Laugh So Hard Your Guts Hurt

October 2006

Boring day? These hilarious memories will put a smile on your face and take you back to your days as an undergrad. Relive your wild days and share your memories with us at here.


What is the memory that makes you laugh hardest today?

“Football weekends at 1550 Washtenaw with all the brothers and alums with dates having a roaring good time.” - John R. Barney, ’48

“The brothers being served meals by football players.” - James B. Book, ‘61

“I think it was the cook who used to shape breakfast biscuits by packing the dough in her armpit.” - Paul Cunningham, ’66

“Coming back to school in 1990 and walking into Gary Heller and Pat Golier's room. They were pissed and perplexed that a strip of carpeting was missing from their room...then I walked into Frank Depodesta and Dave Hooper's room and saw the carpeting nailed into their loft exterior...classic.” - Eric Biegansky, ’92

"A song we used to sing called "There's a Man Around the Corner." Anybody remember it??" -Richard Ellinwood, ‘47

"I would guess that the best story was when I was the Steward.  I fired the longest employed kitchen help.  I put a breakproof lock on the kitchen to thwart food theft.  Mick Lenzotti and I ran a sub sandwich service on the third floor out of a commercial refrigerator, and when the members revolted on St. Patrick’s Day when I colored the mashed potatoes green, they got so upset that they chased me to my room.  I blocked it and one of the guys got across the wall, broke a window and captured me.  I was stripped naked on the quadrangle, sprinkled with
green tempera paint and sprayed with water.  I was green for more than a week." - Henry Stine, '62

Describe the best party

“The J-Hop when all the brothers moved out and gave the house to the girls.” - John R. Barney, ’48

“1959 Toga party with one girl simulating sex by herself on the floor.” - James B. Book, ‘61

“Chi Omega party in 1989 with the slip-and-slide in the mud down the hill.” - Eric Biegansky, ’92

Describe your favorite/best road trip

“To Northwestern as Evanston was my home and I could spend the weekend with my fiancée, Jean, who later became my wife.” - John R. Barney, ’48

“It was with Jim Borg. We tried to ride his motorcycle from Ann Arbor, MI to my home in LaMarque, TX for spring break. It got too cold so he bought a ’49 Chevy pick-up somewhere in Kentucky and we threw the motorcycle in the back and drove the truck. This truck changed hands several times as an asset won and lost in poker games.” - Paul Cunningham, ’66

“Mustand Island, North Padre Spring Break or Pledge walk-out to Penn State when Jordan Hertzberg hit a deer with the van.” - Eric Biegansky, ’92

“Our Pledge Class Walkout to Bowling Green, of all places, was fantastic. Especially because we got to see a bit of the locally famous band “Big Hunk o’Cheese.”” – Michael Agosti, ’93

One of the boys had a 1933 or 34 touring car - maybe a Packard, not sure, but he would take us into Detroit-Richard Ellinwood, ‘47


What is the one memory you have shared or will share with your children or grandchildren?

“Family togetherness.” - John R. Barney, ’48

“The endearing and long-lasting tribute to the strong bonds of friendship I forged at Phi Psi are best reflected in my wedding picture, where Vashi (best man), Etzioni, Hooper, Feldman, Peterson (Fun Guide), Heaven, and Setty all stood up as groomsmen.” - Eric Biegansky, ’92

"The campus, friends, athletic teams." -Richard Ellinwood, ‘47

"My fondest memories are of Wallace Newcomb and his ribald poetry. Wally became an air force pilot , flew F-105 s , was shot down and taken prisoner , spent 6 years in Hanoi Hilton. He was tortured constantly since he was the smallest of all the prisoners . Yet he survived and is now retired in South Carolina . I believe he is a person Phi Psi should extol as representative of the best we have to offer." - Fritz Meyer, '62

"Sunday dinners.  Monday night dinners during pledging." -David Carson, '52

"I think the memories of "bad week" are worth recounting if you still have that program - and i would do so if desired." -Robert D. Cushing, '64 

"Great group mostly.   WWII vets having lots in common." -John R. Barney, '48