Remembrances of our Brothers

Robert Thomas #244 (6/6/1918 – 1/28/2009): Thomas, a WWII veteran, Bruin wrestler / coach, and Golden Cross recipient, passed to the Adytum on High on Jan. 28, in San Marcos (San Diego Co.) at age 90.

Thomas served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and afterward embarked on an illustrious career as administrator of Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, a pre-eminent hospital for the disabled, and L.A. County/USC Medical Center.

Thomas also was Vice President of Blue Cross of California, where he was able to touch so many lives. He was president of the California Hospital Assn. and a fellow with the American College of Hospital Administrators.

“He was a great guy. He was a real go-getter. He was smart and someone who was always looking for a tough job,” his daughter Terri McFarren said.

After retirement, Thomas traveled the world with his beloved wife Barbara, who preceded him in death in 1999, to Indonesia, Soviet Russia, and Communist China. He was an avid golfer at Lake San Marcos Country Club.

Thomas moved to California at age 6, driving with his parents from Carthage, Missouri. The road through the desert was wood plansk and railroad ties, and travelers camped along the way. Thomas attended Fremont H.S. in Los Angeles. During WWII, Thomas succeeded Upsilon alumnus Briggs Hunt, who was drafted, as the Bruin “bonebenders” coach. During the summers, he hitchiked to Yellowstone Park. Thomas was later drafted and saw combat in North Africa, drove landing troop boats on D-Day in France and later in the Pacific. He was on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered to Gen. MacArthur. [Alumnus Fred Thornley was deployed in the bay on another ship.] After the war, Thomas received a Masters in Hospital Administration from Northwestern. Thomas is survived by his two daughters, son, and four grandchildren. His daughter Terri McFarren can be contacted at (858) 565-2025.

Ltc. Raymond DeCamp #468 (9/13/1913 – 10/30/2009): DeCamp, the oldest living Upsilon alumnus, a WWII veteran, and Golden Cross recipient, passed to the Adytum on High on Oct. 30, 2009, in Los Angeles at age 96.

He was a second-generation Californian and spent his entire life in the state. He was cremated and his remains scattered over the Pacific Ocean. One of his last friends in the fraternity was Kennie Gifford. His son, David DeCamp, graduated from Upsilon in 1968 and followed him into the entertainment industry and now works at Sony.

DeCamp was a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Europe during WWII. He repaired bombing damage from German attackes on airfields in England and three days after D-Day, he was deployed in France. After discharge, he served in the Army Reserves for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

DeCamp was raised during the Depression, and he dropped out of UCLA for a year to work, so he needed an extra year to graduate. He worked as a laborer at Warner Brothers Studio in 1936, and after he graduated, he began in the “still department” at Universal Studios. In 1955, he was promoted to the Directors Guild, and he worked as an Assistant Director in movies and television on Operation Petticoat, How the West Was Won, Twilight Zone, Peter Gunn and Mr. Lucky.

DeCamp loved the action of the set, and when the studio wanted to promote him to Unit Manager, he turned them down. “He didn’t want to sit in an office for a couple hundred of bucks a week,” his son David said.

DeCamp stayed active into his 80s, riding bicycles and walking every day. On Saturdays, he and his son watched UCLA football together. He continued to have weekly lunches with his industry friends. DeCamp was a product of the Depression, so he was thrifty and very organized.

DeCamp’s son David DeCamp can be contacted: (818) 347-6883.

Adytum

Please remember the brothers who have passed to the Adytum on High in recent years:

Arthur Williamson – 1952 #436 (2005, San Marino).

Col. William Bennett – 1941 #254 (2005, Reva, Va.)

A. Joseph Spielman – 1942 #265 (3/15/06, Kamuela, Haw.)

Albert “Kennie” Gifford –  1935 #128 (12/6/06, Camarillo)

Julian D’Avanzo 2007 (4/27/06, Oceanside)

Robert Howe – 1952 #416 (9/10/06, Northridge)

Paul Hastings – 1970 #712 (12/7/06, Boulder, Colo.)

Wesley Terry – 1950 #311 (Ukiah)

Leonard Eilers – 1953 #421 (6/29/06, Fair Oaks-Sacto)

Alex West 1949 #386.

William Sewell – 1950 #399  (1/2/07, Danville-S.F. Bay)

James Ross – 1949 #342 (3/5/07, Fullerton)

George Barlow – 1951 #390 (7/14/07, Monterey)

Doug Bergen – 1950 #354 (6/2/07, La Jolla)

Oscar Heselius – 1955 #476 (9/5/07).

Claude Blakemore – 1932 #125 (11/24/06, San Diego).

Joseph Marsalek – 1954 #428 (11/21/07, Arcadia).

Richard Benner – 1940 #245 (11/07)

Ray Carlisle – 1939 #199 (11/25/07).

Thomas Reddy – 1958 #564 (12/11/07).

John Selby – 1954 # 281 (8/1/07).

Jay Van Holt – 1947 #369 (4/6/08).

William Barnett – 1927 #41 (2009, Cardiff by the Sea)

Merle Swanson – 1954 #339 (1/09, Carlsbad).

Roger Denney – 1954 #468 (1/12/09, Irvine).

Eugene Lica – 1940 #247 (1/20/09, Tarzana).

Robert Thomas – 1940 #244 (1/28/09, San Marcos-S.Diego)

Raymond DeCamp – 1936 #468 (10/30/09, Los Angeles)