Sigma Chi - University of Virginia

The Constantine Sig VICKI WARREN WASHBURN JANUARY 15, 1949 – APRIL 5, 2016 The girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl Of all the girls I know. Each sweet coed, like a rainbow trail Fades in the afterglow. The blue of her eyes and gold of her hair Are a blend of the western sky. And the moonlight beams On the girl of my dreams She's the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. T here's much to learn from the best among us. Vicki Washburn was one of those people. It is with deep regret that we must tell you that Vicki died on April 5, 2016 after a brief, but courageous, battle with cancer. To all who visited 608 Preston Place in the late 1960's, Vicki was everyone's best friend. Years before women were admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences for their undergraduate education, Vicki was the most constant female presence in the House. Everyone's sister, friend, and confidante, it's hard to remember a weekend without Vicki's smiling face greeting us at the front door. Of course, the real reason Vicki traveled to Charlottesville from Lynchburg College, and later American University each weekend, was to visit her then boyfriend, Brother Tom Washburn '70, who met Vicki when she was fifteen and in the tenth grade and he was seventeen and in the eleventh grade at their alma mater Hammond High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Legend has it that, after the first date for each of them, they were inseparable for the rest of her life. In Spring 1969, Vicki was unanimously selected as our Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. At that time, the University of Virginia was a notorious all-male public institution, with the majority of us Virginia Gentlemen, as we were paradoxically known, completely ignorant as to what equality between a man and a woman really meant. Enter Vicki Warren Washburn. By winning our hearts, as she did in the most unassuming way, Vicki taught us all the wonder of being a woman. She was smart, she was kind, she was wise and she singlehandedly became the teacher of respect, dignity, and equality between a man and a woman. In her death, Vicki leaves behind her beloved husband Tom, her daughter Brooke Housh and son-in-law Steve, her son Trent, her son Peter and daughter-in-law Mandy, six grandchildren, and her precious Annie, the golden retriever daughter. So, this is the story of Vicki. Simply put, being loved by Vicki was transformative. She had a way of seeing the best in people and showing them the path to see it in themselves. Her infectious love of life was perfectly captured in an e-mail exchange between friends after, as Tom put it, she had "left." "I know Vicki will have a fun time in heaven giggling with her new angel buddies," wrote the first. To which the other replied, ". . . having fun in heaven giggling and dancing with her new angel buddies!" Because, as we all know, Vicki always loved a good party! Chapter Officers Consul Conor Kelly '17 Chatham, N.J. crk6rh@virginia.edu Pro Consul Ryan Aubrey '17 Radford, Va. Annotator Henry Pollack '18 Chicago, Ill. Recruitment Chairman Robert Raiola '18 Chatham, N.J. rwr9uu@virginia.edu House Manager Hugh Campbell '17 Manassas, Va. Social Chairmen Joshua Glazier '17 Herndon, Va. Matt Ruiters '17 Bethesda, Md. Quester Logan Bunte-Mein '17 Greenwich, Conn. Derby Days Chairmen Blake Anderson '17 Roanake, Va. Jack Jeffery '18 Denver, Colo. Tribune Gardner Tregellas '18 New Canaan, Conn. Kustos Vinnie Liberi '18 Ashburn, Va. IM Chairman Charlie Hillock '17 Glen Rock, N.J. Brotherhood Chairman James Schwartz '18 Lincroft, N.J. Alumni Chairman August Walker '18 Culpeper, Va. Steward George Ingber '18 Westport, Conn. Scholarship Chairman Matthew Choi '18 McLean, Va. Risk Manager Jack Jeffery '18 Denver, Colo. Community Outreach Chairman Christopher Yahanda '18 Fort Wayne, Ind. Many Brothers traveled to Brazil to participate in Seeds for Hope, helping children living on the streets and in orphanages.

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