The brothers of the Alpha Nu chapter at Loyola-Marymount University of Los Angeles recently held their annual reunion. The close-knit brothers consist of classes '69-'74, many of whom have maintained business and social relationships over the years, and have even taken European cruises together. The tradition began twelve years ago when Jim McClune invited some of us to gather for a Saturday lunch at the local burger shack and then attend the LMU basketball game together.

The annual gathering has expanded over the years, both in attendance and in the number of social events as more Phi Kap comrades have heard about it. Now the friendships are rekindled over three days of a weekend, and the gathering includes a dinner, mass, lunch, basketball game, golf match, a social memorial for a fallen brother and breakfast. On the weekend of January 11, around 40 brothers participated in various events, some flying into town from Pittsburgh, Oakland, Idaho, North Carolina, Kansas, New Mexico, and other states. Over the years attendees have even included Hawaii residents and some of our chapter forefathers from the early sixties. The commitment to maintaining lifelong friendships was a promise made when we pledged about 50 years ago, and thankfully it is still going strong.

1971. Sports was a common interest, and for ten years after graduation, many played together in park baseball leagues. Jim McClune, organizer of the reunions in the yellow T-shirt. Gary McLaughlin is seated on the left.

As interest built for the reunions over the years, the email chains expanded to more than 60 names. After the 2018 gathering, brother Gary McLaughlin built a google drive site to create a central directory of contact information that everyone could update as addresses and phone numbers change. This site has become a great new storehouse for all of us to share the photos taken on multiple phones at each gathering. This is especially helpful for those not able to attend to be able to see old friends again. In my capacity as Social Chairman and photographer of the Alpha Nu chapter in the '70s, this new site gives me an opportunity to dig out the photo archives and upload photos from events and activities that everyone had forgotten. Our history and heritage are being recalled afresh, along with old friendships.

The tight-knit groups formed by the various pledge classes are thriving social forces within our overall Phi Kap community.

This year marked a special memorial service for recently deceased brother Joe Ruhoff who was responsible in large part for fostering communications among the brothers by establishing and running the first official fantasy football league, Kings X, now in its 37th year, in which many of us participated each year.