Educational Foundation - In Memory of...

[JonoBN41]

Brothers,

I have just returned from the memorial for Brother Danny DeGarmo who died last month in Ohio from ALS. He was a year older than me and was Beta-Nu 31. He and his roommate (BN32) had the room next to mine as evidenced by the sounds of Melanie ("I got a brand new pair of roller skates...") coming through the wall over and over and over... Dan left school after only two years to become a full-time daddy back home. His son is now 33 years old.

I lost contact with Dan for long periods and sometimes got the feeling the fraternity didn't really mean that much to him. But two years ago he returned for Founders' Day and had a great time. While we awaited our flight departures, he mentioned something about stumbling every now and then, but wasn't too worried about it. Then he gave me a cassette tape he'd made for me and smiled. The Best of Melanie.

The disease progressed and he succumbed during the night of February 20th while wearing his Lambda Chi jersey, which he wanted to be cremated in. I was beginning to finally see his love for the fraternity and also its reflection in his wife, son, and daughter.

At the reception Sunday they had set up a special table just to display his Lambda Chi Alpha and college memorabilia - t-shirts, pennants, photos, his badge, his alumni association pin, etc. His son ran a slide show with hundreds of pictures and a played a collection of 100 of his favorite songs. His wife asked me if it would be all right if she continued paying his Alumni Association dues!

But outside at the reception desk and guest book were many envelopes preaddressed to:

Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation
8741 Founders Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

They had wanted to set up a special scholarship fund through LCA, but found out that requires seed money of at least $20,000 and no one could come up with that much right off the bat. It was suggested that those brothers and friends interested should just send what they can In Memory of Danny DeGarmo instead.

Later we went back to the house where I put my stuff in his den. There was a Lambda Chi coffee cup, a Lambda Chi clock on the wall. Lambda Chi stuff everywhere! In the living room, the two other brothers in attendance (Karl BN32, and Scotty BN44) helped me entertain the family as I played my guitar and croaked out some of the old songs, razzing me whenever they could.

Everyone was in hysterics after awhile and it wasn't until later that I realized someone else must have been in the room with us to make all of us come together in such a silly way.

Someone we couldn't see but was known for his drole sense of humor; whose jersey is no longer in existance; whose number has been retired. Someone who drew his last breath in that very room and loved Lambda Chi Alpha and the feeling of brotherhood more than we knew.

So if you have some spare change - even if it's not a lot - please send it in to IHQ in memory of him or ANY other brother you wish to honor. They would want that much, and they deserve that much as one last tribute. You might even get your name in the Cross & Crescent - Wow! Cool. My check will be in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks for listening.

In ZAX,
Jono

[EM1843]

Donations can also be made in honor of someone who has not died.
That was a touching story Jono, and in my dealings with alumni I've seen some of what you're talking about. A brother who you might think forgot about Lambda Chi was just looking for a time to show it. I passed you're story on to my chapter and hopefully it will help them remember what Lambda Chi is about, outside the college walls.

[Eric_Berger]

Jono (et. al.),

We have a similar situation with the Alpha Chapter. The High Pi from when I was in school passed away and his daughter started up a fund to benefit the Alpha Chapter (pay for attendance to General Assembly/Leadership Seminar, scholarship, etc.).

The Boston Fund has grown to about $6500, but nowhere near the $20,000 mark that the Educational Foundation uses for a self-funding Fund (interest/investment income is what is used to pay the scholarships).

The thing I would suggest would be alerting your fellow alumni about this new fund. They can earmark their annual donations to the Educational Foundation to that fund. Promote it your newsletters and on your website. If you don't let them know about earmarking their contributions to this specific Fund, their donations go to the general pot.

in ZAX,
Eric

[Tom Earp]

Brother Jono, I can feel your pain as you and I talk frequently.

I think Eric is right, if any donations are given to IHQ, earmark them for a specific reason.

I am a Life Donor and have specific codiceles for where money is supposed to go.

My first priority is of course LX Z. If The Zeta is not there, there are provisions for that also.

What must be done, is a Living Will as I am sure We can all see beause of the News with The Lady in Fl.

Do not put it off, you never know what can happen to you. A living will takes care of that. If you do not have a Will with specifics, it will go into to Probate and a large % of money goes to the Govt.

John G. Please step in and explain this if you will.

Bro. Will talk to you later for an update.

My Condolences got To Dannys Family and all of the Brothers of BN and LXA.

[JonoBN41]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
I think Eric is right, if any donations are given to IHQ, earmark them for a specific reason.

Yes of course, I meant to say if anyone cares to donate whatever they can, please make the check out to the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, and at the bottom, "In Memory of Dan DeGarmo". I'm sure the family (as well as the brotherhood) would appreciate the support shown from one brother to another amid so much anti-fraternity sentiment in the press these days.

I'm not sure, however, if he had a Living Will or was a Life Donor. Those are worthy programs but I don't think they apply in this case. I apologize for the confusion.

Thank you, everyone.

In ZAX,
Jono

[Tom Earp]

While I had only a fleeting moment in Dan Degarmos life and mine, He was A Brother who Lived and Breathed LXA.

In talking with Brother Jono tonight remembering This Brother,
I am going to send a Check To IHQ Educational Foundation In His Name for a Scholarship.

I Challenge each and everyone of You to do the same, no matter how big or small.

This will honor a Brother who Lived and Died a Lambda Chi.

This may also Help a New Brother in His Path of Life as a Lambda Chi.

Yours In ZAX,