cooking, and Norway, Kent Foutty, is also a docent for the #1 tour in the city, and is this week's Feature Friday.

1. Why Did You Become a Docent?

I have always been interested in history. Architecture was a natural extension of this. People die away, but (often) buildings remain. I worked for 16 years in the Field Building (135 S. LaSalle) in Chicago. While working there, I'd see the CAC tours coming through the lobby. I searched out how to be a docent, and I realized the class was too rigorous for me to take on while working my accounting job. Later, I became a full-time professor at Loyola University Chicago. Through an administrative snafu, I was left with no classes for the spring semester of 2009. I remembered the docent class, so, I applied and was accepted to the class for the spring.

2. Tell us about your most interesting job.

Homemaker - In 1991, my wife had twins. In the mid-90s, with her career taking off, I decided to scale back my accounting job to part-time to care for the kids. I then went to teaching at night to care for the kids and home. Dealing with small humans is definitely the most interesting thing I've ever done.

3. What are your twins up to now?

My twins graduated from Columbia University in 2019. My daughter lives in Brooklyn and works at a not-for-profit. My son lives in Palo Alto, CA and is starting a PHD program in Physics.

4. What are three passions of yours?

The Cubs, river cruises, and dogs. 

5. Where in Chicago are your favorite places to….

• Unwind: Roof deck of our house in Lakeview. It's so peaceful up in the sky

• Grab a great cup of coffee: Dollop coffee on East Ohio, not far from the dock

• Enjoy a delicious dinner: Home (my wife is a fantastic cook). But if I have to pick a restaurant, I'll say Pacific Standard Time.

6. Where did you grow up?

Indianapolis, IN. I went to Indiana University and worked a couple of years in Indianapolis. I then moved to Chicago in 1991.

7. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled?

Been lots of places I've loved, but I loved Oslo, Norway. Many question me for this, but the people were nice, the food was great, and I LOVED boating around the fjords.

8. When you aren't giving architecture tours on the boat, how do you occupy your time?

I started teaching part time at Loyola University in 2002, after 20 years in the accounting world, and I'm now full time there. CAC keeps me busy. I'm Docent Council Vice President and I give 7 other tours besides the cruise.

9. What is your favorite part about being a docent?

Sharing the wonders of Chicago, a city that so often gets a bad rap. People are often so stunned to learn how beautiful it is and how nice the people are!