7 minute read
In Memoriam
by TriDelta
It is with great sadness that Tri Delta shares the loss of a beloved sister, leader and past Fraternity President, Jeanne Johnston Phillips, Southern Methodist, on Sept. 25. Jeanne was initiated into Theta Kappa Chapter in 1942.
During her time at SMU, she was very involved in Tri Delta and campus organizations. She was rush chair (now called vice president of membership experience) during her sophomore year and became collegiate chapter president her senior year.
Her campus involvement included treasurer of the freshman class, president of the geography club, Panhellenic delegate, and a member of Phi Lambda Theta and Kappa Delta Pi.
Jeanne’s love for school and SMU never ended even after graduating in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography. She went on to receive a master’s in geography in 1953. She also taught geography at SMU and was chairman of SMU Sororities Council.
After graduating, Jeanne’s involvement with Tri Delta grew even more. Her volunteer roles included scholarship advisor and alumna advisor for Theta Kappa Chapter, district president (now called collegiate district officer) for five chapters in Texas and national program chair for pledge trainers (now called directors of first year experience). She also served the Fraternity as an associate director from 1970 to 1972.
She joined the Executive Board in 1972 and continued to serve on the Board until 1980. During this time, she was elected Collegiate Vice President 1972-1976, and served as Fraternity President 1976-1980. Jeanne also served as a member of the Fraternity Council 1970-1984 and became chair of the council in 1980 until 1984. During the same period, she was also chair of the Nominating Committee (now called Leadership Development Committee). Other volunteer roles included a member of the Foundation Crescent Fund Committee 1982-1988, a member of the Century Fund, a member of Theta Kappa Chapter House Corporation Board and president of the Dallas Alumnae evening group.
Jeanne enjoyed music ministry for many years. She was an organist for a small church and played piano for Presbyterian Rehab Center, numerous nursing homes and Women in Bible. The Senior Sunday School class at Park Cities Presbyterian in Dallas, Texas, enjoyed her music every Sunday. She was also a member of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.
We are so grateful for her lifetime membership, and Jeanne’s loyalty and devotion to our Purpose will continue to live on in Tri Delta.
For those who wish to make a donation in memory of Jeanne Johnston Phillips and in honor of her dedicated service to Tri Delta, please visit give.tridelta.org.
Olivia Chutich, Iowa State
Tri Delta was deeply saddened by the death of Olivia Chutich, a member of Omega Delta Chapter at Iowa State University and a junior majoring in communications studies, on Jan. 22, 2021.
Chapter president Savanah VanScoy and Olivia’s close friends shared thoughts of their sister, “We will always remember Olivia’s contagious laugh, bubbly personality and positive outlook on life. She lit up every room she walked into and made an impact on every single person she met. We are grateful to have been a part of her beautiful life and to have shared a special bond of friendship with her.”
Olivia’s mothers, Penny Wheeler and Margaret Chutich, shared on social media: “We want you to know that being a Tri Delta meant so much to Olivia. It gave her a sense of tremendous belonging, support for her studies, and a whole lot of joy.”
Eaddy Osteen, Clemson
Tri Delta mourns the loss of collegiate member Eaddy Osteen on July 24, 2021. Eaddy joined Tri Delta’s Beta Theta Chapter at Clemson University, where she was a rising sophomore.
Eaddy lived her life to the fullest and was involved in many clubs and activities, in addition to Tri Delta. Her classmates described her as helpful, trustworthy, intentional, teachable, outgoing, relatable, a leader, driven, proactive, resourceful, forthright, insightful, persistent and witty.
Eaddy meant so much to so many and had a personality that drew you to her and made you want to be part of her life.
Leanza Cornett, Jacksonville
eanza Cornett passed away on Oct. 28, 2020. Leanza was crowned Miss Florida in 1992, and Miss America in 1993.
She later had a career as a television host, including at “Entertainment Tonight.” As Miss America, Leanza made AIDS awareness her platform—the first Miss America to ever do so—after volunteering at a pediatric foster house for children with AIDS. She was a tireless advocate for promoting public awareness and prevention of AIDS.
Emily Bourne Grigsby, Vanderbilt
Tri Delta alumna Emily Bourne Grigsby was known as a Renaissance woman who lived a remarkable life in her 98 years. After obtaining undergraduate degrees from Vanderbilt University and Mills College, she received her master's degree from Georgia Tech and a Juris Doctor from Woodrow Wilson College of Law.
She went on to arbitrate for the New York Stock Exchange, was Fulton County Superior Court Mediator, and mediated for Justice Center of Atlanta.
In addition to law, Emily also studied interior design at Tuxedo School in Atlanta while simultaneously taking formal oil painting lessons. She hosted more than 30 single artist art shows and her works have been acquired all over the Southeast. Additionally, Emily learned to fly, earning her pilot's license and becoming a member of the Ninety-Nines, which was founded by another Tri Delta sister and aviation pioneer Louise Thaden, Arkansas.
Emily sang soprano for the San Francisco Opera for 3 years while her husband served in the navy in the Pacific, learned to belly dance and, after moving to Atlanta, modeled for Rich's Department store for 12 years. Emily had a taste for travel and incorporated destinations around the world into her interests. She thrived on social visits, phone calls and shared meals. She was a supporter of the arts, passionate investor in her interests and crusader for all women.
Understanding the importance of investing in future generations of women, Emily was also a member of Tri Delta’s Heritage Society. By remembering Tri Delta’s Foundation in her will, she truly exemplified Tri Delta's values.
Cheryl McDonough, Vermont
Cheryl received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Vermont in 1971, where she joined Tri Delta. Years later, Cheryl would return to Eta Chapter to serve as a caring house mother to her younger Tri Delta sisters.
A dearly loved sister, auntie, mother, friend and colleague, some will remember Cheryl from her antique shop in Waitsfield, as the flea market vendor of linens and other items she lovingly restored, as the award-winning, ever funloving school crossing guard, or as the city councilwoman from Ward 2 who championed her beloved neighborhoods, and the entire city, for many years.
Yet, everyone who knew her will remember Cheryl as the kind and happy soul who she was. A fiercely independent, some might say stubborn, woman, Cheryl believed deeply in the sisterhood and brotherhood of all humankind and remained ever steadfast in her commitment to those beliefs.
Dr. Fay Reifsnyder Biles, Duke
Woman of Achievement Dr. Fay Reifsnyder Biles joined Tri Delta at Duke University, where she triple majored in biology, English and physical education. Fay went on to pursue her master’s degree at Kent State University, where she became an instructor in the Physical Education Department, teaching for 16 years and coaching an undefeated female field hockey team.
While teaching at Kent, she enrolled in Ohio State’s doctoral program, earning a multi-disciplinary doctorate with a groundbreaking dissertation. Her passion for teaching physical education spurred her to direct the new PEPI (Physical Education Public Information) national project, traveling the country, speaking and appearing on national television programs. In 1972, She broke the “glass ceiling” when she became Kent State’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Development, the first woman vice president of any Ohio university and the first woman to hold that position at a university in the U.S.
Fay was most proud of her work with the American Heart Association in developing the Jump Rope for Heart Program, which has now raised over $1.2 billion promoting heart health education and nutrition for elementary and high school students.
