Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

Page 2 SigEp Gator Heart Don "Pete" Belcher '76 entered Chapter Eternal on October 21, 2022, from pancreatic and liver cancer. Tom Hatchett '74 shares some thoughts in celebration of Pete's life and brotherhood: I met Pete at an apartment party in the summer of 1972. I was up from a summer job to visit my brothers and attend this party over the weekend. One of the brothers had already invited Pete to rush SigEp. Upon meeting Pete, I found out that we had grown up about 20 miles apart, he in west Orlando and me in Lake Monroe. We fished in similar waters and hunted similar woods and fields. That was the beginning of a long and deep friendship that never faded and never will. We arranged to fish together as often and as long as possible with our busy separate lives. We usually camped out a night or two where we had chosen to fish. Later, we had our own boats and would take turns on our home waters. He would usually beat me on my home waters, and I would beat him on his. The hunting came in later when I could host him in southern Georgia and he could host me in Kansas. I wish I could say that I have lived a perfect year, a perfect month, a perfect week, a perfect day … but I haven't. But I have lived some perfect moments, and I know that Pete has and that you have. I believe that perfect moment can simply be a few seconds. Your wedding ceremony; the birth of your child; the Gators winning the national championship; fooling, hooking, and landing a 10-to 12-inch bass; getting that big, wild rooster pheasant after walking through knee-to-chest-high cover for three miles or more; getting a double or triple in a dove field or quail cover. You have your own examples of a perfect moment. I have shared all I have mentioned with Pete, in person or from a distance. It is a beautiful thing. Once when we were on a lake, I can't remember which, Pete said to me that we would be lucky to be able to count our true friends on one hand. I had had those thoughts before and agreed with him. I believe now that Pete could not count all his true friends on both hands and both feet. I am just so honored to be counted as one of them. He would do anything for his family, friends, and neighbors. There are three dominant emotions that come to mind after living through this tragic ordeal. They are MAD, SAD, and GLAD. I'll address the negative emotion first: MAD!! (And I do not blame anyone.) • I'm mad that there still are forms of cancer that are incurable. • I'm mad that when I was with Pete in late May, he only thought he had a shoulder that needed to be repaired, then he died of cancer four months later. • I'm mad that Pete, so vibrant and youthful at 68 years young and such an asset to his family and community, has left us in this void. I'm SAD!! (And I'm not blaming anyone.) • I'm sad most of all for Kim, Brandy, Britany, and the rest of the Belcher family for their loss of Pete. • I'm sad that I will never hear "Whud-up!" or "For criminy sake!" on the other end of the phone line again. • I'm sad that we won't be able to talk fishing, Florida Gators, hunting, boys' weekend, wives, kids, family, tires, trees, and all the other things we had in common. • I'm sad that Pete felt so bad and was vain about his appearance and ability to communicate that he couldn't see more visitors. I'm glad for so many things that can't be taken away—and I blame Pete. • I'm glad for Pete and Kim's lasting, loving marriage, an example to anyone for 46 years. They honored their vows, which feels uncommon in this day and age. • I'm glad for the true friendship and all that comes with it for over 50 years. The adventures and stories that go with it are endless. • I'm glad that Kim and the girls gave Pete so much time and love during his failing health. • I'm glad Pete found this Christian ministry to give him comfort in preparation for his life in heaven above. • I'm glad for all his friends and family and want to thank them for being there and helping Kim through her suffering. • I'm glad that, wherever the Hatchetts and the Belchers were living, we managed to visit, arrange to do things together, and stay in touch. • I'm glad to have fished with Mark, Gator gamed with Steve, and to have known Sue vicariously through Pete. Thanks to Shirley and Harry for having these wonderful children and treating me like family when I would visit. In closing, I want to mention that Pete loved country music. The old timers now: Merle Haggard, George Jones, Tom T. Hall, you get the idea. Randy Travis wrote this chorus into one of his songs. It has stuck in my head ever since learning of Pete's illness: "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It's what you leave behind you when you go." Pete has left us all a lot. Fraternally, Tommy For Pete's Sake Remembering Pete Belcher '76

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