Brs. DALE SONNABEND AND GEORGE SNODGRASS

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Among the slides found by Jerry Fecht in 2013. 

 George Snodgrass and Dale Sonnabend Pledge Brothers Spring 1959
Photo 1013-002-6390 The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 

Br. George Snodgrass was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1959. I have no additional record of him, save for the fact that his wife Gail was a Delta Phi at Los Angeles Valley College.

Brother Dale Sonnebend was born on the 13th of April, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan.  He came with his parents and brother Garett  to North Hollywood, California in 1947. Later the Sonnabend family moved to the then-rural community of Hidden Hills in the west San Fernando Valley. Dale played the trombone in the Van Nuys Junior High School orchestra and marched in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade with the Foresters Band.

Dale graduated from Canoga Park High School. There he lettered in swimming, specializing in the breast stroke. Dale was the school's head yell leader in his senior year, 1958. 

Brother Dale Sonnabend was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1959. He actively participated in the Fraternity and was a Charter Member of our Beta Chapter at Los Angeles Pierce College. Dale was a "pitch in and get things done" kind of guy. He never missed a work-party.

After completing his studies at Pierce College, Br. Dale went to trade school and entered plumbing business in the San Fernando Valley, working for the George Kauffman company. Later, after finishing his Union apprenticeship, Dale worked for his father in the Claude Sonnabend Plumbing Company. He purchased the business from his dad in 1977, and was actively engaged in the plumbing business until his death on the 27th of October, 2005.

As a young man, Dale raced Kurtis Kraft flat bottom boats and won many first-place trophies. Dale was the "High Point Champion in the Pro-Stock Class" for five consecutive years, and set three world records. Since the class of racing, in which he held the world's record, was discontinued, he continues to hold the record. Dale's beloved boat was named "Mental Cruelty," number 422.

As an extension of his out-of-doors interests, Dale became interested in aircraft. He earned a pilot's license and purchased, first a Cessna fixed gear aircraft and later a Bonanza V-tail.

  From his Fraternity days, Dale Sonnabend loved to hunt. In 1990 he took his first safari to Africa. There he qualified as a big-game hunter. Dale also went on hunting expeditions to Australia, Canada and throughout the United States. A photograph of an enormous elk, killed by Dale, was displayed among other pictures at his memorial service.

Our Brother Dale Sonnabend is survived by his wife Dianne Lucille, a daughter Lynn Sonnabend Leferve from his first marriage.  He also left a step-daughter Sandra Christin Rebbie and grandchildren Candace Nate Lefevre, Amanda Nicole Lefeve and Jacquelyn Irene Lefevre.

To our lasting joy, Dale and his wife Dianne attended the 2004 reunion of the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in Las Vegas. He was supportive of the Maple Leaf Endowment Fund and attended both annual meetings of the committee. Dale was the kind of man, who if you called him late in the night for help, would not make excuses, but be there for his Brothers.