Page 1 - Theta Delta Chi - Spring 2015

Spring 2015 | Sigma Triton Charge of Theta Delta Chi | Alumni Relations Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | 770-903-3987 Alumni President Alumni Spotlight: CDR (USNR Ret.) Update Andrew Kartalis ’54 s you fip Athrough Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter Inc., in 1985. After the pages of we’re shining the Spotlight on Brother Andy many years of the Pillars, I Kartalis ’54. From the hometown of Farrell, PA, successful projects, urge you to Andy came to Penn State in pursuit of his degree in Andy retired from read through Civil Engineering. While in school he participated the hotel business all the recent in the Airforce ROTC for two years. Following in 2005, but achievements graduation Andy began work for Standard Oil remains invested of the Brotherhood as well as the Co. in Whiting, IN. After a year at the refnery in Concord and upcoming events. Some specifc Andy found himself eager for a change and he is on the Board of events that I wish to highlight volunteered to serve in the Navy. Andy spent the Directors. Today, are the Mini Preamble Institute next 21 years in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps he spends his free session at State College, the and served in the Vietnam War. He also earned his time with his wife upcoming Regional Meetings and MS from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1969. Katherine, their the Sigma Phi Sigma Reunion. Before retiring as Commander USN in 1976, Andy two daughters For those unfamiliar with the was honored with the Navy E-Award for superior Angelique and Elena, and their six grandchildren. Preamble Institute (“PI”), it was naval service. A new career in real estate began Andy also enjoys being an active alumnus of created by the TDX Grand Lodge in Cleveland when Sigma Triton along with his brother, Sam Kartalis about 10 years ago. The Preamble Andy and two friends ’59. The Kartalis name will live on at PSU as Institute (PI) is Theta Delta decided to start their Andy and Katherine recently made a substantial Chi’s undergraduate leadership own business, Concord commitment to provide scholarships and an conference and training seminar. Hospitality Enterprises, enhanced learning laboratory for students. Every year at least one member from each Charge attends PI, which provides participants a What led you to join the fraternity as a half of them overseas, there is one experience that setting to defne and improve Sophomore? stands out to me. I was Executive Offcer of a Seabee battalion of 850 men that we trained and then took leadership skills, fully understand In two words it was John Grove ’51. John and our values and ritual, and develop I had become friends in our freshman year at Penn over to Vietnam during the height of the confict to build everything from camps, roads, missile battery values-based plans of action for State and when he joined the fraternity it was an easy their Charges. sell for me to also become a member. sites to a huge helicopter base for the Army. While we won the Navy “E” award over 14 other battalions Our Sigma Triton Alumni Board and the Active Executive Board What event occurred during your Naval in Vietnam, what I was proudest of was that we came out of Vietnam with everyone we took there. We gave are sponsoring and facilitating a Service that you are most proud of? Mini-PI for the active brothers of out many purple hearts but everyone came back alive. While I had many wonderful and challenging our Charge. The event will be held experiences in the 21 years I spent in the Navy, How did you meet your wife, Katherine? on February 28th at the house. Alumni volunteers will facilitate I was a young Navy lieutenant on leave in Miami the conference, alongside CFO Beach when I met Katherine. I proposed to her 4 Executive Director, Richard hours after we met. 52 years later I guess I can say it Wood, Gamma Triton ’73 and worked out well for both of us. John Lowry, Charge Consultant, Theta Triton ’13. We will examine How did you get into real estate once retired our personal values, review our from the Navy? preamble, practice ritual, review oaths and identify the shared When I was stationed in Europe I purchased and values of actives and alumni leased a great deal of real estate for the Navy and I was alike. We are looking forward to very surprised at the high values there as compared supporting a stronger brotherhood to the United States and I saw an opportunity that for our actives, as well as Andy and his wife Katherine in front of the newly named Andrew Kartalis real estate values in the USA had room to rise. encouraging alumni involvement. Hands-on Learning Laboratory in the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory When I retired from the Navy I took a job running at Penn State. Andy and his wife also established the Kartalis Veteran Engineers and Top Scholars Program for honorably discharged U.S. military a development subsidiary for a bank in Cleveland, President (Continued on Page 4) veterans enrolled in or planning to enroll in engineering at Penn State. Kartalis (Continued on Page 4)