PIERCE COLLEGE GREEK ORGANIZATIONS 1960s

Matchbook covers from the collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008
Read about these groups on the blog of The Museum at
http://museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/

PHI DELTS AT SERVICE FOR DANTON BURROUGHS

Phi Delta Psi Friends of Danton Burroughs - May 17, 2008 - Archive of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

A powerful tribute was held this afternoon to honor the life and spirit of Danton Burroughs, long time friends of many Phi Delts.
Over 200 people braved an over 100 degree afternoon at the Tarzana Community Center. Among them were (l to r) Jerry Berns, Rob Miller, Peter Shields and Jerry Fecht.

PHI DELTA PSI BETA PLEDGES FALL 1960

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Fall 1960 Phi Delta Psi Pledge Car Wash - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

These photographs were among many found in an old scrapbook. The book is simply falling apart, since photos were mounted on heavy acid content paper (like construction paper). Little by the little the pictures are being sorted and carefully removed from the old scrapbooks. They are dated either from their location in a dated scrapbook or from other clues such as the date on the previous raffle ticket.

BETA PLEDGES CAR WASH FALL 1960

Pledge Class Fall 1960 - Phi Delta Psi Fraternity - Pierce College Beta Chapter - Archive of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008 (click on images to enlarge)

The Beta Chapter House was located at 23344 Berdon Street Woodland Hills, California. Br. Don Collins was president.
Members of the pledge class were:
Larry Albrecht
Joe Aquino - Pledge Captain
Ben Ashbaugh -
Bruce Gordon Benner
George H. Bloch
Christopher Reade Bush (deceased Brother)
Dave Davidson
John Donald
Robert Marko - (deceased Brother)
Mike Peters - (lost Brother)
Chuck Radford - (lost Brother)
Gil Ramelli (lost Brother)
John Rupp (lost Brother)
Thomas Roe
Dick Ruffalo
Leonard Sangiacomo
Roger Shannon
Rayne Sherman
Jerry Silver
Louis Syre
Richard Allen Wagley (deceased Brother)
Bob West
John Witmeyer - (deceased Brother)
Richard Raymond "Dick" York


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DEATH OF Br. BRUCE TYLER IN SEATTLE

We have just learned from Br. Dave Page of the death of Br. Bruce Tyler from a stroke in Seattle. I will post more as soon as I get the details. Jerry Fecht

Brother Bruce L. Tyler was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Fall of 1966. He was a member of the Fraternity's Beta Chapter at Los Angeles Pierce College. He died of a stroke in May of 2008 in the Seattle area. He struggled with diabetes for many years, and both kidney and pancreas transplants in 1992. We was a single parent with two sons Jason and Blake of whom he was very proud. For many years he was the Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing for Graphic Arts Center, A Mail-Well Company, in both the Portland and Seattle plants. He was also the president of Art With A Heart. an organization dedicated to the improvement do children in crisis lives thought art.
Bruce was honored in The Olympic Torch Run in 1996 as a torchbearer as a Hero In The community.
Brother Tyler lived in Newport Beach until 1978 and then moved to Ketchum, Idaho (Sun Valley) for 4 years of semi-retirement to get his health in order. He then moved to the Seattle area. He loved the Pacific Northwest, especially Seattle.
He was with George Rice and sons from 1974 until the company acquired and purchased George Rice & Sons Seattle in 1997.
The company's name was changed the name to Grossberg Tyler Lithography and sold the company to ColorGraphics in 1997.
Bruce left ColorGraphics for what he viewed as an outstanding opportunity with Graphic Arts Center."
Gradually Bruce Tyler's transplants met their expected limitations and his diabetes returned to debilitate him and exhaust his savings. Bruce died in hospice care.

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.

PANORAMA CITY

Greetings From Panorama City San Fernando Valley - Postcards collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Gary Fredburg - 2008
(click on picture to enlarge)

In the distance is the Newhall Pass toward Palmdale and Canyon Country. To the left is a 5 story building with a sign Western Savings. (I think this may have originally been a Valley Federal Savings Building) Br. Joe Ells had an insurance business in this structure. Several Brothers may have worked here when it was Valley Federal. Br. Rod Davis' parents owned two small clothing shops near the Savings and Loan building. I worked at a Hughes market on the other side of Bullocks.

Notes: "Please include my name in your mailing list. Thanks Lily C. ______ - _______ Columbus Aven. Sepulveda, CA 91343
To: Our Daily Bread, Radio Bible Class Box 22, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555."

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY STATE COLLEGE

San Fernando Valley State College - c. 1973 - Postcard collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Gary Fredburg - 2008 (click on the picture to enlarge it)
I am not sure what year San Fernando Valley State College became California State University Northridge? Our Gamma Chapter had become Pi Kappa Tau and later a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. SAE has since been banned from the campus.

" One of the west's finest and fastest growing colleges in the beautiful San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles
To: Mrs Ada __________ - ___________ Ludington, Minn. 49431
Dear Ada, Finally made it out here beautiful flight wonderful Had to land, saw all over L.A. as no smog. Took taxi for awhile and saw a lot of L.A. Basin San Fernando Valley. Miss you and wish you could be with us. Hows Ant (Aunt?) Mime? Love from us all. Baby says hello. Lee is grateful to be away from the snow. Love Gladys."

Devonshire Downs was likely still at the top of this picture.

WHERE WERE YOU IN 1953?

Studio City Postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2008
The theater building that once housed the Studio City Theater has long been gutted and turned into a clothing franchise store. But, the ticket box, the terrazo and bronze entranceway were kept.
"Exclusive and unique shops on a buy thoroughfare in the San Fernando Valley." Since the marquee features two films: Three Sailors and a Girl" and Marlon Brando in The Wild One, I assume that the postcard photo was taken in 1953.
Where were you in 1953?
I was on a Grayhound bus on the way to Los Angeles from Omaha, Nebraska. My destination was Saint John's Minor Seminary on 3rd and Detroit in Hollywood. The bus was filled with Mormon pilgrims who were returning to Salt Lake from Navoo, Illinois. They were fascinated that my Catholic parents would allow a child to travel across the country alone. Now that I think about it, so am I.
I didn't see a popular movie, my parents, or any Mormons for the next two years. Jerry Fecht

DINNER BEFORE THE PROM?

The Ram's Horn Restaurant - Match book cover collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - Gift of Gary Fredburg 2008
Collecting stuff is the real fun of what The Museum is about. So much of what we acquire brings back memories of what it was like growing up in the Valley in the 50 60s and 70s. The Ram's Horn is long gone now, but my memory of taking my prom date there for dinner, isn't.
The Ram's Horn was located at 16705 Ventura Boulevard, in Encino. The matchbook cover says that "Your hosts" were Roy Harlow and Don Paul.

AND, GASOLINE WAS NOT $4 A GALLON

Queens Arms Restaurant c. 1964 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008 - from Gerald Fecht