Theta Chi - Bradley University

CHAPTER ETERNAL MANIFESTO MANIFESTO THE NEWSLETTER FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GAMMA UPSILON CHAPTER OF THETA CHI FRATERNIT Y AT BRADLEY UNIVERSIT Y - FALL 2023 C H A P T E R : t h e t a c h i b u . c o m | A L U M N I : g a m m a u p s i l o n . o r g L ong time, no read! It's been a while since our last printing of the Manifesto, but we are back and determined to make it a regular thing again. While there have been many good things that have happened to our brotherhood since then, we also missed the chance to acknowledge some more somber events as well. We dedicate much of this issue to those brothers that entered the Chapter Eternal recently. Remembering Our Brothers We have lost several brothers in a short amount of time, both young and old. In 2022, we lost Andrey Pilipchak '91 to a heart attack while he was working on his father's house with his son. en, we lost two more monumental brothers, Lynn Gundersen '57 and Roger Koehler '70. Soon aer that, we received the awful news from Sean DonCarlos '03 that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was essentially told to get his affairs in order, and it could be as soon as 40 days but as long as a couple of months. For some of us who were connected to Sean on Facebook, he fed us daily updates on his condition. Much to our surprise, he seemed oen upbeat, even inspirational. He had his good days and his down days. He lasted Let's Build on Our Bonds The Importance of Fraternal Connections longer than they predicted, but to lose such a wonderful soul at only 41 years old was hard to accept. Sean's passing was almost immediately followed by the sudden death of another brother, John Niklewicz '91. He was not only a pledge brother to Andrey Pilipchak; John also had a younger brother, David Niklewicz '94, who was a member of our chapter and passed away only three years prior. I will save further details for the Chapter Eternal section. Strengthening Our Network We have had some brothers with serious issues that have not reached out to ask for help. When I was at my lowest point in 2018, I had a guardian angel or two. One was Dru Neikirk '88, my old roommate. He would call my wife to check up on me. I lived in Geneva, Illinois, and he was in Houston, but he wanted to know what was going on with me. He has lied me up more than once as an undergraduate and as an alumnus. e point is, let brothers help you. Let them in. Stay connected. When I was alone and having a low blood sugar episode, rather than calling the hospital, I happened to see who was up online. I was covered in sweat and disoriented. If I recall, Josh Gramlich '98, the brother who loves to cook, took my call via Yahoo Messenger. He stayed on the line with me until he knew I was safe and stable. We didn't even really know each other, but he took the time—and I will be forever grateful. Ask for help when you need it. Swallow your pride if you must. eta Chi for Life is not just a slogan. Fraternally, Marty Deering '89 President, Gamma Upsilon Alumni Corporation 1. Ensure you are connected with Gamma Upsilon brothers online. 2. Donate toward the well- being of our chapter. 3. Volunteer for Gamma Upsilon (maybe alongside alumni from your era). 4. Visit gammaupsilon.org to update your contact information. 5. Visit the chapter house for events. Unfortunately, not every edition of Manifesto has included a listing of our local brothers who have passed to Chapter Eternal, but there have been some since our last edition who deserve mention. Unfortunately, we've recently lost three brothers much before their time, and two who were not only members of the Golden Guard but truly represented the spirit and foundation of our chapter. Lynn Gundersen '57 entered Chapter Eternal on May 16, 2022, aer a 17-year battle with cancer. He studied business and industrial education while in ROTC. Soon aer graduation, Lynn was employed by Bradley in the admissions office. While there, he met his wife, Allene Traicoff, and they married in 1960. ey later moved to Wheaton. Lynn was active as a volunteer with children's charities and e Elks Club, and he served on hospital boards and loved golfing at St. Charles Country Club. I met Lynn when I was a freshman in 1985. He was such a nice man and always the best dressed at the party. How can I stay engaged? Continued on page 3

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