Ad Astra - Warren McClure '44

Warren McClure '44

Warren was born in Portland, Oregon, the only child of Frank and Olga McClure. Both parents died and he was raised by aunt and uncle, Bill and Hilda Nash, graduating from Portland's Lincoln High School in 1940. He attended The University of Washington, became a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He enlisted in the Army in 1942, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. After the service he completed his aeronautical engineering degree at Oregon State University and was hired by Boeing for a 39 year career.

In 1953 Warren met and married Jean Womack. They made their home in Bellevue, WA where they raised their family. 

Warren's primary focus was his family. He was a quiet, gentle man who put his family first. He was a member of Bellevue First Presbyterian Church, the Seattle Flight Museum, AIAA, and the Society of Aeronautical Weight Engineers. Warren and his son, Scott, enjoyed many air shows together in the region. Warren also enjoyed the Seahawks games and loved traveling during retirement. He and his wife, Jean, enjoyed many wonderful trips, but their favorite was Maui where they made annual visits to Kaanapali for over 25 years. 

Those who love him and will miss him deeply include his wife of 61 years, Jean; children Wendy (Norm), Scott, and Carol; grandchildren Kevin and Mikaela Shrumm. Daughter Molly's life was taken in 1986 and this loss left a vacant spot in his heart.

Memorials may be sent to the Molly McClure Memorial Scholarship Fund at WSU, PO Box 641925, Pullman, WA, 99164-1927 or the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108-4097

Ad Astra - John Rolfe '50

John Hoge Rolfe '50

May 13, 1928 ~September 1, 2014

John Rolfe was born in Seattle to Anna Hoge and Hamilton Cawley Rolfe, the fourth of five children. 

Distinguished himself as a deft athlete & social chairman at Lakeside and Taft schools. Graduated from the UW a proud Fiji and avid Husky, later serving with distinction in the US Navy (Japan). Married Jean Boncutter in 1958. John was a Civil Servant (Children's Home Society, United Way, Seattle Rotary, St. Mark's Cathedral, Secret Harbor School, Athletes for a Better World boards), Businessman (Pacific Mutual, Securities Mortgage, Seafirst Mortgage, Bank of America), Athlete (Seattle All-City Slalom Champ, age 15); Sage Mentor, Loving Father and Trusted Friend. 

Survived by brother Doster (Dockie), sisters Mary Will & Anne Kellogg; daughters Susan Peck (Bo), Lee Rolfe (Tony Angell) & Carrie Rolfe; granddaughters Annalee Peck (Jonathon Bowen Peck predeceased), Gavia & Larka Angell; and wife Jean, his longtime sweetheart, collaborator and conscience.

Services will be held at St. Mark's Cathedral at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 7th.

As published in the Seattle Times

RoxyAnn Wine hand-delivered for Pig Dinner

Budget pressures are everywhere, and Jack Day '59 has been quite good supplying his wines at favorable prices to the Pig Dinner over the past few years.

Jack went above and beyond to stretch our budget in 2014, he helped us avoid the shipping and shipping container expenses by driving the wine up from southern Oregon and hand delivering this year's Pig Dinner wine to Clay Loges '68.

Jack Day '59 and founder of RoxyAnn Winery in Medford, OR

RoxyAnn Winery was found by Jack and his family at the turn of this century.  The vineyards are planted on the farm that's been in the family for more than 100 years.

Jack invites all Fijis to visit his Tasting Room just a short hop east of I-5 when in the Medford area.  The Tasting Room is inside the historic Hillcrest "Honor" Barn.  The Barn/Tasting Room is surrounded by gardens overlooking the vineyard and orchard on the slopes of RoxyAnn Peak.

If you are traveling with family, not to worry, because there is more than wine at Jack's Farm.  Near the tasting room is the Hillcrest Fruit Stand featuring chocolate treats, gourmet cheeses, and fresh produce.

Call ahead to Jack, and he'll arrange a free tasting for you.  And, if his calendar permits, he'll personally greet any Fiji making the visit.  The winery phone number is:  541.776.2315 .

Ad Astra - Jim Dykes '55

Jim Dykes '55

Jim Dykes '55

Clay, Please inform the fraternity that we have lost another Sigma Tau brother, James Alexander Dykes, class of '55.  Jim passed away July 16th in Scottsdale Arizona, following a serious auto accident.  He was born in Hilo, Hawaii on October 16, 1933 to John and Jenny Dykes of Scotland.  Raised in Hawaii, he graduated from Punahou in 1951.  At the UW, Jim earned his Big W's on the varsity swim team, graduating with a BA and a commission in the U.S. Air Force.  

During his military career, he flew jet fighters in Germany and with the Hawaii Air Guard.  Later, he piloted helicopters for the Army Guard.  He received an MBA from Auburn University and also graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School.  In 1999 he retired from the Gillette (Wyoming) First Interstate Bank, moving back to Vancouver WA to be near family and friends.  Jim is survived by his wife Louise; daughters Kimberly, Kathy and LeeAnn; sons Steven and Matthew; brother John; sister Janet and numerous grandkids, nephews and nieces.  

Wherever he lived, Jim was always an active community member with Rotary, Elks and lastly, as a Hospice caregiver with the Vancouver VA Hospital.  Recently, Fiji brothers gathered for a memorial in Mount Vernon, WA; a family celebration of life was held in Lake Oswego, OR and, per Jim's request, his ashes will be spread over the Wailuku River near Hilo.

Above submitted by Bud Moore '55

The below information was submitted by Bob Vieira '56

Ron Crockett '61 Honored by UW Athletic Department

The Ron Crockett Family - Northwest Plaza

Congratulations, Ron!

Friday, August 8, 2014; the University of Washington dedicated a Plaza area near stadium and the arena to be known as the “Ron Crockett Family Northwest Plaza.   During the dedication, the UW highlighted Ron’s lifetime of contributions to the University of Washington Athletics.  

An award well-deserved, and we extend to Ron our Fiji “congrats.  "Ron, you’ve done us proud many times over”.  Please accept our congratulations along with the congratulations of many others. 

August 2014 Luncheon - Husky Football Coach Petersen

Coach Petersen speaking to Fiji Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club

Coach Chris Petersen is the new Husky Football Coach, and he is a much sought-after speaker these days.  Our luncheon group was fortunate to be one of the few appearances that Coach Petersen is making these days.  Surely it is the caliber of our group, but much of the Coach's decision to speak to our group has to be attributed to our stalwart grad, Ron Crockett '61.  

Ron continues to be a leading UW alumni for the UW Athletic program, and Ron is generous to personally invite Coach Petersen to speak to our group.

Petersen is a soft-spoken, forthright, spokesperson for the "whole man" approach to coaching.  After a few minutes of comments, he turned the floor over to questions.  He then spent the next 40 minutes responding to a multitude of questions with very thoughtful answers.

He took all questions in stride.  They ranged from questions about specific players - "yes, Budda Baker is a high quality athlete who goes a 100% in practices", "yes, the Chris Peteresen program begins in the weight room", in response to a question on how he beat Oregon 2 times, "each season a team will play above its level in about 4 games, and he was fortunate that his team played above its level when it beat Oregon twice in the past few years".

In a very Don James-like explanation, Peteresen explained his philosophy to build men of character who play football.  His emphasis on building the man, would mean that they don't limit their self-image to being a football player.  He relayed his experience of reaching the end of his college career -- now what?  All he'd ever seen himself as -- thru high school and college -- was as a football player.  His goal is to equip them to be focused and prepared for their longer life after football ends.  And, in the meantime, work with guys who get to know themselves, prepare themselves for success, and focus intensely on achieving success in football.    It was all very interesting.

Thanks again to Coach Peteresen for such an interesting slice of his time.  And thanks to Ron Crockett '61 for putting our luncheon group on Peteresen's radar.

Go Huskies!

Part of the crowd for Coach Petersen

2nd Annual Sigma Tau Educational Foundation Golf Tournament

2014 sees 68% more to Scholarship Fund

Congratulations to the team that organized the 2^nd Annual Sigma Tau Educational Foundation Golf Tournament.  And congratulations to all who participated.  The final accounting for the 2014 Golf Tournament has been reported.  Compared to the 1^st Annual Tournament, this year’s Tournament increased the contribution to the Scholarship Fund by $ 8,420 --  a 68% increase!

Our thanks to the 2014 organizing committee:  Imants Holmquist ’02, Richard Maloney ‘11, Rich Menti ‘94, Cope Miller ‘79, Steve Franceschina ‘79, Nick King ‘11, and Kelly Kolstad ‘01.

Thanks to the Golf Tournament, the Sigma Tau Educational Foundation received $ 12,450  in 2013 and $ 20,870 in 2014.

You are encouraged to support our Scholarship Program.  You’ll find more information about contributing by looking under the Scholarships tab @ our website www.FijiSeattle.com .