Category: Omega

George Washington Lester’97 ΣΛ401, IV, 48, of Cornelius, NC, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 27, 2023. He was born in Martinsville, Virginia, on December 30, 1974, the son of George Washington Lester, II and Beatrice Worrell Lester.

George greeted each day with gladness and brought spontaneity, adventure, wisdom and laughter into the lives of those who knew him. George found peace and joy on the water, even in childhood, and made his home on the shores of Lake Norman in North Carolina for most of his adult life. He loved music and could often be found strumming a tune on his ukulele. He was an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Virginia Tech, and a veteran of the United States Navy. 

More information on George can be read here.

Allen Roberts ’65 ΣΩΤ, 80, of Matthews, North Carolina, died Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Born and raised in Bristol, Virginia, Allen graduated from Bristol Virginia High School. He then attended Virginia Tech and joined Sigma Omega Tau and was a valued brother. He graduated with an Industrial Engineering Degree and received and MBA from Widener University.

He went to work with the DuPont Company in Camden, South Carolina as an engineer and later transferred with DuPont to Wilmington, Delaware After a long career with DuPont, Allen retired, then joined The Forum Corporation of Boston as a Director. Along with that came a move to Pittsburgh on a contract with Mellon Bank, where he became a vice-president. When Allen retired from Forum, he and Patty moved to Camden.

Allen liked the beach, the mountains and traveling. He especially liked Europe, particularly Sicily, Italy. He enjoyed old historic houses and buildings, antique furniture and silver, a glass of good wine, the music of Mozart, and the Rolling Stones.

A Celebration of Life for Allen will be held at a later date. His full obituary can be found here:

https://www.kornegayfuneral.com/obituary/james-roberts

Ivan Nelson Hall, Jr. ’71 ΣΛ16 passed away on October 31, 2021, at the age of 73 with his only son and wife by his side.

Ivan was the first-born son of Ivan Nelson Hall, Sr and Hazel Crowder Hall in Danville, Virginia. He was the eldest brother of three siblings.

In 1966, he graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 1971, he graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia with a degree in Electrical Engineering and as a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Later he would go on to earn two post-graduate degrees, one at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California as one of the first civilians to do so, and another at the University of Southern California.

He met and married his wife, Patricia, at Virginia Tech. Their love never faltered over the 50 years they were married until his death. They have a single son, Ivan III.

Ivan was a career civil servant for the United States Navy which began as a co-operative student in college. Over the course of 30 years, he was named a Chief Engineer and appointed as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Ivan was well-respected and considered a hero to many people with whom he worked because of his courageous and servant leadership approach.

Ivan’s dedication to his son forged his passion for youth sports which led him to become Vice President of the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) of Fairfax County, Virginia. He was part of the leadership team that laid the groundwork for the SYA Sports Park, at the time referred to as the Field of Dreams. He believed that all children should be able to experience the joy, health benefits and camaraderie of sports.

Although Ivan is no longer with us, he would have encouraged us all to remember the great times and move forward into our future with energy and compassion for others. He will be deeply missed because he showed great love to all his family and was there to lend a helping hand and advice whenever needed. Ivan loved life and always lit up a room with his big smile and encouraging words.

Ivan was predeceased by both his mother Hazel and father Ivan. He is survived by his wife Patricia, son Ivan III and his wife Rita, brother Michael, and sister Donna. Private services will be held for immediate family only.

Sigma Omega Tau Founder, Nugget Dunn, age 82, of Gales Ferry, Connecticut passed away on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Nugget was born July 19, 1939.

Professor Emeritus Howard Dunn retired as an instructor at the United States Coast Guard Academy on September 5, 2008. He served on the faculty for 30 years, including three years as head of the Academy’s engineering department. Dunn received a doctorate in civil engineering in 1974 from The Pennsylvania State University. He earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in 1964 and 1965. Dunn was a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.

Dunn served the academy in several positions through the years. He was dean of academics from 2003 to 2004, head of the department of engineering from 2000 to 2003, head of the civil engineering section from 1990 to 2000, associate dean of academics from 1982 to 1984, and assistant dean of academics from 1981 to 1982. While at the academy, Dunn received the George C. Wadlin Award for distinguished service to civil engineering education in 2004 and the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2005.

Nugget was a member of the University of Connecticut Sea Grant Senior Advisory Board, the Three Rivers Community College Regional Advisory Council and the Gales Ferry School Building Committee. He served as chairman of the New Emergency Services Building Construction Committee in Ledyard.

Upon his retirement, Nugget stated, “Teachers act as facilitators. I think I’ve influenced a whole lot of graduates. When cadets come in and say you’ve had an influence, that’s real nice.”

Chris Hammerle, 50, of Virginia Beach, Virginia passed away in his home on July 29, 2018. He was born in Rockford, Illinois to Walter and Charlotte Hammerle. A graduate of Norfolk Academy (1985), Chris earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1989. Chis then worked for more than 25 years at American GFM in Chesapeake.

In his spare time, Chis enjoyed spending time with friends, fishing and tossing horseshoes. Chris had an infectious laugh, especially when he beat his dad in a game of backgammon or was sharing a good time with a friend. Some of his best times were spent fishing on the Chesapeake Bay and at Lake Smith in his own backyard.

Please click here to read more about Chris.

Marty Baker ’69 ΣΛ52, passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at age 73. Marty interrupted his Hokie experience to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He retired as a a Colonel and has 26 years of active and reserve service.

Please read more about Marty’s life here.

Gordon “Tom” Dickinson ’71 ΣΛ5, passed away on April 13, 2020 at the age of 72. Tom was the spouse of Brenda Dickinson and they shared 42 years of marriage together.

Tom was one of the brothers who formed the Sigma Lambda Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha when the fraternity voted to become a colony. He was the fifth Sig Tau initiated into the new colony.

He graduated with a degree in architecture in 1971 and was a lifelong entrepreneur.

Please read more about Tom’s life here.

Robert E. “Doc” Benoit passed away on November 18, 2020.

Doc joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1962, was inducted into Tech’s Academy of Teaching Excellence in 2002 as he received the William E. Wine Award, and was also recognized by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as Virginia Professor of the Year. He served as pre-med advisor, mentoring the next generation of scientists who have become distinguished teachers, researchers, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and other health professionals.

Doc became convinced of the value of of the Greek system when he became a brother of Lambda Iota Society, the University of Vermont’s first Greek community and the oldest local student society in the nation.

Joe Kincheloe invited Doc so serve as faculty advisor to Sigma Omega Tau in 1965 and he served our fraternity continually since that time. He guided our transition to Lambda Chi Alpha and remained a role model, advisor, and mentor for 55 years, guiding over 500 brothers to become contributing members of their communities. At our 60th reunion, Woody Kessler presented Doc with a Resolution of Appreciation from Governor Ralph S. Northam.

Doc was born in Enosburg, Vermont. He attended a one-room school in Enosburg Center with teachers exacting some of the highest standards of public school education.

He was a lifelong learner and earned the following degrees in order to prepare his future students:

• 1956 B.S. Agronomy, University of Vermont
• 1960 M.S. Soil Physics, Rutgers University
• 1964 Ph.D. Environmental Microbiology, Rutgers University

For 40 years, Doc and his students pursued their interests in microbial ecology of subsurface ecosystems, physiology of microaerophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, and microbial degradation of recalcitrant natural products and synthetic compounds. One of his more rewarding career experiences has been inspiring students as a teacher in such classes as General Microbiology, Microbiology of Aquatic Systems, and Biomedical Ethics. His dedication to teaching these and other classes, as well as advising, has led to numerous awards: Biology Department Teaching (1996), Biology Department Advising (1996,1997), Alumni University Teaching Award (1984), Arts & Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984), Wine Award (2002). Doc served on the Academy of Teaching Excellence continuously since 1984. In 2002 he was also awarded the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Virginia Professor of the Year. In the Biology Department, he served as Assistant Professor of Microbiology (1962-66), Associate Professor of Microbiology (1966-2002), and Assistant Biology Department Head (1992-2002). Doc was promoted to Associate Professor Emeritus in 2002.

After retirement, he continued teaching General Microbiology and Biomedical Ethics, as well as participating annually in the American Society of Microbiologists In addition to his continued involvement with the fraternity, he was also active with the Blacksburg Master Chorale, Opera Roanoke and was a Trustee of Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library. (Source: Virginia Tech Department of Biological Sciences)

Click for more information on Lambda Iota.

Please read his obituary.

Please submit a memory of Doc to share with others on our site by clicking on the Comments link below and entering your memory in the Leave a Reply box.

Mark Taylor Keffer ’83 ΣΛ132, of Yorktown, died on Sunday April 19th at the age of 60. Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Keffer and is survived by his father, Clarence “Pete” Keffer, his sisters Kasey Keffer and Kelly Westmoreland and husband Larry Westmoreland, and two nephews, Tyler Castaneda and Daniel Westmoreland.

Following graduation, Mark pursued a career in Finance. He also followed his passion as an artist.

There will be no funeral services. Mark chose not to be remembered in death but in life through his relationships with the people he left behind who greatly love him. He was a wonderful son, a loving brother, an incredible uncle, and a great fraternity brother. A beautiful person who possessed an enormous amount of intelligence, a generous heart and soul, humor, amazing artistic creativity, and love. He will be greatly missed. Arrangements by Amory Funeral Home, Yorktown, Va.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.