ALLEN PLOUFF and JOHN CAMINITI BETA BROTHERS

Allen Plouff - US Military Intelligence October 1967 Dau Tieng, South Viet Nam - Photo scanned by LeRoy Hunt 2008 for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

The Viet Nam War did much to destroy the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity. Many of its Brothers were members of reserve units "called up" for military service. Anti-war and anti-establishment sentiments grew as the war continued, and fraternities were among their victims.
Brother Allen Plouff pledged Phi Delta Psi's Beta Chapter in the Fall of 1963, shortly after graduating from Canoga Park High School. He entered the service just after finishing his studies at Pierce College. On his return from three years in Viet Nam, he entered California State University Northridge where he earned a degree in accounting. In 2008 he and his wife Judy reside in Valencia, California

Post card sent to Jerry Fecht from John Caminiti during his flight training (click on image to enlarge)
Brother John Caminiti is a 1959 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. He was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Fall of 1962. He served the Brotherhood as the Sergeant at Arms for Beta Chapter. John holds a Masters degree from California State University Northridge. He served in the United States Army, First Cavalry Division from 1966 to 1968.
In 2004, Brother Caminiti is a mathematics teacher and wrestling coach at Tehachapi High School. He and his former wife Terry have four children; Steve, Scott, Chris, and Katie.
John wrote in 2004: "I live a great life. My fiancée and I dance, camp, travel, attend spiritual retreats, and have fun with the grandkids. Also I am involved with Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, which explains why I recently had to have rotator cuff surgery at Kerlan and Jobe. I am a very lucky fella."

SWENSON, STROLE AND FALK FOUNDED A COMPANY CALLED M&FM

Logo for the 200th Anniversary of the Founding of Los Angeles 1981. Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects historical objects and information about all of the communities that make up greater Los Angeles. It has a significant collection of artifacts related to the bicentennial of the founding of Los Angeles. The San Fernando Valley based company Marketing and Financial Management Enterprises (M&FM) was chosen by the City of Los Angeles to license the event.
M&FM was founded by Brothers Chester Swenson, Stephen Falk and David Strole, all of whom were members of the Phi Delta Psi.
Jerry Fecht worked on the project as well.

FOUNDERS GRADY TALBOT AND BENJAMIN KRONNICK

Founder Grady Talbot was the second President of the Phi Delta Psi. He was born on the 30th of November in Los Angeles, California
Grady graduated from Los Angeles Pierce College in 1958, after which he completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo in 1961.
Founder Talbot was in the United States Marine Corps prior to founding our Fraternity. He served in the Korean Conflict.
Captain Talbot flew F-100's in USAF 1962 -1969. Grady flew on the first strike into North Vietnam in the Spring of 1965. On his return to the United States he worked as a stockbroker in Phoenix, Arizona from 1970 to 1973. From that time until 1986, Grady farmed in the Imperial Valley, near El Centro, California. In 1990, he completed his Doctorate of Law degree from the University of San Diego's School of Law. He has been an active member of California State Bar from that time.
Grady has five children and ten grandchildren. Among his children are: Colleen, Jenay, Lorene and Larry. His former wife is Barbara Whelchel.
Founder Grady Talbot was elected the first President of the reorganized Maple Leaf Society in the spring of 2004. He is a founder and member of the Board of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. He and his wife Alice live in Arcadia, California.

Benjamin Kronnick - Photo scanned for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by LeRoy Hunt 2008 (click on image to enlarge)
This is the only known photograph of Founder Ben Kronnick. It was found in a scrapbook created by Jerry Fecht, and recently discovered among the effects of Nancy Gatch.

LOST BROTHERS, KENNETH KEENER, IRVING DAMM AND MICHAEL LEVINE

Irving Damm (click on image to enlarge) This image was scanned for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by LeRoy Hunt - 2008

Brother Irving Damm was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1967. He was born in Oxford, Ohio and graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1965. Irving was the first of the Phi Delts to receive an interest free college loan from the Maple Leaf Society. He may be living in Sunland, California, but his occupation, location and family history is unknown.

Ken Keener (click on image to enlarge) This image was scanned for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by LeRoy Hunt - 2008
Brother Kenneth Keener is initiate number 525 of the Phi Delta Psi. He was born on the 23rd of June in Burbank, California. He is a 1964 graduate of John Francis Polytechnic High School. At the time he pledged he was a Social Psychology major. Interests include water and snow skiing. The Brotherhood has no up to date address for Ken.

Mike Levine (click on image to enlarge) This image was scanned for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by LeRoy Hunt - 2008

Brother Michael Levine was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1967, shortly after graduating from Venice High School in 1966. He was a business major at Pierce College.

AL CONAHAN COMES ABOARD THE REUNION CRUISE

JOHN WITMYER ELECTED TO PIERCE COLLEGE OFFICE

Clipping from Pierce College Roundup Newspaper c. 1960. The paper's photographer was Br. John Dyatt. (Collection of Br. Bob Robar 2008) (click on image to enlarge)
Br. Witmyer is deceased.

ROBERT MARKO PLEDGE PIN AND TIE TACK FOUND

Commemoration Card 1990 for Robert Marko - Gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Jerry Berns September 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

At a lunch this afternoon in Woodland Hills (September 9, 2009) Jerry Berns donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley a funeral card from Bob Marko's memorial service. Attached was Bob's red enamel Maple Leaf Pledge Pin and a small gold Phi Delta Psi tie tack.

Br. Phi Gatch found among his wife's personal possessions, the two long lost scrapbooks kept during the Viet Nam War by Jerry Fecht. Br. LeRoy Hunt has scanned all of the items in both scrapbooks and provided us with electronic images that I will begin sharing on this blog very soon. I am not as yet finished scanning and documenting the big box of Phi Delt memorabilia loaned to the blog by Br. Bob Robar last week.

JERRY CIPPERLY AND MIKE PADDEN - TWO SPLENDID BROTHERS

Jerry Dean Cipperly Photo taken from 1961 Maple Leaf Ball program. (click on image to enlarge)

Brother Jerry Cipperly was born on March 6th in Cushing Iowa. He graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1954
Brother Jerry Cipperly was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Fall of 1958. Mrs. Ruby Cipperley, Jerry's mother, was "mom" to the whole Alpha Chapter. He served our Brotherhood in many positions. He was the leader of the Fraternity's music program, directing our Spring Sing efforts.
Jerry is retired from a career as a driver for the motion picture industry. Among his more recent efforts was as "transportation captain" for the Maverick film. He served the American Republic in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve at Los Alamitos, California. His last known address was in Nevada.

Jerome Michael Padden Photo taken from 1961 Maple Leaf Ball program. (click on image to enlarge) (click on image to enlarge)

Brother Michael Padden pledged the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Fall of 1957. He served the Brotherhood as President of Alpha Chapter. Mike worked. played and studied hard. He balanced his time carefully to care for his younger brother who was afflicted with cerebral palsy. Mike had a terrific singing voice and was part of the Alpha Chapter barber shop quartet. He had a college job at Sears, working in the garden department.
After Valley College, Mike went to work for the film studios as a model maker and became the Business Agent for the Model Makers Union of Hollywood.
Brother Mike Padden died of AIDS. His life partner Del Yuen stood by him until the end. Michael endowed the City of Hope in his will. He also paid for the planting of the California Redwood Grove at the entrance of Moorpark College, as a memorial to deceased Phi Delta Psi Brothers.

BROTHER CHARLES MacARTHUR

(click on image to enlarge)
Brother Mac ARTHUR was the first disabled member of our Fraternity. He was instrumental in getting Delta Chapter on its feet financially, and later served as the Treasurer of the Maple Leaf Society (the Fraternity's Alumni Association. He was a graduate of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles.
At the time Charles was initiated into our Brotherhood, Americans with disabilities were generally ignored and discriminated against in many ways. Charles taught his Fraternity Brothers that his wheel chair was a minor impediment when the job of building Delta Chapter at Los Angeles City College and later the Maple Leaf Society was concerned. He died in the late 1960s.
The date of his initiation and pledge class semester and year is not known.