Talk about a Gamma Zeta ATO through and through, listen to this resume…

• Pledged during informal rush first semester of freshman year
• Moved into the house second semester freshman year and lived in the house through graduation
• Served terms as Social Chairman, Rush Chairman and as a Senior was President of the Senior Advisory Committee, a small group of seniors who served as mentors to the younger members of the fraternity, particularly focused on redirecting some hazing practices that had gotten out of hand
• Was awarded the prestigious Thomas Arkle Clark Award as a Senior as the top Senior ATO in the country
• Met his wife Lynn through an ATO brother
• Introduced his sister to brother Doug Ausnehmer and they later married
• Nearly 20 years after graduation, still counts among his best friends, guys he lived in the ATO house with such as Doug, Dan Tarpey, Quinton Bailey, Matt Menna and Jay Nuttal to name a few
• Describes his ATO experience as “fantastic” and the guys in the house at the time then and now a “strong and tight group”

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We’d like to thank Matthew Massucci ’96 for participating in this month’s alumni Q&A:

Where did you grow up and can you tell us a little bit about your childhood family, interests and activities?
I grew up in Barrington, and graduated from Lake Zurich High School.

Why did you choose the University of Illinois? What did you study?
I visited my older sister (Amanda) several times at Illinois several times and loved it. I never really considered any other schools. I was an Accounting major.

What was rush like at the time and why did you choose ATO?
I rushed in the fall of 1992 with my roommate (Al Strobl) and suite-mate (Dan Vanderweit). My roommate was a wrestler, and I definitely rode his coattails through the rush process. Ironically, Dan and I both went through pledgeship, but Al dropped out midway through (and later flunked out of school). I was one of the last pledges and I was definitely impressed with the pledge class that was in place.Continue reading→

From the moment he first rushed Alpha Tau Omega, the fraternity stood out above all others and Donald Ainsworth ’42 knew it would be the fraternity for him. Now, some seventy years later, Ainsworth reflects fondly on his college years with the fraternity and continues to be involved with the organization as an alumnus.

“Being an ATO has been a tremendous plus in my life,” Ainsworth said. “If I could go back, I wouldn’t want to relive just one moment- I would want to relive all four ATO years.”

While reliving his college years is not a viable option, Ainsworth enjoys being able to stay active within the fraternity organization that he says has done so much for him.

“The best thing about my alumni experience has been the opportunity to stay in touch with many of my Illinois ATO brothers and to meet many ATO’s from other chapters via our monthly luncheons,” Ainsworth said.

The monthly luncheons are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Greenbriar Hills Country Club in Kirkwood, Missouri. Ainsworth strongly encourages members to take advantage of opportunities such as these.

“I would encourage not only ATO’s, but members of all fraternities to make their fraternity membership a life-long experience,” Ainsworth said.

Ainsworth graduate from Illinois in 1942, after which he served as an FBI agent and a cryptographer for the U.S. Navy. He then graduated from the Washington University Law School and went into the insurance business, where he served as the insurance commissioner for the State of Missouri. In addition, he has served on the Kirkwood, Missouri City Counsel, as president of the Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce and various other boards and committees.

Why did you join?

Comraderie – word of mouth from hometown friends.

Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

Odie. Frosty, our Samoyed mascot, and his amorous tendencies. Interaction among Pledge class.

What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?

Developed and enhanced my social/interpersonal skills so important in my life. Values to drive or evaluate behavior.

With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?Continue reading→

Young Graduate Finds ATO Basis for Strong Friendships and Network Opportunities

Why did you join Alpha Tau Omega?

In high school, I had an opportunity to visit the house and meet some of the guys, when I was visiting the campus. Right away, I knew they were a good group of guys. They seemed to be very well rounded, in the sense that they had their acts together academically and socially. They were involved in campus organizations and intramural athletics. They just seemed like a real well rounded group of guys. They made me feel accepted as a pledge, and it just seemed like an exciting opportunity. They were a well respected group of guys on campus. And everything turned out just like I thought.

What is your favorite memory of the fraternity?Continue reading→

The Former Chief Illiniwek

The days of exhibiting his Illini pride as the infamous mascot are long gone, but the memories and friendships created by Brother “Biff” Forsyth ’83 in the halls of ATO in the early ’80s are stronger than ever. We caught up with him and asked him to relive those days. We hope you enjoy this alumni profile.

Why did you join ATO?

I joined ATO because of camaraderie and commonality I experienced when I visited the Gamma Zeta Chapter during fraternity rush. The fraternity brothers took great pride both in the physical plant and the esprit de corps of the members, and that made a lasting impression on me.

Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity.Continue reading→

Four Years of ATO Not Enough for Patrick J. Jensen ’98

“Alpha Tau Omega was a major piece of my life for four years,” says Patrick J. Jensen ’98. “It didn’t make sense to abandon that once college was over.” Patrick still stays active with ATO as House Corporation President. “A lot of alumni donated time and energy before me building the chapter to what it is today. I had a great experience in the house and want to make sure that continues for others.”

“Most brothers look back at their ATO experience as a great time, filled with memorable moments and outstanding friendships. As a member of House Corp., I want to keep the alumni informed on the chapter activities, the continued success of the chapter and to help make connections among alumni and undergraduates. We have a great team of people on the House Corporation who volunteer their time to continue the tradition.”Continue reading→

Why did you join?

Was impressed with both the actives and the pledges. Beautiful facility

Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

Outhouse scramble

With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?

No one. Mike Lindsay

Tell us about your family Have you married? Do you have children?

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