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Alumni Profile: Raymond Diaz, Pi ’66
Raymond Diaz, Pi ‘66, Served as Sentinel of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
BY FRANK PERCIAVALLE, PSI ’78
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Throughout our history, American soldiers, of the Third Relief at the Tomb. Raymond’s sailors, airmen and marines have sacrificed for Badge Number is 85, which represents the our country. In defense of our freedoms, many eighty-fifth sentinel to receive the award for have made the greatest sacrifice; they gave their “walking the mat.” lives. Some have done so in circumstances that Ray graduated in 1968 from West Virginia not only cost them their lives but cost them University after growing up in Hillsdale, N.J.. He their very identity. served as Pi Chapter President for the Fraternity
To honor these heroes and to ensure that in 1967/68. Upon graduation, Ray entered law their sacrifices are never forgotten, the Tomb school at the University of Pittsburgh. While at of the Unknown Soldiers and its adjacent Pitt, he received his draft notice and volunteered amphitheater were established among the for service. He served the Tomb from November rolling hills of Arlington Cemetery in 1921. 1969 until September 1970. After his military serSituated on a bluff overlooking the Potomac vice, Ray completed law school at Georgetown River and our nation’s capital, the Tomb is the University and began the practice of law in final resting place of three unidentifiable sol- Northern Virginia. During his legal career, Ray diers, one of whom died in combat during each was elected as President of the Virginia State Bar, of World War I, World War II and the Korean an agency of the Virginia Supreme Court to Conflict. The words etched on the face of the which all Virginia lawyers belong. Ray points to Tomb advise the thousands who visit Arlington Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard Ray on duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers one legal assignment with particular pride. He incorporated and obtained Section 501(c) (3) ceremony that they are on sacred ground: status for the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb “Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known But to God.” of the Unknown Soldiers, an organization of former and current sen-
In recognition of the debt America owes to those who have served and tinels whose mission is to support those currently serving as sentinels and died in its defense, select members of the U.S. Army maintain a continu- to educate the public, especially school children, on the Tomb and the ous vigil over the Unknowns at rest beneath the Tomb. These service mission of the sentinels. members, referred to as “sentinels,” are organized into three “reliefs” of Ray served as general counsel to the Society until his retirement. Ray’s four to five sentinels and a relief commander, none of whom are officers. oldest daughter, Marla, also an attorney, now serves the Society in that Each relief maintains the vigil for 24 hours and is relieved for a subse- capacity. Ray’s youngest daughter, Jocelyn, is an entertainment executive quent 48 hours. who recently moved to Charlottesville, Va., from Los Angeles, Ca.
During the summer the guard is changed every half hour by a cere- Ray and his wife, Elaine, make their home on Callawassie Island, a sea mony conducted by the relief commander and the sentinel coming on island community located in the South Carolina Low Country just above and the sentinel going off watch. Following the changing of the guard the Hilton Head and the Savannah River. Elaine, a playwright, is active in ceremony, the posted sentinel marches along a mat in front of the amateur theatre and Ray continues his commitment to service by volunTomb, taking twenty-one steps from one side of the plaza to the other teering with local charities. Elaine and Ray celebrated their 50th wedand standing for twenty-one seconds at each end, evoking an honorary ding anniversary last December. twenty-one gun salute. Thank you, Ray, and to all of our brothers for their service to our
When not on watch, the relief members are housed in the Tomb country. If there are other brothers who wish to share their military serGuard Quarters beneath the amphitheater. When not on watch, a sen- vice experiences, please let us know so that they can be recognized. tinel’s duty-day is consumed in practicing, training prospective sentinels and in maintaining the sentinel’s uniform and equipment, with only brief opportunities to sleep during nighttime hours.
Candidates to become sentinels are identified after rigorous screening from among volunteers serving in the Army’s elite ceremonial unit, the Third Infantry Regiment (the “Old Guard”), which is stationed at Fort Myer, immediately adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. After selection, each sentinel candidate undergoes lengthy training and testing before a final decision is made as to whether the candidate is qualified to join those who guard the Unknowns. Fewer than 20% of all volunteers are selected for consideration to serve as sentinels and only a fraction of those are selected to serve at the Tomb and go on to earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. As of 2019, only 663 Tomb Guard Badges have been awarded.
One of those sentinels who has been awarded the Tomb Guard Badge is our fraternity brother. Brother Raymond Diaz, Pi Chapter (West Virginia University), volunteered, was selected and served as a member Ray (2nd from left) and his fellow Sentinel Relief.
The Brooklyn Alumni Club holds its first post-pandemic event—a golf outing at Royce Brook Golf Course in June. Twelve brothers joined for a fun day of golf (they took another pictures with their masks on, but we thought our readers would enjoy seeing them mask-free).
Congratulations to the 11 graduates of Gamma Sigma who as soon as they graduated became the newest members of the Staten Island AC!
At the end of June an informal Staten Island Alumni Club gathering was held at Casa Nova with some outdoor dining during the first week NYC eased COVID-19 restriction. A good time was had by all. APD Brothers Matteo Vitale (Delta Theta ’13) and Richy Vasquez (Gamma Kappa ’16) working Times Square in NYC during COVID-19. Thank you brothers for serving us.
During this pandemic, Matt Vitale and Richy Vasquez have been serving the front lines of NYC. Matt works as an FDNY EMT in the South Bronx, one of the hardest hit areas of COVID-19, working out of Station 17 and Richy works for NYU EMS working Manhattan and Brooklyn. Over the past few months, they have been tirelessly working 40-80 hours a week. Matt reports that they have good days and bad days but they still pick themselves up every day and go to work to ensure that NYC will get through this pandemic. They have responded to hundreds of COVID-19 cases as well as cardiac arrests, shootings, stabbings, strokes, injuries, and more. They have received an amazing amount of support from their communities, however, they both have been assaulted while performing their duties at work.
During the peak of the pandemic, NYC EMS responded to record breaking calls reaching over 7,500 EMS calls for help in a 24-hour period, more than 9/11. Each call was answered. During those difficult times, they also had to take into consideration their personal lives. Many EMT members had to live in hotels. Matt says, “I haven't seen my family in almost five months fearing that I would make my elderly parents ill. We have also had hardship at work. Since February, NYC EMS lost over 11 members, one being a friend and a lieutenant at my own station, 17. Now that the call volume has started to go down, many members have begun to reflect on the past few months, which has raised the questions of mental health awareness. We have multiple APD brothers who not only work FDNY, but also other agencies including NYPD, DSNY, and other hospital based 911 systems.”
When Matt ran into Richy in Times Square, it restored a little faith that things are getting better in the city. Matt continues, “Whether we see another spike in COVID-19 cases or if the call volume returns to normal, we will be there to respond and ensure that NYC is getting the best care possible. I would like to thank everyone who served the front lines during this from doctors and RNs to delivery drivers, USPS, grocery store employees, and anyone else who kept this great nation moving. We hope to see the decrease in cases and look forward to spending next year’s summer convention with everyone!”
EPSILON MEMORIES
by Nate Bliss, Epsilon ‘56
I would like to share with you my thoughts and feelings about our much-loved Fraternity and how grateful that I am being accepted into a group of very exceptional and special young men.
Our comradery was built brick by brick by working together on fraternal projects. Together we built the Moving Up Day Float in the Tech Garage. We won first place in the IFC SING under the leadership of George Del Vecchio, which was amazing since we had only one legitimate singer, Chuck Martello. Sorry Dan Gregorio.
The fun we had working together on the “All-You-Can-Eat” Spaghetti Dinner for the dorm students. The Spring Dance was held in Clarke Gym every year. APD was the fraternity designated to provide the music. And provide we did, bringing in the Count Bassie Band featuring Joe Williams and Dakota Statton. The campus was agog with this accomplishment. All these activities required that we work together, relying and trusting each other and having fun while doing so. The results? Friendships for life.
Our fraternity had a serious side to it as well. Success in the classroom was advocated and supported by initiatives such as the study buddies program. Our fraternity always ranked high in the IFC Scholastic Achievement Rankings. Our fraternity was well represented in the UB Sports Programs with members being on the swimming, wrestling, baseball and football teams. There were eight brothers on the 1958 football team which won the Lambert Cup for best small college team in the East. Brother and Co-Captain Lou Reale was presented the Cup on the Ed Sullivan Show, Later, this team rejected the Tangerine Bowl bid because of its racists policies.
Many years later, approximately 50 brothers attend a reunion in Batavia, N.Y. organized by brother Al DiGiulio. Wine and brotherly love flowed freely that evening.
More years go by. Brother Buddy Fiorella hosts another reunion in his home in Buffalo, NY. There were more than 20 brothers attending, some with wives or plus ones. The highlight of the evening occurred when each brother stated in a few words what APD means to him.
And now, some 60 years later, the brothers once again come together, on St. Joseph’s Day, on the Gulf Coast of Florida at Brother Joe and Elna Albanos’ home to keep the flame of brotherhood burning.
In Buffalo, six to eight brothers lunch together almost every Thursday at various restaurants in the area. Sixty years later, we greet one another with the handshake, a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts. Brotherhood in Alpha Phi Delta is alive and well. How blest we are!
The annual Epsilon reunion is held each March in Cape Coral, Fla. and is hosted by Joe Albano. Left to right: Donald Testa, Joe Oliverio, Al Di Giulio, Joe Albano, Joe Calabrese, Nate Bliss, Frank Guido, Dan Gregorio, Carl Deni and Charles Tirone. The Hon. Joseph Donofrio, Beta Omicron ’51 (Youngstown) passed away April 15 after a 10-day battle with COVID-19. He was 94. “The Judge” as he was known was a long-time member of the Youngstown AC. He was born on September 26, 1925, in Pietrabbondante, Italy. He came to the United States at the age of four. Judge Donofrio graduated from East High School on June 6, 1944, the same day as D-Day,
Donofrio the Invasion of Normandy. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces shortly thereafter, serving as a radio operator in the South Pacific. In 1955, Judge Donofrio began his law practice; in 1959, he served as Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Youngstown and in 1964, he became Chief Prosecutor. A year later, he was elected to the Youngstown Municipal Court. While serving his second elected term, Judge Donofrio was appointed to the Seventh District Court of Appeals by then governor John J. Gilligan. He served on the Court of Appeals until his retirement in 1992, while occasionally sitting on the Supreme Court of Ohio by assignment of the Chief Justice. Judge Donofrio also taught 24 years as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Criminal Justice at Youngstown State University (YSU). Edward Magliocco, Beta Delta ’50 (Temple), passed away May 6 after a bout with COVID-19. Brother Magliocco was a teacher of mathematics, teacher of computer programming, department head of computer technology, instrumentation and electronics, VicePrincipal and Principal at Murrell Dobbins Area Vocational Technical School in Philadelphia. In addition to his classroom and administrative duties,
Magliocco he was an Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Golf Coach, Freshman Basketball Coach and Freshman Baseball team Coach. He retired from the School District of Philadelphia in 1993. As an alumnus, he was a longtime, and very active, member of the Delaware Valley Alumni Club (formerly, the Philadelphia Alumni Club). In the Alumni Club, he served in many different roles over the year; among them: Secretary, Treasurer, and President. On the District and National level, he served the fraternity as Delaware Valley District Governor from 1994–1996, and then, as Executive Vice President from 1996–1998. Dr. Raymond Boniface, Psi ’44 (Duquesne), passed away March 1. Dr. Boniface was a graduate of Duquesne University in 1948, where he studied German and Biology.
His academic career was interrupted by military service in World War II, where he served in the United States Army as a rifleman with the 83rd Infantry Division in Belgium, Holland and Germany and as a replacement of the casualties of the Battle of the Bulge. He earned two battle stars while serving with the 83rd Division. BonifaceHe then served one year during the Army occupation.
After returning from the war and completing his undergraduate degree, he received his medical degree from the University of Bologna in Italy, began his medical internship in 1952 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, opened his general medical practice in 1954, and then specialized in psychiatry in 1968 after a further medical residency at Western Psychiatric Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Boniface was a consummate physician who loved and was loved by his patients. Sam Catanzano, Nu ’49 (Pitt), passed away October 14, 2020, at the age of 92 in Dawsonville, Ga. Sam was the recipient of the 1986 National Outstanding Alumnus Award for his work with the Pittsburgh Alumni Club (PAC) with which he was very active until moving to Atlanta in 1990. He previously received the PAC’s Outstanding Alumnus in 1984. Sam was a retired fire protection engineer, and a U. S. Army Veteran. He was predeceased by his wife Sara in 2019. Sam and Sara were convention regulars in the 1980s. Ralph Antolino, Xi ’52 (Ohio State), died April 5 at the age of 89 in Columbus, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he played trumpet in the military band, including presidential inauguration parades and taps in D.C. for many soldiers’ families. After five years as a dedi-
cated high school teacher, (his mother revered teachers and all his siblings became teachers), in 1960 Ralph founded Antolino & Associates, Inc. He brought his teaching skills and enthusiasm to the financial services industry. Bruce M. Renders, DDS, Beta Iota ’63 (Utica), passed away April 17 after complications from a stroke. After graduating from Utica College, Bruce became a Doctor of Dental Science in 1968 from the University of Buffalo. His decision to pursue dentistry stemmed from his experience of primitive dental care during his childhood and that fueled his passion to offer gentle and more effective care to others. After earning his doctorate, Bruce joined the in the U.S. Army and entered the Medical Department as an officer in the Army Dental Corp. Upon honorable discharge in 1970, he returned to Central New York and began a private dental practice in Boonville, N.Y. where he took great pride in caring for the community for the past 50 years. Antolino
Renders
William J. Terlecky, Beta Omicron ’72 (Youngstown), passed away in October of 2019 in Swampscott, Mass. after a battle with cancer at the age of 65. After graduating from Youngstown, he studied Sports Management at Western Illinois University and was an elementary math teacher for one year before attending the Winter Baseball Meetings in 1977–1978. Bill began his career in 1978 when he was hired by the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and in 1981, at age 27, he was named co-general manager. He later served as general manager for the Williamsport Bills
Terlecky and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. In 1991, he was named International League Executive of the Year and in 2003 he was awarded the New York Mets organization top executive Fred Cashen Award.
Charles Fatica, Xi ’53 (Ohio State), passed away March 7 in Wickliffe, Ohio at the age of 88. Charles was a retired teacher who taught at Wickliffe City Schools for more than 30 years. Michael “Mickey” Cucchiara, Psi ’51 (Duquesne), passed away May 8 in Jensen Beach, Fla. at the age of 88. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War, and retired as a pharmacist.
Rocco
Dr. Benjamin F. Rocco, Beta Rho (Gannon), passed away on June 7, 2017 in Temecula, CA, where he was a practicing chiropractic neurologist. Anthony “Tony” Castellano, Beta Phi ’81 (Rowan), passed away May 26 of COVID-19 in Lakewood, NJ. Tony was a member of the Delaware Valley and North Jersey Alumni Clubs. He and his wife Velda had attended the last 11 summer conventions. He is pictured at the 2019 APD Summer Convention.
Michael Mallon, Beta Sigma ’86 (St. Francis) passed away April 8 in Brooklyn, N.Y. from COVID-19. Mike was 54.
Sam Basil, Pi ’49 (WVU) passed away May 11 in Phoenix, Ariz. at the age of 94. Sam was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Japan from 1946–1948. He worked as a hairdresser in several cities.
Castellano Frank DeCaro, Beta Sigma ’62, died on March 22 in New Orleans of COVID-19. Frank was 76 and was a retired English professor at LSU, having taught there for 33 years. Rev. Don Mondello, Psi ’74 (Duquesne), died May 21 at the age of 86. Fr. Don was a monsignor in the Diocese of Greensburg, Pa. He was inducted as an alumnus brother in 1974. Pope John Paul II named him Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, the second highest rank of monsignor. He would have celebrated 60 years as a priest May 28. He served many parishes in his career before retiring from active duty in 2004. Ernie Martine, Mu, ’60 (Cornell) passed away on January 20, 2020 in Melbourne, Fla. He was born on February 15, 1935 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and then attended Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy for one year, but left to fulfill his obligation to the U.S. Army. He then went to Pratt Institute, but transferred to Cornell School of Hotel Administration in 1957. He joined Alpha Phi Delta where he served as president and steward. He loved every minute of it.
While at Cornell he met his wife, Carole. They were married for 60 years and together they had four children, four grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. His hobbies were sailing and golf. After retiring they moved to Florida and did a lot of traveling. Marvet J. Brown, Beta Chi ’80 of Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away at the age of 59 on June 3 of pneumonia after contracting COVID-19 at Columbus Hospital in Newark, NJ. Marvet was a lifetime member of the American Motorcycle Association and an avid motorcycle racer. In his younger days he rode in sanctioned events including the Baja 1000. He also pursued a wrestling career and was involved with the “Empire State Games.” Most recently he was involved with designing and racing cars. Joseph R. “Joe” Sacco, Jr., Beta Rho ’73, of Cochranton PA, passed away at the age of 66 on May 26th at the Meadville Medical Center. Joe graduated from Gannon College with a Business/Marketing degree and was employed by the Bureau of National Affairs for 25 years, before his current role with Winkle Electric in Erie. Joe enjoyed taking care of his garden, cooking family favorites, playing softball and coaching sports. His greatest love in life was time spent with family, especially his wife, Nancy, and their children and grandchildren. In honor of Joe’s memory, his Beta Rho brothers have established a memorial fund in his name, dedicating the donations to APD Cares. Gene Ricci, Psi ’46 (Duquesne), passed away July 25, 2020 in Pittsburgh. He owned and operated several businesses during his career, including a restaurant and insurance agency. He served in WWII in the Navy. Gene was part of a three-generation APD family: father to Ron (Psi ’69) and grandfather to Robert (Psi ’04). Victor A. Spatafora, Beta Mu ’59 (DePaul), passed away June 25, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. He was 91 years old and was a proud Italian. Vic loved to golf and dance with his dear wife Diane, who predeceased him. He had moved from Chicago to Scottsdale, Ariz. in 2005. Victor M. Colonna, Epsilon ’57 (Buffalo), died August 13, 2020 at the age of 82 in Buffalo, N.Y. Vic was a successful banker for M&T Bank with a knack for financing successful restaurant ventures. He was a veteran of the US Army National Guard. At one time, he was selected at the U.S.Small Business Administration’s National Young Entrepreneur of the Year and was honored at the White House. John J. Liotta, Psi ’56 (Duquesne), passed away Colonna September 22 in Pittsburgh at the age of 85. He had a long career in computer sales and was a past president and active member of the Pittsburgh Alumni Club. John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was predeceased by his twin brother Tony, who was also a member of the fraternity. Dan Smith, Beta Mu ’76 (DePaul), passed away on October 5, 2020, in Chicago. He was a chapter president during his undergrad years.
