Page 4 - The Rhomer - Fall 2014

ΣΑΜ ΣΑΜ ΣΑΜ ΣΑΜ ΣΑΜ ΣΑΜ John A. Pascal ’80 (Continued from Page 1) Keith E. Pascal ’84 high. I was so excited Editor’s Note: Also from the hometown of Highland to see the house and Park, IL, and earning his degree Accounting, show them where I Keith pursued his MBA at Harvard Business lived. They lasted School. Keith developed a desire to run his own fve minutes. They business after watching his dad’s own work as an couldn’t wait to leave entrepreneur. Today he is the CEO of 12:51:58, a because of the smell Cloud computing platform for the retail industry. and the condition He enjoys spending time with his wife Deena who of the house. It was was an ADPi at Illinois, and their four children: amazing that when Melanie at Illinois, studying Human Development and Family Studies; they got into the Joshua is a sophomore (currently at Rho), studying Environmental house that the smell Science and Sustainability; two more in high school: Gabriel is a and condition went senior, and Jeremy is a sophomore. Outside of work, Keith also enjoys away. travel, and volunteering with the Jewish United Fund and the Cancer Wellness Center which supports Illinois’s Hillel. It was fun for me to see them go through a What did you enjoy most about living in the chapter house? lot of the same things that I did, although When we lived in the house, every door was left wide open. That it’s not the same was typical of the culture of the fraternity. No matter the time of experience as pledges. day or who it was, we could walk into a room and hang out. Living Most importantly, it in the house was a non-stop parade of laughs and fond memories was great to see that that I can recall as if it were yesterday. My strongest friendships they formed great today were formed in that house over 30 years ago. friendships with their John (seated Right) with his two sons. fraternity brothers How has your family’s fraternal connection strengthened your that they will hopefully have forever. bond with each other? It’s a special bond that we all share across three generations. We How do you stay in touch with your Rho brothers have all shared many of the same experiences and traditions. When today? we talk together about our time in house, it’s evident that, even Living on the north shore, I am constantly running into guys from though we lived there during different eras, the bonds formed, the the house and see a lot of guys socially. We also get together once feelings and experiences never change. or twice a year as a pledge class. I think we are fortunate in that our pledge class and the ‘50s that year are pretty close so we enjoy Why were you inspired to become an entrepreneur? getting together and telling the same stories over and over again. No one would hire me. They never get old. What do you enjoy most about your job? The recent death of Brian “Boots” Blackburn, one of our pledge Not having to work for someone else. brothers, as well as his older brother, Dave “Geek” Blackburn a few months later, made a lot of us realize how important it is to What advice can you give the alumni and actives about the stay in touch and see each other more often. importance of being global in business? The US is not the center of the universe. The biggest buyers or the best ideas don’t always originate in our markets. Lastly, there are major cultural differences from country to country and even though Chapter Grand people are speaking English, never take it for granted that you understand or are being understood. Since the publication of our last Rhomer we have learned of the passing of the brothers listed below. We extend our condolences to their families and friends. Max Lirtzman ’43 Harold Lasser ’48 Edwin Rosen ’47 Ray Cohen ’59 Some members of the 16’s Pledge Class preparing for Bubs and Broomball! Alumni communication services provided by Te Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987 | @thelaurusgroup