Sigma Chi - University of Virginia

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait Some say it's better but I say it ain't I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints Sinners are much more fun... You know that only the good die young Billy Joel From his 1977 album "The Stranger" R ichard M. Donlan '68, known to us as Rick, grew up in Hampton, Virginia. He entered the University in the fall of 1964. He became a member of the 1964-65 pledge class, and was initiated in 1965, with his brother Jay (Psi '66) putting on his Sigma Chi pin. Rick was one of the most popular Brothers of his era. He was smart, funny, friendly, and athletic. He was the kind of guy you wanted to be like. One of the traits that made him such a great friend was that he didn't seem to realize how extraordinary a person he was. He was naturally self-effacing, humble, and down-to-earth. In 1966-1967, during Rick's third year at Virginia, the impact of a changing world was being felt by all of us. The Vietnam War was escalating, and, unless you were already enrolled in ROTC, you faced the draft once out of college. On any given day, you could find Brothers gathered somewhere in the house discussing obligation to country, military service, and the right and wrong of war. Although an organized, hard-core resistance to the war was not yet present on the Grounds, there were plenty of men at the University who were at best ambivalent about the idea of living or dying in Southeast Asia. Such hyperbole was not in the DNA of Rick Donlan. He considered serving in the military as his duty and responsibility as an able-bodied citizen of the United States. He once told me, after relentlessly making fun of my Army ROTC polished dress helmet and belt buckle, that he was sure that, like him, I felt it a privilege to serve my country in the military. Although I wasn't completely sure I believed what Rick said as much as he did, it somehow gave me a sense of personal pride that Rick Donlan thought that way about me. Such was the way we all looked up to him. In the fall of 1967, Rick left school and enlisted in the Army. He volunteered for the infantry, became airborne qualified, and was sent to Vietnam in July 1968 as part of the 101 st Airborne Division. He was killed in February 1969 near Phan Tiet. In 2006, Jay Donlan attended a reunion of the 506 th Infantry, 101 st Airborne Division, honoring soldiers from that unit who lost their lives in Vietnam. While there, Jay met Rick's squad leader, who described him as "serious, often reading books during down times, and always telling the younger soldiers that they should read more." As put best by Rick's close friend, Ray "Tudy" Hicks (Psi '68), a fellow Army veteran also from Hampton, Virginia, "Although one of the misconceptions of that unfortunate war was that the typical casualty was a poor reluctant draftee, in reality, it was far too often guys like Rick who were responsible, conscientious, and duty-bound." To honor the memory of Rick, his family is establishing an Intramural Athlete of the Year award to be presented yearly to the Brother judged to have contributed most to Psi's intramural program. All of us in the family of Psi of Sigma Chi are proud to call Rick Donlan one of our own . . . the only Brother to give his life for our country in the Vietnam War. All Hail to Brother Rick…All Hail to Sigma Chi "Only the Good Die Young" Only the Good Die Young: A Tribute to Rick Donlan By Jay Donlan '66 and T. Hicks '68 www.psiofsigmachi.com G lenn Kirwin '83 died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. He was a great brother, friend, mentor, father, and husband. Glenn had an insatiable curiosity and desire to solve problems. His mind was always two steps ahead of others, which made him an invaluable Pro-Consul in 1981-82. Although he parlayed his forward thinking mind into a very successful career on Wall Street, a large part of his legacy is how closely he was entwined with his family and Psi Brothers. Glenn's University of Virginia pedigree was unparalleled. His father, uncle, and all four of his brothers went to U.Va., each excelling in his own way. His brother, Peter, was also a member of the Psi chapter ('85). As one of the few New Yorkers in the house at the time, Glenn steadily influenced the Brotherhood with some liberal thinking and Yankee enthusiasm. He was also always up for some mischief and facilitating a great party. He always had time to stop and help anyone who needed it. A great listener, he always encouraged people to try things outside of their comfort zone. If Glenn were alive today, he would tell you he is most proud of his wife, Joan Boswell Kirwin (a U.Va. '83 graduate and member of Kappa Delta Sorority) and their two sons, Miles and Troy, who also went to U.Va. and blossomed during their four years at the University. Joan was a dorm mate and good friend to fifteen Psi Brothers during college and remains close to many of them today. A broad collection of Brothers from the classes of '81, '82, '83, and '84 have formed a scholarship in Glenn's name, which now has an endowment of over $800,000. In addition, many of these same Brothers have made generous pledges to the Psi of Sigma Chi Capital Campaign in memory of Glenn. All Hail to Brother Glenn…All Hail to Sigma Chi "Glenn Kirwin, Gone But Never Forgotten" A Few Words: A Tribute to Glenn Kirwin By Bruce Walters '83

• Cover