Br. ROD DAVIS

Rod Davis  2012

      Brother Rodney Alan Davis was born in Hollywood, California. He graduated in 1960 from Cleveland High School in the San Fernando Valley and was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1961. He served the Brotherhood as Vice President of Alpha Chapter, and Vice President of the student body at Los Angeles Valley College.

     Rod went on to the University of Southern California , where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. At one time Rod was featured on the cover of Los Angeles Magazine as "L.A.'s most eligible bachelor."

     Rod has two children from his first marriage, Cameron and Marissa.

    For some years he worked as a stockbroker where he became vice president of Paine Weber. Rod developed the NoHo Gallery in the emerging arts district of North Hollywood, California. In 2012 he is an active fine art painter and lives in the west San Fernando Valley. 

INITIATION OF BR. BRENT BRODY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY       2012

The student members of the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity at Los Angeles Pierce College took their oaths of lifelong loyalty so seriously that their youthful bond still holds much of the group together in 2012. For example, 13 alumni "brothers" just shared a "13th hour" lunch at the Red Robin restaurant this June in Calabasas.

While kneeling, Brent Brody of Pierce College swears his lifetime loyalty to the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity before the Beta Chapter President Donald Collins. Standing at the podium was Paul Martz, the Fraternity's Pledge Master. At Paul's left standing is LeRoy D. Hunt the organization's Master of Rituals and Traditions, Seating at the right is Donald B. Taggart Founder and first President of the Fraternity. To the left are Bob Marko and Larry Tunison. Spring 1961.

Brent Brody went on to co-found Brent's Deli in Northridge, California. He later establishing a second Brent's Deli in Honolulu, Hawaii. (click on image to enlarge)

Photo number 5092 - Phi Delta Psi Archives - The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

THE LOSS OF Br. BRENT BRODY

We have lost our Fraternity Brother Brent Brody.  His family has requested that we share photographs of him. Please contact Jerry Fecht if you have images to share.

 Brother Brent Brody was born on the 24th of February, 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity in the Spring of 1961. Brent served as Social Chairman for the Beta Chapter of our Brotherhood.

Brent is widely believed to be the hardest working man to pledge our Fraternity. While attending Piece, he worked long hours in the delicatessen business, "learning the trade." The motives of the Brothers by electing Brent Social Chairman were obvious. Beta Brothers were the best fed young guys in the Valley. After college, Brother Brody founded Brent's Deli in Northridge, California. He later established Brent’s Deli in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Brent and his wife Joanne were married over 40 years. They shared twin, 36 year old, daughters Shanah and  Sarah and an older daughter Yanah 39.  Brent had a son Derek, 43 from a previous marriage. The Brody's had 13 grandchildren. Our Brother Brent died on Friday April 6, 2012.

BR. JERRY McALVEY

The family of Cathleen and Br. Jerry McAlevy in 2011. (click on image to enlarge). Brother Jerry was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi in the Spring of 1961. He served as President of the Chapter.

BROTHER JERRY OLSON AND FAMILY

Brother Gerald Olson, wife Cherri and their family in 2011.  (click on image to enlarge it)  Brother Jerry was initiated into our Pierce College Beta Chapter in the spring of 1961. Cherri and Jerry live in Manhattan Beach, California.

More OMEGA CHI OMEGA Spring 1961

 Photo number 2487

 Photo 2488

 Photo 2489

Photo 2491 - After the exchange with the Omega Chi Omega girls, it was time to clean up the Rudnik House.  Sooner or later every Phi Delt Brother suffered the indignity of being "pantsed". This time the honor went to Br. Frank DeMarco.

OMEGA CHI OMEGA - PHI DELT - BETA - EXCHANGE 1961

Omega Chi Omega was a local sorority at Los Angeles Pierce College. Here the young women and Phi Delt Brothers from Beta chapter celebrate college life.

 Photo number 2483 - Photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Br. Jerry Berns - 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

 Unknown Omega Chi Omega girl -  Photo number 2484

 Omega Chi Omega girl - Photo 2485 -  Unknown Phi Delt Brother in background.

Photo number 2486

MORE ZETA TAU EXCHANGE PHOTOS FROM Spring 1961

 Zeta Tau girl dancing with unknown Beta Chapter Brother  (refer to photo 2428) click to enlarge

 Brother Bob Marko in foreground announces the serenade song Beta Brothers are about to sing for their Zeta Tau sorority exchange guests. (photo number 2425 - click to enlarge) Please identify from left to right front line, then top images.)

 Photo number 2429 - click to enlarge - gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Br. Jerry Berns 2010

Zeta Tau sorority sisters prepare snacks for their exchange with the Brothers of Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Psi. Br. Jerry J. Hillard looks on with approval.

After the rituals of The 13th Hour, new initiates were welcomed into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity at an Acceptance Banquet. Here, in a photograph donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Jerry Berns in 2009, new Brothers celebrate in the Spring of 1961. (Refer to photo 2480)

left to right: (unknown Brother), Leonard Sangiacomo, Brent Brody, Christopher "Kit" Slayter,
Richard "Rick" Haupt, and Gerald Olson. On the other side of the table (unknown Brother) and Richard York. (click on image to enlarge)

4 MORE PICTURES FROM SPRING 1961 EVENING IN PARIS PARTY AT PIERCE

 I think that this Br. Bob Malone with Br. Bob Marko at left- photo 2406

More apache dance photos. photo 2408

REMEMBER "LIMBO" CONTESTS

 With calypso music blaring on the "record player" Pierce College students loved the challenge of the Limbo. Brother in this photo is not known.  Image 2400

 

Br. Brent Brody was the Beta Chapter Limbo champ in the Spring of 1961. Wonder if he could manage this 50 years later in 2011.  Photo 2401 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

EVENING IN PARIS PARTY AT PIERCE COLLEGE IN 1961

 Apache dance at the Beta House - Spring 1961  -  Photo 2409

 Many Phi Delt parties in the 1950s and 60s had themes. Sometimes, the themes were accompanied by zany skits usually performed by pledges. This party occurred in the Spring of 1961. The photographs were donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Br. Jerry Berns in 2009.
Photo 2410

 Br. Jerry Olson does his best to impress his date.  photo 2403

 The Apache dance gets more serious.  photo 2405

Br. Rayne Sherman and his date at the Evening In Paris party Spring 1961 at the Beta Chapter house.
Photo 2402

PRESENTATION OF PLEDGE PADDLE SEPT. 1961

 Past President of the Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Psi Fraternity at Pierce College, Jerry J. Hillard greets the newly accepted members from the Pledge Class of Spring 1961. To his left is Br. LeRoy Hunt and to the right is the Founder of the Fraternity, Br. Donald B. Taggart. (Photo no. 2237)

 Newly initiated Brother Brent Brody presents the Spring 1961 pledge paddle to the President of Beta Chapter, Br. Donald Collins. Note the black ritual candle burning before the podium. (2238)

 The first unveiling of the Spring 1961 Pledge paddle.  Handsome plaques were introduced into the Fraternity by the Mother Chapter Pledge Class of Fall 1957. They contained the names of each new Brother, a symbol of the Class' spirit and used the colors black and gold. They also represented the fact that paddling of pledges was unacceptable in the Phi Delta Psi.  (photo 2239)

 Founder Don Taggart salutes the newly accepted Brothers of the Fraternity in the Beta Chapter. These photographs were donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in 2009 by Brother Jerry Berns. (photo number 2240)

Admiring the latest Pledge plaque of Beta Chapter. Note that Br. Donald Collins is wearing the Presidential white yoke of office. This symbolic yoke is still worn at reunions of Phi Delta Psi. (photo 2241)

This is a very faded photograph from the Acceptance Banquet of Spring 1961.  (photo 2242)

NEXT PHI DELT LUNCH OCTOBER 21 at BARONE'S PIZZA

August Phi Delt lunch.
One of the fun parts about our Barone's lunch are surprise appearances of new Brothers. This August, Avrum (we used to call his Zeke) Zwillinger joined us. Br. Zwillnger was a member of Alpha Chapter at Valley College. He was initiated in the Spring of 1961.


SAVE THIS DATE
OCT 21, 2010 No host Phi Delt lunch at Barone's Pizza in Valley Village (near Valley College) - just east of Woodman Ave. at Oxnard Blvd. PARKING is sometimes $1.50, sometimes free.
we all chip in $20, and anything left over goes into the Maple Leaf Endowment fund. Food is good!

ROD DAVIS AT SOL Y LUNA 2009

Rodney Davis - 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Br. Rod Davis joined Brs. Dale Alexander and Jerry Fecht for lunch at Sol y Luna in Woodland Hills on April 24th.
Rod still maintains an intense interest in painting and the promotion of the arts. He was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Psi in the Spring of 1961.

Br. GARY FREDBURG ORGANIZES 23th HOUR LUNCHES

Gary Fredburg at April 23, 2009 Phi Delt lunch at Barone's. (click on image to enlarge)
When asked at what time we should have our monthly Phi Delta Psi lunches, Br. Gary Fredburg looked amazed. "At the 13th hour, of course", he stated!
Brother Fredburg was initiated in the Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Psi at Valley College in the Spring of 1962. He has been the Vice President of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley since its reorganization in 2005. Gary organized the historic postcard collection of The Museum.

HOME RUN FOR Br. GEORGE BLOCH

Beta Chapter's Summer Baseball Team - Spring 1961 - Photo courtesy of Bob Robar - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2008 - (click on image to enlarge)
refer to photo 08-28B-08