Kappa Sigma - Missouri University of Science & Technology

2 Beta-Chi Columns T he St. Louis Blues' victory over the Dallas Stars in game one of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was bittersweet for the multitude of Blues fans who were close with Ketan Patel '00. When "Gloria" played and fans joined in singing "When the Blues go marching in," Ketan was not in Enterprise Center leading the celebration. The win came just four days after Ketan entered Chapter Celestial at the age of 38. "At the Blues games, Ketan was not just another fan in the stands. He was part of the experience of going to a Blues game, especially for anyone within earshot of section 307," Ryan Bequette '02 said. "The people that sat behind us would oftentimes bring their daughters, and I'm convinced that those girls didn't come to see the Blues. They came to see Ketan and shout 'Let's Go, Blues!' with him. Between periods, if you were an opposing team's fan, you quickly learned to avoid section 307 or suffer the wrath of Ketan and his never-ending supply of boos.'" Attending Blues games with his Kappa Sigma Brothers was among Ketan's favorite things to do. As the Blues went on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, Ketan was on the forefront of the minds of his Beta-Chi Brothers and several other Blues fans. Just hours before the Blues upended the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, @StLouisGameTime, the Blues SB Nation affiliate, tweeted, "Today I'm thinking about our first head vendor, John Nicolay, who died in July 2013, and my friend, @k10patel, who died this year. And all the other Blues fans we've lost who would be loving every minute of this." Ketan's loyalty to the Blues and the Beta-Chi Chapter were one in the same. The larger- than-life personality that Ketan brought to Beta-Chi played a huge role in the success of our Chapter. "There is no question that without having Ketan in my life, things would be very different for me. I wouldn't have joined the brotherhood of Kappa Sigma, where I've met some of the best friends I will ever know," Ryan said. "In joining Kappa Sigma, I probably partied a little too hard and studied too little, so my career path could have looked very different. With a different career path, I wouldn't have met Alexandra and have the family I have today. Ketan, directly and indirectly, has had a profound impact on my life, and I could never thank him enough for that." While reading the end of Ketan's eulogy, Ryan acknowledged that Ketan was someone who earned the privilege of wearing the Star and Crescent. Ketan was a gentleman, a man of honor and courage, a man of zeal, yet humble, an intelligent man, a man of truth, one who tempers action with wisdom and, above all else, one who walks in the light of God. Andy Allen '96 said that Ketan was as much a part of his Kappa Sigma Brothers' families as his own. "Even though his time was cut short, Ketan certainly made his mark on all of us here today," Ryan said. "Ketan was a friend, a co-worker, a mentor, a brother, a son, a godfather, a teammate, a husband, a clinically diagnosable St. Louis Blues fanatic, and he was my Big Brother." A BLUES AND BELOVED BETA-CHI BROTHER Ketan Patel '00 Lived Out Kappa Sigma Values Ketan Patel '00 with his wife, Purvi, and goddaughter, Scarlett Allen, who is the daughter of Andy Allen '96. From left: Ketan, Matthew Hopkins '94, and Andy Allen cheer on the St. Louis Blues during the 2017 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium. Ketan with goddaughter Scarlett. Ketan and Andy next to the Al MacInnis statue outside of Enterprise Arena, home of the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Bequette '02 holds up Ketan.

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