Last Tau Standing

Posted on September 27, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

For the first time, ATO Gamma Zeta is sponsoring a NFL football “Survivor” pool which we’re calling the First Annual “Last Tau Standing” pool. Entrants pick a single NFL team to win each week. They can only pick a particular team once during the season. The last Tau to lose a pick during the season wins the pot, which will be split 50/50 with the winner and the ATO Gamma Zeta historic Bechstein piano restoration fund. With over 60 entrants in our initial pool, the winner will be splitting a pot that is over $6,000 in total!! In addition,

Paul Dioguardi ’95, owner of Hickory House Ribs in Aspen and Parker, CO has sweetened the pot and volunteered to ship 10 racks of his delicious BBQ Ribs to the winner for their Super Bowl party. THANKS Paul!! Finally, we’ll have a standing trophy on display at the Chapter House recognizing each year’s winners of what we hope to be an annual event. Good luck to all of the entrants and thanks for your donations to the piano fund!!

House Renovation Update

Posted on September 27, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

CMAC and Brez ’80s

Last weekend Neil Bresnahan’80 and I attended some basketball and football festivities. In between we stopped by Gamma Zeta and met Worth Master, Jimmy K …

The last time I had been in the House it was a disaster. Well Neil and I were shocked how great it looked on Saturday am. The Living rooms have returned to greatness… The lower level study rooms have been expanded and the Chapter Continue reading→

Chairman Update – September 25, 2014

Posted on September 25, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Hello Gamma Zeta’s,

2014 has been both a challenging and rewarding year for ATO Gamma Zeta.

We’ve made huge progress on the renovation of the public areas of the Chapter house and our historic Bechstein Grand Piano and in improving the culture of our undergraduate membership. Our guys jumped twenty spots in the fraternity GPA rankings and our City of Urbana inspection went better than it has in years last week with nearly every outstanding item being cleared while the inspector was on site. We have also had unprecedented support from alumni with over one hundred Gamma Zeta alumni serving our chapter in many ways. University of Illinois Chancellor Dr. Phillis Wise has just accepted our invitation to visit the Chapter house for dinner on January 21, 2015.Continue reading→

Piano Renovation Update

Posted on September 21, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

I visited the Piano People in Champaign on September 21, 2014 to check up on the status of our historic Bechstein grand piano’s restoration process. The piano is looking great and will be ready for Homecoming on October 25. Former Worthy Master, Drew O’Neil ’14 who is a classically trained pianist and has been playing since he was four years old will be playing at Homecoming. We still need some additional funds to pay for restoration please donate at – https://atoillinois.com/donate-2/piano-restoration-fund/ or send a check made payable to the ATO House Corporation to Att: Dane Luhrsen, 1944 Hampton Drive, Wheaton, IL 60189

Larry Austermiller ‘61 and Dan Blaho ‘90 connect in Tbilisi, Georgia

Posted on September 14, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Dan and Larry and a couple of Dan’s boys in Tbilisi

Note… Larry Austermiller ’61 noticed in a Gamma Zeta News item that Dan Blaho ’90 was working and teaching in Tbilisi, Georgia (that’s the country of Georgia… think Black Sea, not Lake Lanier). Coincidentally, Larry’s son and family are working there as well. So, when Larry took a visit to his family this August/September, he decided to look up his ATO Gamma Zeta brother on the other side of the world. Here’s Larry’s report…

Had not had a chance to connect with Dan Blaho here in Tbilisi, Georgia due to our mutual schedule issues. Learned this A.M. our grand daughter was going to a soccer practice at school where Dan is the new “Director”. Picked out from crowd who I Continue reading→

ATO Gamma Zeta Networking Lunch 9/5/14 with Dr. Michael Terry ’93

Posted on September 7, 2014December 8, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Doc Terry shows his Stanley Cup Championship Rings

On September 14, 2014 over 40 Gamma Zeta’s gathered at the Chicago Club to hear Dr. Michael Terry ’93 share his experiences from ATO, an exciting career and most recently as team Doc for the Chicago Blackhawks. Thanks to Doc Terry for taking the time. Thanks also to Cary McMillan ’80 for hosting us at the Chicago Club. See pictures from event.

CMAC ’80 and Brez ’80 visit the house

Posted on September 6, 2014December 8, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Last weekend Neil Bresnahan and I attended some basketball and football festivities. In between we stopped by Gamma Zeta and met Worth Master, Jimmy K …

Last Tau Standing NFL Pool – Paul Dioguardi ’95 sweetens the pot!

Posted on September 1, 2014December 27, 2014 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

The pot for our “Last Tau Standing” Pool just got much sweeter! Paul Dioguardi ’95, owner of Hickory House Ribs in Aspen and Parker, CO (http://www.hickoryhouseribs.com/index.html ) has volunteered to ship 10 racks of his delicious BBQ Ribs to the winner for their Super Bowl party. THANKS PAUL!!!Continue reading→

RGS Golf Outing wrap up…

Posted on September 1, 2014January 4, 2015 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Chris Crawford ’96 and Eric Handley ’97

Note: Steven Spychalski ’96 and Matt Massucci ’96 started the R. Gregory Swedo Foundation in memory of their Gamma Zeta brother Greg Swedo ’96 who was tragically killed in a hit and run accident in November 2000. The foundation funds scholarships honoring the schools Greg attended, Fremd High School and the University of Illinois. Here’s a wrap up sent in by Matt regarding this August’s golf outing…

We wrapped up another successful R Gregory Swedo Foundation (www.gregoryswedo.com) Golf Outing in August (our 13th event). We had an impressive roster of golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and families at this year’s event. There were over 160 golfers, 15+ volunteers, and another 20+ families at this years Golf Outing & BBQ. We raised nearly $11,000 for the RGS Foundation! In the 13 years of the event, we’ve now raised over $200,000 and have awarded 9 scholarships.

As usual, there was a strong Gamma Zeta presence – over 30 golfers (and representing 15 of the foursomes). Gamma Zeta’s also were responsible for nearly half of the corporate sponsors (Hirewell, Sayers, William A Randolph, Energy.me, CMC Advisory Group, Brian Welch / State Farm, and Scott Augustine / Derse). Unfortunately, its been several years since a Gamma Zeta has won the event, but John Bucklar’s (96) team did finish second after winning a four-way shoot out. We had ATOs ranging from 95s to 2013s. It was a great event, and we’d love to get an even bigger turn out next year. Next year’s event is already on the books – 8/15/2015.

Matt Massucci ‘96

Gamma Zeta’s Moms, Alumni and Undergrads team up to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Posted on September 1, 2014January 4, 2015 by Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter

Dante Ciccone ’02 and cousin Danica

We recently received a nice thank you and acknowledgement letter from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society addressed to our undergraduate president Jimmy Kowalczyk for ATO’s donation of $6,360. This donation is a direct result of the silent auction that our undergraduate members coordinated at Mom’s Day last spring. THANKS to all of our ATO moms who participated in that event and made generous donations.

Also, Dante Cicone ’02, Joseph Patrevito ’02.5 and Justin Ross ’02 were all members of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Poker Run Organizing Committee for the fourth strait year and played key leadership roles in assuring the success this past August of the event that raised a record $87,000 for the society. In their four years of leadership, they have raised $245,000… $21,000 of that has come directly from Gamma Zetas. Charlie DeFranco, Christian Barron and Parker Pevitz, ATO Gamma Zeta undergrads volunteered and helped support Dante, Joe and Justin on the day of the event.

LLS helps blood cancer patients live better, longer lives.

in the 1960s a child’s chance of surviving leukemia was 3%, today, 90% can expect to survive into their adulthood
since the 1960s Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients rates have more than doubled to 88%

Amazing breakthroughs are happening every day from the support from the money raised at events like the Poker Run.

This was a great example of ATO Gamma Zeta parents, alumni and undergrads coming together to support a great cause. We hope to build upon this fantastic example in the years to come and do it even bigger next time.

Awesome job guys!!