Alpha Chi Omega - Ohio State University

PAGE 2 Jane Durbin Sotak '59 on the Importance of Giving Back A Mind to Work and a Heart to Serve A Mind to Work and a Heart to Serve Jane Durbin Sotak '59 has a long and storied history with Alpha Chi Omega. She grew up in Columbus and chose to live at home with her family instead of moving into on-campus housing. "I knew I needed a way to make some friends," she shared. "I thought joining a sorority would be a great way to make some connections." One of Jane's friends was an Alpha Chi member, and she encouraged her to participate in a few recruitment events. After meeting the rest of the young women, Jane knew it was the right fit. A desire to serve others has been a constant throughout Jane's life. She served Alpha Chi as chapter president during her junior year, and after graduation, she was a member of the alumnae board for 35 years. "I went on to be the house corporation president for two terms in the 1970s. I always enjoyed the relationships, and the leadership skills I learned with Alpha Chi have served me well in other environments." After graduating in May of 1962 with a bachelor's degree in education, Jane married her college sweetheart, Jack Egger that December. Following the wedding, they moved to North Carolina, where he was stationed with the Marine Corps. Over the next five years, the couple had three children before he was killed in action in Vietnam. "I was back in Columbus at the time," Jane recalled. "I had three little people at home to care for, so instead of going back to teaching, I went into banking." Jane worked to provide for her children until she remarried. "My second husband, Bob Sotak, helped me raise my children and was incredibly supportive of me for the next 47 years." After stepping down as the family's breadwinner, Jane reignited her passion for volunteer work. She served as chairman of fundraising and service committees at Children's Hospital and Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute at Ohio State during the 1980s, and in the 1990s, she worked with her church's outreach program to help underprivileged members of the community. "People ask me about my work experience and I point to the places I've been able to serve and make a difference. That's been the focus of my life." When Jane turned 80 in 2020, she decided to retire from volunteering. "My husband passed away in 2019, and I decided I was going to enjoy spending time with the people I've met over the years." Jane gets lunch once a month with Karen Jackson and attends a get- together with a treasured group of sisters around the holidays. "For more than 50 years, we've made it a point to gather for dinner. It's changed over the years—we've lost about three of the women and two of the men—but we still stay close." Jane has three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She spends her days visiting the local senior center and keeping in touch with alumnae of all ages. If you'd like to connect with Jane, you can give her a call at (614) 451-8035. CATCH UP WITH JANE AT THE CENTENNIAL! If you attend the chapter's 100th anniversary celebration in September, you can expect to see Jane enjoying the festivities and catching up with old friends. "I am looking forward to seeing all the people I've worked with as part of the housing corporation and the girls that I advised when they were serving as chapter officers," she shared. "I appreciate the unwavering support all my Alpha Chi sisters have given me over the years." "Lessons you learn in the chapter house are just as beneficial as the ones you learn in the classroom." A L P H A C H I O M E G A Mary Maurer '41 resides in Monroe, Ohio, and is 102 years old. She served as the president of the Houston alumnae chapter as well as the Province President for chapters in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. She even worked in the central office for one year. She received her 75-year pin in 2016. Jo Ann Scheuerman Dudley '54 lives in Kissimmee, Fl., and still does income tax returns for people at her church. Barbara Cook Reed '66 moved to Florida in September 2007. Her daughter moved there at the same time. Barbara's grandson just finished his second year at Florida Polytechnic University, and her granddaughter just graduated from high school. She is enjoying retirement and does not miss the ice and snow. She resides in Poinciana, Fl. Congratulations to Mari-jean Siehl '75, as she completed her service as Alpha Chi Omega National Vice President for the 2020-22 leadership term. She also completed service to the Fraternity as a member of the Pearl Stone Partners Board of Managers from 2018 to 2020. She continues to serve as a national volunteer as a Province Alumnae Chair for Illinois for the 2023-25 term. Thank you to Carrie Velliquette '99 for answering our call for volunteers to help on the local house corporation in 2022. Thank you for your time and dedication to our efforts over the last year and a half! We will miss you! Congratulations to Leigh Fouts Johnson '07 and Christine Licata-Hoang '09 on their appointments as Province Collegiate Chairmen for the 2023-25 leadership term. Leigh serves the Ohio province by working with chapters at The Ohio State University, Mount Union University, Miami University, Bowling Green State University, and Case Western Reserve University. Christine serves the Maryland and Washington, D.C., province by working with the chapters at the University of Maryland, Washington College, and American University. Thank you to Natalie Pantalos '12 for her service to the local house corporation as treasurer for the last 18 months. Natalie previously served in leadership roles for the Lambda Chi Lambda alumnae chapter in Columbus as well as on the house corporation. We are so grateful to you! Andrea Prokup '18 is engaged and will be getting married in May 2024. She graduated with her MBA in August 2023. She lives in Hilliard, Ohio. Congratulations to Taylor Tolley Owens '14 on her recent nuptials to her loving husband, Blake! Their wedding took place on March 25 at Revery in Columbus, Ohio. The couple honeymooned for 16 days in Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Greece. Taylor served as Chapter President for Alpha Omicron in 2016 and went on to serve the national fraternity as a traveling Chapter Consultant for two years from 2017-19. ALUMNAE NEWS

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