The fundraising team for the new chapter house currently recognizes and supports seven memorial funds. These memorials recognize brothers and others who have contributed to the Michigan chapter and who have passed away, often prematurely. Alums who were especially close to the memorialized brother can direct their pledges to the brother’s fund, as well as see their name on any naming-right plaques.
The currently supported memorial funds are:
- John Russell (“JR”, Chapter Chef, 1970-1982) Memorial Fund
- Armando Ledesma (Class of 2006) Memorial Fund
- Jim House (Class of 1964) Memorial Fund
- Harry “Buck” Crouthamel (Class of 1975) Memorial Fund
- Gerald MacDonald (Class of 1960) Memorial Fund
- Richard Michael “Big Magoo” McGuire (Class of 1958) Memorial Fund
- Russell H Jack, Jr (Class of 1957) Memorial Fund
John Russell (“JR”) Memorial Fund
JR was the chapter’s chef from 1970-1982. But he did more than cook good food. He provided adult counsel, inspiration, guidance, and supervision for the brothers. JR passed away in 1994 at the age of 90 in his beloved State of Virginia. Jim Fuger ‘82 is leading the JR memorial campaign. His goal is to raise $75K to secure naming rights for the Kitchen and Dining Room. Jim can be reached at 609-213-9746, [email protected]. To date, $24.5K has been pledged
Armando Ledesma Memorial Fund
Armando ‘06 was instrumental in the re-colonization of Michigan chapter in 2003 after it went off campus a couple years earlier. He was killed in 2005 when a deer jumped in front of his car near Lansing. Andrew Rolph is spearheading the Ledesma memorial campaign. His goal is to raise $25K and secure the naming rights to Computer Room. Brother John Holmes ’65 has donated $10K in matching funds. Andrew can be reached at 248-622-1530, [email protected].
Jim House Memorial Fund
Jim ‘64 was well liked at the chapter house and eventually became a very accomplished banjo player. He died at an early age in 1993 of a heart attack. His wife, Nancy, would like to see a $10K memorial fund with bedroom naming rights established in his honor. Howard Gandelot is the current lead on this campaign and has already obtained $5K in memorial matching funds. He can be reached at 912-655-4651, [email protected]. $1K has been pledged.
Harry “Buck” Crouthamel Memorial Fund
Buck ‘75 joined the Army after graduation and eventually became a rated helicopter pilot. He was killed when a new model he was testing crashed. Dan Maher ’76, John Stinson ‘75, and Jay Jenkins ’75, are pooling their donations with a $30K goal to name a three-bedroom suite in Buck’s honor. Dan can be reached at 313-919-3273, [email protected].
Gerald MacDonald Memorial Fund
Gerry ’60, is perhaps the chapter’s most notable alumni. He served as the chapter’s A for ’58-’59 academic year, when he pioneered a number of fraternal and social innovations in chapter policy. Gerry graduated with a BA(Economics), and then joined Detroit Bank & Trust, which later became Comerica Bank. He moved rapidly up the executive ladder at Comerica and, when it merged with Manufacturers National Bank in 1992, Gerry became the CEO of the merged organization. In 1975, Gerry was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and he eventually succumbed to this malady in 2009. David Falconer ’62, one of Gerry’s little brothers, is proposing a memorial fund in honor of Gerry. The campaign’s goal is to raise the $50K needed to buy the naming rights to the Chapter Room. David can be reached at 650-274-3184, [email protected].
Richard Michael “Big Magoo” McGuire Memorial Fund
Magoo, as he was affectionately called, was class of ’58, but was bit tardy in graduating. Beloved for his sense of humor and easygoing lifestyle, Mike lived in the basement of the chapter house from ’55 through ‘63, clearly a record tenure. He graduated with a BE in Marine Architecture and was finally able to realize his dream by taking a job with the Naval Ship Yard in Oahu, Hawaii, and assumed the Islands lifestyle till his passing in 2001. Younger brother, Barry McGuire ’65 (Little Magoo), has established a memorial fund for Magoo and pledged $25K toward it, with the goal obtaining naming rights to Project Room. Barry can be reached at 269-838-4537, [email protected].
Russell H Jack, Jr Memorial Fund
John Jenkins ’57 has donated $15K to establish a one bedroom suite in honor of Russell Jack’57. John and Russell were dear friends, room-mates and colleagues in the Michigan Symphony and Marching Bands. He played clarinet in the bands and was a lifelong music educator.
The fundraising team encourages other proposals for memorial funds. These memorials provide ongoing recognition of departed brothers, renew bonds among alums that lived with that brother, and generate additional pledges to the new chapter-house campaign. Please contact Howard Gandelot ’64 at 912-655-4651, [email protected] with your memorial-fund proposals.
