Memorial Service for Norm Frantzman

Janet would like everyone to know that Norm Frantzman's memorial service will be on Thursday, January 3rd at 11:00 at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 So. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. The Green Hills telephone number is 310-831-0311. David Peterson will say a few words on behalf of the fraternity at the service.

Chapter Eternal, William Corcoran

Alas, another brother has joined the Chapter Eternal. Bill Corcoran passed away on Thursday from pancreatic cancer which he had been fighting for several months. He and his wife Sue have their home in Yosemite Lakes, about 20 miles north of Fresno. I took the photograph in 1978 shortly after they moved into their home.

In a message to colleagues and friends at California State University, Fresno, Vice President Paul Oliaro wrote, “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of William H. Corcoran, former Vice President of Student Affairs. Bill began his service at Fresno State in the early 1970s and served as Vice President of Student Affairs prior to his retirement in 1999. Prior to his work at Fresno State, Bill worked in Student Affairs at California State University, Northridge. Bill had a strong commitment to student success and in the 1970s and 1980s, he supported the development of new programs, such as the Educational Opportunity Program, Veterans Services, Summer Bridge, and Disabled Student Services to meet the special needs of emerging populations. He was committed to access, retention, and educational equity. He represented the university on several CSU systemwide committees established by the Chancellor including the Educational Equity Advisory Committee. Bill's friends and colleagues will remember a gentle leader with an enduring legacy of fairness, equity, and supporter of student and staff success.”

Bill graduated in the early 1960s at Valley State in Journalism and as a sports reporter for Los Angeles newspapers. In 1966 he was hired by the Associated Students as its Public Information Officer. He began work about the same time I started my year as Associated Students President, so we always joked that I was his first boss in higher education. One of Bill’s staff was Bob Fowlie, who ran the Associated Students print shop. Bill became an advisor for the fraternity and was initiated into Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A few years later he moved into the University administration as an Activities Advisor, working with Associate Dean of Students David Bell. Bell and Corcoran both moved to Fresno in 1971. Bill was selected as the Dean of Student Affairs and later Vice President for Student Affairs. He retired with emeritus status in 1999.

None of these facts capture his great personality, his intelligence and wit, his passion for life, family, and friends, not to mention fine wines and traveling. His work touched the lives of many—programs of educational opportunity he helped create and maintain have literally led the nation in success and accomplishment. Those who knew and loved him will miss him greatly.

John Cagle

Hats Off, Congratulations and Thanks.

Brother John Cagle deserves special thanks. He prepared a scrapbook DVD video of the early events of the fraternity. It is based on the digital pictures Wendy and Bob Fowlie made for us. It is about an hour and a quarter long using vintage music!
I was pleased to learn that years ago Don Stokes and Rick Turton rescued scrapbook pages that had fallen into disrepair and were languishing in a damp location.
John is going through a beta test of the DVD. Then he hopes to send copies to all the brothers. If you want to be near the front of the line or participate in the early release, let him know. From my perspective, this is a superb example of the team effort many of the brothers expend to continue the brotherhood.
Hats off, congratulations and thanks to all who participated,
Gerry

Sad news

We have learned that Norm Frantzman passed away yesterday. Joel Simon spoke with Janet, who said Norm had a massive heart attack about 6 PM last night. He had come back from the beach with her and had gone upstairs to get dressed for a planning commission meeting. She found him gone about 10 minutes later. Paramedics said there was nothing they could do. No plans yet on memorial. The address is 16004 Sombra Ave., Lawndale, CA 90260.

Norm was captain of our F'62 pledge class. He was an excellent person.

Requiescat In Pace...

John Cagle