Sigma Phi Epsilon - Florida International University

the Florida nus page 4 Where in the World Are the Florida Nus? Frank Janisch '88 W hile some know him as Smurf on account of his blue cloth chef hat, others know him as Popeye for his wit and theatrics. Despite the array of nicknames he has received over the years, all those who know Frank Janisch '88 agree on his sidesplitting humor and magic in the kitchen. Frank was exposed to culinary arts as a teenager when he learned the ins and outs of the kitchen as a grill cook at a small restaurant in Skokie, Illinois, just down the street from where he grew up. Before he knew it, Frank's passion for cooking took off and, with help from his boss and cooking mentor, he landed himself a spot in the Culinary Institute of America in 1984. After graduating from the Culinary Institute, Frank attended FIU where his social life thrived. "We did some crazy things," he recalls, "but we all became better friends because of it." Being a SigEp however was more than just the camaraderie. It was the opportunity to learn from an organization that implores young men to strive for something bigger. The day he moved back to Chicago in 1989, Frank was offered a job as a sous chef at Burhop's, a multi-level seafood restaurant. "I was walking downtown and I hear 'Smurf, Smurf, hey!'" and before he knew it, he was the new executive sous chef. His culinary career was a booming success for several years before he was bit by the acting bug. After appearing in several restaurant commercials and hosting a Food Network series, Frank decided to open his own restaurant infused with delicious cuisine and laugh-out-loud humor. "I enjoyed this because it gave me the ability to be myself," he says. In 2008 Frank's health took a turn after having an abdominal aortic aneurism, suffering from a DBL stroke, and winding up in a coma for 18 days. Since then Frank has uprooted to Phoenix, Arizona, which has enabled him to spend quality time with his family and focus on his road to recovery. Although cooking professionally has taken a back seat when it comes to hobbies, his passion ensues. E-mail: frankiej_pm@yahoo.com SEAN O'CALLAGHAN '89 A 45-minute train ride to Manhattan, New York, and 20-minute drive to the beach is what makes Sean O'Callaghan '89 proud to call Long Island his hometown. However, that buzzing east coast lifestyle didn't stop him from putting his surfboard in his Jeep and heading south to Miami where he began school at FIU in 1984. Sean is nostalgic about his SigEp experiences and says he wishes he could go back and relive each moment that was spent with Florida Nu brothers. Walking the old Tamiami trail to a campfire in the middle of the night to get their SigEp nicknames, road trips to Key West with big brother, Frank Janisch '88, to fish and snorkel, and working the Orange Bowl when Notre Dame played the Hurricanes are just a few of Sean's favorite memories. The opportunity to be part of a brotherhood—part of something bigger—has been unparalled in Sean's life. "My entire family has taught me to work hard, believe in God, and be a good person. SigEp really helped me understand that you can't do too many things by yourself, but with friends, family, and God you can do anything," he says. "That's how I have tried to live my life." Even more than his personal success, Sean is thankful for the people he's met and places he's lived as these people have shaped him into the man he is today. Whether he's rooting on his son, William, who plays offensive lineman at Oak Hills High School, or beaming with pride over the accomplishments of his daughter, Kayla, who is a Kappa Delta at Michigan State University, you'll always find Sean spending as much time with his family as possible. He challenges Florida Nu brothers who may be interested in running a half marathon next year to contact him at seaoc18@me.com.

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