Alpha Chi Omega - University of Kansas

PHI CHAPTER OF ALPHA CHI OMEGA HOUSE CORPORATION P.O. Box 442023 Lawrence, KS 66044-4223 Address Service Requested Notes of the Lyre M ary Challinor Cole '60 set off to the University of Kansas with plans to follow in her mother's and sister's footsteps and become a Pi Phi. Little did she know they would choose another double legacy with better grades over her. While it was forbidden for different sororities to discuss potential new members at the time, Mary's sister, Jean, was allowed to talk to her best friend, Jane Goodnow Komatz '59, about Mary. Thanks to their communication, Alpha Chi Omega offered Mary a bid! While she wasn't going to be a Pi Phi like she thought, she is glad she found her own path. "I was, of course, very confused when I was dropped by Pi Phi, but when I pledged Alpha Chi, all the clouds disappeared," she shared. "My new AXΩ family made me feel so important and special. My pledge mom, Mary Fassnacht Whitaker '59, kept me under her wing, and I actually earned the Best Pledge honor, a small brass box I still cherish." LASTING MEMORIES Mary loved the diversity of Phi Chapter. "We had study bugs, sports gals, beauty queens, and gals like me, but everyone was very giving, talented, and fun to be with. Together, we did so many things for our KU community and learned so much about accountability and giving back!" She also enjoyed living in the chapter house and has many fond memories of her time as an undergraduate, from manning the phone as a new member to serving as corresponding secretary one year and recruitment chairman another. She loved getting ready for recruitment and always enjoyed singing the Alpha Chi songs. She also recalls being selected as a "witch" in Rock Chalk Revue one year. Mary met the love of her life, Lee, through a blind date arranged by Gail Suhrbier Howard '60. She shares that if she had been a Pi Phi, she may never have met him. They were married for almost 56 years until, sadly, he passed away in 2019 after living with Alzheimer's disease. GIVING BACK Phi Chapter taught Mary how to work as a team and develop organizational skills, which Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way MARY CHALLINOR COLE '60 IS GLAD TO HAVE FOUND HER SISTERHOOD AT AXΩ prepared her for her role as a kindergarten teacher and later as a volunteer in her community of Akron, Ohio. She is happy she became an Alpha Chi and has remained committed to her sisterhood. When she and Lee moved to Akron, she joined the Alpha Mu Alumnae Association, where she held many positions, including president. She had the pleasure of attending the Alpha Chi Omega National Convention in Philadelphia in 1983, and in 2014, she happily attended Phi Chapter's 100th anniversary, where she connected with Jane and many other sisters, including Marilyn Murphy '61, Sheryl Duckworth Thorne '60, Melanie Poor Cottam '60, Karen Vice Irey '61, and Pat Hollingsworth Mayor '61. She remains in touch with them via email. Mary is proud to continue to financially help Phi Chapter when she can. Over the years, Mary has served in various leadership positions on the Akron Children's Hospital Board and as president of Witan, a charitable organization similar to the Junior League. She became a golfer, a world traveler, an avid bridge player and teacher, and an Ohio State Buckeyes fan—and remains a Jayhawk cheerleader. You can connect with her at marymaccole@gmail.com. W e are always looking for Real. Strong. Women. to join Phi Chapter and welcome your recruitment recommendations! You can help us find the right women for our sisterhood by submitting your recommendations online. Visit alphachiomega.org and click on the "Recommend a Member" link. If you would like to mail in a recommendation letter, please send it to: Lydia Sharpe, 1108 Tennessee St., Lawrence, KS 66044 Please mail your recommendations before July 7. Thank you for helping us grow our sisterhood! Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Chapter at the university of kansas @kansasalphachi @kansasalphachi Alpha Chi Omega Phi Chapter kuaxo.com Finding the Right Sierhd Send in Your Recruitment Recommendations

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