Photos: Top/Bottom: Now and Then
Last month, Gamma Xi/San Jose State’s President, Ralphie Vasquez (2014), Secretary, David Nakonechnyy (2015), Public Relations Chair, Previn Naidu (2015), Alex Osborne (2016), and Ismail Haridi (2013), paid a visit to the home of their chapter’s first President, Tom Dusek (1949).
“I decided at the beginning of the semester that I wanted to try to get a stronger relationship with our alumni,” said Naidu. “I thought the best way would be to do something visible for them (the alumni) to see that we care about them and not just recent alumni that we have been around and that have been active with current [undergraduate members]. I had remembered that our first chapter president was still alive and living in San Jose and thought we should reach out to him,” he continued.
After talking with members of the chapter, it was decided that contacting Brother Dusek was a good idea. Eventually plans were made to meet with Dusek at his home. As a special surprise, Dusek had invited his pledge brother, Keith Medeiros (1951) to join them.
“Before the Gamma Xi chapter at SJSU was established, the brothers were a local fraternity called Beta Chi Sigma,” said Vasquez “it wasn't until the local fraternity decided to transition into a national fraternity that Theta Chi Fraternity, Gamma Xi Chapter came to exist,” he continued.
Thomas G. Dusek, currently 90, was initiated as Roster #1 and installed as the first President of Gamma Xi Chapter in 1948. At that time, the chapter house was a large Victorian house located on Eighth St. in San Jose – the house stands today. Shortly after being installed into Theta Chi Fraternity, Gamma Xi relocated to its current location.
Brothers Dusek and Medeiros shared stories about how the Greek system operated in their day, how they handled business at the chapter house, and of their rivalry with another fraternity on campus. Dusek also discussed the camaraderie of the brothers and the relationships that were created by Theta Chi. Theta Chi Fraternity helped men work together toward a common goal and purpose, and by doing so, each member became a better man.
“Dusek talked to me about some of his old photos that he had… of stories of himself and his pledge brothers,” said Nakonechnyy, “I learned how different the town and the house were back then. San Jose was pretty much a tiny town compared to San Jose being so large today. He (Dusek) seemed really proud of what we had accomplished with the chapter and the size of it. I think we made him proud that we continued on the Theta Chi traditions at San Jose State for all these years.” Vasquez added, “It was Brother Dusek's planned goal that all who took the name of a Theta Chi be brothers for life.”
As a token of their appreciation, the Gamma Xi undergraduate brothers presented Dusek with a decorative paddle they had made.
“I was inspired by their stories, the lives that they have lived and how Theta Chi changed their lives,” said Naidu. “It was an incredible trip that I will never forget,” he continued.
“We will be forever grateful for our founding fathers and all of the hard work they put into our chapter and for Theta Chi as a national organization,” said Vasquez.