Theta Chi - University of Florida

PAGE 2 M y journey with Theta Chi started with a little tomfoolery. While growing up in Gainesville, I found myself drawn into the fold by my close high school friend E. Reed Smith '87. Reed's older sister, Leanna, was a favorite Theta Chi little sister and was friends with several brothers. Reed and I visited campus and met Jack Drohan '83, Chuck Shearer '83, Kenneth Vogel '82, and others. One memory that stands out is watching Chuck launch water balloons hundreds of feet with a trebuchet-like slingshot from the roof of 10 Fraternity Row. For a high school sophomore, it was way too much fun! Theta Chi brought me true friendships and invaluable advice from guys who were a little further along in life. Theta Chi is ennobled by high purpose, and I came to value the brilliance of truth, temperance, and tolerance. These principles empower me to serve my family, my communities, and my fellow man. We'll all be in a better place if more would extend a helping hand to others. One of my favorite memories from the Chapter House is meeting my best friend and lovely wife of almost 30 years. Corey, a Kappa Kappa Gamma at UF, and I met during Homecoming in 1988 in Theta Chi's front yard, thanks to Elisha Cohen, one of Corey's sorority sisters. I also have great memories of a quiet resolve in Bob Baxter '89, a brotherly bond with Al Torchia '88, an endearing spirit in Jason Cherner '89, strength of character from Chuck Shearer '83, and a dose of jovial wit from Mike Wilbur '86. I earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Florida in the Fall of 1993, graduating with high honors. A philosophical conversation with Mike Hawk '85 on the front ledge solidified my decision to stick with engineering. Dry humor from Scott Albee '88 also helped keep me on a meaningful path. After UF, I pursued a master's degree in water resources engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, in the mid-1990s. I worked in Washington, D.C., and Tampa before returning to Gainesville to earn a doctorate in coastal engineering in 2007. My career as a civil engineer has been deeply influenced by Theta Chi's values as I serve society by addressing challenges and ensuring health, safety, and welfare. I stay engaged as an alumnus because I enjoy the friendships. Living in Gainesville, across from Florida Field, I catch up with my brothers during football games. I've hosted Jared Kay '87 and Jen and Rob Cohen '87 and Blanca. I visited with Kyle Cohan '87 at Leonardo's and kept in touch with legends like Marc Meisel '89 and Scott Eldridge '88. Brothers like Bo Abreau '86, Erich McLane '90, Lou Lerman '89, Rob Craven '87, and Alan Martin '88 have also remained part of my life. Corey and I now live in Gainesville, where I work as a consultant. It's a tough job, but I've had the pleasure of collaborating with great engineers like the son of Rob Taylor '90 and the daughter of Josh Weingard '90. I have two fantastic kids, Eamon and Maggie. Eamon is an artist in New York City and Maggie is about to start college. Spare time is a rare commodity, but life is full! If you'd like to reconnect, please send me an email at jeffrey.n.king@gmail.com. It Started with a Slingshot TAU TOPICS Chris Aleman | Miami, Fla. Chase Ali | Bradley Beach, N.J. Ben Barber | Newton, Conn. Lucas Barros | Miami, Fla. Kyle Borenius | Little Silver, N.J. Porter Brown | Lakeland, Fla. Brendan Buckley | Long Island, N.Y. Drew Bunn | St. Petersburg, Fla. Ryan Burns | Sarasota, Fla. Hudson Byrne | Jupiter, Fla. Eoin Cooney | Orlando, Fla. Mariano Federici | Miami, Fla. Alex Garguilo | Hazlet, N.J. Lukas Goldenberg | Miami, Fla. Matt Greco | Ponte Vedra, Fla. Davis Handley | Ponte Vedra, Fla. Reed Hawke | Sarasota, Fla. Ford Kayes | Miami, Fla. Nixon Kempinger | Orlando, Fla. Jackson King | Sarasota, Fla. Drew Lanier | Washington D.C. Alex Larson | Lakeland, Fla. Chris Leavy | Highlands Ranch, Colo. Austin Lessmann | Denver, Colo. Evan Lindsay | Apopka, Fla. Caden Madden | Reston, Va. Mike Mandia | Stony Point, N.Y. Tobin Marco | Lancaster, Pa. Lucas Marinovic | Houston, Texas James McDonald | Red Bank, N.J. Christian Mena | St. Petersburg, Fla. Trevor Mostek | Chantilly, Va. Carter Mountain | Philadelphia, Pa. Nick O'Bryan | Vienna, Va. Nick Papazian | Sarasota, Fla. Dominic Pistilli | Chicago, Ill. Liam Reich | Philadelphia, Pa. Harrison Rusie | Chicago, Ill. Chris Russo | Rumson, N.J. Whit Sikes | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Will St. Onge | Sarasota, Fla. Cameron Theis | Reston, Va. Caleb Tietze | Ponte Vedra, Fla. Justin Varsalone | East Hanover, N.J. Shane Victor | Shrewsbury, N.J. Finn Wakefield | Austin, Texas Jake Zenkewicz | Chicago, Ill. W E L C O M E , N E W M E M B E R S Congratulations to the members of our Fall 2024 class on their initiation! Shane Abreu, Jeffrey King '88, Jared Kay '87, and Boris Abreu '86. Jeffrey King '88 on Theta Chi Values and Lasting Friendships Fall 2024

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