Page 3 - Rho Extra - Fall 2014

AlUMNi NewS Homecoming 2014 by David Williams ’76 ow, talk about a rousing Homecoming. WThe Fighting Illini really fought this year. They took a solid lead into the locker room at half time. But the Minnesota Golden Mark (left) with fall Alumni Spotlight Dennis Walter (right), Gophers came roaring back, scoring three and Alumni Chairman Erik Michaelesko (center). times in the third quarter with relative ease. Brothers at the Rho patio. However, the tenacity of the Illini defense won out, as they returned a fourth quarter fumble for designated free parking garage on Neil Street some of you to consider coming in 2015, watch a touchdown and held on for the victory. were picked up and brought back to visit with out for details next fall because that shuttle It was my frst game in many, many years the brothers. After a short walk to and from the service could become “a thing.” And for that and a better script could not have been written. stadium, rides were offered back to their cars.) matter, the way the brothers had things arranged, If I had known it would turn out like this I Post game activities included catered barbecue, you were welcome to stop by whether you went would have been back much sooner. Equally a bag toss game, and, of course, a visit with to the game or not. See you next year? rewarding was my visit with the Skulls. For the brothers young and old. It would have been early birds, coffee and donuts were waiting on nice to see a few more alumni, but the active the spacious patio at the Fraternity apartment brothers made those of us who attended feel cluster on Second Street. If fact, they even right at home. offered a shuttle service to make it easier Even without the win it would have been a Chapter Eternal to stop by! (Alums who chose to park in the great day. If this sounds like enough to entice Brother Charles D. walter (Continued from Page 1) Truckenbrodt ’60 passed away at age 74 on July 25. Chuck was an executive at which can lead to me being susceptible to fu TVA and Acme Boot Co. and fevers. Leukemia weakens my immunity Chuck earned his BS in system, which means the fu and fevers need to Engineering at Illinois and be combated at a hospital, not my home. went on to earn his MBA What type of volunteer work do you do from the University of Chicago. Chuck was an with the Franciscan Outreach Shelter? avid runner into his 60s, enjoyed travel with The shelter provides a meal and a place to sleep his wife of 54 years, Sandra, spending time with his three daughters and granddaughters, for the homeless on the west side of Chicago. and walking his dog Lucy. “Always a thumbs up when you get discharged As a volunteer, I help serve the dinner to our “Chuck was a regular at Homecoming in his after a month of hospital food.” guests. The cook is a great person, as he was early years until he moved away from Chicago. homeless, but sought the help of the Outreach IL. He interviewed me and quickly after that, Shelter, which gave him a job as their cook. He was the primary reason I pledged. He was he extended an offer which I readily accepted I will always remember his phrase “the a terrifc role model for me. I was proud to because I was doing temporary work at the neighbors love my cooking because when I have followed him in to Rho Chapter. There time. When you utilize your connections make the dinner, I make it with love.” Just as were a number of families that had multiple (friends, family, etc), job openings don’t he paid it forward by helping the shelter that members of their families join Rho. The dual always immediately arise. With patience, time helped him, I view this opportunity as a way brotherhood designation was special for me as and a little luck, a job offer can eventually to give up my “TV time” and serve those who it was for Chuck. works its way toward you. Chuck had suffered from Lewy Body, which need our help the most. is basically Parkinsons with an element of After battling with leukemia from 2011 to As Treasurer, what immediate needs dementia. While he was dealt a diffcult hand, 2012, how do you maintain your health? does the chapter have? he handled his future battle with a tremendous The easiest way for me to maintain my health An immediate need of the chapter is to focus amount of grace, which for those who knew is getting rest. During college, rest was on recruitment. When our Phi Kap students Chuck is not a surprise. A true gentle man as minimized, as the focus was staying up to study have total focus on prospective members, well as a gentleman. I apologize to those who as much as possible for an exam or stay out as they will succeed in determining who should may not have met Chuck for the extended late as possible on a Saturday night. Now that and, just as important, who shouldn’t be a Phi tribute. This gave me an opportunity to send a I have gotten older and my hair’s a little grayer, Kap. Secondly, as alums we can help with notice about Chuck to lot of Skulls but also to I realize the importance of 8 hours of sleep. recruitment. Over the past year, the students thank the fraternity for the blessings received Anything less than that can lead to a cycle of have received advice on how to recruit from through the years from both of us.” anxiety, which leads to sleeping even less, The active brothers at the very frst Friends of Skulls, held in January 2014. Walter (Continued on Page 4) - Randall R. Truckenbrodt ’72