Br. ART ASTON Jr.

Art Aston Jr. Photo from Maple Leaf Ball Program - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
Brother Art Aston pledged the Phi Delta Psi in the Fall of 1957, shortly after his graduation from Canoga Park High School. Art's pledge class consisted of students from both Los Angeles Pierce and Valley Colleges. At the first pledge meeting, the Pledge Master Craig Pinkard asked Art to come to the front. He addressed Art as "Shorty," a nickname he was to live with for years.
The semester after pledging Art was called to active duty in the United States Navy, where he served three years. Since he was stationed in Long Beach, the young sailor missed few weekend parties at the original Topanga Canyon Fraternity house. During his time in the Navy, Art received training as a corpsman, which enabled him to work as an orderly at the Motion Picture Home and Hospital after leaving the service.
Art transferred to California State University Northridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Journalism in 1967. At CSUN, Art became the only student president of the University's Booster Club. He was a founding officer and original board member of the Maple Leaf Society.
After college, Art Aston went to work for Valley Federal Savings and Loan in Woodland Hills. His father Art senior watched over him and his fellow trainee Steve Falk. Art worked for some time with Br. Ralph Muzzillo. He worked for the Savings and Loan from 1962 to 1968, when he took a position with the Nordskrog Company as director of public relations and advertising for a year.
From 1969 to 1973, Aston was the assistant executive vice president of the San Fernando Valley Board of Realtors. He then worked for four years as executive vice president for the Stockton Board of Realtors. In 1979, Art became the executive vice president of the San Diego Board of Realtors. In 1985, he returned to serve in a similar capacity for the large Los Angeles Board of Realtors. He held that position until 1990, when he became an executive for the American Industrial Real Estate Association.
As Executive Vice President of the above Trade Associations (501 c 6) Art Aston's duties were to report directly to the Board of Directors and manage the day-to-day operations including hiring and supervision of staff, budget planning, media interface and staff liaison to the National Association of Realtors and the California Association of Realtors.
For three years, 1993 to 1996, Art Aston was the executive vice president of the International Right of Way Association, in Gardena, California. From 1996 to the present, he has served as the administrative director of the Apartment Association of the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County. The Apartment Association is headquartered in Van Nuys.
Art and his wife Sharon lived until 2005 on the bluff overlooking the original Phi Delta Psi ranch house on Topanga Boulevard. When he retired the Astons moved to Saugus. Sharon and Art have been married for 32 years. They have a son, Arthur David Aston, and two daughters Leigh Ann and April Diane Aston. They also have a foster daughter Lulu Taylor. The Astons are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren (3 boys and 4 girls.)
He plays golf regularly with long time friends from high school days. Art has three children and a grandson.