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