Page 3 - Gamma Mu News - Spring 2009

alumNi News

Chapter Dedicates

“Bryan Little” Room Chapter Eternal
We have learned of the passing of
n recognition of an outstanding alumni brother, the the following brothers since our last
I“Little Room” was dedicated at Homecoming 2008. mailing. We send out condolences to
Brother Little passed away in 2008 after a battle with their friends and family.
Cancer. He will certainly be missed by all. His brother,
wife Linda, and their three sons, Stu, age 13, Andy, age 11 John Sivert 502
and Charlie, age 8 were in attendance for the dedication.
His love for sports and life were passed on to his William Lyman 644
children, spending countless hours teaching them to water Lester Bingaman 647
ski, snow ski, fish and golf. Bryan will be remembered Bryan Little 1352
for his loving nature, quick wit, and zest for life that were
treasured by his friends and family until the very end.

Alumni Spotlight: Michael Ritchie 1382

ichael Ritchie is a Residential for that reason that I encourage the current friends were there when you got back. There
MDevelopment and Sales Consultant chapter members to always be proud to show was never a closed door the entire four years I
with @properties. About his work, he says, “I them in every form as and when appropriate.” was in Sigma Nu unless someone was sleeping
love what I do. I advise people in a significant Of becoming engaged with the Gamma Mu or studying. Just open doors an invitations to
time in their life – the purchase or sale of their chapter, Michael said, “When I would pass bond, to converse, to dream about the future,
home. Nothing gratifies me more than to be by the house, I was awestruck by the house or to laugh about the previous night. Those
able to see someone from door to door.” and the members – it looked like a fun bunch. memories of returning to the house to just be
He said his Sigma Nu experience has been About a month after school started, as I walked home will never leave me.”
helpful to him in his work: “I meet new people by Sigma Nu, I walked up to one of the guys Michael stated that as an alumnus, he has
every day and I encounter a wide variety of and asked him about it and if he liked it. They enjoyed “the past two years of watching young
situations in which I must adjust, be flexible, invited me for dinner a few times and later men come full circle and know what the words
and create new ways to solve challenges. offered me a bid. I moved in the house the ‘Fraternal Pride’ really mean.” Asked why
Sigma Nu prepared me well for this career. next semester and never looked back!” he is still involved with Sigma Nu, Michael
There are quite a variety of As a collegian, stated, “The house is [just] a thing but it is a
situations, circumstances, “ Michael was Alumni symbol and centralizing factor. The young
and negotiations that I was proud to be a Chairman and served on men in the house are what is most important.
occur in a successful member of Sigma Nu several committees, “I They no longer feel isolated. Their alumni
college fraternity. I think I and if you weren’t a was always one to help out and their national headquarters are supporting
began to find my interests with the social program them. There is still much work to be done but
through my college Sigma Nu you were and rush program – those as the momentum builds, it gives me great joy
experience that led me to a an unfortunate. were my favorites. I did a to watch these young men ‘get it’.”
rewarding and successful ” little of everything. One
career in sales.” thing that was constant
The University of through my involvement,
Illinois was a natural destination for Michael and which I spread all over campus, was I was
when he graduated from high school. His sister proud to be a member of Sigma Nu and if you
was an alumna, and Michael said, “I longed to weren’t a Sigma Nu you were an unfortunate.
attend Illinois from the time that I was a child That’s just the way my 20 year-old mind
and witnessed my first Illini football game worked. Looking back… I was right!”
at Memorial Stadium!” Michael was also Michael added, “My favorite memories of
destined to become a Sigma Nu. His older Sigma Nu are almost too numerous to mention
brother was a charter member of the Sigma Nu or too dangerous to mention so I will state one,
chapter at Western Illinois. Michael said that brotherhood. One thing I always look back on
he was very familiar with Sigma Nu thanks to fondly is returning to the house. Whether it be
seeing his brother wear “the colors, the badge, from class, the library, the bars, or a football
and the letters.” game – returning to the house was such a Michael Ritchie (center) with JD Sandfort (left) Bob Peacock
“Those symbols stay with you – it is charge because you knew that 50 of your best (right) at the 2008 Duffer’s Open golf outing.