Delta Chi Fraternity Celebrates 50th Anniversary at University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Campus12/15/2022 Johnstown, PA - On Saturday October 15th 2022 the Johnstown Chapter of the Delta Chi Fraternity celebrated their 50th Anniversary.
On October 15, 2022 the Brothers of Delta Chi - Johnstown celebrated and remembered the founding of both organizations and recognized the men who have guided the organization to success for over half a century making it the oldest local and oldest surviving international greek organization at Johnstown. "In the Bond" Friday CocktailsOn Friday eventing October 14th there was an "In the Bond Meet n Greet" held at Tap 814 Pub and restaurant, formally known as The Gingerbread Man, at 800 Scalp Avenue. There was a very strong turnout of alumni from the 1970's many of whom had not seen each other together in decades. There was quite a bit of catching up own each others lives and families as well as a toast to several of those brothers who had passed. Ritual ReviewAlumni and active brothers met on Saturday morning at 10am for a Ritual Review at Blackington Hall. Active brothers went through the ritual as well the recent changes made at the 2022 Convention to the Delta Chi ritual. UPJ Convention delegates and other brothers conduct this review and some where quite surprised how much many of the the alumni form 30 to 40 years ago remembered and even explained their understanding of some local traditions and interpretations. Mimosa BrunchStarting at 11:30am and running until 1:30pm brothers, their wives and significant others gathered at at UPJ's Living Learning Center for a Mimosa Brunch. One again, different groups gathered at the various round tables to recall their undergrad experiences and the cemetery that had once occupied the place where the Living Learning Center is now located in what was formerly the E&S Lower Parking lot. Alumni where welcomed by David Janusek, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Giving. The Campus TourThe Campus Tour began outside the Living Learning Center after brunch with visits to to visit the The Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, the PPAC, the Murtha Center, the Nursing School, a stop by the Panther Statue. With the helped of Founding Fathers Carl Brinkoff and Larry Widmer, the group visited the original room in Biddle Hall where the Phi Delta Psi men decided to become a part of the International fraternity of Delta Chi. According to Brother Widmer, Johnstown was still effectively a two year school when he pledged Phi Delta Psi, and literally the entire group of upper classmen whom his group had pledged under had moved the Pittsburgh to continue their education. It was made very clear to his group while pledging that it would be in the best interest of the fraternity to become aligned with a national organization instead of remaining a local fraternity. The outside tour continued past the dorms including Oak hall, the original home of Phi Delta Psi, and Laurel Hall where the idea of becoming part of a national greek organization was first developed. Many of the group then visited the Log Cabi and Zamias Aquatic Center while some others took a break from the tour to relax at the the Larkspur house. The groups met up again near the former home of Delta Chi at Briar Lodge only to finish up at Foxfire lodge for a reminiscing time touring the three levels of the house and Adirondack shelter. 50th Anniversary Dinner at SunnehannaThe 50th Anniversary Dinner started with some opening remarks from Roger Ritter, Founding "A" of the Johnstown Chapter via video. It was followed by a Recognition of the Founding Fathers and a moment of silence for those brothers that we had lost. We then offered the microphone to any brother who wished to recognize any of their departed brothers. Needless to say, that there where several tears shed and several laughs remembering those of our brothers who had passed away while we enjoyed our dinner We where honored to host several guest for our celebration. This included Dr. Jem Spectar, President, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, who spent some time thanking everyone for attending an was quite gracious in complimenting our brotherhood for our recognition of those that had departed. Dr Spectar also thanked the many alumni in the room form the 1970's who where instrumental in the fundraising to build not just the Foxire Lodge but the entirety of the North Lodges which was an effort for all Greeks to have housing. Patrick Alderdice, the current “AA” of Delta Chi Fraternity followed Dr Spectar and talked about the significance of the 50th year mark. He was followed by Steve Bossart, the 49th "AA" of Delta Chi Fraternity. Brothers John Wozniak & John Rafferty, Former Pennsylvania Senators, made presentations from the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives honoring the significant milestone of celebrating 50th years as an organization. That was followed by Patrick Alderdice presentation to chapter and Cyle Martindale, Delta Chi Johnstown's current "A" providing an update on the chapter. Brother Bernard Martin, acting as MC for the evening, explained that there was some extra funds that where raised from the weekend events and some of those monies would be spent on fixing the composites that where being stored in the house, as there was no room to hang them in Larkspur, albeit plenty of room to hang them in Foxfire, which lead to a big round of applause in the room. The evening was followed by quite a bit of dancing. Special thanks to Jessica Vamos, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, for the photography she contributed to all of the Saturday activities.
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