Brother Bob attends 50th Founders Day
WESTWOOD – Bob Howe (Northridge) has attended every Founders Day since 1955 except one, so that adds up to 50 Founders Days!
On Feb. 25, Howe showed up for the 83rd Founders Day, his 50th in 51 years!
Bob was one of several pledges from the late 1940s, who represented the wisest of the wise, which also included Capt. Ray Lahr (Malibu), Dick Kater (Simi Valley) and former sage and student body president Fred Thornley (Fullerton).
Many brothers called it the best in recent years, and 79 attended (an increase from the 55 who attended in 2005).
Pinche chef Ruben Zuniga and his mija Julia Zuniga feted us with a great Hawaiian buffet of roasted pig (no, Steve Hazarabedian did not leave the head on the K.D. doorstep), ahi tuna, roast beef and aloha chicken.
Many brothers came from great distances: Gene Roche (New Jersey), Ltc. Ron Rule (Wyoming), John Ivsan (North Carolina), and Ron Mathis (Tulare), Bill Kelly (Sacramento), Chris Cochran (Sacramento), Doug Frank (Fair Oaks) and Doug Glantz (Walnut Creek) from northern California.
Glantz has made the trip from San Francisco and Dallas for three consecutive years. Erik Johnson (Fullerton), Dan Furr (San Diego) and Lance Fuchs (San Diego) returned after absences of 10+ years.
Thanks also to those who rallied at the last minute and made time for the brothers: Bill Kealey (Lomita), Dan Romero (O.C.), Ed Rhee (Redondo Beach), Ltc. Ron Rule (Wyoming) and Dr. Kent Shoji (Rolling Hills Estates), who shuffled over from his honorable job on campus saving lives in the UCLA Medical Center’s emergency room. Scott Scheffler (Marina del Rey) also was able to attend, getting some hours off from his job on campus with the U.C. Police Dept.
A large contingent from the 1958 pledge class attended: Chuck Bader (Pomona), Ron Mathis (Tulare), Gary Stafford (Hacienda Heights), Jack Burghardt (Alhambra), Alex Riddell (West L.A.) and Doug Frank. Doug Frank returned to Los Angeles and the house for the first time in almost 30 years and combined the trip with visits to his former U.S. Marine Corps colleagues.
Rich “Franko the Warrior†Frank (Simi Valley) found a sitter for his 9-year-old daughter (the house did kindly offer its sitting services, to its credit) and rallied a group from the late 1960s/early 1970s that included Chris Cochran (Sacramento), Dave DeCamp (San Fernando Valley), Dr. Kent Shoji and Dr. Rainer Beck (Marina del Rey). Fred Faeth (Irvine) joined the group earlier in the evening prior to the event. Dave reports that his father, another Upsilon alumnus Ray DeCamp (San Fernando Valley) from 1937 is a spry 92 years old and still drives around town!
Franko and his group prowled the halls, trying to get a look at what the rooms looked like these days, but few takers were found for a group of 50-year-olds wanting to hang out and chug with 18-year-old actives. (I tried to explain that the actives would rather be with the ladies of sorority row that Franko’s group, and that this type of behavior is exactly what got the Catholic Church in trouble during the last 40 years, which is a liability that UAA does not need!)
Business notes: The Alumni Association has 41 donors thusfar in 2006. A “Seniors Dinner†and possibly a “Career Night†are planned for June. The Sigma Pi World Series is on May 6 at “The Yard†in Fullerton. Contact Dan Romero, if you want to play: DRomero@DRom.net .
Art Martinez (West L.A.), secretary of the 501-c-7 non-profit Upsilon Alumni Association chaired the Annual Meeting. Herman Quispe (Pasadena) is the sole board member with decision-making responsibility. Jay Ross (West L.A.) was re-elected UAA President for 2006-07. All actions taken during the past year by the board member were approved by the membership.
Tom Miller (Santa Monica), president of the Upsilon Chapter Housing Association, chaired Board Meeting. The house interior was repainted during the Fall, and the next project is to renovate the back balcony doors and windows. If interested in joining the Board, contact Tom at (310) 394-8649 or LvzGolf@AOL.com.