Page 1 - Diamond News - Spring 2017

Spring 2017 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Alumni Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366
President’s Report Spotlight Joseph Brucella ’72
Alumni

ow!! Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining
W the Spotlight on Joseph Brucella ’72. From the hometown of
Congratulations Brooklyn, NY, Joe earned his degree in Industrial Engineering
to the undergrads at Ga. Tech and went on to be a principal owner at Life Care
for another stellar Services. Now retired as Senior VP of Operations, and 35
performance winning years of work, Joe is enjoying time with family. Coming
Greek Week. DU from one of the largest pledge classes, he served as rush
had a total of 324.5 chair, steward, and was pledge of the year. Today, Joe stays
points, far surpassing busy as a certified USA track and field coach. He also enjoys
the second-place finisher, Theta Chi, with tennis, travel, woodworking, and spending time with his
217 points. For the fourth year in a row, DU nine grandkids. Joe spends his free time investing and is a
won the Greek Tug contest. The chapter won mentor for Ga. Tech students. Reconnecting with Ga. Tech
Greek Stroll, placed second in Greek Sing, as a patron of the track and field team, season ticket holder,
had contestants in all 30 events, and placed and the alumni association are on his top interests. Living in
in the top five in many. The win was a team Connecticut with his second wife, Melissa, they share four
effort requiring broad participation from the kids between them: Andrea, Phil, Rick and Cheryl. In Dublin for the GT-BC game.
chapter.
One interesting demographic from Greek What led you to join the chapter back in of the best decisions I ever made. I had always
Week is the number of fraternities at Tech school? been a hard worker, but lacked discipline and
is shrinking: 25 chapters were listed, and I grew up a city kid from Brooklyn, New focus at the time. I credit many of the chapter’s
the bottom two had zero points for Greek York. While Atlanta in the late ’60s was a big upperclassmen at the time for being amazing
Week. Only nine fraternities had over 100 city, it was an initial cultural shock compared role models for me and helping me start to
points. Tech has traditionally advertised to where I was from. After deciding to pledge a become the man I have become.
there are 30-plus fraternities on campus. Our fraternity, mostly to get a better meal plan than
alumni advisory board projects the number Tech offered, I found most of the houses I visited After graduation, how did you secure a
of fraternities at Tech will continue to drop to be friendly, but not necessarily welcoming. job in North Carolina?
as the male/female student ratio continues That wasn’t the case at the DU chapter. One When I graduated in 1972 with a BIE I was
to approach 50/50. There simply are not as fortunate to take my first job at a manufacturing
many men attending Georgia Tech compared plant outside of Asheville, NC. John Dale ’72
to our days. The chapter continuing to excel and Hank Brackin ’71, two brothers and
with a shrinking pool of potential members is fellow IE’s who graduated a year earlier, were
quite an accomplishment. already employed there. It was a wonderful
time, but I had developed a stronger interest in
The chapter also had another very successful management while there. So after two years, I
St. Baldrick’s philanthropy event, and a returned to Atlanta in the Master’s of Industrial
number of alumni made contributions. Thank Management program.
you for supporting the chapter.
When did you discover an interest in
We had a good turnout for the Senior Day management?
event at Piedmont Park. The undergrads’ Returning to Atlanta in 1974 to study
number one request is alumni mentorship. management was a result of observing the
Your participation is always valued and plant managers at my first job. I was impressed
appreciated.
how they could take systems we designed and
All DU alumni and friends should be very motivate others to make them truly effective.
proud of the chapter. GT DU is Building I wanted to do that. Additionally, I always
Better Men. needed a job while in school, so while in grad
GT DU Forever, school, I started to work for a long term care
management firm. The people I meet there
changed the direction of my professional life. In
Robert McKeeman the course of the next year, I evolved from a full-
GT DU ’77 Joe with his Ga. Tech mentee. (Continued on Page 4)
President, DU Continuum of Education
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