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DK was the epitome of a Sigma Nu. I am damn proud to have known him, and to be able to call him "Brother" is the highest honor.
I am a brother at Eta Chi chapter at ODU, and I was in DK's last initiation class (this fall). I went over to his house a few times and we would talk for hours - he had the greatest stories. He gave me a copy of Heritage History of Sigma Nu (I'm chapter historian) - and now it will be our chapter's property.
When I heard about his passing and the fire, I left for his house. The news teams were set up there and ready for the 6 o'clock news. I got out of my car and just stood in front of his house, shocked and deeply saddened by the situation. It was a good 10 minutes before a man came behind me and asked me if I was "with channel 13 news." I turned around and simply said "I'm a brother." He nodded knowingly and turned around. I later found out that he was the neighbor who attempted to rescue DK. He later said that, when he got to DK and he picked him up with the help of some police officers, he "felt like Donald wasn't with us anymore."
DK had suffered a heart attack several weeks before-hand. Many of us brothers think that DK had a heart attack while he was handling his pipe, and that is what started the blaze.
Today his son allowed us Brothers to come into the house and get any private Sigma Nu things out of there. The images of his house are forever etched into my mind. It was really emotionally straining to see the damage in there. I was able to grab his Sigma Nu mug from a cabinet that had been slightly burnt - it is sitting on my desk, the bottom of the cup still dirty with soot. I've looked at it a great deal today.
Our pledge class this semester learned The White Star of Sigma Nu so we could sing it for DK at a banquet we put on for him - it was his 60th year as a Nu. I'll always remember him wiping the tears from his eyes as he smiled at our pledge class.
To a Sigma Nu who is now in worthy company with Hopkins, Quarles, and Riley - for an amazing mentor - for a good friend - for DK Marchand, a man who lived the life of Love, Truth, and Honor. I'll see you in the Chapter Eternal, Brother - until then, we have one hell of an act to follow.
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