RGS Golf Outing wrap up…

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Chris Crawford '96 and Eric Handley '97

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

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Dante Ciccone '02 and cousin Danica

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!!

Chris Kenessey ‘97 climbs for Dwankhozi-Hope

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chris kenesseyThis past August Chris Kenessey ’97 set out to climb to the summit of the tallest mountain in Europe, Mt. Elbrus. Not impressed yet? Mt. Elbrus towers 18,510 feet above the earth, which is over 4,000 feet higher than our own Mt. Rainier.

Still need some convincing? How about this: Chris is climbing to raise money for Dwankhozi Hope. This is the THIRD mountain he has climbed to support DH. His first two expeditions raised $11,000 to help construct school buildings, and this latest fundraiser raised another $11,000 for Dwankhozi Hope! With this being his third mountain climb fundraising expedition, he’s raised over $20,000 total for Dwankhozi! Great work Chris!!!

I survived the attack without the attack

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Tom McGarrity '77

Tom McGarrity ’77

I SURVIVED THE ATTACK WITHOUT THE ATTACK

by Tom McGarrity ’77

… last fall I had a very lucid, vivid and powerful dream. It had to do with the atmospheric dome collapsing on the earth and my needing to hold up the dome in order that we not all suffocate from lack of oxygen. During that night and for the next few days I felt noticeable discomfort with my breathing. that was the night before my dear friend, Florence, entered the hospital for the last time. and in the end, it was her lack of oxygen that led her to the celestial realm. I couldn’t help but tie the dream and her departure together. But later in the year I began having considerable trouble with my respiratory system.Continue reading→

Coach Mike Small ’88 named Illini Coach of the Year

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Mike SmallCoach Mike Small and the University of Illinois men’s golf team each earned an end-of-the-year honor from the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics on Wednesday.

The squad is the 2013-14 Team of the Year, while Small is the 2013-14 Coach of the Year after a vote by UI head coaches and athletic administrators. It is the first year for both awards.

The Illini earned their seventh consecutive berth in the NCAA tournament last month, the longest streak for a Northern school. The team finished fifth overall. Small has been with the program for 14 seasons and has led the squad to the national tournament nine times in 13 years.

 

Jeff Solaro ’04.5 wins award for Excellence in Pro-Bono work

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Jeff ScolaroJeff Scolaro ’04.5 of Daley Mohan Groble received an award at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ Fifteenth Annual Award Ceremony for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service. He represented, through the Federal Settlement Assistance Program, a client who initially sued her union for failing to represent her after she was terminated by her employer.Continue reading→

Bill “BB” Barry ’77 Inducted into the Taylorville High School Sports Hall of Fame

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Dane Luhrsen '77, Bill "Buckets" Ganey, BB, Bruce "Carp" Barry '79

Dane Luhrsen ’77, Bill “Buckets” Ganey, BB, Bruce “Carp” Barry ’79

BB graduated from Taylorville High School in 1973. He was a three sport star who was an All Mid-State Conference quarterback in 1972, team MVP on the Tornadoes ‘ basketball team and shortstop for the baseball team in 1973. However, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a “Friend of Sports” for his generous support of Taylorville athletics for many years as a contributor to the Tornado Open Golf Outing and many Continue reading→

Saving the Historical Gamma Zeta Bechstein Grand Piano

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Bill Woods, clarinetist; Jim Moses, vocalist; Tom Roland, pianist; and Tom Krigbaum, trumpet

We’ve all walked by the piano in the Daniels Room (west living room) of the Thomas Arkle Clark Chapter House hundreds of times and probably didn’t think much of it. In recent years, however, it has, fallen into serious disrepair. Drew O’Neil ’14, last year’s Worthy Master, mentioned to me that he was an avid piano player as a kid, would like to play again, and asked if we could get it restored. That simple question caused me to wonder about the origin of our piano. When did we get it? Where did it come from? Is it valuable? Is it historically significant? Should we restore it and if so, how much will it cost?Continue reading→