Loyola-Marymount University of Los Angeles Held Their Annual Reunion

Class of '72 Phi Kaps

The brothers of the Alpha Nu chapter at Loyola-Marymount University of Los Angeles recently held their annual reunion.  The close-knit brothers consist of classes '69-'74, many of whom have maintained business and social relationships over the years, and have even taken European cruises together.  The tradition began twelve years ago when Jim McClune invited some of us to gather for a Saturday lunch at the local burger shack and then attend the LMU basketball game together.

The annual gathering has expanded over the years, both in attendance and in the number of social events as more Phi Kap comrades have heard about it. Now the friendships are rekindled over three days of a weekend, and the gathering includes a dinner, mass, lunch, basketball game, golf match, a social memorial for a fallen brother and breakfast. On the weekend of January 11, around 40 brothers participated in various events, some flying into town from Pittsburgh, Oakland, Idaho, North Carolina, Kansas, New Mexico, and other states.  Over the years attendees have even included Hawaii residents and some of our chapter forefathers from the early sixties. The commitment to maintaining lifelong friendships was a promise made when we pledged about 50 years ago, and thankfully it is still going strong.

1971. Sports was a common interest, and for ten years after graduation, many played together in park baseball leagues. Jim McClune, organizer of the reunions in the yellow T-shirt. Gary McLaughlin is seated on the left.

As interest built for the reunions over the years, the email chains expanded to more than 60 names.  After the 2018 gathering, brother Gary McLaughlin built a google drive site to create a central directory of contact information that everyone could update as addresses and phone numbers change.  This site has become a great new storehouse for all of us to share the photos taken on multiple phones at each gathering.  This is especially helpful for those not able to attend to be able to see old friends again. In my capacity as Social Chairman and photographer of the Alpha Nu chapter in the '70s, this new site gives me an opportunity to dig out the photo archives and upload photos from events and activities that everyone had forgotten.  Our history and heritage are being recalled afresh, along with old friendships.

The tight-knit groups formed by the various pledge classes are thriving social forces within our overall Phi Kap community.

 This year marked a special memorial service for recently deceased brother Joe Ruhoff who was responsible in large part for fostering communications among the brothers by establishing and running the first official fantasy football league, Kings X, now in its 37th year, in which many of us participated each year.

NY Alpha Omega Chapter Attended a Spiritual Development Retreat

“Quo Vadis?” The NY Alpha Omega Chapter spent a weekend at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception to discern that very question.

Fr. Joseph Scolaro, the Catholic Chaplain at Hofstra addressing the brothers during the retreat

 In the apocryphal Acts of Peter, St. Peter is fleeing Rome to escape crucifixion. While he is walking on the road outside of Rome, he encounters the Risen Jesus carrying a cross in the direction towards Rome. Peter asks, “Quo Vadis?”, which translates to “where are you going?” Jesus responds saying “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” After hearing Jesus, St. Peter went back to Rome to continue his ministry, where he eventually was crucified upside down and laid the foundations for the future of the Catholic Church.

 At the previous chapter retreat, the brothers agreed the hardest and most uncomfortable question they have been asked is: “Who are you?” The question posed difficulty because the brothers did not know where to begin to answer the question. The complexity of the question brought a feeling of uneasiness because the brothers felt they should have been able to answer the question with ease. How could a question, about one’s own self, be so difficult and complex?

Sean Grealy, founding the father of Phi Kappa Theta Hofstra Chapter

The who are you question is not supposed to be an easy one. It is a deeply spiritual meditation. When one searches for who they are, they are searching for the deepest reality of their lives, to be fully alive. The deepest reality of our lives can only be found in the source of all being: God.

Throughout the New Testament, St. Peter learns who he is by listening, watching, and acting. Though he sometimes struggles, he understands his calling to be an apostle of Jesus, who Jesus was (MT 16:16), and his identity as the rock of the Church (MT 16:18). At the moment of encountering Jesus in the Quo Vadis story, St. Peter connected who he was and where he was supposed to go. The connection between awareness of self and knowledge of direction, grounded discipleship, led St. Peter to fulfilling what God had intended for him and accomplishing extraordinary things.

 The NY Alpha Omega chapter used St. Peter as a model on the retreat. Each brother discerned who he is and where he is supposed to go. There were many opportunities to listen and reflect on topics chosen to help brothers begin to answer who are you and where are you going. Many opportunities to engage in spiritual activities, ask spiritual questions, learn about the Fraternity’s Catholic roots, and encounter God were available as well. 

The talk topics included: Questions, Answers, and Decisions (Bobby York), Modesty: Being a Gentleman (Fr. Christopher Sullivan), Thinking Spiritually and Being Present (Sean Grealy), Persevering Spiritually (Fr. Joseph Scolaro), Becoming the Man You Want to Be (John Benintendi), St. Thomas Aquinas and the Phi Kappa Theta Catholic Tradition (Nick Castelli), and Active Spiritual Development (Nick Castelli). There was a silent hour with Eucharistic Adoration, a spiritual q & a with Fr. Joseph Scolaro, fraternal activities, and a Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the St. Thomas Aquinas altar. At the end of the retreat, the brothers were asked to write a letter to the 27-year-old version of themselves. Those letters will be mailed on their 27th birthdays.

The retreat was organized and led by VP of Spiritual Development Nick Castelli, with advisement from Founding Father Sean Grealy and Father Joseph Scolaro, the Catholic Chaplain at Hofstra University. The retreat was possible thanks to Fr. Joseph Fitzgerald and the DRVC Vocations Office, who donated the funds needed to have the retreat. The retreat was the beginning of a spiritual journey that is to continue throughout the semester.

Brother Sean Stephenson Passes

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA | Friday, August 30, 2019 – It is with a heavy heart that we share that our dear Brother, Sean Stephenson (DePaul '01), has passed away last night. He had suffered a head injury and did not make it through his emergency surgery.

Over the last two decades, Brother Stephenson had influenced thousands of Phi Kappa Theta brothers through his inspiring keynote speeches and countless life lessons. He was a personal mentor to so many. He will be remembered as a man determined to live a life of purpose by inspiring confidence in others and ultimately improving the world around him.

Brother Stephenson was the inaugural recipient of the John F. Kennedy Award during the 2017 Biennial Convention. Here is the introduction of his acceptance speech of that Award.

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He had that special light, a spark to always improve the lives of others. How appropriate that he was the inaugural recipient of our John F. Kennedy award. In life and now in perpetuity Sean inspires all of us not to accept circumstances as they seem, to achieve our dreams and to serve others.

Jeff Jowdy (University of Georgia, ‘83) Foundation Chairman

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Sean Stevenson never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome. His final words are perhaps the crowning jewel in his dogged commitment to excellence and an equally strong commitment to never letting bumps in the road turn into walls. Even this final wall was surmountable according to his last words. … "This happened for me. It didn't happen to me.”

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Brother STEPHENSON meant many things to us all. Coach, comedian, sounding board, task master, visionary, brother, friend. His love for everything Phi Kappa Theta… the heartfelt stories he shared with many of us, the challenges he offered us, the genuine, loving perspective he modeled… will all be with us forever.

Doug Dilling (Kansas State University, '84) Fraternity President.

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Brother Stephenson was an inspirational leader who changed the world through his philosophy on life, commitment to living a life of purpose and genuine care for all those who came into his life.

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Founded in 1889, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity currently has 40 collegiate chapters across the United States. Phi Kappa Theta actively develops men to be effective leaders who passionately serve society, Fraternity and God.

$20k Raised by PKT Alamo Alumni Association

The stars aligned for the inaugural PKT Alamo Alumni Association Gala in San Antonio in June, raising record amounts for scholarships through an incredible evening of brotherhood and fellowship.

A few examples of kismet:

1. When organizers put the event online looking for a band, the person who responded just happened to be a brother who is in a nine-piece group called the San AnTunes, a popular wedding and event band.

2. Patty Jacobson, the sister of the late Chuck Herrera, a PKT brother, spent 28 years in the hospitality field and scouted several hotels and scrutinized contracts before they decided on the historic Sheraton Gunter Hotel, which served not only as the location of the gala, but as a destination for the attendees who traveled to San Antonio for the gala.  The hotel is located near the popular River Walk.

3. And Manny Gonzalez of the PKT Foundation Board, worked tirelessly lining up major donors through his many business connections. And some of those donors had no connection to PKT, other than a desire to help the cause and support the mission.

All that kismet – and hard work – paid off as 93 people attended and raised $20,000 to benefit PKT scholarship recipients.

“It was way beyond our expectations,” said Lou Luera, Vice President of the Association, who spearheaded efforts to go all out with a major fundraiser this year. “We wanted to do the best that we could and make it as nice as possible so that people would want to come back next year.”

And that happened. After the event, attendees were pulling organizers aside wanting to know the date of next year’s event and one even asked if they could have two galas next year.

The event impressed outgoing PKT President Adrian Gonzalez who considers the Association as a model for other chapters looking to reinvigorate their fundraising efforts. “The Alamo Alumni Association has become the premier association in the country,” he said. “They exemplify servant leadership at its best.”

The decision to put on a gala was not without a lot of discussion and debate. “When I became president (of the Alamo Alumni Association) I was hesitant at first,” said Danny Saenz, noting the risks involved in planning and executing such a large – and different – event. The idea was presented to the membership and, once approved, they “took off running.” The various committees were assigned, action items were developed and then it was a matter of doing the hard work necessary, Saenz said, who noted that everyone “stayed in their lane,” working together to achieve their goal of providing scholarships for PKT students in need.

Saenz said they began planning a “dress” event. Although tuxes were optional, a professional appearance was emphasized. Dignitaries such as the local sheriff, elected officials and veterans were invited, along with the association membership. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by a member of the VFW.

Along with formal dress, organizers wanted a band, not a DJ, to perform. As mentioned earlier, the listing on gigmaster.com resulted in John Garza, a PKT pledge back in 1983 at Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, responding.  “I moved to San Antonio in 2004 and started a band with a friend and my stepson,” he said. “We formed The San Antunes as a variety band playing San Antonio-style music including oldies, disco, Tejano (Texas-Mexican music), Conjunto (accordion-based ensemble music) and Top 40. We have grown into a 9-piece band and play weddings, private parties, and corporate events.” He said they recently played for one of the Democratic presidential candidates.

When Garza noticed the lead online and saw it was sent by a PKT brother, he did not hesitate about calling them back. “I met with the committee soon afterwards and pitched the band as the only one for the Gala, since I was a PKT brother myself,” Garza said. “Of course we connected immediately and were hired to perform.”

The selection of The Gunter Hotel, made possible by hospitality expert Jacobson, resulted in the selection of a hotel and an event location that was desirable for those traveling from outside the city. “If you want to do this right, plan it like a wedding,” advised Jacobson, noting that a hotel would provide everything needed such as linens, parking, food and décor. And the result would be elegant.

The Sheraton Gunter, adjacent to the popular River Walk, was built in 1909 and just celebrated its 110th anniversary, according to its website. On the National Register of Historic Places, it’s located in the heart of San Antonio.

On a personal note, not only was Jacobson giving back to honor her late brother, but she was also thanking the Fraternity for its love and support during the difficult days after his sudden death last September. “When he passed the group rallied around me, helped me get through his celebration of life.”

Organizers of this successful event always kept in mind the goal of the fundraiser: to help brothers attend college.  

Scholarship Recipient Andy Gutierrez, University of Texas President, Diego Lugo & PKTAAA President, Danny Saenz

Last year’s scholarship recipient, Diego Lugo, took time out this summer break while working for his dad to note how much the scholarship helped him. “In past semesters, I’ve struggled financially because my parents didn’t want me to work during the school year,” said Lugo. “This money helped me make ends meet.”

The senior at University of Texas at Austin is majoring in kinesiology, the study of the body’s muscles and joints. One of four children, he wrote an essay to get selected as the scholarship winner. He hopes to attend medical school to become a sports psychologist.  The fraternity motto “give, expecting nothing thereof,” means a lot to him as he has volunteered at the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin.

Gonzalez can’t say enough about Alamo Alumni Association’s willingness to change its thought process in order to come up with such a successful event. “Mentally, they thought outside the box and developed a new mindset.”

PKTAAA’s 2nd annual Gala is tentatively scheduled for June, 2020 in San Antonio, Tx. We hope you can make it!