Chapter Eternal
Chapter Eternal: Brian Amato #240
December 23, 2010
Brian Amato #240
passed away on November 30th, 2010. His wife sends us the
following:
We were visiting our daughter and her family in VA when he developed pneumonia that came on very quickly. Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer over 4 years ago. His first round of chemo knocked most of it down. He received all the "approved" protocols of chemo before taking part in a clinical trial with a world renowned lung cancer specialist at Hershey Medical Center. He was asymptomatic until September of this year. Then things began to happen quickly. He was a fighter and received chemo the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Brian was one of those unlucky non-smokers who develop lung cancer.
The following remembrance was offered by Michael O'Dorney #256, who lived in the "new" house on Sunset Terrace with Brian:
Rensselaer Acacia acquired a new house in 1965 and Brian Amato led the (alphabetical) list of the first pledge class in the new house. This was the first time Acacia had taken such a large group at once, and assimilating this group into the brotherhood was a challenge. And assimilating within this group even more so. Brian was the first classmate of mine that I got to know. At the end of one semester, I drove Brian back to North Adams, Mass., and had a great talk for the hour long drive. Then, at his house, I met his parents and we all had a long chat over coffee, for almost two hours. Brian came from a classy, centuries old, English family; the "Amato" came from a long way back and seemed more "Swiss" than "Italian." Religion, spirituality and even tradition played a big role - I remember one dying tradition the Amato family kept alive.
Postal rates were inexpensive, and it was possible to mail a large (two foot long) box for something like 24 cents. These boxes were strong fibre, and had belt-like straps that buckled to hold the box closed. They were intended for libraries, but college students used them to send laundry home. Brian sent his home, and his mom returned the neatly folded shirts, socks and underwear, sometimes along with a small package of cookies or brownies. I'm sure a few brothers hung around for the time when Brian returned from class and handed out cookies.
I remember Brian having a strong sense of Brotherhood. Brotherhood involves conflict resolution as well as mutual support of differing cohorts. Acacia has always been a musical fraternity, and Brian helped bring music across the brotherhood, and uniting different styles of musicians. I had been in a strong brotherhood in high school where I had learned this, and Brian understood this
also. Acacia rushed against five other houses, and, of the five, had the nicest building. Two decades later, I visited and found it had the nicest brotherhood.
I am sure Brian's influence had a lot to do with the foundation of true brotherhood in Rensselaer Acacia.
We were visiting our daughter and her family in VA when he developed pneumonia that came on very quickly. Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer over 4 years ago. His first round of chemo knocked most of it down. He received all the "approved" protocols of chemo before taking part in a clinical trial with a world renowned lung cancer specialist at Hershey Medical Center. He was asymptomatic until September of this year. Then things began to happen quickly. He was a fighter and received chemo the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Brian was one of those unlucky non-smokers who develop lung cancer.
The following remembrance was offered by Michael O'Dorney #256, who lived in the "new" house on Sunset Terrace with Brian:
Rensselaer Acacia acquired a new house in 1965 and Brian Amato led the (alphabetical) list of the first pledge class in the new house. This was the first time Acacia had taken such a large group at once, and assimilating this group into the brotherhood was a challenge. And assimilating within this group even more so. Brian was the first classmate of mine that I got to know. At the end of one semester, I drove Brian back to North Adams, Mass., and had a great talk for the hour long drive. Then, at his house, I met his parents and we all had a long chat over coffee, for almost two hours. Brian came from a classy, centuries old, English family; the "Amato" came from a long way back and seemed more "Swiss" than "Italian." Religion, spirituality and even tradition played a big role - I remember one dying tradition the Amato family kept alive.
Postal rates were inexpensive, and it was possible to mail a large (two foot long) box for something like 24 cents. These boxes were strong fibre, and had belt-like straps that buckled to hold the box closed. They were intended for libraries, but college students used them to send laundry home. Brian sent his home, and his mom returned the neatly folded shirts, socks and underwear, sometimes along with a small package of cookies or brownies. I'm sure a few brothers hung around for the time when Brian returned from class and handed out cookies.
I remember Brian having a strong sense of Brotherhood. Brotherhood involves conflict resolution as well as mutual support of differing cohorts. Acacia has always been a musical fraternity, and Brian helped bring music across the brotherhood, and uniting different styles of musicians. I had been in a strong brotherhood in high school where I had learned this, and Brian understood this
also. Acacia rushed against five other houses, and, of the five, had the nicest building. Two decades later, I visited and found it had the nicest brotherhood.
I am sure Brian's influence had a lot to do with the foundation of true brotherhood in Rensselaer Acacia.
Chapter Eternal: Richard Wolfson
March 31, 2008
Amy G. Wolfson,
wife of Brother Richard Wolfson '66, wrote in to pass along the sad
news that Brother Wolfson passed away in December after a prolonged
battle with brain cancer. In addition to his wife, he leaves three
children and two grandchildren.