Source Courtesy of The 1931 Michiganensian.
Check out this blast from the past, all the way back to 1931! The members of Delta Chi are featured in University of Michigan’s Yearbook, Michiganensian! Do you remember the chapter during this time, or do you recognize these fellas in the photo? We want to know!
CLICK HERE and we will publish them in an upcoming e-letter or newsletter.
Spring is just around the corner, and with the warmer temperatures now on the rise, it has us thinking about getting back together with Delta Chi brothers.
Mark your calendar now for University of Michigan Homecoming 2023!: September 23rd
More details will be shared as soon as they are available, but it’s not too early to start making your travel plans.
In the meantime, summer is the perfect opportunity to plan your next fraternity reunion. So, here are some tips for planning the perfect Delta Chi weekend:
FRIENDS: Head to the directory page to reconnect and catch up with brothers you haven’t heard from in a while!
FOOD and DRINKS: Ann Arbor is always changing. Our old favorite restaurant or bar may not still be in town, but here are some great options to have a get together!
FUN: Fall semester means football is back in-season! Check out the fall football schedule here, and don’t forget about homecoming on September 23rd either!
Planning a get-together? CLICK HERE to let us know, so we can share it in our next e-letter!
David Falconer ‘62
Delta Chi Biography
February 8, 2022
My years in Ann Arbor and my time at Delta Chi were exciting, maturing, and life changing. I enjoyed four wonderful years of brotherhood on Hill Street, never once experiencing the loneness of a large, impersonal university, as did so many of my high-school friends. As chapter ‘D’, I learned about the management of living quarters and the handling of other-people’s money—and the intricacies of apartment ownership and management. And, as ‘E’, I learned about generating and delivering communications, both to actives and alums. I also learned how business meetings are properly and effectively conducted, polices introduced and promoted, and politics arise and are played. I was particularly mentored by Gerald MacDonald BA ‘61, who would become CEO of Comerica, and Barry Wood BA ‘61, who would become a country lawyer and mayor of Ukiah, California
After four years as an undergraduate at UofM and three-and-one half years as a member of DX fraternity, I graduated with a bachelor degree in physics, with minors in mathematics and English literature (Shakespeare mostly). I applied to a number of graduate schools, but eventually decided to remain in Ann Arbor, because my girlfriend at the time had another year until graduation, because I enjoyed a high-paying job at UofM’s Institute of Science & Technology (IST), and because I liked living/dining in the DX house, even as a graduate student. I completed my master’s degree in optical physics and married Alice Nissley, a Delta Gamma, in 1965, leaving active fraternity life at that time.
In 1966 I began my doctoral studies in Ann Arbor and in 1967 carried out its experimental work at Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago. This work entailed the collection of one million bubble-chamber photographs of proton-antiproton collisions at Argonne’s Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS). These images were brought back to Ann Arbor and twice scanned by undergraduate students working 24/7 over a period of 18 months. This effort resulted in the discovery of the U(2345) particle, a comparatively heavy, but short-lived boson, one of the many particles identified by members of UofM’s physics department in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
In 1969 I graduated from Michigan with a PhD in particle physics. My thesis advisor recommended that I take post-doc at Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). However, after much review, I decided academic life entailed too much poverty, so I hired on as research physicist at nearby Stanford Research Institute (SRI). At SRI, I did contract research for government agencies and civilian organizations at the institute’s Sensory Sciences Laboratory (SSL), Artificial Intelligence Center (AIC), and Remote Measurements Laboratory (RML), until my retirement in 2000.
The ‘70s stock market was mostly listless and endlessly disappointing. However, Silicon Valley real estate was on a tear, owing to the rise of Fairchild Semiconductor, Applied Materials, Intel and others. Home prices were increasing at 1% per month. With a 20% down payment, an investment in a single-family home offered five-fold leverage of the invested money. The math was far easier than that for Quantum Electro-Dynamics (QED), and the return on investment clearly astronomical. So, I jumped in with the purchase of two townhouses in Menlo Park in 1974. Several years later I traded the townhouses for apartment buildings in Menlo Park and Sunnyvale. And, I continue owning and managing income properties till this day.
In California, I continued my connection with DX fraternity. The Stanford University chapter of Delta Chi, like so many others, was a casualty of the Viet Nam War and the ‘70s counter-culture. However, its alums remained cohesive and active—and welcomed me to their football tailgates, summer picnics, and dinner parties. Later I played a significant and on-going role, along with UofM alum, Craig Nastanski ’97, in the successful re-colonization of Abracadabra Chapter at Cal Berkeley in 2001.
At its 2009 reunion the Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi honored its ‘60s alumni. Prior to the reunion Frank Morrey ’64 and I played Michigan’s Blue Course, followed by a beer and dinner—and autopsies of our respective golf games—at the Jolly Pumpkin Café and Brewery on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Eventually, we got to talking about the disgraceful state of the chapter’s 100-year-old fraternity house, how embarrassed we were to bring our wives into it, and how guilty we felt about asking the actives to live there. More seriously, we were convinced that the current house was unsalvageable, that the active chapter would not survive without a new chapter house, and that the time was of the essence in getting a new house financed and built. We realized that a fund-raising campaign would require competent leadership. Our thinking settled immediately upon Howard Gandelot ‘64, because he had earlier expressed interest in the new-house project, was a former ‘A’, and had been a great project manager while working for Procter & Gamble. Meanwhile, Keith Hellems ‘62, also a former ‘A’, had been assembling and distributing pictures and documents about the Michigan chapter, generating much alumni interest, enthusiasm, and communication. So, the three of us invited Keith to join the fundraising team. After four years on concerted work, the “fundraising quartet”, as the team became known, raised the $1.1M needed to construct the new fraternity house at 1705 Hill Street.
In 2019 I contacted David W. Gerdes, the chair of the UofM Physics & Astronomy Department about the possibility of endowing a professorship in his department. Such professorships require a $5,000,0000 endowment to cover cost of the professorship in perpetuity. However, the university will put up half the money if the doner agrees to supply the other half. After several trips to Ann Arbor and a remarkable amount of paperwork, I signed agreement to fund my portion of the endowment on my passing and settlement of my estate. The endowment will be used to create a faculty professorship named the David Falconer Professorship (“Professorship”) in the Physics Department of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. The initial purpose of the endowed professorship is to provide academic support for the study of particle physics and/or cosmology, both theoretical and experimental.
David and his partner of some 20 years, Bonney, are both retired and living in a detached home in Portola Valley CA. They spend much of their time cycling and golfing around the Bay Area and visiting their ski cabin in Truckee CA. They also attend local plays and musicals. Their holidays are mostly spent with the kids and grandkids. David’s son, Derek (b. 1980), earned a degree in electronic engineering from UCSD, and now works for General Atomics as an airframe project manager. He married his wife, Lauren, in 2005. They live in Point Loma, California, and are raising three sons, Jude (b. 20130, Cy (b. 2015), and Rhys (b. 2021). David’s daughter, Julie (b. 1982), has a degree in international relations from at Brown University and worked as an intern at Goldman-Sachs in San Francisco. She and her Google boyfriend moved to London in 2005, but later went their separate ways, with Julie remaining in London. Incredibly, Julie was selected as the Face of Ascot in 2009. Today, she remains single, writes articles for airline magazines, and organizes European conferences for Londoners. Bonney’s son, Ian (b.1981), lives and works in Eureka CA, but is employed as a full-time data analyst by a San Francisco advertising agency. 
Photo Credit: University of Michigan Athletics
Another year, another Big Ten title for Big Blue (not to mention a second straight humbling of the Buckeyes).
We want your stories, updates, and photos from the season. Did you catch the Wolverines in person? Attend (or host) a watch party? Travel to Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl? Did you get to watch the team with any of your brothers? Tell us how you experienced this memorable campaign (especially our win over Ohio State), and send us some great photos from your road trip, tailgate, or gameday party to share with the brotherhood.
Michigan is once again projected to be among the very best teams in the conference and the country. What are your expectations and record predictions for 2023?
Send your thoughts, photos, and stories to: [email protected] or submit them here!
Pundit Scott Galloway reporting on the dearth of friendships in men. (LinkedIn)
In the United States, friendship is on the decline. In fact, in the decades since 1990, the percentage of Americans who say that they have less than three close friends has doubled, going from 16% to 32%. Those reporting no friends at all? That number has risen sharply from 3% to 12%. Thought leader Scott Galloway reports that 1 in 7 men have no close friends at all outside of their family.
This is a problem. Beyond the obvious benefits of friendship — connection, shared memories, someone having your back — there are incredible health benefits attached to having strong friendships.
Robert Waldinger, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard, runs the world’s longest study on happiness. He explores the question: “What keeps us healthy and happy as we go through life?”
Waldinger is the fourth director of the longest-running study of adult life. Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been following a group of 724 men through work, home, family and health. Over 80-plus years of the study, some experienced meteoric success, some epic failure. But who was happiest?
“The biggest lesson we learned is that it isn’t wealth, fame or hard work that matters. Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period,” he said. He added that the healthiest 80-year-olds turned out to be the ones who were most connected in their 50s. Those with good relationships had healthier bodies and clearer minds than their counterparts.
People who do not have vital connections as they walk through life’s joys and challenges show marked differences from people with strong friends. In Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam posits that participating in even one social organization and forming friendships could cut your odds of dying in the next year in half. A recent report showed that loneliness registers an impact on your well-being similar to that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day and rivals alcohol and smoking as a cause of early death.
Recently, a survey went out to alumni of a fraternity that doesn’t have an undergraduate chapter. The survey invited alumni to weigh in about the future of the chapter and the value of reopening the house on their college campus. The questions boiled down to “Why?” What is the value of their chapter — or any Greek organization — in today’s culture? One alumnus answered with just one weighted word: camaraderie.
There are hundreds — thousands — of other words to back up that shortest answer. Fraternity groups like this one, and like Delta Chi, are ideal leadership training grounds, hot spots of philanthropy and mentorship. But Delta Chi’s most basic element is also its most valuable: the camaraderie gained during pivotal years forms ironclad friendships that last decades. And while they are making life richer and better, these friendships are actually making us healthier, happier and live longer.
Here’s a challenge for us in 2023. Let’s buck these statistics. I’ll wager someone came to your mind as you were reading this. Reconnect with them — do it this week. Make plans to see a game, or plan a weekend. If travel is not in the cards right now, just keep in touch. Share an old story, or dig up a picture from the good old days. Your friendship — and your health— will thank you.
Happy New Year, Brothers in the Bond!
Let me ask you something… do you read these eDelts when they come out?
If so… why?
If not… why not?
(Drop us a note and let us know… we really would like to know your answers!)
I’ve got a theory that says that many of you ignore these newsletters because you think the only reason we send them is to raise money.
You may think that we just use the updates about the current membership, or alumni updates just to suck you in so you’ll make a donation to the House, the Fraternity in general, or whatever project seems to be in play.
I can assure you… that is not why the group of alumni who meet monthly and come up with article ideas do this.
We do it to maintain our connections… with our alumni brothers of all these many years… and with our current group of actives.
We are devoted to the Bond.
Go back over the eDelt issues of the last few years and look again at what predominates… articles are about the people (i.e. our Brothers in Michigan Delta Chi).
I love reading the Alumni Updates that are based on the information you send to us. Even if it is just a short paragraph or two, it helps me feel connected.
I really enjoy reading articles like the one that Frank Morrey (“F” to all of us) wrote for this issue… telling us about where he came from, how he got into Michigan Delta Chi, who he hung around with, and some of his experiences while at Michigan.
And then getting an update on what his life has been like over the years since he graduated and, most importantly, what his life is like today tops it all off.
I wasn’t in Delta Chi when Frank was, but I was lucky enough to get to know him well during his periodic drop-ins while I was there in the late 70s. But as well as I’ve known him, I learned things about him in that new article.
We have a fascinating collection of alumni… each of you with your own unique story… and I’d love to read them!
I also like to hear about what is happening at Delta Chi today.
Let me tell you… it is a completely different experience for today’s actives than it was when most of us were there.
What a change from the days of the old House, where we were looking strong if we had the 24 or so actives needed each year just to fill the place.
Today, there are 34 Members living in the Chapter House (it is at full capacity) and all of them are Sophomores in standing.
The Total Chapter membership fluctuates around 100 +/-!!! (THE largest membership number of any Fraternity on Campus)
And many of them room together in various houses around Ann Arbor.
They brought in 25 Associate Members (Pledges in the old days) for the Fall 2022 class, and they anticipate 10 more for the Winter 2023 Associate class!
My pledge class in the fall of 1976 was an almost-unheard-of group of 10… and we thought that was HUGE!
In-house GPA generally runs above 3.0 on average. Could you say the same for your time in Delta Chi?
And back in the “old days”… we had a live-in cook (our beloved John Henry Russell).
Today, the Brothers decided the best solution for them was to have a meal plan with a non-resident chef.
The Chapter, as always, remains very active in intramural sports.
Philanthropy projects are also of great importance to the Actives. They regularly contribute to the Jimmy V fund, as well as many others that they choose.
Oh yeah… they still have parties, too… most often in the basement, a space much greater in size than we had previously.
And they do all that while still maintaining that 3.0 + GPA).
I love hearing that!
Now I’m not saying you won’t see some fundraising going on… there is always something that needs fixing or some other project or priority that the Actives need help with (expanded WiFi services, picnic tables, etc., for example).
But that isn’t the emphasis in any issue… YOU ARE!
With all that said, I hope you realize why we send these… to build and/or rebuild the Bond we all pledged to so many years ago.
So please, read the articles… send us your updates… write an article if you have a great story to tell… (and yes, donate if you see fit),
But remember, the eDelt has always been, and will remain, dedicated to telling the stories of the Men of the Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi… and all the Brothers who have passed through the old or new doors of 1705 Hill Street.
May you have a happy and prosperous 2023!
In the Bond,
Joe
Preface: Keith Hellems ’62 and I promised to retire after the successful fund-raising campaign to build the new chapter house, but here we are, still the main force in publishing these eDelts. We are aging out, if there are any more youthful alumni who would like to contribute, please get in touch at [email protected]. It’s not at all time consuming and is quite enjoyable.
I attended H. H. Lowrey High School in Dearborn, Michigan, where I graduated with honors in the spring of 1960 and earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan. That fall, I went to Ann Arbor to live at South Quad intending to become an engineering student. Instead, I earned a degree in psychology, which I never used, but it worked out well. I spent many hours walking to the UofM Golf Course, where the student fee was $1.00. Almost immediately, I assumed the beatnik lifestyle, listening to Ray Charles, wearing a sweatshirt, and trying to play the harmonica. In my junior year, I gave up being a beatnik and decided check what other options might be available on campus, including the fraternities. Eventually, I signed up for fall rush and pledged Delta Chi that semester.
At Delta Chi, I discovered a friendly, down to earth, and interesting group of brothers. During rush when I visited the house I was greeted by Bob Berry ’64, Duncan Kretovich ’66 and Roger Premo ‘65, all of whom went to Lowrey H.S.! The traditions at the house suited me well. We wore a coat and tie to dinner, sang the “Bond” before being seated, and engaged in lively conversation more than likely roasting our brothers. My bonding was complete when we would play bridge in the card room until the wee hours of the morning and sing our college songs on late Friday night in the drinking room with Dale Bjorklund ‘67 at the piano and Barry McGuire ‘65 in harmony. (When these songs went out of fashion during the 70’s, I became the historian and assembled the Delta Chi Songbook for posterity.)
Roger Premo ‘65 and I introduced the Twist to house parties, followed by the Frug, Jerk, etc. I introduced an unknown artist, Bob Dylan, to the brothers. Each semester we would honor the pledges (Associate Members as they are called now) at our pledge formals. Toga parties were always the favorite with our theme parties, we had to work fast–our dates had to be back in their dorm by midnight. During “help week”, many of us joined Howard Gandelot ‘64 and his father to make improvements to the chapter house, for example, the basement party room that lasted until the house was demoed.
The chapter house had but one landline to serve the entire fraternity. (Does anyone remember the number?) When a caller wanted to talk to a particular brother, we would have to shout out their name or run up to the third floor to find them. We had to negotiate our weekend dates on the extension handset in the closet on the second floor, which provided more privacy. But our line and that of our date were invariably busy. For that reason, many a weekend was frustratingly dateless.
Those of us of legal age (and some that were not, e.g., Al Knaus ‘66) would visit the P-Bell, Schwabens, Liberty Inn, or Midway Lunch to listen to Washboard Willie. He was an icon of Rhythm and Blues music, who sang and strummed a washboard with thimbles on his fingers, it was truly amazing. We later hired him to perform on our front lawn for a concert promoting fall rush. During this time, Mickey Maas ‘66 and I started to write a guidebook about the Ann Arbor area bars and taverns. We never published it, but we certainly enjoyed doing the research. We had a head start on Trip Advisor!
On graduation, I became a prime candidate for the draft for the Vietnam War. (Remember, I had a degree in psychology which did not provide any critical-skills deferment for me.) However, since Vietnam and its guerrilla-filled jungles held no fascination for me, Michigan and Ann Arbor did. So, I joined the Michigan Air National Guard. And, I continued to live in Ann Arbor, sometimes at the fraternity house, for another two years waiting for my assignment to USAF flight school (Is it possible that I was a bad influence on the actives’ study habits during this time?) Eventually, I was sent, as a second lieutenant, to Air Force Pilot Training School in Enid, Oklahoma, where I trained on the T-37 and T-38.
I served in the Michigan Air Guard for eight years flying the RF-84F, an obsolete Korean era single-seat jet. On one occasion, we took the fraternity’s Michiganensian photo on the wing of the RF-84F at Detroit Metro. After serving in the Guard, I was hired by Eastern Airlines and flew commercially for the next 22 years before the airline went bankrupt and ceased operations. During those years, my flight privileges enabled me to visit the Delta Chi house in Ann Arbor and my parent’s house in nearby Dearborn Heights almost monthly.
As noted, I returned to Ann Arbor monthly for some twenty-two years. When visiting the chapter house, I continued the tradition of playing cards in the card room. However, in time, there was some devolution in the games played. From bridge as the game of choice, we went to Euchre, Horse-thief, and then, Oh Shit! All the while, I was able to get to know one generation after another of Delta Chis. This connection allowed me to pass on the historical traditions of the fraternity to its newer members. In appreciation, the active chapter established the Frank J. Morrey Outstanding Alumni Award, which was presented first to me and then to deserving alumni each year.
As a result of my frequent visits, I had got to know many brothers over many years quite personally. It was always enjoyable for me to make a phone call, share good memories, and update personal information. This facilitated then my organizing of alumni reunions and annual golf outings. We’ve held the Annual DX Golf Outing for the last 40 years at the Blue Course in early summer. In addition, I organized reunions for the ‘60s alumni every five years. Eventually, these get-togethers were extended to all alumni and were held every year during fundraising campaign for the new chapter house.
Golf outing in 2015. L-R: Frank Morrey ’64, John Stinson ’75, Roger Premo ’65, Dave Siglin ’64, Ernie Caviani, Alan Knaus ’66 and David Falconer ’62.
Along with Howard Gandelot ‘64, David Falconer ‘62, Keith Hellems ‘62 and John Levinson ‘73, we did the unthinkable and raised $1.1 million to successfully build the state-of-the-art chapter house you see today at 1705 Hill Street. It took six years of monthly conference calls, email newsletters, and printed Delts. Our motto was “Securing our Legacy, Building our Future” for the Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi. This alumni response was overwhelming. And, it was gratifying to see other fellow alumni care as much about Delta Chi as we did. This effort, I consider one of my greatest accomplishments.
But eventually the Peter Pan of Delta Chi had to grow up. I met Colleen, also working at Eastern Airlines, in 1973 and we were married in 1975. Over the years, we have lived in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and now Colorado Springs, where we plan to stay. Colleen and I have two sons, Michael, the oldest, lives in Harpers Ferry, WV, and is a programmer. But his main love is trains, not airplanes. The younger, Daniel, is an accountant. His main hobby is model railroading. He and his wife, Lilit, live in Denver with our two delightful grandchildren, Amelia and David. I’ll have them on bikes soon enough!!
After Eastern Airlines, my career took several interesting turns. I spent seven months living in Istanbul, Turkey flying the B-737 for Istanbul Airlines. After that, 18 months in Brussels flying the B-737 for Richard Branson’s Virgin Express. Then, three months in Saudi Arabia flying for a sheik, who owned his own B-727. Finally, flying the Boeing Business Jet as an instructor pilot for NetJets. We flew many big name celebrities: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anthony Hopkins, Mariah Carey, J-Lo and Ben Affleck. The latter were dating at the time and they enjoyed their own shower and king-size bed in the aft cabin of the aircraft. In 2004 I retired as captain with 5,000 hours of flight time in the B-737 and 22,000 hours in total.
I’ve always been active and never at a loss for finding fun things to do. I started running road races in 1976 and am still participating, but now in a much-depleted age group! I have run (read “fast walk”) the Pikes Peak Ascent eight times. I like to ride my new blue BH road bike on the mountain roads around Colorado Springs. I have also ridden in both the French and Italian Alps, including Col du Galibier and Mont Ventoux of Tour de France fame. And, I am still able to occasionally fit in a round of golf.
Hiking above timberline on the many 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado has always brought me great satisfaction. After retirement, I became fascinated with the spectacular alpine varieties of wildflowers. In the process of identifying and photographing them I have assembled a digital book containing some 250 species. Several of these photos have appeared in published alpine flower books, to my great satisfaction.
Those fond memories of my “Good Old College Days” at Delta Chi have not faded. All those brothers who I have gotten to know over the years are still the most interesting people in my life. They’re the ones with whom I enjoy visiting during chapter reunions and summer golf outings.
Thank you Delta Chi.
Frank J. Morrey
[email protected]
The national fraternity of Delta Chi shares a magazine for brothers of all chapters to enjoy. The publication includes stories of success, academics, athletics, culture, student life, and more! Check out the latest edition of the Delta Chi Quarterly here!
Happy New Year, Brother! Our wish for you in 2023 is for a year filled with happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity. As we continue to reflect on 2022, we must keep at the for front of our minds, the mission and objective of Delta Chi, and the responsibility we have as alumni to the place that has provided us with the foundation skills for our success we have now.
Now as alumni, we ask that you continue to put your best foot forward to help support not only our alumni events and communications, but that we continue to help perpetuate our undergrad chapter forward. So that these fine young men can experience all the opportunities we had during our time in Delta Chi.
For those who are able, please consider a monetary donation by CLICKING HERE, this will also get you a spot on the Honor Roll, FOUND HERE. We thank you in advance for your continued support.
Delta Chis from the 50s to the 70s
H. Keith Hellems, Jr. ‘62
21 beers for 21 years – A phrase that may spark great memories for the members of Delta Chi Fraternity at Michigan after the opening of the Pretzel Bell in 1934. The brothers candidly noted that this led to many great memories (or lack thereof when considering the beer consumption). The timely opening of the Pretzel Bell may have fed into its popularity after prohibition ended in December 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, at a time when student-friendly bars were few and far between [UM Bentley Historical Library]. This was considered the bar of choice and was a stark contrast from most other establishments featuring white tablecloths and dress codes during this time. Instead, bar-goers were encouraged to consume pitchers of beer and carve their names into beer-soaked wood. Many recall popular local Blue Grass band, the RFD Boys, who held regular gigs at the bar in the ‘70’s and became nationally renown.
The Pretzel Bell also established a new tradition – a free pitcher if you chugged while standing on a table if you were there to celebrate your 21st birthday. When the pitcher was completed, a staff member would sound the bell. The brothers of Delta Chi have vast memories of the Pretzel Bell – ranging anywhere from a casual college hangout to almost ending up in the hospital after a 21st birthday celebration. Some even still have their souvenirs from the bar to fondly reflect back on those college nights.
Siglin ‘64 mentions, “I know that I went there with every intention of drinking 42 beers but didn’t come close. I don’t remember anything after 26. I know I’m still alive, so there is that. I’m sure Michael Kennedy ’63 could have drunk 42 if challenged, but I was a mere amateur.
Herb Koenig is urged on by Frank Spies ’61, unknown, Howard Wiarda ‘61, Dave Falconer ’62, and Mike McGuire ‘58.
David Falconer ’62 and Joseph Matt ‘72 recall going to the Pretzel Bell for his 21st birthday with all of the Delta Chi brothers as well. Joseph says, not only did he have the traditional 21 glasses of beer served from a pitcher but his loving brothers snuck in a couple of shots of whiskey which made matters worse. He remembers filling up an empty pitcher at least twice and still has the souvenir to show for it, the yellow piece of heavy paper in the shape of a bell that everyone present signed. Kenneth Brier ’72 additionally remembers being a “successful” participant in this long standing drinking tradition, and compared the paper bell signing to the likeness of a yearbook of sorts.
On the other hand, there were also experiences like Boyd Bosma ’56 who mentioned ordering a pitcher of beer at the P Bell for his 21st birthday in October 1956, however he was 20 when he graduated so the times at the Pretzel Bell were few and far between. He feels as though he missed that as part of his experience while on campus.
Some have memories of even more peculiar traditions at the Pretzel Bell. John Nicoara ‘56 mentioned there was another P-Bell “tradition” that was discussed which included breaking a hard-boiled egg on the ceiling. No one did anything like that on his birthday, however everyone looked up at the ceiling as it was mentioned and perhaps pondered the possibility. Bill Thewalt ‘58 remembers partaking in the hard-boiled egg tradition where one ate a hard-boiled egg after cracking its shell on the ceiling and he also mentioned that it was also proper at some point to carve initials into a table top.
John Levinson ’73 says the tradition was 21 seven ounce beers but Frank Morrey ‘64 doesn’t hesitate to bring up the shocking revelation that he was quite certain that the Pretzel Bell served 10 ounce glasses, making a total of 210 ounces, or 1.64 gallons of beer that the brothers would peer pressure one another to drink for their 21st birthdays. Morrey didn’t make it past 12 or 13, but vividly remembers Dave “Otto ” Gerisch ’65 drank all 21 and then said, “Let’s do some serious drinking”, and he did just that.
Other brothers recall the aftershock of the evening more than they can recall their 21st physically at the bar. Al Knaus ‘66 recalls, “The first few drinks were easy and then it became harder, so they made me stand on the table and chug against someone else. After about 16 glasses I started to go to the bathroom a lot…The last couple were torture for me but I made it. I still have the beer pitcher from my final few glasses and a P-Bell card signed by all the brothers. I think I needed a lot of help walking home, maybe I was carried.”
Lane Kendig ‘62 mentioned he became 21 the year Delta Chi decided to become a jock house and compete in every sport. He had to paly a basketball game so he got to the Pretzel Bell late and made it to 18 beers before getting sick just before closing at midnight. Scott Leak ‘77 said he took his time drinking on his 21st and didn’t try to hurry, but still ended up getting sick in the movie theater across the street afterward.
Dave Siglin ‘64 says, “Rumor has it I threw up into an empty pitcher at the table. Thank God it was not a time of digital recording to haunt me the rest of my life.” Keith Hellems ‘62 shared very similar sentiments about his first legal birthday but he did have proof that he threw up in the pitcher at about the 16th glass and in true Delta Chi spirit he persisted to the 21st glass. Later becoming a physician, he relates that he never came as close to dying of alcohol poisoning as he did on that Pretzel Bell visit. “It took 24-36 hours before I could even get up and 3 days before I went to a class. I have never been so sick and still don’t like beer – give me a martini anytime.”
Keith Hellems ’62 donating back to the pitcher and showing the results of 21 beers.
The Pretzel Bell was fondly remembered for the beer and the crowd who frequented the bar, however the health standards were not as desirable. With the timing came different health laws, and the restaurant had no issues re-steaming the bread, using the same big tub of butter, and had a reputation for overly rare ribs. With that being said, most people don’t remember the food being all that bad – as they say, what you don’t know can’t hurt you. Frank Spies ‘61 remembered having fond memories of the Pretzel Bell and that the food was not bad because the brothers did occasionally eat there. Unfortunately, these health code violations did catch up to them in the early 1980s and unpaid payroll taxes led to closing permanently in 1985. By the time it closed, there were cockroaches running around freely and the restaurant was filthy.
The Village Bell
After the Pretzel Bell closed its doors, the Village Bell on South University, owned by the same family, became a popular campus watering hole for many years as well. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the lines waiting to get in extended down the street. The Village Bell, or “V-Bell” as many called it, had a downstairs bar with its unique arched and unforgettable carpeted ceiling. Many traditions which began at the Pretzel Bell were carried on seamlessly when brothers began celebrating their 21st birthday at the V-Bell.
Rick Mouseau ‘79 and Joe Gradisher ‘79 recall the 21 beer tradition at the Village Bell on South University who admitted they needed assistance walking back home afterward. Rick sent a picture of his pitcher from that day at the Bell.
Standing on the table with brothers shouting encouragement – Rick Mouseau’s pitcher
John Levinson ‘73 recalls carrying a sorority girl over his shoulder to help get her home after she decided she wanted to complete the challenge with 10 shots of tequila instead of beer.
As a side note, Mark Voight ’66 in the early 1970’s met Win Elliot, goalie for the U. of Michigan hockey team and sportscaster in the 1960’s and 70’s who was the first waiter at the Pretzel Bell when it opened in 1934. He paid one dollar per WEEK for a room and basically ate scraps at the Bell.
The Pretzel Bell – Current Day
A few years ago, Bruce Elliott and Fritz Seyferth, football players, got together with a local restaurant group to bring back the Pretzel Bell. Their new location is one block down and across the street on Liberty and Main Street. The new P-Bell’s pretzel-crusted macaroni and cheese and mustard pretzels are more in line with our modern standards of home-cooked comfort fare. The prime rib is still on the menu but it is now fully cooked. The bell does ring for your birthday, and you do get a free beer at 21, however you’re not allowed to stand on the tables anymore. There is now a much larger beer selection, and televisions and the sounds of various college football games have replaced the RFD Boys’ banjos. They’re paid up on their taxes and earned an A+ in their health codes, but the new Bell’s wood tables do feature an entirely new generation of pen knifed signatures. (https://mgoblog.com/content/ann-arbor-institutions-pretzel-bell).
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article reflects a historical past in the life of the Michigan Delta Chi. Times have changed over the years with fraternities and universities becoming more concerned about the use of alcohol. Deaths have resulted and with it the use of alcohol in hazing has been outlawed. Also encouraging such events as mentioned in this article, the celebration of excessive drinking on ones 21st birthday, has been discouraged over the years.
Are you plugged in to our Delta Chi at University of Michigan social media page? Follow us to reconnect with your alumni buddies online, find out about upcoming virtual and in-person events, and keep up with the latest news from the chapter.
Chapter Facebook Page: University of Michigan Delta Chi Alumni
Instagram: University of Michigan Delta Chi
Are you ready to take on our 2022 Holiday challenge? Without all of us, the University of Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi simply does not exist. Your 2022 year-end gift can help to make this our best year yet. Are you in?
Why should you give back? Alumni contributions are at the heart of everything we do. Your gifts help to support our undergrad chapter and keep the house in good shape to stay competitive during recruitment. Our contributions also support every alumni experience like reunions events and make it possible for us to stay connected through news and updates.
Will you step up to lead the way by being the first from your grad year to add your name to the Honor Roll of Donors? Don’t miss the chance to give back to the organization that defined our University of Michigan experience. Even just $10 will let your brothers know you’re out there and you still care.
Help us make this giving year the strongest one yet. To give to the 2022-23 annual fund today, use any of these methods:
Click here to see who’s on the 2022-23 Honor Roll of Donors. Add your name now.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that we lost Steve “Captain” Hook on September 24th after a valiant battle with frontotemporal dementia. Steve was a very active member of the Michigan Chapter of Delta Chi, holding the offices of Corresponding Secretary, “E”, and Member-at-Large. Steve lived in the house for five consecutive years including summers, he was always there to share a good story. Memories of him holding court in his room at the house, “Heaven”, by listening to folk music, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Paul McCartney and Wings while he pontificated upon the events of the day are warm and numerous. Steve was always first in line to have the best of times on the weekend activities and could party with the best.
He stayed in touch with other alumni throughout the years including Greg Roda, Scott Walls and Mark Dunning and he was instrumental in bringing freshmen Jim Fuger and Jim Slawson into the fraternity his sophomore year given that they all hailed from East Grand Rapids High School. Along with other alumni he shared their admiration for the chapter house chef of many years, the late John “JR” Russell. They all made a road trip to visit JR and stopped to visit another alumnus, Frank Morrey in Marietta GA.
Jim Fuger, Mark Dunning, Scott Walls and Greg Roda attended the very moving and beautiful memorial service in remembrance of Steve in Kent, Ohio, where he was professor at Kent State University. True to their heritage of fraternity brothers, they celebrated in a raucous fashion that Steve would have approved.
Read Steve’s complete obituary here.
Delta Chi is a student-run, living-learning society that advances leadership skills, cultivates innovation, and promotes social responsibility by engaging the Delta Chi community and its resources through projects, events, and mentorship.
While active brothers are able to learn and develop through our traditions and amongst each other, it is evident that alumni involvement and connections are far more important now than ever. Brothers of all ages can pay it forward to our actives by choosing to mentor the younger generations.
Mentoring:
Delta Chi aims to create an environment that promotes mentorship at various levels throughout the Michigan community to assist brothers in their personal, academic, and professional development, bringing together students, alumni and faculty.
We want to wish all our current Michigan Chapter undergraduates as well as all of our alumni members a Happy Thanksgiving. The holiday season is always a time of reflection, celebration, memories and most importantly, gratitude.
Whether it be through donations or time spent volunteering, we are thankful for your support in more ways than one. As Delta Chi brothers, we share a passion for the brotherhood that contributed to our personal development, our relationships, and our lives as students and far beyond to our roles as husbands, fathers, professionals, volunteers, neighbors, and friends.
We can’t overestimate the true meaning of adding your name to the ranks of our alumni donors. We want to share our continued gratitude to those brothers listed on the honor roll HERE who have graciously given back to Delta Chi this holiday season.
Bruce Bjorseth
Bruce B. Bjorseth, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died peace-fully at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids after a long illness on Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Bruce was born Jan. 2, 1932, in Battle Creek, Mich., the son of Knute and Lillian (Lindquist) Bjorseth. He grew up in Battle Creek and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1954, with a degree in business administration. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a first lieutenant, and served during the Korean War. He married Patricia Sincock on June 18, 1955, and they would have celebrated their 60th anniversary in June.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Pat; daughter, Karin Bjorseth of Des Moines; son, John (Holly) Bjorseth of Buffalo, Minn.; and daughters, Lisa (Greg) Thoreson of Prosper, Texas, and Ann (Jay) Murphy of Marion; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Bruce worked at Collins Radio/Rockwell International until his retirement in 1991.
He has been a member of First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids for 52 years. Bruce was a past member of the Evening Lions Club, Sons of Norway and the Collins Management Club.
A service will be held this summer in Eagle Harbor, Mich., a town where Bruce and Pat spent their summers at their family cottage for many years.
Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 510 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 or the Keweenaw County Historical Society, 670 Lighthouse Rd., Eagle Harbor, MI 49950.
John F. Grayson
John F Grayson, 89, died very peacefully at home on October 31, 2017 in Durango CO.
John was born on March 23, 1928 in Bay City, MI to William and Marie Grzybowski. He graduated early from high school in order to serve in the US Army. He met and married the love of his life, Louise, in 1951 at the University of Michigan from where they both graduated. He received a bachelors, masters and PhD in geology, paleontology, and palynology, respectively, ending in 1954. This resulted in a long and rewarding career as a research scientist for both Mobil Oil in Dallas and Standard Oil of Indiana, or, as it is now known, Amoco, in Tulsa, OK. His retirement years were in Durango where he built his dream home in Durango Hills. He and Louise were active parents of four children for 66 years and Louise pre-deceased him by only two months.
His older brother, Ernest Grayson, and a younger sister, Rosie Holysko, preceded him in death and he is survived by a younger sister, Betty Swincicki, of Phoenix AZ. He is survived by his children: Kathleen Marie Brook and her husband, Peter Szydlowski, of Santa Cruz, CA; Susan Grayson Moore and her husband, Matt, of Durango CO; Nancy Ellen Grayson and her husband, Donnie Francis, of Kingfisher, OK; and David John Grayson and his wife, Mary, of La Grange Park, IL. He has three granddaughters and three grandsons.
He and his wife, Louise, will have a joint memorial service to be held May 26, 2018 at 2 PM in the Durango Arts Center Gallery.
Published by The Durango Herald on Nov. 15, 2017.
Dr. Lawrence Michael Kinstle
Dr. Lawrence Michael Kinstle, born March 14, 1931, died peacefully at his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at the age of 88.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence John Kinstle and Agnes (Desch) Kinstle, as well as his sister Joanne Kinstle Bain. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Alice Evelyn (Goan) Kinstle, his son Michael L. Kinstle (Janine), daughter Karen A. Slotman (Jack), and son Patrick J. Kinstle (Kim). He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Tom and Jake Kinstle, Patrick and Jaclyn Slotman, and Kelsey, Kacie, Ally and Lauren Kinstle.
Larry was born in Flint, Michigan. He attended Milford High School in Milford, Michigan where he excelled both academically and athletically, graduating in 1949. He enjoyed baseball, where cherished news clippings document he pitched a no-hit game his senior year. After high school, Larry enrolled at the University of Michigan where he obtained both his undergraduate and doctorate degrees in dentistry in 1956. During summer breaks Larry worked at General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford as a vehicle test driver. Larry served as a lieutenant in the US Navy providing dental services at the Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. He then successfully managed his private dental practice in Highland, Michigan until his retirement in 1998.
Larry was a loving, generous and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was an avid reader of novels, enjoyed the outdoors hunting, fishing, and traveling with Alice as well as playing his most beloved sport, golf. Larry was a member of Edgewood Country Club in Union Lake, MI for 38 years before retiring to Grand Rapids to be closer to his children. He remained a life-long Michigan Wolverine regularly attending games at the Big House. His mild manner and intelligent humor will be missed by all his family and friends. A memorial visitation is scheduled on Friday, November 22, 2019 from 10:00 to 12:00 am at the Pederson Funeral Home, 127 N. Monroe St., Rockford MI 49341. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Spectrum Health Hospice of Grand Rapids.
Dr. Robert R. Scharp, Jr.
Longtime area dentist Dr. Robert R. Scharp, Jr., 76, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 11, 1942, in Ypsilanti, the son of Robert and Doris (Townsley) Scharp.
In 1950, his family moved to Belleville, where he attended grade school and high school. Bob was a member of the National Honor Society, a drum major in the marching band and played varsity basketball and baseball.
Attending the University of Michigan, he earned his undergraduate degree and, ultimately, his DDS degree, in 1969. He was an active member of the American Dental Association.
After graduating from U of M, Dr. Scharp practiced on Drummond Island for about a year. He then moved to Big Rapids, and opened a dental office with Dr. Richard Stern. For many years, he owned and operated Big Rapids Dental Health Care, and recently opened Reed City Dental Health Care. He loved new technology and was always looking for new ways to improve dental health care for his patients. He truly felt that his patients were friends, not patients.
Bob was a longtime member and former president of the Meceola Country Club and a member at Tullymore Golf Club. In his earlier years, he was an active outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, especially at the Scharp’s Deer Camp, and fishing. He particularly enjoyed taking pictures of family gatherings, sporting events and wildlife. Traveling to watch their grandkids play hockey was a favorite for Bob and Susie. Hockey gave them a chance to visit Powell River in British Columbia, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maine and all around Michigan.
On Nov. 29, 1992, Robert married the love of his life, Susie, who survives. Also surviving are his two sons, Daniel Boone (Tam) and Thomas Scharp, both of Kingsley; his brother, Edgar (Deb) Scharp, of Brighton; step-children Wendy (Brett) Hawes, of Cedar Springs and Bryan (Dena) Marek, of Big Rapids; nine grandchildren, Haley (Zach) Troyer, Mitchell Hawes, Taylor Gibison, Bradley Marek, Taylor Cox Scharp, River Scharp, Eme Scharp, twins, Aiden and Addison Clarke; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Jacquelyn Kay (Scharp) Scott.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be announced at a later date.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Riley MacKenzie Fund, ARC of Mecosta County, BR Hospice or the charity of your choice.
Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
Published by Big Rapids Pioneer from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22, 2019.
Donald Joseph Skinner
Donald Joseph Skinner passed away at the age of 85 on December 7, 2016 at Our Lady of Fatima Villa Nursing Home in Saratoga, California.
Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Don was the only child of Joseph and Marge (née Astrid Margaretta Jensen) Skinner. From them, he was of English and Danish ancestry. He was raised in Hastings, MI. Later he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a B.A. in Architecture in 1956 and a M.A. in City Planning in 1959. During his undergraduate years, he made lifelong friends among his Delta Chi Fraternity brothers, who included Bill Thewalt, Tom Michalski, Tom French, and Bill Cortright. He was a charter member of the American Institute of City Planners and member of the American Planning Assoc. For all of his adult life, he was a faithful and active Episcopalian, who served as a lay Eucharistic minister, lector, and Vestry member. He also loved Taizé services, Cursillo music, and the interplay of spirituality and creativity.
He was married to Paula (née Curtin) Skinner for 25 years, and they had two children, Christen and Matthew. Chris married David Agnello and they have two children, Xander and Serra. Matt married Heidi and they have two children, Ryane and Nick. In 1993, Don married The Rev. Debra Low-Skinner at St. Luke’s in Los Gatos. During Debbie’s 20-year clerical career, they lived in Monterey, CA; New Bedford, MA; Long Island, NY; and Campbell, CA.
During Don’s nearly 40 year career as an urban planner, he worked as plan-ning and management staff for the planning departments of Detroit MI, Oakland County MI, and Chicago, IL (where he became friends with Dean Macris and Tom Melone); the New England Regional Commission in Boston MA; and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) in Berkeley, CA. Then Don, with his ABAG friends, Don Woolfe, Leon Pirofalo, and Bob Harrison, founded the consulting group Planning Research Associates.
Don enjoyed newspaper reading (especially op-eds); following politics, local planning issues, and sports (especially UofM football, tennis, and Boston Red Sox baseball); doing pen and ink drawings of churches and homes; taking photos; and taking car trips.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or a charity of your choice.
Family and Friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service at 2:00 P.M. on Friday January 6, 2017 at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 20 University Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
I was in the house in the early 1960s, an interesting small group of eclectic characters! Dale (Bjorklund ’67) the piano player was center stage at parties. For any house improvements, Howard (Gandelot ’64) was there with a well-engineered solution; he enlisted me, the botanist, to help pick out and plant new shrubs around the front of the house. Frank (Morrey ’64) was full of ideas and ready to offer an opinion or listen.
We had a cook then and regular meals and good meal time discussions Sharing meals is such an important time for families as well as a group of friends.
There was the sharing of grief also, the assassination of JFK happened during this time and the feelings of hope, new directions and a more just future society were cut short by that one day in Dallas, and sadness of watching the rider-less horse follow the slow procession in Washington, on the house TV. And then soon later his brother Robert met the same fate.
This was the time that the Beatles came into recognition and the whole era of the revolutionary music of the 1960s. Many of those songs have survived the test of time whereas the music of the next decades is less memorable. This music helped set the atmosphere for some interesting house parties that were well organized by some brothers, likely Roger (Premo ’65) was in there doing his part!
As to official duties, I was “C” for some period of time, as well as the recipient of the Wedge award (the engineering and physics students will understand the significance of this special award…).
This was the era of the American War in Viet Nam and the draft was on. Considering the lame excuse for starting the war, I could question my order of life activities, perhaps arriving in Canada later than I should have. However, I was young and naïve, and signed up for Naval ROTC in 1961 before it all began. Through my years at Michigan the war came into full force and I began to question its validity; with the Ann Arbor campus being alive in protest, my compromise was to ask for a non-combatant ship when my time to start active duty began. Being a botanist (islands and their biota have always fascinated me)—and mildly prone to sea sickness—I chose the Pacific vs. the Atlantic, and landed on a hydrographic survey ship (USS Maury AGS-16) out of Pearl Harbor. I asked for the Oceanographic research ship I knew the Navy had so this was close. Of course you can imagine where we were headed, the first year was to survey the coast around the Mekong Delta, the second year a little further north in the clear waters and picturesque coast around Nha Trang, now a prime tourist destination. I was boat officer for a 50 ton survey boat (the ship carried four of them). And so much for the Pacific being pacific; on our first return to Pearl Harbor, one day going on watch I noticed that we were approaching a typhoon, thinking we would soon take evasive action and change course, but every watch we stayed steady on-course for a ‘collision’. The navigator was a quiet thoughtful sort, and the captain a not exactly easy person to give advice to….apparently no advice was given or taken and we headed straight into it!
At Michigan I was a Botany student and spent two summers at the Biological Station near Pellston in the northern lower peninsula. During my undergraduate final years I was a lab assistant, and then as a graduate student, a teaching assistant and a research assistant at the botanical gardens when it was moving to its current location on Dixboro Road. It was my first curatorial experience, recording the plants as they were moved from the old to the new location, and all the new acquisitions.
After the 2 years of active duty with the Navy I entered a PhD program at Cornell where again I was a TA and curatorial assistant at the botanical gardens. With my botanical garden experience at Michigan and Cornell I looked for similar jobs as I was completing my degree. In the meantime I met my future wife, Cherry Booth (1942-2007), on a trip to Toronto to look for collecting sites in a cross continent trip planned that first year. I narrowed it down to two locations, Guelph, Ont. and Spartansburg, SC. I’m not sure the second position ever materialized but Cherry was relieved to hear that I got the University of Guelph Arboretum job! I was there from 1974 to 1991, then Curator of Botany and Manager of Horticulture at the Toronto Zoo until I took early retirement in 1999. Since then I have been doing botanical consulting and more recently, a ‘retirement’ farm on Pelee Island, as far south as one can go in Canada, the same latitude as north California!
With the mild climate and “highest heat units in Canada” I put those conditions to test in the outdoors of Pelee; I have two surviving Himalayan palms, many figs, American persimmons, and several pomegranates, two of which have fruit on them this year.
My professional career was focused on the rare woody plants of the so-called Carolinian Zone of Canada (the milder zone just north of Lake Erie, roughly from Toronto to Sarnia and south), where I did numerous studies leading to species’ federal status as ‘endangered’, ‘threatened’ or ‘special concern’, and follow up studies of their biology and recovery. I continue to do some studies on them plus grow a number of the ones that occur on Pelee (e.g., Kentucky Coffee Tree, Blue Ash, Red Mulberry, Trumpet Creeper, Redbud). Pelee Island is the only place in Canada where Redbud (Cercis canadensis) was once documented, in 1892. It no longer occurs there naturally but I am doing my best to meet the demand for nursery stock of the ones I grow from Michigan, its northernmost population between Ann Arbor and Detroit.
I have one daughter, Robin, and two grandsons, Martin (18) and Daniel (14); they all live in Ottawa. Robin is a philosopher/senior advisor with Transport Canada. Martin is well on his way to being a first responder with many qualifications and skills and a focused mindset for what university training he will need. Daniel is a bit of a naturalist and free spirit who is headed somewhere, with gusto!
I enjoy various outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and paddling. I’m afraid that travelling will be restricted for some time and that may not be a bad thing, considering the environmental cost of it all. COVID-19 is giving us reason to seriously look at the damage we are doing to the Earth, its other inhabitants, and our future on it; hopefully we make the right choices!
In the past I have served on various professional association boards as well as boards of environmental and nature-focused organizations. Currently I am coordinating a nature events program on Pelee, the PELEE BUZZ. Most events were postponed for this summer due to COVID-19, more details at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Local-Service/Pelee-Buzz-1954299834696191/
And for you young Delta Chi brothers who made it this far, follow your passion and make a difference in this world! There are more than enough problems, environmental, ecological and social; if human civilization is going forward and not back into another dark ages, your input is critical!
If any of this sounds interesting, worth pursuing, feel welcome to contact me:
In Guelph or
Swallow Haven Farm, Pelee Island, ON N0R 1M0
Phone/text: 519-724-2174
Email: [email protected]
The national fraternity of Delta Chi shares a seasonal magazine for brothers of all chapters to enjoy. The publication includes stories of success, academics, athletics, culture, student life, and more! Check out the archive of the Delta Chi Quarterly, including the latest edition, here!
Our reunion festivities began on Thursday with a round of golf at the UofM’s Blue Course. Dave Siglin ’64, Roger Premo ‘65, Chuck Aldrich ’66 and Frank Morrey ‘64 have played the course for the last 55 years and love to come back every year. On Friday Dan Maher ‘76, John Stinson ‘75, Dave Siglin ‘64 and Frank played Leslie Park and enjoyed another perfect autumnal day in Michigan.
Our Friday evening Pizza Party was well attended by several generations of Delta Chi alumni. In attendance were:
John and Jeanne Broad ’60, Keith Hellems ’62, Frank Morrey ’64, Roger and Mary Premo ‘65, Dale Bjorklund ‘67, Linn Petersen ’67, Dan Hughes ‘74, Paul Majchrzak ’75, Dan Maher ’76, John and Jennie Stinson ’75, Joe Gradisher with two guests ’79, Paul Luch ’88 and his wife, Joe Burchill ’81, Chris and Chrissy Bence ’10 with daughter and Adam and Natalie Davis ’12 with three sons. There were several actives who joined the festivities giving us the opportunity to get to know some of the brothers personally. They also managed to completely finish off the 12 large pizzas that were delivered. Both John Stinson and Chris Bence suppled a cooler filled with ice and soft drinks at their own expense. Paul contributed a pony keg of Labatt’s Blue at his own expense!! Our thanks go out to them.
Paul Luch attended with his wife, Dr. Carissa Luch, driving their 2021 Mini GP3. It is number 1193 out a 3000 made globally and with its 303 horsepower it can do 160 mph, a speed which Paul has not yet achieved.
A very interesting event occurred that evening after we enjoyed our pizza and worked on emptying the pony keg. When we had arrived that evening at the dining hall, we found the brothers had not cleaned up their mess from dinner that evening, not surprising at all. Since this didn’t sit well with any of us, Dan Maher called out “Let’s clean up this mess!” At which time we collectively cleaned tables, put chairs on tables, swept the floor and John Stinson, among others, mopped the floor. It was as immaculate as a hospital ward. We said then, “This will make a statement”! Truthfully, I’m not sure it was noticed by the actives but we did make a statement nonetheless.
When we arrived Saturday morning we found that a neighbor’s tree had been struck by lightning, caught fire and toppled into our back yard. In fact, the fire department was still there putting out the fire.
We provided bagels, donuts, pretzel sticks and coffee that Saturday morning. In attendance were:
Keith Hellems ’62, Frank Morrey ’64, Dave Siglin ’64, Roger Premo ’65, Dan Maher ’76, Joe Burchill ’81 and Paul Luch and Dr. Carissa Luch. No actives joined us since our reunion coincided with parent’s weekend, but we were able to meet some of the actives and their parents.
Together we watched the Michigan Wolverines play another great game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Big House while we watched in comfort on the big screen at the chapter house. Keith Hellems has made an inventory of the composites we have saved and had those all displayed in the Library Room. We have composites dating back to the days of our founding in 1892. Plans are in progress to have these very old historic composites displayed in the public areas of the house. After the game several of us met for dinner at the rejuvenated Pretzel Bell downtown Ann Arbor, it was a wild night on Main Street.
Our reunion was attended by Delta Chi alumni representing several decades. The presence of younger alumni bodes well for the future of the DX alumni association, we look to them taking a greater role communicating with the alumni group going forward.
We hope to see you next year!!
As summer has come to a close, we would love to hear about your favorite summer adventures! Did you travel abroad with your family or make a trip back to campus to visit some old college buddies? Whether it was this summer or a summer 50 years ago — let us know your answer, and we will share it with your fellow alumni in our next communication!
Do you have a favorite adventure photo or story to share? Tell us all about it!
