Ed Ptacek ’51 on How Being a Leader in ATO Builds Confidence

Ed Ptacek 2013Ed spent many years in the Information Technology industry. His work involved marketing/sales, as well as executive management and consulting. He lives in Solana Beach, CA with his wife Claudette. He has a son in Seattle, and a daughter nearby in Southern California, along with three grandsons ages 5, 11, and 23.

What were some of the best times at Gamma Zeta in the 1950’s?
I especially remember the Gamma Zeta Homecoming Decorations, the Spring Carnivals, which we staged with different Sororities, and many IM Sports. You played whatever contests you could. Some of us would even play water polo, ping pong or horseshoes — anything for those points! Of course, I have to mention the fellowship we enjoyed at Bidwell’s (no longer around) and Kam’s. There was no drinking in the House in those days , which led to our fair share of 35 cent quarts at these upscale establishments.Continue reading

Gerry Kostelny ’72: Successful Real Estate Developer and ATO Team Leader

kostelnyGerry Kostelny: Successful Real Estate Developer and ATO Team Leader

Gerry Kostelny (Gamma Zeta ’72) has been involved in the commercial real estate business throughout his career. He is the founder and CEO of InSite Real Estate, a national owner, developer, and operator of commercial investment real estate.

Tell us about your family.
I have been married to my wife, Carolyn, who plays an active role in our company, for 20 years and have 5 children: Katie – Iowa ’03, a real estate lawyer for our company; Dan – Illinois Gamma Zeta ’05, a member of our company’s industrial property team; Carrie – Illinois Gamma Phi Beta ’07, a lawyer for the Intercontinental Exchange; Tom – Illinois Delta Tau Delta ’12, a member of our company’s retail property team; and Elizabeth – a high school sophomore at Benet Academy.Continue reading

Jack Klues ’74: A Leading Media Executive and Committed ATO

jack kluesWhat direction has your career taken since your Gamma Zeta days?
I have worked in the advertising agency business since graduation from the University of Illinois in 1977. I was first hired by Leo Burnett as a Client Service account trainee starting in the Media Department. I never left Leo and Media operations even though my career did require several changes of business cards over the last 35 years. I stayed in Media rather than becoming an Account Executive. About 15 years ago, I led the “spin off” of the Leo Burnett Media Department to a global Media Agency called Starcom. Two years later, I was asked to also oversee and integrate a rival agency brand named Mediavest. Today, SMG is the largest Media agency in US and the world. After being acquired by the French based holding company, Publicis Groupe, I took on additional responsibilities in managing all of its Media and Digital agency businesses which we call Vivaki (a combination of SMG, Continue reading

Following the Fascinating Career of Maj. Gen. Edward Giller ’40, Who Got His Start at ATO

Giller Edward B Maj Photo 3By Dane Luhrsen ’77

Just do a simple Google search on Major General Edward B. Giller ’40 and you’ll find an enormous amount of information about his amazing life and career. I first read his bio and thought, “why hasn’t there been a movie made about his life?” Then I realized that the only guy who could possibly play the lead was John Wayne and he has passed away. I tried to ask some questions that hadn’t been asked before that might be of interest to the ATOs.

How are you doing now… How are you feeling?
Well, I’m still here. I’ll turn 95 this year so that’s pretty good. My wife of 69 years, Mildred, passed away late last year and that was difficult. I have five children and they all get along and watch out for me. My youngest daughter, Penny lives in Albuquerque and she checks in on me and helps me with the computer. We have a large home here and I’ve decided to stay. I have a service that comes in and takes care of my needs and the house twelve hours a day and that works well. I was involved in an automobile accident last year which set me back so I have to use a walker. As long as I take things slow and careful, I can get around pretty well. I’m not in pain and I feel pretty good all things considered.Continue reading

Robert E. Duginger ’75

9e13589e-0792-4abd-9fe0-dda4f85d3649Robert E. Duginger (Bob) passed away unexpectedly on the morning April 6, 2013, at the age of 60. Bob is survived by his wife, Kathy, and their children, Robbie, Stephen, Emily and John of Irvine. He is also survived by his sister, Mimi Duginger of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Dehner Duginger and Lynn Charles Duginger.

Bob was born on March 20, 1953, in Lincoln, Illinois. He grew up in Middletown, Illinois, and graduated from New Holland-Middletown High School. He graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1978.

He practiced civil litigation defense in Chicago before moving to San Francisco where he represented Travelers Insurance Corporation. Bob and his family moved to Irvine in 1998 where he continued to work in the insurance field including his most recent job as Associate General Counsel at Alta Holdings in Irvine.

Bob was an avid sports enthusiast who cheered on his favorite teams from the Midwest; the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Bulls. On the collegiate level he showed his undying support for his alma mater’s team, the Fighting Illini. In his free time he also enjoyed fishing, golf and tennis. When his children decided to take up soccer he learned the rules and regulations of the sport so that he could become a volunteer referee in their league.

Bob was an active member of St. Thomas More Church in Irvine where he served for many years as an usher and coordinator of the altar server program. He was also a Fourth Degree Knight and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. In 2012 Bob and Kathy were invested in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Bob’s greatest accomplishment was his family. He was a devoted husband and father, and family always came first. His loyalty and strength of character led to strong friendships that lasted his entire life. He always dreamed of retiring to a house on a lake where he could fish every day, but now he has retired to a place far better.

A memorial service in Chicago will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in memory of Bob be made to the following organizations:
• Life Teen Missions – http://lifeteen.com/
Please make checks payable to Life Teen Missions. Send checks to:
LifeTeen, Inc.
13416 Olive Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Attn: Jon Givens

• Knights of Columbus
Please make checks payable to Knights of Columbus Council #13111. Send checks to:
St. Thomas More Church
51 Marketplace
Irvine, CA 92602
Attn: Steve Luchetta

• Brotherhood of Blessed Gerard – bbg.org.za

Continue reading

Rex Sherman 1941

Rex w CertificateJohn Aymond 1980 and I visited Rex Sherman in Pekin, Illinois this afternoon (April 6, 2013) to present him with a certificate of membership in the Diamond Circle “In affectionate appreciation of his seventy-five years of membership, services and devotion to Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity”. We had a great time and I know that Rex appreciated meeting us. He said that he was honored to receive the Diamond Circle Certificate from ATO. We took him to lunch at Applebee’s in Pekin. Rex said that it was the first time in two years that he had been out of his home. He really seemed to enjoy getting out for some fresh air, a change of scenery and a good cheeseburger.Continue reading

Your new alumni Board of Trustees

Please join us as we welcome our new leaders!

Alumni Association Board of Trustees

Jack M. Klues ’77 – Chairman/President
Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Major: Advertising
Graduation Year: 1977
Undergrad Office Served: Social And Philanthropic Teams
Other Campus Activities: IFC Internal Vice President for two years, and responsible for resurrecting campus homecoming tradition with all its components (Parade, Court, Bonfire, Pep Rally, etc.)
Current Career/Profession: I am just completing a 35 year career in advertising /media agency business as Global CEO of VivaKi, a collection of four agencies (Starcom, MediaVest, ZenithOptimedia, Digitas, and Razorfish). I had complete executive managerial oversight of over 20,000 employees in 85 countries and over 80 billion euros of annual ad spend. VivaKi is part of the Paris based marketing communications holding company named the Publicis Groupe.Continue reading

House Corp President Letter

piperHello Gamma Zeta Alumni,

The House Corporation and other alumni have been particularly active with the undergrad chapter these last few months and we’d like to give you an update.

If you visited the house recently, you were probably not happy with its condition. It is not good. The house has experienced rough treatment by the undergrads, inadequate on-going cleaning and maintenance and many years since any significant capital improvements and repairs have been made. This has been coupled with a current group that has not been living up to our long standing tradition of excellence in academics, intramurals, community service and leadership on the University of Illinois campus.Continue reading

Intramural All Points Competition is Back!!

RuboAfter a 38 year absence, the Intramural All-Points Competition will return to the University of Illinois Campus this fall. Any alumni who graduated prior to about 1980 will remember how much fun and exciting this competition was. Fraternities were awarded points for participating, competing in and winning intramural sports throughout the year and a giant trophy was awarded to the winner each spring. Thank Dr. Don “Rubo” Rubenstein ’80 for nudging the IFC and the Division of Campus Recreation to bring this great tradition back. A personal commitment from Rubo to fund a giant trophy for the winner probably helped.Continue reading

Gamma Zeta partners with Alpha Management for Facilities Management of 1101

greg scottAfter careful consideration, your Gamma Zeta Board of Trustees voted to contract with Alpha Management to supplement our pure “landlord” duties for our chapter house at 1101 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Alpha Management was founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has been in business for over 20 years. They currently support over fifty fraternities and sororities across 16 different campuses including four other ATO chapters and five other fraternities at the University of Illinois. They will provide “hands and feet” on campus to allow us to address maintenance and cleaning issues quickly. They bring best practices and proven processes in order to hold our resident members accountable Continue reading