The Sigman University of Michigan Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Vol. LXXXIII ANN ARBOR, MICH., JUNE, 2017 No. 2 Mark Your Calendars! 12th Annual Golf Outing August 19 Chapter House Work Day August 26 Fall Classes Begin September 6 Alumni Association Meeting October 28 Homecoming Open House October 28 Classes End December 12 Final Exams December 14-21
Going to a football game? Visit the chapter house! vs. Cincinnati September 9 vs. Air Force September 16 vs. Michigan State October 7 vs. Rutgers (Homecoming) October 28 vs. Minnesota November 4 vs. Ohio State November 25 See more and get tickets at mgoblue.com Sigma brothers gather outside of the chapter house. Photo courtesy of Benji Bear Photography.
Homecoming 2017 Nineteen Brothers Graduate Come by the chapter house prior to the big By Connor Rubin ’17 and Ethan Rein ’07 game against Rutgers on October 28. The spring commencement saw nineteen to work with McAdams Financially Meet the undergrads, see old friends, brothers of Sigma Zeta joined the ranks Advanced. Sean Kageff will be staying in and help us celebrate our contributions to of the alumni. These brothers have the Metro Detroit area to work for Blue 200 years of Michigan history. contributed to a great period of growth for Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as an our chapter. actuary. Jimmy Castellano will be working for Walgreens in the finance development Attention Golfers! Several brothers will be going on to department. The 12th annual Sigma Golf Outing will further education. Ryne Sieracki is going be held August 19. Spend the day at the to graduate school in kinesiology and The information technology sector will beautiful University of Michigan Golf sports science at the University of Miami be home to a group of graduates. Jordan Course with your brothers. (Ohio) with a long-term plan to pursue Bryan will move to San Francisco to work Contact George Pomey ’65 for more medicine. Cody Barlow, also interested in software development for LinkedIn. in medical school, is taking a gap year Tim O'Neill and Jordan Bryan will move information and to sign up. He can be and will be working in a biomedical lab. to the same city and live with Henry reached at [email protected] or at Connor Rubin and Stephen Lindsly will be Majoros ’16. Zachary Vigneau is going (734) 973-2044. pursuing graduate degrees in Ann Arbor. to work in data analytics with Medical Connor will study law and Stephen will Advantage Group in Ann Arbor. pursue a PhD in bioinformatics. Jeremy Calling all Painters, Cleaners, Meeder will be pursuing his PhD in Christian James Motley will work in and Landscape Artists! chemistry at Texas A&M University. environmental conservation back home The annual Chapter House Work Day will in Pennsylvania. Cavin Park will be Other brothers will use their skills to commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the be held Saturday, August 26. Come out to contribute to business. August Klatt will US Army. Wilburt Geng, Logan Meyer, spend the day helping spruce up the house move home to Chicago and work in Anthony Sanfilippo, and Eric Veith also for another great year. Contact Ethan Rein investment banking with Merrill Lynch. graduated. ([email protected]) with any questions. Spencer Popp will also move to Chicago Page Two THE SIGMAN June, 2017 T H E S I G M A N The official publication of Sigma Zeta, the University of Michigan chapter of ΛΧΑ, issued A Message from the High Alpha biannually for its alumni and friends. Ethan Rein ’07 Editor Chris VanDeusen ’08 Assistant Editor Brothers,
HIGH ZETA I’d like to begin my final comments as High Alpha with a genuine appreciation for our HΑ Keenan Sullivan President Sigma Alumni Association. Without all of your continued commitment to the house, we HΒ Andrew Nevin Vice President would not be the exemplary brotherhood we are today. HΘ Alexander Wise Philanthropy Chairman HΓ John Yeager Secretary The past semester has been unprecedented for our Sigma chapter. The house has HΤ Jacob Wilk Treasurer experienced the greatest of highs and lows a University of Michigan experience could HΙ Alexander Vigneau Risk Manager provide. The semester started strong with the addition of 6 well-rounded and dedicated HΚ Andrew Brown Fraternity Educator Associate Members, and the semester ended strong with an all-campus Greek Week HΔ Alec Giese Recruitment Chairman victory with Alpha Delta Pi sorority and my recognition as IFC’s President of the Year. HΦ Robert Canfield Ritualist HΣ Jacob Kamm Educational Chairman Overall, our campus visibility and legitimacy grew tremendously. HΕ Samuel Karnofsky Social Chairman HΡ Ryan Schulz Alumni Secretary Despite the major gains for our house, we also acquired an unfillable void in our HΠ Bradley Quinn ’01 Alumni Adviser brotherhood. It is with a broken heart that I report that as many brothers journeyed home Chris Frary House Manager for Spring Break, our brotherhood lost an extraordinary member, Brother Peter Hart. Robert Canfield Intramural Sports Chairman Peter Hart was a member of the Fall 2016 associate member class—and my little. His love, warmth, and dedication to our house was unprecedented, and I hope his memory ALUMNI ASSOCIATION will inspire other brothers to his levels of enthusiasm for our brotherhood and academic Officers endeavors. The brotherhood held a private memorial service attended by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Knowlton ’74 President Hart the Tuesday after Spring Break, and it was immediately followed by a well- Nathan Whetsell ’05 Vice President attended public vigil (coverage can be found in The Michigan Daily). The brotherhood Kevin Mantay ’13 Secretary Sean Ruwart ’08 Treasurer has formed a committee to seek ways to properly memorialize his memory in our house.
Directors Brotherhood is about supporting one another through the greatest and worst experiences Tom Maentz ’80 HΠ Bradley Quinn ’01 of life and maintaining a steadfast commitment to improving the future. I have no doubt HA Keenan Sullivan Ethan Rein ’07 that as I step down as High Alpha the brotherhood can continue its greatness in the years Tommy Knowlton ’04 HT Jacob Wilk to come. We were certainly challenged with many obstacles over the past semester, yet HΡ Ryan Schulz Pat Shamsuddoha ’10 we never lost sight of who we are or what we stand for.
Ex Offiio Director Here’s to continuing the greatness that is our Lambda Chi Alpha brotherhood. Scott Timmer, Esq. ’77 Legal Counsel
Directors Emeriti Forever in ZAX, George Pomey ’65 George Spasyk ’49
Visit the chapter house at 1601 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor MI 48104
Send alumni news and contributions to 1441 W. Augusta Blvd. Apt. #2W Chicago, IL 60642 Write to [email protected] Daniel Greene
We have 900 mailing addresses Subscribe to the email list at lcamichigan.com/alumni-news but only 400 email addresses, Follow Sigma on Twitter @UMich_LambdaChi so subscribe today! Like Sigma at facebook.com/lcasigmazeta Join the LinkedIn group at linkedin.com/groups?gid=5072620 Page Three THE SIGMAN June, 2017
Sigma Wins Academic Awards Sigma Awards Greek Week Presented David Kucukarslan By Mario Dresaj Outstanding The undergraduate chapter and the alumni The brothers of Sigma, along with their association partnered to present the Senior Award partners in Alpha Delta Pi, were victorious chapter’s semi-annual academic awards By Keenan Sullivan in the annual Greek Week competition. at the joint Founder’s Day and Parents Day brunch on March 25. These awards This spring, the chapter recognized Timothy Greek Week is a series of events in recognize achievement in the Fall 2016 O’Neil with the David Kucukarslan which teams of fraternities and sororities semester. Congratulations to all brothers Outstanding Senior Award. Tim was compete. Along the ways, funds are receiving recognition. involved in multiple areas of the house raised for charity. This year’s events especially as our house constitutionalist, raised money for the Autism Alliance, the Bruce Koepfgen Award for member of the executive board, and as High Miracle League, Alternatives for Girls, Highest GPA Rho. He offered knowledge and support to the Josh E. Levine Foundation, and Safe Timothy O'Neil, Andrew Angel younger brothers as well as exemplifying a House Center. committed undergraduate student, helping to William Hall Award for maintain the core values of our brotherhood In addition to the overall first place finish, Most Improved GPA in future generations. Tim lives in San the team was second for the Variety/Dance Robert Canfield III Francisco working as an analyst doing Competition, performed well in the Sing research and data analysis at Cornerstone Competition, first place in the flag football Paul Robertson, Jr. Award for Grade Research in their Silicon Valley Office. tournament, and first place in the Social Point Average (GPA) 3.5 or Greater Media contest. In addition, there was a Andrew Angel, Cody Barlow, Timothy was selected as the recipient strong showing of brothers who donated Dan Bianchini, Dan Borsuk, Jack Bruno, by the undergraduate chapter with the blood during the week. Robert Canfield III, Mark Castellano, assistance of High Pi Brad Quinn. The Shreedar Deshpande, Jesse Friedman, award includes a $500 grant. The Alumni Mario Dresaj organized the chapter’s Alec Giese, Peter Hart, August Klatt, Association will maintain a permanent performance along with assistance from Alex Kopko, Stephen Lindsly, record of this recognition with a plaque in Jed Forester and Ricky Lomas. Richard Lomas, Alex Lorenz, the chapter house. Jeremy Meeder, Logan Meyer, Timothy O'Neil, Cavin Park, Rohan Patel, The award is named in honor of David Sigma brothers Sigma brothers Jack Mahon Connor Rubin, Anthony San Filippo, Kucukarslan, who served as High Alpha (left) and Kyle Sheldon (right) participate in the Nick Smart, Jacob Wilk, Alex Wyse, in 2012 and High Delta in 2013. David’s Watermelon Bust, held April 15. The chapter John Yaeger leadership was crucial in getting the chapter raised $2,140 for Food Gatherers of Ann Arbor to its current level of success and operations. this year. Photo courtesy of Benji Bear Photography. Six Brothers Join Sigma
The following brothers were welcomed into the bond of Lambda Chi Alpha on April 7, 2017:
Sean Flanagan of Northville, Mich. Cameron Greifenberger of Orange, Conn. Jordan Jachens of Midland, Mich. Jack Mahon of Wyomissing, Penn. Ryan Schulz of Naples, Fla. Kyle Sheldon of Warren, Mich. Page Four THE SIGMAN June, 2017 Sigma Alumni Association Board Election Held This photo of (a freshly bathed?) Major appeared A major leadership change took place at in the May 1953 issue the March 25, 2017 Alumni Association of this newsletter. He Board meeting. We thank the outgoing passed away later that board members for their service and year. The November issue welcome the new members. of The Sigman read, George Friess ’57 leaves the board “Major was an ideal after many years of service. He mascot for a fraternity, volunteered with the board in 1990 and and his beautiful has been involved ever since. He was features and coat were building committee chairman for the 1992 renovation and was a key figure the admiration of the in maintaining contact with alumni campus.” He set a high following the close of the chapter in 1994 standard by which the all and the subsequent 1998 recolonization. future mascots (including He was recognized by the General seven more St. Bernards Fraternity in 2008 when he was made a member of the Order of Merit. named Major) were measured. Scott Nielsen ’04 leaves the board after nine years of service. He plans to continue to remain active with the alumni Bathing Major association. By Robert Patton ’43
Chris VanDeusen ’08 has enjoyed his two During 1942 while the war was going on, When this happened, Major could sense years as a board member. Chris graduated the University did not have any breaks in what was coming and he would go down from Michigan’s Law School this Spring. He will be moving to Memphis to their schedule. I was living in the Lambda into the basement and hide. He knew work as a clerk for The Honorable Jon Chi house on Washtenaw. We were losing that for a dance he had to be washed. So P. McCalla for the Western District of brothers to the services and working hard midday Saturday four or five pledges Tennessee. to keep things going. Every morning we were assigned the task of getting Major would walk to the campus and classes, up to the second floor and into the large Pat Shammshudoah ’10 joined the board. Pat studied art and design at Michigan then at noon we would walk back to the bathroom and into a shower. He never and continued his studies at Detroit’s house for lunch. Major, the big Saint wanted to cooperate. First, the pledges had College for Creative Studies. He is a Bernard who was our mascot, would walk to get him to the first floor. The stairway designer for the Combat Vehicles branch part of the way down Washtenaw and then from the basement to the first floor was of BAE Systems, Inc. South University with the brothers. He not wide and he made it as difficult as Tom Maentz ’80 becomes the first would then spend the morning in one of possible. The stairway to the second floor member of the board from the 1980s the small eateries (bumming a hamburger was wider so several pledges could almost in some time. Tom studied history at or whatever he could get). At noon he carry him up. Finally, they would drag him Michigan and has gone onto a career would walk the brothers back to the house. into a shower and wash him. Then he was in wealth management. Tom and his He knew each of the brothers and selected toweled and he would shake and shake classmates have been improving the alumni address list. different ones at times to accompany. before really running around the house. Everybody in town knew Major and where Tommy Knowlton ’04 brings a wealth he lived. By party time Major was combed and of experience to the alumni association brushed and looking soft and fluffy. When board. Since graduating from Michigan’s Major knew exactly where the Lambda the girls arrived, he became the center of College of Engineering, he has worked in the auto industry, received an Chi house was and knew every corner of attention, and he loved it. He would lay on MBA at Michigan State University, it. Of course, he knew where the kitchen the second on third step of the stairs and and has worked in California and was in the basement and often hit up the allow them to pat and stroke him. He was Illinois. Tommy has been preparing cook for a handout. When a Saturday always the “belle of the ball.” the acknowledgements sent to alumni night dance at the house was planned, he association donors since November 2016. knew the signs and hid. Furniture would Robert Patton ’43 served as Sigma’s High be moved so there was room to dance. Alpha in 1942-43. Page Five THE SIGMAN June, 2017 Sigma’s Housing in the Early Days By Ethan Rein ’07
Most brothers reading this newsletter near impossible to maintain a can remember no home for our fraternity successful fraternity. The US other than 1601 Washtenaw. However, the Army’s Student Army Training dream of a long term home for the chapter Corps (SATC) took over many was far from realized when the chapter fraternity houses including ours. was founded. A chapter history published in In its earliest days, Sigma rented houses at 1956 gives credit to Earl Payne 210 Thayer and 522 Monroe. After a few ’19 and William Lush ’20, who years as tenants, the chapter purchased served as High Alphas in 1917 and a permanent home a home at 1511 1918, for putting the chapter in a Washtenaw in May 1915. Homeownership position to reactivate following was meaningful for the formerly itinerant the signing of the Armistice in Sigma’s home in 1511 Washtenaw. group. In a twentieth anniversary history November 1918. The SATC vacated 1511 This photograph appeared in book published by the Lambda Chi Alpha Washtenaw in 1919 and the chapter moved The Michiganensian in 1916-25. Fraternity, the Sigma section remarked, back in. From this house, the chapter made “The purchase created a sense of plans to host Lambda Chi Alpha’s Seventh Lutheran group, which now maintains the responsibility and a feeling of interest.” General Assembly, which was held in the University Lutheran Chapel on that site. Michigan Union. The funds generated by the sale were used The onset of US involvement in World to buy a then-empty lot down the road War I in 1917 led to major changes in the After a few more years, Sigma’s twenty at 1601 Washtenaw. While the house at fraternity world. Twenty-five hundred man home became too small for the 1601 Washtenaw was under construction, Lambda Chi Alpha brothers, including growing chapter. 1511 Washtenaw the chapter rented a house at 803 S. State many from Sigma, served in the war. was sold to the Delta Omicron sorority Street. The chapter moved into the house With few members on campus, it was in 1925. It was eventually sold to a we know and love in 1926.
IN MEMORIAM
Don “Skeets” Scotilla ’56, of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 9, 2017. Don made his mark on the chapter as an athlete, playing on baseball, basketball, bowling, and football teams. He was on the 1953 football team, which won the campus intramural championship and was pictured in the January 1954 issue of this newsletter (pictured to the left). As an alumnus, Don made frequent trips to back to 1601. He attended both the general fraternity’s and local chapter’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations in 1959 and 1963. Page Six THE SIGMAN June, 2017
SIGMA HONOR ROLL Alumni Notes THANK YOU to everyone who has graciously donated to the chapter house in 2017. Your contributions have been put to good 1/2/2017, Ethan Rein — I was use funding scholarships and chapter house repairs! admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in December 2016.
$1-99 $100-249 (Continued) $250-499 (Continued) 1/23/2017, Robert G. Hiss — Have Wayne Leengran ’53 Ronald A. Modreski ’64 Robert G. Hiss ’81 lived in Boston for the past 30 years. Still married to Mary Riffe (KKG Angello Zannis ’55 Bruce J. Carlton ’70 Jeffrey C. Tang ’01 ’82). Three kids. Oldest son is a new Elliott E. Burd ’56 William L. Jackson ’70 Ethan A. Rein ’07 2nd Lt and graduate of the US Air Matthew J. Mason ’68 Craig A. Page ’79 Force Academy. Oldest daughter Adam P. Schneiberg ’90 Thomas S. Maentz ’80 accepted at Michigan, but passed to attend some Ivy League school $100-249 $250-499 $500-999 and youngest still working his way Paul L. Gruner ’55 Charles E. Cuson ’52 Paul A. Becker ’60 through the school system with Francis J. LeMire ’56 Neil Taylor ’58 Larry L. Twitchell ’65 college in his future. Life is good. William Billmeier ’57 Robert L. Metzger ’59 Thomas L. Capua ’59 John S. Hardy ’64 $1,000-1,500 Have a story to share? James H. Wells ’59 Brooks F. Bock ’65 Thomas Vanden Bosch ’59 Please contact Ethan Rein ’07 Randall L. Mitchell ’64 George J. Pomey ’65 Robert J. Stevens ’67 at 313-618-5860 or [email protected]
823 Donald C. Browne 1116 David J. Ameen 1373 Jeffrey Zheutlin 1630 Mark Van Osdol LOST 882 George A. McCarty 1136 Joseph W. Rutkowski 1386 Daniel Hogan 1632 Jeffrey D. McMillen 888 Mark W. Hall 1153 David C. Scott 1402 Thomas D. Ernsting 1634 Michael A. Margolis Please send email or 893 Jeffrey L. Clark 1160 Keith F. Clark 1416 David B. Knowles 1637 Scott M. Keough mailing address of, or 898 Michael R. Palmisano 1182 Mark R. Buckley 1419 Stephen Fletcher 1643 Peter M. Muer information about any 923 Michael Buss 1195 Bradley LaLonde 1423 Michael D. Sullivan 1671 S. Tyler Staelin of these lost brothers to 932 William Henderson 1197 John S. Mullen 1442 James A. Ward 1676 Gregory M. Keegstra [email protected] 963 Jack Murchie 1203 Barry W. Kowal 1454 Phillip E. McCarthy 1691 Bradley S. Keare 984 Craig V. Walters 1207 Randall S. Jacobs 1457 Robert J. Nathan 1695 Douglas A. K. Bennett 520 John D. Howarth 985 David M. Love 1210 William G. Merchant 1478 Christopher J. Cleary 1701 Brent J. McGroarty 523 A. Joseph Cote 986 ohn P. Ketels 1211 Peter D. Anderson 1483 John A. Kinch 1709 Matthew D. Brady 525 George W. Jones 990 Christopher Tompkins 1217 David Everett 1486 Douglas A. Leik 1712 Jeffrey D. Boesiger 539 William E. Ainslie 992 John Sterner 1222 Carl Meister 1487 James C. Becker 1713 Fredrick H. Chang 552 Gordon D. Olson 993 Roger S. Ulrich 1227 Leonard J. Van De Wege 1492 Ramon C. Raneses 1724 D. Scott Miner 561 William M. Chase 998 Roger A. Leslie 1228 Ernest L. Li 1514 Bruce H. Amlicke 1727 Matthew S. Couzens 573 Robert Tracy 1001 Charleton Johnson 1231 Thomas Hibler 1530 Daniel F. Stoffel 1733 Michael D. Barnes 591 Clarence J. Kinkead 1004 Earl Hamilton 1232 Thomas Hammond 1531 David A. Duttenhofer 1734 Mark G. Gaynor 592 Alexander T. Morris 1035 David M. Colwell 1234 Kevin Mills 1548 Christopher D. Johnson 1741 Edward J. Stone 605 Dwight S. Heim 1040 James Neel 1250 Paul Johnson 1549 Pierre I. Laxa 1750 David J. Wheeler 620 Herman A. Outcalt 1042 Dennis C. Dill 1254 Robert R. Fuller 1554 Jeffrey J. Larson 1765 Kevin I. Hickman 624 Nicholas A. Semos 1044 Peter Koepke 1256 Jeffrey Traina 1556 John J. Perry 1785 Yong-Uk Choi 625 Walter H. Stein 1047 Charles Day 1259 William A. Rosenau 1558 Scott P. Drumm 1854 Richard A. Moreno 626 Milton F. Barrett 1051 John W. Dugan 1260 Allen H. Lambacher 1560 Andrew H. Rosen 1870 Jacob B. Hekker 630 William E. Duellman 1054 Robert Kraft 1261 Drew Walsh 1562 Walter E. Traver 639 Robert Bloom 1056 William Brater 1263 John Simon 1566 Anthony D. Iannone 660 Albert N. Scaccia 1075 Peter Farrell 1280 Kevin Kerwin 1568 Herbert M. Stephens 666 John C. Nicholls 1078 David V. Paul 1281 Thomas Kornmeier 1586 Michael J. Fitzsimmons 678 Paul D. Duncan 1079 Henry Bonislawski 1284 Michael Darland 1592 Domenic J. Ferrante 687 Robert E. Thorne 1080 David A. Lustgarten 1285 Richard A. Hrivnak 1597 Richard J. Gagnon 1082 Cris L. Dowding 1294 Michael Nash 1606 Andrew T. Watts 740 Laird Sloan 744 Peter R. Stanger 1087 David Bowerman 1297 Howard Roth 1610 Jon Ein
762 Joseph Gray 1090 J. Michael Luerich 1298 John Mandich 1612 William T. O’Connor 764 Thomas A. Smith 1091 Michael Schubring 1305 David Montford 1615 Joseph H. Holland 765 Richard C. Canfield 1092 Kurt A. Lauer 1306 Robert Miles 1617 Benjamin R. Lummis 766 Robert G. Hodges 1094 Ramon M. Almonte 1311 Mark Johnston 1618 Christopher C. Johnson 782 Stanley E. Fuller 1100 Robert Zolkowski 1319 Lawrence C. Agee 1621 Jorge R. Blanco 786 James A. Smith 1106 Joseph Allen 1345 John Boes 1623 John N. Ekelman 796 Harvey C. Pearce 1111 David H. Nadelman 1346 Wesley N. Mitchell 1625 Michael N. Gouda 801 William Watson 1112 Mark J. Knapp 1357 Jonathan Willoughby 1629 David N. Chamberlain