More photo from the Spring 1967 pledge class of Beta Chapter. Donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Jerry Berns in 2009. Snapshots taken at Pierce College Mardi Gras.

 Br. Dave Page, unknown woman and Br. Bob Marko in suit. (photo number 2076)

 Floats in Mardi Gras parade.

 Phi Delts try to figure out how to set up the decoration they made.

 Pledge Brother Irving Damm and Br. Tom Kirby at the Phi Delt Mardi Gras booth. 1967

 

Beta Chi Delta girl and Pledge Brother Mike Tozzi

MARDI GRAS AT PIERCE COLLEGE 1967

You can tell a lot about what sorts of artifacts and photographs are arriving to your Museum, by the photographs posted on this blog. Since each in-coming picture gets an identification number and is scanned for our records, blog viewers often get a peek at what is being recorded. The following photographs taken from a photo album kept by Beta Chapter pledges of the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1967, allows us to visit Mardi Gras on the Pierce College Campus, 43 years ago.

 Beta Chi Delta sorority girl at the Phi Delta Phi booth - Photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2009.(refer to photo 2075)

 Phi Delta Psi Fraternity brother Bob Moore welcomes Mardi Gras visitors to the Raiders' booth. If you can identify those in the booth, please refer to (photo number 2071)

 Student projects, such as the Pierce College Mardi Gras were strongly supported by the school's many fraternities, sororities and special interest clubs in 1967.  (photo number 2070)

 Pierce students gather to make wagers on their Mardi Gras turtle races. (photo 2068)

 

Student floats prepare to parade across the Pierce College campus. (photo 2074)

Br. RAY LUPACCHINI AT THE RUSSIAN INVASION WATERFIGHT 1967

Brother Ray Lupacchini was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Fall of 1964. He was the 422 member of our Brotherhood. He and his wife Gayle reside in North Hills, California. 

 Br. Ray Lupacchini 1967 - Pierce College water fight  - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - refer o photograph 2063

"Siege of the Pool - Russian Invasion Water Fight" Pierce College Spring 1967.

(refer to photo number 2062 - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Br. Jerry Berns 2009)

The great Russian Invasion Water Fight of 1967 continues.

 Frank Nemeck fires a water fires a water bomb at pledge Mike Tozzi (ducking)  photo 2057

 "Pledges Fight On" -  photo number 2066

 Dusty Raby controls a vital water supply - Bruce Tyler to his right.  Number 2056

Photo number 2064 - check out this awesome car.

SPRING 1967 PIERCE BETA PLEDGE CLASS - RUSSIAN INVASION

 Among the treasure photos in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley are these pictures taken by the Spring Phi Delta Psi Pledge Class of 1967 at Pierce College. The event, which appears to be a pledge class verses the active members of Beta Chapter, seems to have been a costumed water fight.

 Beta Chapter Pledge Master Frank Nemecek (left without helmet) gets his pledges ready for the big Russian Invasion water fight. (top right with helmet Mike) Mike Lombardi pledge captain, Eldon Griffiths, Mike Tozzi and Ken Keener.  (bottom right) Craig Huseth, and Irving Damm.

 Check out pledges on the roof.
Photo in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - Number 2061 - gift of Jerry Berns in 2009.

 Tom Kirby with megaphone, in front of car is Eldon Griffiths, "Bat mobile Merlin"  Photo 2065

 Pledge Nelson leaning toward driveway, Ken Keener in foreground. Photo Number 2059

Dusty Raby prepares to defend the vollyball net with a shield made from a garbage can lid. # 2067

TOM AND GAYLE MONTES

This great photograph arrived today to me from Br. Tom Montes and his wife Gayle. I thought you might enjoy seeing their family.

A BETA CHI DELTA ALUM SENT THIS PRESENTS PHOTO TO THE MUSEUM

BETA CHI DELTA

Beta Chi Delta Sorority - LA Pierce College 1965  digital photo donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Felice (Gary) Catena - December 2010  (refer to photo 2011 - click on image to enlarge)

Felice (Gary) Catena scanned and shared this image of Beta Chi Delta Sorority at Pierce College at its 1965 “presents” at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.  Velma Akopian was the president of the organization at the time.

She wrote: “Some of the others whose names I remember:

First row from left:  1.  Patti Sena; 2.  ?; 3.  Eileen Marsden; 4.  Michelle ….; 5.  Felice (Gary) Catena; 6.  ?; 7, 8. 9 ?

2^nd row:  1, 2, 3?; 4.  Kandhi Franklin; 5.  Velma Akopian; 6,7 ?;  Irene Soto; 8,9 ?

3^rd row:  1. ?; 2.  Carol Golden; 3, 4?; 5.  Karen Tandy; 6,7,8,9,10,11?

4^th Row:  1 ?; 2.  Gloria….; 3. ?;  4. Tanya Brun; 5,6,7,8,9,10 ?; 11.  Sandy…..(I seem to remember that Sandy was the former President of the Chapter.

We were pretty cute, eh?

MORE GREAT PHOTOS FROM Br. LARRY PITSCH

 Refer to photo 1916 to identify these Alpha Chapter Brothers left to right top to bottom

 Alpha Chapter Presidents, David Hinz, Joseph Ells, Michael Rosenthal and Lawrence Pitsch
left to right    (click on image to enlarge) Refer to photo 1918.

 Beta Chapter leaders (left to right) Bob Marko, David Cox and Thomas Roe. 1962. Refer to photo
number 1919.

 Alpha Chapter Brothers at 1962 Rush Smoker. (click on image to enlarge - you'll discover that Br. Igor Olenicoff was no different as a college kid than he is as a senior citizen. (refer to photo number
1917)

Phi Delta Psi Rush "smoker" 1964 - Photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Lawrence Pitsch November 2010.  Refer to Photo number 1920.

Br. LARRY PITSCH SENDS GREAT SMOKER PICTURES 1962 1964

Other fraternities had a hard time competing with the commitment and energy of the Phi Delta Psi. Here Br. Joe Ells of Alpha Chapter punches home what a real Fraternity means. (click on images to enlarge)

 Br. Tom Roe tells prospective pledges how the founding philosophy of Phi Delta Psi made multiple chapters a natural thing. Tom was already working as a radio announcer when he was a leader of our Beta Chapter at Pierce College.

 Student body Vice President of Valley College, Br. Rod Davis why potential members of Phi Delta Psi were chosen with such care. We expect you to excel in everything you do.

Br. Mike Rosenthal was a new Alpha Chapter president when this photograph was taken.

TOM WESTBERG'S WINES - A BIG HIT AT THE MUSUEM'S FALL RECEPTION

F

 

Brother Tom Westberg's wines from Westberg Cellars were a very big hit at the Fall Reception of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Westberg Cellars is the newest sponsor of The Museum.  Br. Gary Fredburg, who served as bartender for the event said, "If we'd have known that Westberg could make this great wine, we should have been easier on him as a pledge."  (click on image to enlarge)

COLLECTION OF EARLY PHI DELT BUSINESS CARDS GIVEN TO MUSEUM

While Br. Jerry Berns cleans house, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's collection of Phi Delta Psi memorabilia grows.  Here's part of the business card collection Jerry gave The Museum.

(click on this image to enlarge)
Business cards of Clem Boylan, Allen Plouf, Ric Glazer-Danay, Don George, Bill Eisleben, Don Christl, Denny Nolet, Calvin Gruneck, Bob Marco, Doug Hanover, Jerry Silver and Phi. Capka.

 (click on image to enlarge)
Business cards of   Peter Shields, Ron Simmons, Louis Berger, Mike Mertens, John Donald, Tom Montes, Jerry Gillman, Ray Allopena, Clay Koerner, and Arturo Arocha. 
Each of these cards are documented, protected and added to the individual photograph files of each individual.  

Business cards for Joe and Rebecca Pallazola, Robert Nodes, David Page, Joe Riggio, and Ray Ross.                      


          

GAYLE MONTES - A REAL PHI DELT SWEETHEART

Gayle Montes, the wife of our Beta Chapter Brother Tom Montes. Photo by Jerry Fecht at the Maguire Air terminal at Van Nuys Airport - October 30, 2010  (click on the image to enlarge)
Our lifelong sister, Gayle was a member of Beta Chi Delta Sorority at Pierce College. 

LARRY TUNISON AT THE WHISKERINO CONTEST

 1962 newspaper clipping, found in a Tri Chi scrapbook, loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Linda Burroughs (Danton Burroughs' widow).
"WHISKERINEO CONTESTANT Larry Tunison (right) trims the beard of protesting Gary Jacobs with the assistance of Bill Chapman. Actress Katherine Crawford will help judge the contest next Wednesday at noon."

WESTBERG CELLARS PASO ROBLES CALIFORNIA

 Brother Tom Westberg and his wife Peggy own a terrific winery just outside of Paso Robles, California. Westberg Cellars is the wine sponsor of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. 

Westberg Cellars
3180 Willow Creek Rd.        Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 238-9321

IS THIS OUR JEANNE VALVO?

John Valvo was one of the most beloved Brothers in the Mother Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Psi. His widow's name is Jeanne. Is the woman in the center of the picture below our Jeanne Valvo?

Item by item, The Museum's collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the two Los Angeles based Olympic Games continues to grow. Here the great American athlete Ernie Banks poses with his wife Bernie, Jeanne Valvo (the chairperson for the silent auction) and Jerry and T.J. Berns, stop for a publicity photo during one of the many events surrounding the 1984 Games. (click on image to enlarge)
Photograph donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in October of 2010 by Jerry Berns of Woodland Hills. 

If you or a friend has memorabilia from the Olympic Games, especially items related to the San Fernando Valley, please consider donating them to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.  1 - (818) 347-9665

JOHN WAYNE SCULPTURE BY Br. RIC GLAZER-DANAY

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

A great thing about the artist Richard Glazer-Danay is that he still has so many friends and fans in the San Fernando Valley. This gives those of us who admire his talent, the chance of wonderful surprises, like seeing this John Wayne sculpture pierce in recently in the home of Br. Jerry Berns. Ric made the piece for a lifelong buddy, who served in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam war.

(click on this image to enlarge)  Other Ric Glazer-Danay's works are in the collections of the Pierce College Foundation, Jerry and Janne Fecht and The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. The actor John Wayne lived for many years in Encino, California.
       Br. Greg Petrello notes: "Our family moved to Encino when I was 14 years old and Jonh Wayne lived a few blocks away on Valley Vista & Encino Ave. I remember climbing his fence and going up to his door to get a autograph. He was not home but the maid gave me a signed photo on Mr. Wayne. All can say is "Where are the John Waynes" today?"

DENNIS NOLET AND JERRY BERNS - A LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP

 Pledge Master Jerry Berns congratulates new Brother Dennis Nolet on his initiation in the Brotherhood of Phi Delta Psi in the Spring of 1963. Br. Bob Marco looks on in the background.
(Note" I originally had Fall of 1963, but Br. John Bogdanoff says that in the Fall of 1963, when he pledge and Nolet was already active.)

 Denny Nolet is congratulated by his wife and mother on the completion of his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

 On crutches Jerry Berns (left) went to Sacramento to honor his lifelong friend Dennis Nolet's completion of his doctorate.

Berns and Nolet celebrate.

DEAN AND PATTY BREWSTER

Dean and Patty Brewster, the night they were pinned at the Beta Chapter house of Phi Delta Psi Fraternity at Pierce College. This photo was donated by Jerry Berns to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in October of 2010. (click on this image to enlarge)

TWO BETA CHAPTER GROUP PICTURES c 1963

These two group photographs of Beta Chapter Brothers were donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in October of 2010 by Br. Jerry Berns.

 Beta Chapter Brothers at Los Angeles Pierce College. The man obscured behind Br. Bill Eislaben is unknown. Br. Dick Mlack notes that he sent the same photos to me (Jerry Fecht) "a long time ago". The photos must have been distributed to the whole chapter. These images were among the collection donated to The Museum from Jerry Berns.

The Museum is getting very close to acquiring a headquarters / work space, and when we get this area you'll be invited to drop in and work on the Phi Delta Psi Archives. In the meanwhile, how about identifying these guys for us. Left to right, top to bottom.