/^tc«s (jefor^ Nittang Iffitt lAvjcvra** Gamma Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at the Pennsylvania State University DECEMBER, 1978 STATE COLLEGE, PA BUCCO'S 2ND YEAR Undergraduate President Looks Forward to Another NORRIS PIG DINNER AWARDS AND ASHES AT 1978 HOMECOMING PIG DINNER Year of Improvement It is with regret and many fond memories that we bring to a close the present undergraduate administration. Many events stand out in my mind. I have seen the initiation of 27 men this past year and the recent pledging of 17 more fine men. Attending the Ekklesia at Mackinaw Island this past summer was an event I wil l never forget, especially the extremely moving moment when Texas A&M and Maryland were granted charters. To see the chain of Phi Gamma Delta broadened was unforget table. The fall has been the most enjoyable term I have had at the house. The brotherhood's strength seems to me to be at its peak. This was expecially evident during the re cent work weekend with the brothers and pledges working together and making many internal improvements at our house. The turnout was encouraging to say the least. The march to number one by our footbal l squad has done much to boost morale at Gamma Phi and Penn State, and we are once again proud to have a number of men from the house on the team and coaching staff. continued on page 2 At Homecoming on October 21st, Gamma Phi cele brated its 90th Anniversary as a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. Possibly our best turnout ever came back to Fishburn Lodge for a weekend of football and reminiscing. Following the game, a cocktail party was held at the house until it was time to go to the Nittany Lion Inn for the Pig Dinner and Ceremony. John Sheppard, past president of the Archons, was our guest speaker. His talk concerned responsibilities to the fraternity by both undergraduates and graduates, and what could be done to keep our chapter and the fraternity strong. John Reihner, past Gamma Phi president, served as toastmaster. Receiving Silver Owl Certificates for their 25th anni versary were: Dick Bunnell, Bill Forrey, Jim Dean, Russ Gaul, Bob (Buck) Gray, Jack Krumrine, Bob Miller, Frank Cakes, Bob Murrer, Bill Pyle, Tom Schott, Al Wampler, Bill Walters, and Hardy Williams. Ken Holderman burned the mortgage, and George Hutchinson '15 was once again the oldest brother in attendance. We love to see George come back year after year. Winners of our annual awards: Joel E. Crouch (pledge with highest GPA) Kevin Murray Jack Krumrine (outstanding IM athlete) Bob Gardner Outstanding Alumni Rick Knechtel Outstanding Senior Officer Rick Etiing Outstanding Sr. Non-Officer Paul Rapp My thanks for a successful Homecoming go to Bob Miller, Bucco Stewart, Scott Trayers, Scott Sieck, and Bob Gardner, all of whom played key organizational roles. Your continued support is necessary and very much ap preciated. Make plans to come back next year for our 91st Anniversary. John Dupeii '79 Homecoming '78 Chairman INSIDE: ... Fiji Profiles ... New Pledges Bucco Stewart presents Rick Etiing with the outstanding senior officer award. ... Alumni News ... More Pictures from Pig Dinner \r\nPAGE 2 NITTANY FIJI Editor: Contributors: Steve Kipp Terry Curley, John Duppell, Bucco Stewart, Callas Richardson, A! Gesalman, Rob Onofrey, Photographs: Dean Guerro A Message from One of Ed Graham CABINET George Neil Stewart IV President David John Haffner Treasurer Michael Joseph Toretti Stephen Kent Kipp Dean Pasquale Guerro Recording Secretary Corr. Secretary Historian Rush Chairman Alan Wade Gesalman David Bradford Watson House Manager BOARD OF TRUSTEES President: T reasurer: Secretary: Purple Legionaire: Members: Harding Williams '53 Wesley Boschert '75 Rudolph Japchen '53 Robert Miller '54 Harold Wilson '51 Jonathan Beerer '71 John Finneran '72 Our Thirteen New Brothers Week after week of clean-ups, bar duties, and midnight parties, we weren't sure it was going to end. But, after all was said and done. Gamma Phi's thirteen newly-initiated brothers understand and appreciate the lessons of pledging. We have become part of Phi Gamma Delta just by making Phi Gamma Delta a part of us. Some of our best times have come from pledging, and we will never forget what it has done for us. Damn glad to be a Fiji! Callas Richardson '81 William Pyle '53 Charles MacKenzie '58 Any suggestions, criticisms, alumni news, etc. should be sent to: Editor, Nittany Fiji SEVENTEEN IN Phi Gamma Delta 319 North Burrowes St. NEWEST PLEDGE CLASS State College, PA 16801 The Nittany Fiji is published three times a year by the Gamma Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, for the informative enjoyment and reading pleasure of the alumni, undergraduate members, and friends of the Gamma Phi Chapter. Address changes should be sent to Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity Alumni Records Office, PO Box 296, State College, PA 16801. Another well-diversified class of men have made their pledge to Phi Gamma Delta. They have , in their first two weeks of pledging, already shown a remarkable pride in their work for the house. We look forward to working with them and keeping the house in great condition. Here's a run-down of the new pledge class: Alumni Recommendations Sought Robert K. Adamack Rush has once again gone well for us this past fall term. Al Gesalman, the rush chairman for the last year, has as sembled a group of seventeen (17) new winter-spring pledges, with a couple more that are possibly going to join in a week or two. Still, our rush program will continue throughout the winter as we hope for about 15 spring-fall pledges. One area of weakness has been in graduate recommenda Penn Hills, PA Industrial Engineering James J. McChesney Pittsburgh, PA Civil Engineering Douglas J.T. Borkowski Brendan C. McManus River Vail, NJ Pittsburgh, PA Pre-med Bus. Administration tions. We have received fewer than five letters of recommen Geoffrey A. Brodhead dation, and two of those were from graduates of other chap St. Louis, MO Psychology Jeffrey A. Norris Seattle, WA ters! Please let us hear from you if you know of someone interested in rushing Phi Gamma Delta. A specially pre pared card has been enclosed for your convenience. Please mail it to us at the house (it's pre-addressed) when you have a man (or men) for us to consider as a potential Gamma Phi. Remember, you can help keep the chapter at its top strength by recommending men for our house. Let us hear from you soon. Rob Onofrey '80 Political Science Agricultural Bus. Mgt. Gregory J. Peterson Ridgefield, NJ Electrical Engineering Robert B. Campbell Princeton, NJ Scranton, PA Economics Pre-Med Christopher J. Clements Shamokin, PA Robert Rutka William M. Bush Lower Burrell, PA Law Enforcement & continued from page 1 Last April, we took part in Spring Week for the first time in a number of years, and this winter we hope to be in the Dance Marathon for the first time. We are in the top five in intramurals and rush is going well with an unbelieveable 90% of the young men extended bids accepting. On a less fraternity-related note, but one equally appeal ing to me, Mike Stewart missed his first Pig Dinner since becoming a Fiji due to the birth of a daughter on Home coming night. I look forward to a second year as president of our great chapter with much optimism and anticipation. The outgoing cabinet made great strides toward a more unified house, and we feel that Gamma Phi is on the upswing. We Michael J. Ratchford Lower Burrell, PA Business Logistics Corrections Donald A. DiVite William P. Sieg Boonton, NJ Division of Undergraduate Bus. Administration Bellfonte, PA Studies State College, PA Craig P. Smith Mechanicsburg, PA Labor Studies Bus. Administration Michael E. Kelley, Jr. James I. Tarman State College, PA Bus. Administration want to be number one for a long time! Fraternally, Al Gesalman '79 Perge! Pledge Trainer Bucco Stewart '80 \r\nDECEMBER 1978 PAGE 3 GRADUATING SENIORS LEAVE FISHBURN LODGE CHARLES E. CHIAMPI Hailing from Pittston, PA, Charlie has been a Marketing major in his four years at Penn State. Besides being a close personal advisor to President Cefalo during his administration, Chaz has been graduate relations chairman and Homecoming '77 chairman. Charlie has been a manager for the footbal l team these past four years, and this year is head manager. He was active in the summer IM sports also. Charlie plans to stay around State College until after the bowl game and then start to work. Sic HEADS FOR GEORGE HUTCHINSON. -Vfci M * * * STEPHEN K. KIPP Steve comes from Mechanicsburg, PA and majored in Finance at Penn State. Besides serving on numerous committees. Kipper was corresponding secretary this year (and editor of four Nittany Fiji's) and Spring Week '78 chairman for the house last April. On the side, Steve was the house "bookie" for football and baseball games. In intramurals, Steve was a three-year starter on the football team and was the head basketball coach last winter. Kipper hopes Social Calendar for Winter 1979 to take a job in a corporation upon graduation this November and wants to make his career in the area of personnel admin istration. ***** December 1 2 December 8 9 Happy Hours with Beta House Party House Party Jammy with Pi Kappa Phi December 15 16 Christmas Party MICHAEL P. MILES As a Nuclear Engineering major at Penn State, Mike was an active member of the American Nu clear Society. Mike was best known for his sense of humor throughout the house. He was involved in intramural soft- House Party 5 Social with Delta Gamma chlmpiinsh 6 Party with Phi Kappa Psi Celebration January 12 13 House Party Party with Skull House ,. Weekend January 19 20 (Formal! Band: Buffalo Chip Kickers January _ , ball, racquetball, and basketball. Upon graduation, Mike will start looking for employment in nuclear engineering and later hopes to go to graduate school in health physics. Mike's hometown is Apollo, PA. Terry Curfey '81 Formal at Toftrees Band: 7-11 Band (tentative) January 27 House Party House Party February 2 3 Movie (tentative) House Party February 9 10 Social with Delta Delta Delta House Party 16 17 Party with Tau Kappa Epsilon February 26 imk: Z>tiC IHJC StiC Social with Pi Beta Phi The house will be having its regular Wednesday night taps in addition to the above scheduie. Come back and enjoy a party or a weekend with us soon! Ed Graham '79 Social Chairman Newsnotes from Around the House Gamma Phi's Mike Toretti and Mike Wootten were named Pi Beta Phi sorority's newest "Arrowmen" for Fall 1978. ...TAILS FOR KEVIN MURRAY Terry Curley '81, takes over as new Corresponding Secre tary and Editor of the Nittany Fiji from Winter to Fall 1979. Look for the next issue in February or March. AT THE 1978 NORRIS PIG DINNER \r\nPAGE 4 NITTANY FIJI *** FIJI PROFILES *** GEORGE SIMON '63 Gamma Phis from the Past AS WE PROMISED, HERE ARE MORE ALUMNI PROFILES OF OUTSTANDING GAMMA PHIS FROM THE PAST... Brother Simon began his four-year stay in Happy Valley in 1959 and majored in business administration while there. He served as president of the house in 1962-63, the year of his graduation. The chapter days and nights provided many memories for George. One thing that sticks out in his mind is a musical group,"The Dappers", made up entirely of Fijis. "They did pretty well for themselves," said George. "I believe they made enough to pay for their entire senior year in college." As president, George and his administration lifted the anti quated rule of not allowing non-Protestant students into the house's brotherhood. "Everyone felt the rule was tremen MIKE STEWART '72 Originally from Manor, PA, Brother Stewart majored in public service at Penn State from 1968 to 1972. He joined dously outdated, so we decided that it was time to do some thing about it. We were losing some of the best guys on campus." After his graduation, George was with both IBM and US Steel for a while. He took some graduate courses at Duquesne the house in 1969 and was the president in the 1971-72 school year. and Bradley Universities, and for the last eight years has been Stew has been extremely active since joining the fraternity, both as an undergraduate and a graduate brother. Besides he makes his home. being president, he was treasurer and rush chairman. He also was our Wilkinson Award nominee, winner of the Jack Krum- rine award for intramural participation, on the Intrafraternity Council, and was a member of Parmi Nous. In his senior year he won the Senior Service Award. Stew has countless memories from his days at the house. with Keystone Consolidated Industries near Peoria, IL, where George married the former Irene Drury, also a Penn Stater and a Chi Omega. They have three children, Scott, 13, John, 11, and Allison, 6. The obvious distance problem from Illinois to State College has prevented Brother Simon from getting back to the house in recent years. He misses the house and often thinks about his days here. "I'd like to get in touch with the guys who As president, he recalls that he sometimes had to watch the live in my area now who were at the house." brothers closely. "I was always trying to catch Hartzie break into the kitchen, and trying to catch John Hoffman set off the fire alarms." He also remembers an exciting IM track meet classes to heed the call for funds for the house. "The Penn State Phi Gam is one of the most beautiful houses anywhere. in which Steve Pietrosino nipped Stan Baran at the wire to It should be kept that way." win the finals of the 880 relay. On a more serious note, Mike won't forget the words spoken by John Cappelletti when he was initiated, or his own final Senior C&R. After his graduation from PSU, Stew served as a field secretary for the National Fraternity for two years. He saw the U.S. from coast to coast, and got to parts of Canada as well. He then went to Pitt Law School for three years, from He would also like to appeal to the graduates from all "Penn State is a great school to attend. I've seen many universities, but none have matched the sheer beauty of Happy Valley. Penn State offers much to the students, and the students shouldn't waste it; they should take full advan tage of it. I never realized how much I would miss Penn State." We hope to see George and other members of the class of '63 back at the Lodge soon. 1974 until earning his degree in 1977. He is now a lawyer for Goidlewski and Stewart in Greensburg, PA, where he lives. He married the former Karen Divorsky ("The best thing ever to come out of Pitt"), and they are the guardians of four children; Debbie, 14, Patty, 13, Steve, 11, and Shad, 5. Karen and Mike became parents of a daughter this past Homecoming night, October 21st. Congratulations! Stew takes much pride in the fact that his nephew, Bucco, achieved much success as president of the house and continues his term for a second year. He has fond memories of his un dergraduate days at the chapter house, and he enjoyed being treasurer of our house corporation. Stew feels that "It's always good to keep in touch with the guys and get together once in a while." Brother Stewart is very active in his community. He is on the board of directors of the PSU Club of Westmoreland County, and is active in youth athletics in the town, especially basketball and baseball. He is a commentator and eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensburg. His hob bies include distance running ("My goal is to finish a 10,000 I f meter race"), handball, tennis, and basketball. "I feel I should have paid my college tuition to Phi Gamma Delta. It was the best learning experience I've ever had. At age 19, I was in control of a $60,000 budget, and as a 21-yearold I had to control a bunch of rowdy 18 to 22 year olds. I made so many lifelong friends from the house. I hope every one realizes how much the fraternity will always mean to him." Ken Holderman has just set the second mortgage afire while Bob Miller watches his hand burn. \r\nPAGE 5 DECEMBER 1978 SHAPING UP IN INTRAMURALS Once again, we are in good shape in the race for the Bischoff Trophy at the end of fall term. In tennis singles, Bucco Stewart made it two in a row as he went through his matches with hardly a score. Doug Pysher almost made it an all-Fiji final, but fell in a three set tie-breaker to the eventual runner-up. NEWS FROM GAMMA PHI ALUMNI Visiting the house and his old room last June was A. HARDEN COON '18. Scoop tells us that he is not retired and does not expect to be, and his aim is to get a day older every day. Scoop's address is 125 Orchard E., Newberry Estate, Dallas, PA 18612. ner, Mike Toretti, and Steve Kipp played the offensive line and allowed only two sacks all season. On defense, Al Retired from the Allied Chemical Company, HAROLD R. LONG '19 is 82 years young and taking life easy. Mike is recovering from a rather difficult operation but now feels well enough to do a lot of walking and play some golf. He has fond memories of joining the house-when it was new when he worked very diligently with the rest of the brothrs to level the grounds around the house. Address for the Longs is 3625 W. Moreland Rd., Apt. D-18, Willow Grove, PA Gesalman and Kevin Murray were standouts. 19090. We had an outstanding volleyball team composed of all underclassmen. They finished at 4-1, losing only to Acacia, the eventual champs. Mick Zunich and Randy Dewar played are outstanding memories of Gamma Phi for JOSEPH H. key roles. PaLmER '30. Now retired, Joe's address is Box 292, RD 1, Bob Gardner, Randy Erb, and Kevin Adamack played handball singles for the house. Kevin made it to the finals, Elysburg, PA 17824. while Bob and Randy also had fine showings. Winter sports look promising this year, and we are in A civil engineer for Yerkes Associates, Inc., JOHN B. YERKES '33 resides at 633 Weadley Rd., King of Prussia, great position to recapture the Bischoff. PA 19406. The golf team made it to the semi-finals of their flight. Golfers were Mike Toretti, Doug Pysher, Terry Potter, Jim Shute, and John Dupell. In football, we had a disappointing 5-3 season, although we played pretty well throughout. Dave Haffner led the of fense and Bill Schmucker was our quarterback. Bob Gard Hell week and Saturday night dinners in formal dress John Dupell '79 IM Chairman OW AK. 3