MYSTIC CIRCLE OF ∆KE

DAVE PHILLIPS BETA-NORTH CAROLINA ’65

Ambassador Stanley Davis Phillips died peacefully on Nov. 20, 2022 at his beloved family home, Valleyfields Farm, with his family by his side. Dave lived a full and proud life of service to Deke and others in business, government, philanthropy, and education. He left an indelible mark on his family, friends, and community. Although he suffered an amputation of his left leg early in his life, he took this condition as a challenge to overcome to help make a difference in the world around him.

Only months ago, Dave attended the 2022 Deke Convention in Charlotte, N.C. After everyone checked in on the first day, Dave, the former U.S. Ambassador to Estonia, gave a spellbinding talk. Appointed ambassador by Brother George Bush, Phillips told fascinating tales about life in the embassy. The Winter 2022 Deke Quarterly featured a review of a recent book detailing Dave’s amazing life.

Dave, who joined the Beta Chapter in his freshman year at UNC-Chapel Hill, said he got a lot out of his experience with DKE, including making many close, life-long friends, and he ardently supported his chapter until his death. After college, he went to work in sales for his father’s textile business, and from there, went on to a successful and exciting career in textiles and furniture. He expanded the business to include a factoring (financial) company as well.

He was the lead visionary in the development of the

DR. HILMON DEWITT HOLLEY, JR PSI-ALABAMA ’57

Dr. Hilmon DeWitt Holley, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Gadsden on Sept. 16, 2022 after an extended illness. Dr. Holley was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, AL. At the University of Alabama he was a proud member of DKE and The Alabama Million Dollar Band. He then went on to the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine. Hilmon completed his residency in the U.S. Navy in Charleston, S.C. and Oakland, Calif. He was the founder of the Gadsden Pediatric Clinic and one of the founders of The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection.

Market Square showroom in High Point, N.C., which eventually grew to 2.25 million square feet, about the same as the Empire State Building. Under Dave’s ownership, Market Square became the most sought-after showroom for textile and furniture companies in the country as well as North Carolina’s largest adaptive-use building.

The economic impact Dave’s efforts had on the High Point region and North Carolina in general led to his being named as the state’s Secretary of Commerce by Democratic Governor Jim Hunt, even though Dave is well known in Republican circles. Governor Hunt didn’t care about party labels, and he wanted a secretary who would relentlessly promote the state’s financial interests. Dave was proud to serve his state in this capacity.

After selling his business, Dave became interested in the Special Olympics, and eventually was instrumental in getting the 1999 Summer Games held in North Carolina, another big win for the state.

Brother Phillips, or more correctly, “Ambassador Phillips,” was thrown into the middle of that diplomatic fracas when appointed in 2007.

Many more details about Dave’s life are covered in his biography, “Come on America: The Inspirational Journey of Ambassador Dave Phillips.” His life story is admirable, and he’s a credit to Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Todd Anthony Leight

PSI DELTA-WAKE FOREST ’83

Todd Anthony Leight passed away on Sept. 5, 2022 at the age of 61 from natural causes. A dedicated Wake Forest Deke, he received his undergraduate degree in 1983. He went on to do graduate work in biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina which helped him launch his career in the medical devices industry, working in sales and sales leadership for several medical device and biomedical companies including Synthes and Stryker. Todd was a long-time resident of Pacific Palisades, Calif. before moving to the Salt Lake City area in 2015.

JERRY SHARPE DUNCAN RHO LAMBDAOKLAHOMA ’59

Jerry Sharpe Duncan was born in Shawnee, Okla. on Dec. 23, 1936 and left this earth on Oct. 1, 2022. He earned a Petroleum Engineering degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1959 and while there he was president of the Deke chapter. Jerry received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1962. He loved golf and traveling with a dear group of friends. He was a talented woodworker, photographer, and Scotch drinker. Jerry was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting anything that was in season as well as fishing. He took great pride in raising and training his bird dogs.

“BART” ROACH, JR GAMMAVANDERBILT ‘56

Robert Bartlett

“Bart” Roach, Jr. was born in Little Rock, Ark. and graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. in 1956. His senior year he was president of the Deke house. He spent two years as an active duty officer in the Navy. After his time in the Navy, he worked at Roach Paper Company in Little Rock, and rose through the company ranks to serve as Chairman and President until 1980.

Bart played varsity tennis at Vanderbilt. He also played in a weekly game with friends up to and beyond his 80th birthday. A lifelong Razorbacks fan, he tried to live up to his rule of “not allowing his Saturday to be ruined by 18 to 22-year-olds” with mixed results. Bart passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2022 and is survived by his wife Mary.

JACK KUNCL DELTA PI-

ILLINOIS ’56

Jack Kuncl was the banjo player for the Original Salty Dogs, Chicago Hot Six, Chicago Footwarmers, Riverboat Ramblers and for many years he played at Wrigley Field with the jazz band for the Chicago Cubs. He was also a barbershop quartet singer and member of the DuPage County, Ill. chorus for many years.

A dedicated member of the Delta Pi chapter of DKE, Jack passed away in December 2020 in Chicago’s western suburbs. He was a regular at the Fred Wells luncheons during Spring Break. When the chapter was reactivated in 2014, Jack attended the reunion at the Union League Club of Chicago that August, Homecoming in October, and Founder’s Day dinner in June 2015. His enthusiasm and good cheer was an inspiration to all.

Evan Worthington Michener Iii

DELTA KAPPAPENNSYLVANIA ’58

Evan Worthington

Michener III of Maple Glen, Pa., passed away on Oct. 29, 2022 at the age of 85. Evan was a dedicated Deke and a mem- ber of the 1958 class of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. An ardent family man, brother Michener married his college sweetheart, Nancy, and incorporated a family packaging business in 1977. Evan was a passionate Philadelphia sports fan, avid golfer and highly respected member of the Huntingdon Valley Country Club as well as a longtime summer resident of Ocean City, N.J.

Tim Lynch Iv

GAMMA PHIWESLEYAN ’65

Thomas “Tim” Lynch IV, 79, of Aspinwall, passed away in the comfort of his home Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Tim grew up an avid athlete attending Shady Side Academy and became a Deke at Wesleyan University. In 1965, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving two tours of duty during the Vietnam War and earning the Vietnam Campaign Medal with three stars, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Tim served 43 years as a stockbroker at Moore, Leonard and Lynch before co-founding his own firm, Richards, Lynch and Pegher. In his athletic pursuits, Brother Lynch never acted his age and holds the distinction of being the oldest man on the mountain during the time he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Syd Wood

DELTA PHIALBERTA ’53

Colonel, The Honorable Judge, Sydney Evan William James Wood, CD, QC, passed away on Nov. 7, 2022, in Kelowna, British Columbia at age 89. Educated in Edmonton schools he entered the Canadian Services College Royal Roads in September 1950 as a cadet in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He obtained his BA in 1953 and his LLB from University of Alberta in 1956. Syd, a loyal Delta Phi Deke, spent summers continuing his training as a pilot with the Air Force Reserves. He joined the City of Edmonton’s 418 RCAF Squadron in August 1954 and was the wing commander of the search and rescue squadron.

Syd joined his father’s firm Wood, Haddad, Moir, Hyde & Ross and was admitted to the bar in 1957. After serving as a partner in private practice, Syd joined the Provincial Court of Alberta in 1993 and served in Edmonton and Calgary courts until 2003.

JOHN DANIEL MCGONAGLE MU-COLGATE ’65

John McGonagle, the founder and longtime owner of Seacoast Harley-Davidson in North Hampton, N.H., and resident of Governor’s Island, N.H., and Naples, Fla., passed peacefully on Nov. 11, 2022. John was a decorated Marine Corps pilot and successful businessman. A proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, John forged profound friendships at Colgate that lasted his entire life. As a Colgate alumnus, John remained active in recruiting hockey players for the college for several years, and later had the privilege as a member of the class of ‘65 to fundraise for and dedicate the school’s new state-of-theart hockey arena in 2016. During his military career, John was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Frame Meritorious Unit Citation.

THOMAS CRAWFORD, JR GAMMAVANDERBILT ’60

Tom Crawford passed away in Roswell, Ga. on Oct. 2, 2022. A devoted Gamma Deke, Tom participated in the Navy ROTC program while earning a degree in finance. He worked as a CPA for several companies throughout his career, most notably Rust Engineering and Hardin Construction Company. His successful career led he and his family to Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and San Antonio. Later starting his own consulting firm, Tom loved to encourage young entrepreneurs by sharing his wealth of knowledge about business planning and finance.

Gene Martini

GAMMA PHIWESLEYAN ’65

Eugene “Gene” Newton Martini graduated from Wesleyan University in 1967 and was a loyal Deke brother. Gene began his career at IBM and later became a serial entrepreneur, starting several successful companies. In 2004 he launched Infinity Rail. This company, now Infinity Transportation, manages 42,000 railcar and intermodal assets