Gamma Phi Beta - University of Oklahoma

GAMMA PHI BETA 3 who was a Pi Kappa Alpha at the University of Southern California, decided to join the Air Force instead of the defense draft. So, she and her pledge sister, Roydena Bean '40, took a trip to visit him during the fall of their sophomore year. "We went to USC to spend some time with him during Thanksgiving break, and I stayed longer because I knew it would be months before I would see him again. And as a result, I flunked my literature class because of my absence. I had more absences there because it was an 8 a.m. class," she said with a laugh. "My professor, whom I was very fond of, asked me later why I didn't tell him. But I figured a rule was a rule and that I'd exploited the rule and that was the circumstance. He shook his head and said he would have been glad to change my grade. I had a good grade in that class up until that point." The war ultimately changed her path in life, but Gamma Phi always remained an important part. Maryanne married Max Fischer, an OU Pi Kappa Alpha who played varsity football, her junior year, and she left the university before graduating as the war took over. Despite leaving Gamma Phi Beta earlier than she originally planned, she kept in touch with several of her sisters. "Over the years, I maintained a close friendship with Kitty Gardner Reeds '40, who was very active in Gamma Phi Beta from the day she pledged until the day she died. I was also close with her granddaughter, Suzanne Reeds Vicsek '92, who serves as treasurer for the House Corporation," she stated. "I had lots of friends who were Gamma Phi Betas, and now and again we were involved with each other and our children, maybe through a local project where we could volunteer together. It was always fun!" On January 18 of this year, Maryanne turned 99—a milestone birthday that was celebrated with a surprise party at her house the day prior. Her three children (and their spouses), five of her six grandchildren, and all 13 of her great- grandchildren were in attendance and in on the surprise. "I was in shock because they had the surprise for me on Sunday, the day before my birthday," she mused. Her daughter told her they were going to shop for a recliner, which she really didn't want to do but went along after a little convincing. When she opened the front door, she saw signs in her front yard that read Happy 99th Birthday, Maryanne!, and next she saw a parade of cars with family members and dear friends inside waiting to wish her a happy birthday. "I have a circle drive, so each car drove through and someone would jump out and give me a card, or flowers, or a gift. Because of the social distance, which is difficult, my daughter would announce who was in each car as it drove up, so I knew who I was talking to before I saw them," she shared. "I got a carload of attention to last me from now on." Although most of her Gamma Phi Beta pledge sisters have since passed, she still cherishes the special bond she had with them. It was her dear friend Kitty's granddaughter, Suzanne, and Margaret West Pape '64 who arranged for Maryanne to finally be officially initiated into Psi Chapter when she was 92. Maryanne's lifelong friend Jean Tillery Swirczynski '40, whom she went to high school with, was also in attendance with her own granddaughter, Tessa Breder '07, and made the event even more special and meaningful. "To go from high school to the sorority together and really have friends for the rest of your life was sort of the way it worked out. At this point in my life, I still have Gamma Phi friends in Norman, so that's pretty special." she said. "I have always been a Gamma Phi in my heart." Maryanne still resides in Norman and lives with her youngest daughter, Christina. A GAMMA PHI BETA AT HEART (Continued from page 1) Lou Skinner '53 wrote a memoir titled Footprints Around the Globe, which reflects on interesting events in her life such as teaching music to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie's grandchildren; performing music for Nixon's state dinner; traveling to 130 countries; and more. Lou lives in Bothell, Wash. Email: laskinner@comcast.net Dorothy Butler Welsh '54 volunteers as a fossil preparator at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in the vertebrate paleontology lab. She is a writer by profession. Dorothy lives in Norman, Okla. Email: wbddres@gmail.com Marilyn James Lawrence '55 met her husband, Robert, on a blind date initiated by a sorority sister! Marilyn and her husband have been employed at the University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, the University of Maryland, and the University of Louisville. They live in Goshen, Ky. Charlotte Lovelace Fitzgerald '56 is retired. She lives in Port O'Connor, Texas, and tries to maintain contact with the Houston Alumnae Group. Email: cbfitz@sbcglobal.net Teresa Kalman Brown '59 and her husband, Doug, have three children. Along with her teaching career, Teresa was president of a YMCA outdoor camp and the Junior League in Reading, Pennsylvania. She lives in Naples, Fla. Email: campbrown@comcast.net Lou Ann Roach Garrett '61 volunteers by writing news releases for the Amarillo League of Women Voters as its publicity chairman as well as for her church. In February 2020, she received the first Special Achievement Award for Service from the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. She lives in Amarillo with her husband, Doug. Email: ladgarrett@gmail.com Virginia Johnson Israelit '61 enjoys traveling, photography, and gardening. She lives in Portland, Ore., with her husband, Arnie. Email: gig.israelit@comcast.net Mary Pancoast Springfield '63 retired as a construction manager. She lives in Norman, Okla. Email: rspringfield3@cox.net Linda Hisey Parker '64 owns two family businesses: one with her daughter-in-law, who runs the third-party administration firm; and a small real estate development company with her younger son, who is an architect. She serves as board chairman for the N.M. Parker Center for Family Business that she and her husband co-founded. Linda lives in Corrales, N.M. Email: lparker@rsabg.com Pat Hulsey Belcher '66 is retired and has two beautiful granddaughters. She worked Alumnae News (Continued on page 4)

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