Category Archives: ATO Alumni News

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→

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.

Gamma Zeta Class of 1963 Celebrates their 50th Reunion at Homecoming

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63s1This past Homecoming, the Gamma Zeta Class of 1963 celebrated their 50th Reunion with a full slate of activities throughout the weekend. One of the highlights was a visit to the Chapter House for a ceremony where Jack Klues ’77, current President of the Alumni Board of Trustees recognized them with Gold Certificates signifying their 50 years of membership in the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.Continue reading→

ATO Gamma Zetas Celebrate Homecoming on October 26

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jackGamma Zetas from the class of ’63 through our newest pledges all celebrated Homecoming at the Chapter House this past weekend. Here are a few comments from those who attended…

“We had a great time at the reunion. The lunch at the house was good and we were all glad that there is a evolving plan to fix up the house. Thanks again for your help in putting this together.”

Dave Cameron ‘63Continue reading→

ATO Gamma Zeta Classes of ’54 (60th), ‘64’ (50th/Gold), ’74 (40th), ’84 (30th), ’89 (25th/Silver),’94 (20th) and ’04 (10th) MARK YOUR CALENDARS for 2014 Homecoming!!

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80s 30thBased upon the successful and fun Homecoming activities from last weekend, we thought that we’d start encouraging classes to begin planning for NEXT year’s Homecoming now. So, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Saturday, October 25, 2014. – Illini vs. Minnesota. We’ve never heard of a group who has gotten together who has not had a great time. The only complaint that it Continue reading→

Michael “Cone” Barrett ’80 invites you to the Ringside for Mercy’s Sake annual gala on October 19, 2013

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ringsideDear ATO Brothers:

I’d like to invite you to the annual Ringside for Mercy’s Sake annual gala on October 19, 2013 at the Chicago Downtown Marriott.  For 22 years Ringside has raised critical funds to ensure that Mercy Home for Boys & Girls continues to care for more than 700 of Chicago’s most at-risk youth annually, including 135 boys and girls that live at our two campuses in Chicago. We have about 100 live-in boys at the original campus on West Jackson Blvd and about 35 girls at the old Walgreen’s mansion in my old Beverly neighborhood.  As Chairman of Mercy Home Ambassador Board, their mission is one I have gotten to know well and believe strongly in as it provides a nurturing home, opportunity for an excellent fully-funded education, and means for personal growth for kids in need.  Mercy Home is 100% privately funded, so events like Ringside are critical for Mercy Home to continue its mission.   Continue reading→

Chapter Eternal – Robert Wiley Lavender ‘54 – 1932 – 2013

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Robert Lavender

Robert Wiley Lavender, age 81, of Douglas, died Thursday, September 26, 2013, at Holland Hospital after a lengthy battle with lung-related issues.Robert was born on February 10, 1932, to parents, Earl and Sears Lavender of Christopher, IL. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1951-1957. Following his service he attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 1954 with a degree in journalism. He was a member of the ATO fraternity. Robert was a partner at Grant/Jacoby, Inc., a Chicago-based advertising agency, focusing on business-to-business clients until he retired in 1995.

In 1980, Robert moved to the Douglas area, where he spent most of his summers. He was known fondly along the lakeshore as “The Muffin Man,” because of his legendary blueberry muffins, which he baked most weekends. Besides cooking, he enjoyed traveling and reading. For many years, he volunteered his cooking skills at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, which was supported by his church, Church of Our Saviour in Chicago. His children dedicated the Robert Wiley Lavender memorial kitchen in his honor four years ago.

Robert was a “subway alumni” of Notre Dame, never missing an opportunity to support his favorite football program. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Moy); three children, Robin (Datu Ramel) Lavender, Missy Lavender and Tim Lavender (Nancy Sonego); seven grandchildren, Elle, Clay, Greg, Wiley, Fallon, Caroline and David; seven nieces and nephews; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronald (Kathleen) Moy, Nora (Joe) Healy, and Donald (Susan) Moy.

A memorial service celebrating Robert’ s life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2013, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 252 Grand St., Saugatuck, with Rev. Corwin Stoppel officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Memorial gifts in Robert’s honor may be sent to Lincoln Park Community Shelter (lpcsonline.org), Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (missionola.com), All Saints Episcopal Church or Notre Dame University. Please visitdykstrafuneralhome.com to sign an online registry or leave a memory.

Continue reading→

Bob Simonds’ 47 raises over $54,000 for ALS research

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simonds walkOn September 22, Bob Simonds, Gamma Zeta ’47 led thousands of walkers along the Chicago lakefront as the family chairman for this year’s Les Turner Foundation ALS Walk4Life. The 2013 event has raised over $700,000 for ALS research and it was Bob and his team that led the way from the very start. Bob’s team was the #1 team with over $54,000 raised and Bob was the #1 individual fundraiser at over $36,000 raised alone. Within those numbers are over $10,000 from Gamma Zeta undergrads from their Mom’s Day event last spring and over $10,000 from Gamma Zeta Alumni and the event last weekend at the Soldier Field Illini vs. Washington football game.Continue reading→

Bob Simonds ’43 Surpasses $60,000 Goal for Les Turner ALS Foundation Fund Raising

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simonds alsALS has put Bob Simonds ’43 in a wheelchair unable to walk, talk or eat on his own but he didn’t let that stop him from achieving an incredible goal of raising over $60,000 for ALS research this year. Bob initially set a “stretch” goal of $50,000 which was significantly higher than last year’s achievement. However, with strong contributions of over $11,000 from Gamma Zeta undergraduates and their Mom’s Day fund raiser last spring and over $11,000 from Gamma Zeta Alumni from the program initiated by John Aymond ’80 at the Illini vs. Washington football game at Soldier Field in September, he raised the bar again to $60,000. Andy Daniels, ATO Tulane ’75 (our own Stu Daniel’s son and grandson) agreed to pitch in another $1000 to put Bob over the top if he could get to $59,000.Continue reading→