*dlbwck!* Paint me a rainbow all over and call me a Gallic Rooster, it seems like the weather is starting to turn for the better. We have a couple messages we missed in our Spring Recap and would like to amend the record. Read on to see what’s happened in the world of Delta Psi Delta.
Congratulations to Our 2024 Graduates!
Well, It wouldn’t be proper to kick off summer without congratulations to our most recent graduates, Avery “Bilbo” Shankland and Jorge “Musashi” Idaretta!
Avery walked for his Bachelor’s of Arts in Music. He joined Delta Psi Delta as a part of the Fall 2022 class and served multiple semesters as the Secretary for Delta Psi Delta. If there was music in the house, it was usually because he was searching for a new melody, chord progression or just jamming with his bass. He will be finishing up some last projects before moving on to his next chapter.
Jorge walked for his Bachelor’s of Arts in International Business. He joined the fraternity as a part of this Spring 2024 class along with his fellow new members Ethan, Jacob, Logan and Sam (read about it here). He even had time to add a few personal touches when we repainted the basement. While the brothers will miss him next school year, he is going to soak up the sun at the house all summer long.
The Alumni Association is thrilled to welcome both to their ranks, and ol *dlbwck!* is sure we’ll see them at the house again. I can feel it in my tailfeathers, *dlbwck!*
After the speeches and the walking and the graduation, Avery and his family hosted a barbecue on the lawn of the house, inviting the brothers to celebrate. The event came complete with beautiful weather, jenga, burgers and hot dogs, but thankfully no *dlbwck*ing chicken. We even had a surprise appearance from alumni Alex Ogle, otherwise known as “He Who Observes The Particles of the Universe!”
A Fifth Thursday in Memory of Art
The alumni met up at Old Market Pub and Brewhouse, last Thursday with a bit of heaviness in their hearts.
Art Larrance, ’66 passed away suddenly on May 26, 2024, he was 80 years old. Art lived a long and storied life, an integral member to not only Delta Psi Delta, but Linfield University and the homebrewing industry of Oregon.
Art was a member of Linfield University indomitable baseball team from 62-66, winning the league championship four times consecutively and the national championship in 1966.
After college, he became instrumental to Oregon’s brewing industry. He worked alongside the McMenamin and Widmer brothers for legislation that makes the modern brewpub in Oregon possible. You can read about his influence on the industry here.
Art joined Delta Psi Delta in 1962, when construction of the new house was just starting and was instrumental to starting up the Fifth Thursday tradition. Alumni would regularly meet up at the Racoon Lodge in Beaverton at their regular table underneath the 1966 Championship Banner.
Steve Hamilton led a toast in tribute to Art’s legacy as a brewer, baseball player and brother of Delta Psi Delta. While the Racoon Lodge is no longer our meeting place, we hope to keep the memory of Art alive by meeting up every Fifth Thursday to trade stories, enjoy a good brew and reconnect with brothers.
Below are some of our favourite pictures of Art, taken by fellow alum John Gardiner over the years.
A Serenade Before You Go
You didn’t think we’d end on a sad note, did you? *dlbwck!* If nothing else, Art would have been happy to see his brothers still singing their songs, serenading John and Sherri Thompson as we continue ever onward.
Who knows, maybe he would have joined for some extra bass notes.
