Author Archive: Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Chapter Eternal – Dr. Mick Turk ‘61

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Jim “Dobie” Dobrovolny passed on the sad note that Dr. Mick Turk ‘61 passed. Here is a link to Mick’s obituary:

http://www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2013-11-22/michael-turk.html

“He was great friends with Dr. Bill Mohlenbrock ’61 now from San Diego. They grew up together in Murphysboro. Mick played baseball at UI and Bill played Basketball for Harry Combs here. Mick learned that he had had cancer in both of his kidneys very recently. He was a very generous and gentle man who donated much of his time in retirement to providing dental services to kids in need. I think he has a grandson on Notre Dame’s nationally ranked hockey team. Mick always had a smile and kind word for anyone, loved to play golf, smoke a cigar, and help kids.”

Jim “Dobie” Dobrovolny ‘70

“We have been the closest of friends since about the 7th grade. We played football and basketball together and no two young guys could have been closer. He left U of I early when he had the opportunity to take a seat in the dental school. He was one of us Taus. Mick had been retired for 5 or so years and was content and happy.”

Dr. Bill Mohlenbrock ‘61

Mike Finke, son of Jeff Finke ’90 signs with Illini Basketball

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Finke1Jeff Finke ’90 starred on the Illini Basketball and football teams back in the late 80’s. Now his son, Mike has followed his dad’s footsteps to play for the Illini. John Groce announced this week that Mike has signed to play basketball for the Illini. Here’s a link to the announcement at FightingIllini.com – http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111613aaa.html

Congratulations to the Finke’s!!finke bb

finke fb

Honoring Gamma Zeta Servicemen on Veteran’s Day

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CapelLast week on November 11, our country honored our servicemen on Veteran’s Day. This past Saturday, the Illini football team wore helmets honoring the ten Illini football players who died in the service with special helmets displaying ten stars, one for each of these men. One of those stars recognized Gamma Zeta Bruce Capel ’65 who was killed in action in Viet Nam.

Gamma Zeta has a proud tradition of service to our country.  During WWI and WWII, the house was closed down for a time due to so many of our brothers leaving for military duty.   Many more served during Viet Nam and though today.  Three Gamma Zetas that I’m aware of have risen to the very top ranks of our services – Major General Edward B. Giller 1940 – Air Force, Brigadier General Frank E. Blazey Jr. 1946 – Army and Rear Admiral William D. Masters, Jr. 1965 – Navy.  However, over time, I’d like to record and recognize all of our Veterans in some way so please send  me the information.Continue reading→

Chapter Eternal – Stephen Hill ’55

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Steve HillWe’re very sorry to pass on the news that Stephen Hill ’55 passed away last November. Stephen was originally from Springfield, IL but in his later years, lived in LaGrange. He was part of a great group of guys who became Gamma Zetas from Springfield at that time including Carl and Bob Baker, Bob Phillips, Dick Kurz, Paul Hayes and Dick Walbaum.

He earned his undergraduate degree in commerce and law in 1955 from the University of Illinois and continued his studies in law, passing the Illinois Bar Exam in 1957. Continue reading→

Scott Tolzien’s Proud Father – Mike “Var” Tolzien ‘75

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VarCheck out this podcast that Bill “BB” Barry ‘77 just passed on which includes an interview that Mike “Var” Tolzein ‘75 recently did on a Wisconsin Sports Radio show regarding his son Scott who has just become the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers.

Here’s the link – http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/news/wisconsinafternoonnews/231800291.html

Scott was 24-34 for 339 yards last Sunday against the Giants.

Congrats to Scott and Var!!

Go Packers!!!

Peter “Raven” Korst’s (GZ ’76) Trip to Chile

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Raven 1Peter Korst participated in a fascinating trip to Chile this past spring as a part of IBM’s Executive Service Corp. The following is an interview with Peter after he returned from the trip.

I understand that you just returned from a trip to Chile. How did you get involved and what was the purpose of the trip?… why Chile?

IBM is seeing its greatest percentage revenue growth in developing countries, termed “growth markets”.   Infrastructure can often be a bottleneck for those countries’ growth. Things like adequate roads and transit, water quality, power availability, education and healthcare are examples of basic infrastructure that may lag behind potential explosive growth and ultimately limit the economy. IBM is investing over $50M in pro-bono projects around the world to address some of these issues. We launched a “Smarter Cities Challenge” where cities would submit applications to land one of these projects. 400 cities applied and Valparaiso, Chile was one of 100 selected. Their application was based on economic growth which has personal automobile purchases and usage skyrocketing but with very limited space to carry the traffic, due to the geography of the region. They needed help developing an action plan to address the movement of people, goods and services in the Valparaiso region.Continue reading→

Catching up with Senator Alan Dysert ‘73

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Alan DysertWell… Alan isn’t exactly a Senator but he’s doing the next best thing… playing one in a movie.

Alan, I just saw the Youtube video preview posted on Facebook of your movie project “The Senator: Islandcare is Born” (check out http://youtu.be/dk-IuudzmAk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ce7nTkjn-Y&feature=youtu.be ).  It looks like a lot of fun.  Can you tell us a little bit about the project… where it stands now and where and when we might be able to see the final product?

I finished shooting it as of 2 weeks ago and have been editing as we went along. I just have some musical transitions to write and then start locking in the whole piece. The rough edit is done. It has been great fun. I wrote, directed, produced ( as well as played the Senator). For once I wanted to do a project that I wanted to do- the way I wanted to do it. The only way I could do that was to finance it myself. I have served as executive producer, producer or director on many different projects- but that was all hired gun stuff. I already owned the equipment and the studio- so all I had to do was gather up my crew (that already worked with me ) and the funniest actors that had ever passed through the door of The Actor’s School. It is way over the top comedy. I like that. I kind of did this one for me. It’s a bucket list thing. In the end it will be a comedy series – instead of film- but there will be a film version for film festivals. I was a comedy guy before I did All My Children- but people only know about the soap. This goofy stuff is more of who I am.Continue reading→

Memorial Stadium Football Suite Available

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suitePer, Dr. James DeBord, ’69 – my suite—719—is available for remaining few years on my contract if anyone interested.

Contact Jim directly at jdebord@peoriasurgical.com if you are interested and have any questions. These suites are an excellent way to watch the Illini. Many other Gamma Zeta’s have Suites or portions of Suites and it’s a great way to get together with brothers. Consider teaming up with your pledge brothers and sharing the cost of the Suite. It’s a lot of fun!

You’re Invited!!! December 20 – Annual ATO Holiday Get Together in Chicago

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  • Holiday party 2013What:                      Annual ATO Holiday Get Together in Chicago
  • Who:                       Gamma Zeta ATOs of all ages, friends and family
  • Date:                        Friday, December 20
  • Time:                       3:30 PM – ~7:00 PM
  • Location:               South Branch Tavern & Grille

100 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Chicago, IL 60601

  • Post Party:            Boss Bar – ~7:00 – ???

420 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610

This is our annual, informal, stop by and say hello, buy a brother a beer, post work, extended happy hour. Don’t miss it!! It’s a lot of fun. Please pass this on to any others who you think would be interested.