Phi-nomenal Authors

BETA-NORTHWESTERN

Virginia Hartman dedicated herself to research and creativity as she penned The Marsh Queen. To help her gain perspective, she secured a “backstage” tour of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, adventured out on several canoeing jaunts in the springs and waterways on northern Florida and dove deep into the theories behind herbal cures and cultivation. Her powerful debut novel is set amid the lush landscape of the Florida wetlands and delves into past crimes, old memories and the eloquent, limitless expanse of parental love. What begins with protagonist Loni’s trip home as her mother grows frail in an assisted living residence turns to mystery as Loni uncovers details about her father’s death — all while trying to reconnect with family. Virginia’s work has also appeared in the Hudson Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, The Washingtonian, Redux, Potomac Review, Delmarva Review, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Sligo Journal, Bluebird City and beyond. Her writing has also been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She teaches creative writing at George Washington University and has taught at the Writer’s Center since 2005.

IOTA KAPPA-DARTMOUTH

Lindsay MacMillan recently published The Heart of the Deal, a modern love story about a young woman who approaches her love life like a business deal and must redefine what success looks like in her relationships and career. With strong themes of sisterhood and the importance of women supporting women, this book encourages readers to carve their own path in life and love. This debut novel is a shift for Lindsay, who took the plunge into full-time writing after spending the last 6 years working on Wall Street.

BETA-NORTHWESTERN

Suzanne Dunbar Caldwell recently published Fairy Tales of a Princess, illustrated by her granddaughter Erika Clugston. This fantasy follows a princess with magical powers she using as she faces three unique encounters. In addition to her new writing credit, Suzanne is an artist and has had her work displayed locally in various shows.

DELTA ALPHA-EAST CAROLINA

Ethel Gail Williams

Johnson recently published her first book, Nothing Remains the Same. Her fictional story follows sorority woman Elain, who lives in Eastern North Carolina and suddenly finds herself caught up in a manslaughter trial. As her life is strangled by greed and tabloid news reports, faith, family and fearlessness are Elaine’s only tools for perseverance. After earning her doctorate in physical therapy and completing a 42-year career, retiring from Duke University Health System, Ethel is thrilled to embrace her creative side with this novel. 

We honor our sisters whose notification of passing we receive. Silent chapter notes may be submitted via alphaphi.org (keyword: silent chapter) or to quarterly@alphaphi.org. Please note: year in parenthesis is year of initiation.

Bowling Green (Beta Omicron)

Loran Starr Estep (‘75)

Central Missouri (Theta Lambda)

Chandra Helm Ebbing (‘00)

Illinois (Beta Alpha)

Elizabeth Quick Christy (‘55)

Indiana (Beta Tau)

Jayne Durlauf Miller (‘61)

Kansas (Gamma Delta)

Kathryn North Burton (‘51)

Michelle Stadler (‘82)

Lake Forest (Gamma Epsilon)

Evelyn Dye Gill (‘60)

LSU (Delta Tau)

Arletta Dornier Averette (‘64)*

Missouri (Omicron)

Peggy Oberhelman Schlapper (‘58)

Nebraska (Nu)

Jane Linn Temple (‘48)

North Dakota (Pi)

Helen Paulson Nord (‘40)

Northwestern (Beta)

Kathryn Hall Tobinson (‘54)

Ohio State (Rho)

Jacqueline DeGroot Holzer (‘51)

Oklahoma (Phi)

Shirley Brink Holladay (‘51)

Charlotte Gibson Slemp (‘49)

Penn State (Gamma Rho)

Ellen Knies Landis (‘63)

San Diego State (Gamma Alpha)

Sharon Anderson Ritchey (‘55)

Texas (Omega)

Kathleen Millikan Mathes (‘47)

USC (Beta Pi)

Mary McClister Cogbill (‘62)

Washburn (Upsilon)

Janice Fernstrom Diepenbrock (‘55)

Marjorie Murphy Parsons (‘45)

West Virginia (Beta Iota)

Ruth Marks Diller (‘51)

Wichita State (Gamma Xi)

Reba Wedel Greathead (‘61)

Robyn Waller (‘98)

William Woods (Delta Chi)

Nancy Heller Gerhart (‘69)*

Natalie Turner (‘91)

Wisconsin La Crosse (Delta Kappa)

Susan Hahn (‘63)

Wisconsin Stout (Gamma Sigma)

Susan Banovich Oxendorf (‘61)

* Alpha Lambda alumna initiate affiliated with the chapter listed

Nancy Wittgen Burks DeVoe

(GAMMA-DEPAUW)

Former Alpha Phi International President Nancy Wittgen Burks DeVoe (Gamma-DePauw) joined the Silent Chapter on June 23, 2022.

Nancy has a been a guiding star to Alpha Phi — and Alpha Phis — for over 70 years. Alpha Phi is the strong Fraternity it is today due in part to her leadership. We owe her a debt of gratitude.

One of Nancy’s favorite stories was that she was living proof that any Alpha Phi, with the desire to make a difference, could go on to become International President. Afterall, she noted, her journey to the top began when she served Gamma Chapter as social chair. She loved a good party. Nancy had strong mid-western values: she spoke her mind, she worked hard, she followed through on commitments, she was pragmatic and collaborative. Family and faith were paramount, and she loved a good joke. She led as International President from 1982-1986. Her volunteer leadership with Alpha Phi also included service as a District Governor, time on the International Executive Board, in the role of International Executive Board Vice President of Extension, Chair of the Board of Trustees and she also led as Alpha Phi Foundation Board Chair from 1884 to 1998. Her work in both the Fraternity and the Foundation gave her unique perspective that she used to advance our sisterhood.

Nancy recognized that Alpha Phi was a business in addition to being a sisterhood. Nancy had a passion for progress along with a respect for the past. Nancy was part of Alpha Phi’s renewed focus in the 1980s that prioritized Fraternity fiscal and operational responsibility. She was part of the group that celebrated the importance of Alpha Phi purchasing a computer to assist in business operations and was an advocate for continually enhancing leadership training opportunities for members.

She believed in us and our ability to contribute to Alpha Phi. She saw qualities is us that we did not yet recognize in ourselves. Ask Alpha Phis who knew Nancy, and they will share stories of how she impacted their lives, inspired renewed love for Alpha Phi and engaged countless members in volunteer roles with the Fraternity. She was everyone’s biggest cheerleader!

Nancy exemplified the “can do” spirit of the Greatest Generation. She attended DePauw University during WWII when there were very few men on campus as most were serving in the war. This severely challenged her party planning!

She understood Alpha Phi’s growth potential and the importance of honoring our past while preparing for the future. Previously our oldest living past International President, Nancy has been a beloved voice for our Fraternity and shared her love for Alpha Phi wherever she went.

Outside of Alpha Phi, Nancy was a board member of the Junior League, president of the Philharmonic Guild and vice president of the Evansville Orchestra Corporation. After the passing of her first husband, Nancy took the reins of the family business and managed the operational needs of the company, which was a novelty in the 1959. When she met her second husband, the two adopted one another’s children and led a life devoted to raising their family of seven together while honoring their roots.

Nancy’s Alpha Phi survivors include her daughters Rebecca DeVoe Brown (Alpha Lambda), Molly DeVoe Tuemler (Alpha Lambda); granddaughter Carolyn Collins (Beta Epsilon-University of Arizona), sister Susan Wittgen Fox (GammaDePauw), and niece Elizabeth Fox Mills (Delta Rho- Ball State). She was predeceased by her daughter Cynthia DeVoe Price (Gamma-DePauw).

Nancy, this is goodnight, but not good-bye. Alpha Phi Toujours.

Jean Cameron Hahm

(GAMMA NU-MIAMI)

It is with great sadness that we share that Past International President Jean Cameron Hahm (Gamma Nu-Miami) has joined the Silent Chapter.

Jean’s volunteer journey in Alpha Phi began when she held the role of recruitment advisor at the University of Maryland and in 1979 she was state reference chair for New York. Following that, Jean also spent time as district alumnae chair for the northeast region and Ontario. She was also a phonathon volunteer in 1988.

Over the next decade, she took on more responsibility and developed even deeper connections within Alpha Phi as she gave back to the sisterhood she loved. She served on the Foundation Board from 1992-1996, as a Trustee from 19931994 and as International President from 1998-2002. Jean led Alpha Phi gracefully during a time of great organizational transition. Direct, feisty, quick-witted and a go-getter, Jean believed in setting lofty goals that, if we stuck to them, allowed us to accomplish anything.

When asked what she hoped to be remembered for following her tenure as International President, Jean shared she wanted to be remembered for, “I want to feel that I have helped perpetuate the Fraternity. It is my strong belief that the Greek system has a lot to offer in the 21st Century. Where else can a young woman find unconditional acceptance, life skills training and lifelong friends? I want people to have fun as well as accomplish the serious business of the Fraternity. Most of all, I want us to remember that we are a sisterhood. Sisters may disagree, but they are bound by love in Alpha Phi.”

After serving as International President, Jean continued to devote her time to Alpha Phi. She served twice on the Committee on Leadership, the Ivy Leaf Book Project Committee and the Capital Campaign Steering Committee.

Jean fully believed in the lifelong experience of being an Alpha Phi and encouraged alumnae participation. She was very active in the Greater Naples Alumnae Community, serving twice as Alumnae Community President and as the community’s representative to Panhellenic as the Alumnae Panhellenic Delegate. She also served as the Alumnae Affinity Specialist for Gamma Nu-Miami. As she led, Jean was passionate about actively involving alumnae and collegians in the developing future of Alpha Phi, adopting a clear vision for the work ahead and embracing an optimism that inspired others.

After earning her undergraduate degree in history, Jean went on to gain her master’s in library science from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Her career pursuits were varied and gave her the opportunity to engage with others. She worked as a teacher and a librarian. Outside of Alpha Phi, Jean took an active role in the local Junior League, in the League of Women Voters and served on the Board of the PACE Center for Girls.

Jean joined the Silent Chapter on August 5, 2022 and funeral services were held August, 20 in Naples, Florida. She will be missed by her friends, Alpha Phis, and her family. Jean is survived by her husband Dennis Hahm, daughter, Anne Tindall Johnson (Jeffery), grandson, Charles Jack Johnson. Preceded in death by her mother Evelyn Seibert Cameron and her father, Jack Howard Cameron. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Alpha Phi Foundation, alphaphifoundation.org, in her honor.

Family, faith and service to her community were her touchstones. In recent years, Jean was constantly connecting with sisters on social media and finding ways to lift them up. Her encouraging words made a big difference to so many who miss her deeply. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Hahm family.

Until we meet again…Alpha Phi Toujours.

LEFT: Top: Halle Smith, Charlyse Roy, Isabella Pruitt / Bottom: Payton Gorbett, Autumn Dunn

BELOW: Skyler Hance and Paige Morfeld