You might say that Sigma Pi inspired Brother Bob Van Acker to want to give back to his community and serve people who live there.
That is part of the reason why in early 2023, he finished his feat of becoming an Auxiliary Police Officer for the City of Birmingham.
Graduating in April 2023 from the Oakland County community’s reserve academy, Bob earned the top spot in his class of 12 people and also served as class secretary. He’s responsible for foot and bike patrol for city events, and he serves as back up to the regular officers on duty.
This includes working summer month events in downtown Birmingham as well as the Woodward Dream Cruise, city parades, and high school sporting events. During the other times of year, Bob notes that he might ride as a 2nd officer during that regular police officer’s scheduled shift — he tries to serve at least once a month, usually for a weekend evening shift.
As part of this role, Bob completes continuing training once a month to sharpen skills that range from firearms, defensive tactics, or the legalities of police conduct.
“Serving the people and city of Birmingham is much broader in scope, than say working 1:1 or in more intimate focused groups within the fraternity roles,” Brother Van Acker said. “It’s a continued sense of duty and that it has allowed for me to continue to serve on a broader scale aligning with Sigma Pi ideals and values. This includes inspiring service, promoting the spirit of civic righteousness (doing good for others), and continuing to develop leadership and character.”
Now married in his mid-40s and working in project management field, Bob joined the Zeta Pi Chapter with the Psi pledge class in Fall 1996, He served as social chair, secretary, and sage before graduating in 2001 with a communications degree.
The Zeta Pi Chapter at Oakland University received news in February 2023 that one of its alumni was named the new president at Eastern Illinois University.
That brother is Jay Gatrell, who joined the Zeta Pi Chapter in 1991 as part of the Kappa pledge class. Fun fact: he joined at the same time as his twin brother, Jonathan. He is Joe Piva’s little brother in the line of Founding Brother Dan Stacer.
Per the news coverage, Jay has been the provost and vice president of academic affairs at EIU before his selection as the university’s 13th president. He’s set to take on the new role in July 2023.
Throughout his career, Jay has been an economic geographer with interests in human environment interactions and he’s risen up the leadership ranks at several different higher education schools.
Though he’d started out at OU, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Michigan University, along with graduate degrees in geography from the University of Toledo and West Virginia University (Ph.D.). in the late 90s.
He went on to become a professor of geography and environmental studies at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY, and he also served as vice provost for faculty affairs and research at the independent Catholic school. He also had spent time at Wright State University and 13 years in multiple positions at Indiana State University, including graduate dean and associate dean.
Jay’s EIU profile online notes that he took the EIU provost and VP of academic affairs spot in 2017.
According to the Daily Eastern News, Jay plans as EIU president to “shift the academic programs at Eastern to be more student focused, including the launch of accelerated graduate programs. (He) also plans Eastern to become a more affordable program.”
Congrats on your new position, Brother Gatrell! The Zeta Pi Chapter wishes you well!
As a founding father of the Sigma Pi chapter at Oakland University, Brother Jim Lambouris helped pave the way for all the men who would follow.
He played a pivotal part in shaping our Zeta-Pi Chapter’s foundation in the 1980s, with his commitment to friends, family, community and brotherhood shining through to all who knew him and carrying on throughout his life.
Sadly, we said goodbye to Brother Lambouris on Nov. 25, 2020, as he began his journey to the Adytum On High at age 57. He lives on through his daughters and grandchildren, as well as countless other family members, friends, brothers, and online gamers he’s influenced in so many ways.
“Commitment is the word that comes to mind, because when Jim was in, he was all in,” said Brother Rob Waters, a charter pledge class member and close friend of Jim’s starting in those early days of college fraternity life. “It was true for the fraternity, for his daughters, for his family, and for everything in his life.”
Founding a fraternity chapter
One of 19 original founding fathers of what was initially known as Omega Nu Pi (aka “Oakland’s New Pioneers”), and among the first 28 recognized members of this Sigma Pi colony, Jim became a founding e-board member at the time of the chapter’s chartering on March 15, 1986.
It all began with a group of guys gathering in 5 Van Waggoner, the original dorm where several founding members lived at the time in 1985. Jim ended up connecting with that group, and it was through those initial connections that he’d bring Brother Waters into that same orbit.
Both grew up in Waterford and had gone to high school together, though they weren’t friends during those years as Jim was two grade levels ahead. It wasn’t until OU and Sigma Pi, as they became chartering brothers and close friends.
“He was the reason I joined,” Rob said. “And he was the best man at my wedding in 1989. I didn’t know a damn thing about Jim before Sigma Pi, and that’s somewhat remarkable in that we had gone to high school together. Here’s someone who invites me to a fraternity event, and now he’s my only friend that I know in the room. And as it turns out, he’s the person I got to know the best.”
The two spent a lot of time together during the college years, often engaged in late-night conversations, canoe and ski trips, partying, and car trips to EKU, Eastern Michigan and MSU events.
Other brothers also recall how Jim was well-liked and approachable, and always a center of the social scene. He’s also remembered for how reliable he was for those who mattered in his life, no matter the cost.
Brothers also point out Jim never had a bad word to say, and he’d usually have a grin or smirk on his face — even if he didn’t like something, but would barely let that unhappiness be known.
“Jim was always there when you needed him,” Founding Brother Bryan Mahlmeister said. “Whenever you needed him somewhere or to do something… you could count on him. For those of us starting the fraternity, there was such a drive to make this happen. Everyone worked together and supported each other, and Jim played right into that. We all valued his energy.”
Jim attended OU from 1984 to 1988, remaining active with the fraternity during his undergraduate years.
Brother Ross Parpart, who joined in 1988 as part of the Delta pledge class, had a message about Jim’s influence on the chapter — not only on his joining Sigma Pi, but shaping the lives of so many other men.
“Thank you for guiding young men as they embarked on their way to adulthood,” Ross wrote in a Facebook message. “I was one of those young men many years ago. There is no way you could have know how many you helped, guided, and transformed.”
Though some of the guys drifted apart after college, as many brothers do, several note they eventually reconnected as friends and kept in touch — whether it be online fantasy football, casual brotherhood meetups, friends catching up at the Tel-Twelve Mall foodcourt during the workdays, or at Rob’s signature Tiki Nights each July 3 on Wolverine Lake.
Pioneer in the online gaming community
Looking back, Rob recalls it wasn’t until years later he’d realize that Jim was actually a “closet introvert.” He was just as happy being in front of a computer as being out in person with a group. That would carry on throughout his life, especially as Jim was an avid gamer and became an influential part of the virtual gaming universe.
Beginning in the early 90s, Jim immersed himself in playing Multi-Users in Middle Earth (MUME), a popular multi-player text-based game based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Middle Earth’ that has been going since 1991. Out of more than than 700k characters ever created in MUME, Jim’s accolades include the “Ugurz” character that is only 1 of 12 to ever reach the maximum, most-difficult level.
MUME plans to honor Jim by retiring his characters and commemorating him within the game.
A devoted soccer dad
Of course, anyone who knew Jim can attest to the most important part of his life after college: his daughters Jordan, Taylor, and Erin. As a single father, they were his world and many have fond memories watching Jim’s love for them displayed everywhere.
“He was devoted to his daughters,” Brother Waters says, noting that Jordan and Taylor were incredibly involved in soccer through their young lives and Jim was heavily invested as a beloved soccer dad.
“He spent a king’s ransom on traveling soccer for his girls, easily a six figure dollar amount over a six or seven year period. They ran like the wind and both are smart and extremely talented,” Rob said.
Through everything in life, Rob recalls conversations the two shared demonstrating how deeply Jim was in protecting and caring for his daughters and making sure they had the best lives possible.
Taylor shared this with our Zeta-Pi Chapter, to include in this tribute to her father:
“You were the most invested, loving, and selfless father,” she wrote. “You put so much time and effort into Jordan, Erin, and I. Not only were you a great father, but just a great person, too. You were so kind, patient, and giving to others. You always went out of your way to help people, and never expected anything in return.”
Taylor continued, “You tried your best to be at every dance recital, soccer game, track meet, and was always my #1 supporter. You gave me the best advice about life: to try my best and to go out of my comfort zone. I am so happy that I will be able to cherish those memories forever.”
Trees of brotherhood, family, life
Reflecting more on the tree analogy, it’s tough to not sit in awe of Jim’s life: That separate trees can come together at different times and the roots can grow close together and intertwine, no matter how disparate or broken the branches may seem to be growing at different times.
Jim had moved to Arizona in recent years, to reconnect with his mom whom he’d had limited contact with since high school. Growing up Greek Orthodox, family was always a big, influential part of his life. Although he had lost touch with his mom when he was younger, he eventually reconciled with her and left Michigan to be near her and his new step-father there.
“That was a full circle for him, on a personal standpoint,” Brother Waters said. “It really demonstrates how true, how committed to family he was. It had a big impact on him.”
Rob uses that analogy when reflecting on his relationship with Jim, given their beginnings in high school and how that evolved over many years.
“You plant 2 trees next to each other, and even if they were compatible trees to begin with, it’s pretty rare that they’d grow in the same way and direction,” Rob said. “We aren’t the people now that we started out as, or who we’ll end up as. It’s almost a crapshoot people can evolve in the same direction.
“What I’ve always always found remarkable about the fraternity experience, is it throws you into a crucible with people you may not have that much in common with,” he added. “It is remarkable, because there is so much shared experience, so much shared commonality. Trees that don’t make much sense being in the same place end up growing together, changing the direction they’d grow if not for the other.”
We are sad to say goodbye to Brother Lambouris as a founding father and longtime member of our Zeta-Pi Chapter. We send our continued condolences and wishes to Jim’s family, but know he lives on in brotherhood.
Instead of flowers or donations (per the family’s request), our Sigma Pi chapter at Oakland University has planted a tree in Jim’s memory through an American Forests memorial partnership.
The online description says: “When you choose to have a memorial tree planted for James, you are doing more than simply putting a plant in the ground. You are making a long-term commitment to the environment and rooting the memories of James in our planet for countless years to come. A memorial tree is a unique tribute which provides global benefits like no other memorial gift could.”
Our Zeta Pi Chapter of Sigma Pi at Oakland University mourns the loss of Brother Bryan Michael Urben, 40.
July 31, 1978 – Dec. 9, 2018
[Alpha Beta Pledge Class, Winter 1998]
Bryan and Trish at Orchid Ball 2016
Bryan and his kids at Disney in 2018.
“He was one of the most sincere people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. His life always seemed full of the things that made him happy, at least if his smile was any gauge of it—he always wore one.” – Brother Rob Ray
“My fraternity brother Bryan, who was always willing to help out someone in need… Bryan was genuine, kind, intelligent and funny. Bryan left us way too early and will be forever missed. Bryan was everything you wanted in a brother and he was a role model to many.” – Brother Matt Karrandja
“He was one of the most solid people you could ever meet. Fraternity Brother, Father, husband, friendly to all he ever met. He always went out of his way to say hi, acknowledge you. The world lost a fantastic person.” – Brother John Zielke
“I am shell shocked to learn of the passing of a dear fraternity brother… Bryan, you were always smiling. I can remember when you rushed and I thought to myself that you just embodied our ideals. You translated that into a beautiful life with a beautiful family. I am absolutely gutted. Tonight, I will hold my loved ones even closer. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I know that your strong legacy lives on. Rest in peace, my brother…until we meet again.” – Brother Scott Benoot
Rest in Peace, Brother.
After coordinating with Bryan’s wife, the Sigma Pi – Oakland Chapter and Alumni created a GoFundMe account , and donations go directly to Bryan’s family. Visitation services were held on Friday, Dec. 14 from 2-8pm, with rosary and a fraternal service at 7pm at A.J. Desmond and Sons Price Chapel, 3725 Rochester Rd., Troy (between Big Beaver and Wattles).
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Patrizia Urben for their childrens’ college.
Our Zeta Pi Chapter of Sigma Pi at Oakland University lost Brother Kyle Alexander McCormick, 21.
April 2, 1997 – August 23, 2018
(Beta Lambda Pledge Class, 2015)
“This young man was an amazing individual. He had the biggest heart. All he ever wanted to do was to help someone and help glorify God’s name. When you look and see what is wrong in this world, Kyle personified all that we should strive to be as a man, friend, son and man of God. To say he will be missed is an understatement.” — one of Brother McCormick’s former teachers.
Rest in Peace, Brother.
Memorial contributions can be made to the K2 Memorial Fund, as well as to help offset funeral and memorial costs. The Sigma Pi – Oakland Chapter created a GoFundMe account online, and donations go directly to Kyle’s family.
In the Summer of 2017, our Zeta Pi Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity saw a “changing of the guard” in Chapter Directors, as Bob Van Acker handed the role over to Rob Pankau III. This post is meant to share the story of our most recent alumni leader as well our chapter leadership’s history over the years.
By Michael W. Hoskins
You might describe Brother Bob Van Acker as a man who inspires change and jump-starts leadership within our Sigma Pi fraternity chapter. Not to mention that he’s the type of guy you just can’t help but want to sit and chat with over a drink.
Those attributes based on reliability, selflessness & friendship are what have made Bob such a pivotal person for our chapter — from the time he joined the fraternity in the mid 90s and ushered in a new era, to his time as sage and during his recent alumni service as chapter director.
Moral of the story: When Bob puts his mind to Sigma Pi, good things happen for our fraternity.
His start with the chapter came at a time when there were less than a dozen guys, and interestingly his roles as sage and chapter director more than a dozen years later led to a significant expansion in brothers each time his roles changed — the same number of guys, in fact.
“There is a tad bit of irony in that,” the 39-year-old says during an interview in mid-2017.
Initiated in 1996 as part of the nine-man Psi Pledge Class, Bob came in just as the chapter’s active membership was shrinking and only had 11 brothers at the time. Within a year of his initiation due to both his pledge class and the next Fall’s large Alpha Alpha class, the chapter expanded to about 30 guys.
Bob served as sage in 1999, before graduating and taking Omega status in Spring 2001 with a bachelor of arts in communications. After his graduation Bob remained actively involved in the alumni and undergraduate activities through the years and a recognized and popular face through all generations of alum and undergrad brothers, as well as many others regionally and on the National stage.
He became chapter director in April 2013, our 10th in a line of 11 to date as one brother (Bob’s successor, Rob Pankau III) served twice in that position. By examining both Sigma Pi national records and tapping into brothers’ memories, here’s a rundown — as much as it can be documented and truly known — of those who have served as Chapter Director for Zeta Pi since its founding in 1986:
Vince Chrisman (Founding Chapter Director in March 15, 1986)
John Pearson
Bryan Mahlmiester
John Zielke (until Feb 1995)
Jeff Fox (Feb. 95-June 96)
Chuck Surinck (June 96-Jan. 2009)
Pete Knoll (early 2009)
Brett Westen (Early 2009-Fall 2009)
Rob Pankau III (Fall 2009 – Nov. 2010)
Mike Long (Nov. 2010 – April 2013)
Bob Van Acker (April 2013 – July 2017)
Rob Pankau III (July 2017 – )
As to his achievements in the CD role, Bob says his role was to serve as a guiding force whenever possible and both encourage and advise the undergraduate chapter.
In the years before he took over, there was a wave of brothers serving briefly in that role. The chapter shrunk in size and also both gained and lost a house on campus, and Bob came in at a time where alumni leadership was clearly needed. But as his style, Bob doesn’t take credit for the growth and success in the ensuing years and said it was a mutual partnership with past CDs, other alumni and the undergraduate chapter.
“None of this is about me, it’s all on the chapter,” he says. “I was there as a guide, to provide a solid foundation and empower them to see that they have the power to do all of this themselves. They did all the work.”
At times, Bob says he felt like a bad guy in having to scold or offer disciplinary advice — especially when it came to suggesting that the undergraduate chapter suspend or strict men from the roster, due to conduct or not paying dues. But it comes with the territory, and he hopes the brothers eventually learn and understand.
Aside from his fraternity volunteerism, Bob has worked in the banking and mortgage loan imaging industry and has done all of this with pretty consistent work travels. He and his wife live in Troy, Michigan.
Now, Brother Rob Pankau III has taken over as Chapter Director as of mid-2017.
Rob graduated and took Omega status in 2005 with a BA in communications. And this isn’t his first time in this role, as he served briefly from Fall 2009 to Nov. 2010, just before joining the Grand Council Executive Committee as Grand Herald. He has also served as an educational consultant at the fraternity’s executive level, treasurer of the Sigma Pi Historical Society, and as Greater Detroit Province Archon working with various chapters and alumni clubs in the region. Rob lives in Oakland Twp with his wife (a Gamma Phi Beta alumnus) and family, and is employed at GM.
Here’s to both Bob and Rob, and all those who’ve gave back as chapter directors by helping empower and guide the undergraduates. Our chapter and experiences in Sigma Pi wouldn’t be the same without you gentlemen through the years.
Congrats to our esteemed Brother Scott Andrews, who’s recently joined the national Sigma Pi Executive Office staff!
His job: regional director within the Member Services Department, meaning he’s tasked with supporting the needs of chapters, colonies and alumni clubs.
Scott started his new role in mid-August and he has 23 chapters and one colony (as of now), and his job gives him the chance to travel throughout the Midwest to his various schools — including the Detroit area chapters and his own Zeta-Pi Chapter!
This is exciting news, to have one of our own local guys elevated to the National level as a staff member. He joins the roster of our Zeta-Pi Brothers who’ve worked for national through the years, including Brother Rob Pankau who served as Grad Herald for three years.
Of course, this new role means Scott will be moving to Tennessee where our Sigma Pi HQ is based.
Though we’re sad to be losing him locally, he’ll still be in the Midwest and won’t be far off. Not to mention that part of his job will involve returning to Michigan every so often.
Based on Sigma Pi’s Executive Office Staff listings online, it appears Scott is one of 5 regional directors at the national level (and it’s pretty awesome to note that two of those guys are from Michigan — as Brother Scott Courter from U-D Mercy was also named as a regional director the same day as Scott).
In the official press release announcing this news, Sigma Pi Executive Director Jason Walker (Georgia ’96) offered this statement:
“After a long search, Scott Andrews and Scott Courter stood out as the best candidates to add to the Executive Office staff. Both bring great passion and drive for our organization and will work hard to help Sigma Pi further its quest for excellence with both our undergraduate and alumni members. We look forward to their contributions to the Fraternity.”
Scott also offered this statement in that same PR announcement:
“This opportunity to work for the Executive Office of Sigma Pi is not only an honor, but it has been a lifelong dream,” he said. “To build and strengthen our undergraduate chapters while assisting in the development of character, diversity and leadership in our membership has been a longtime passion. I am beyond thrilled to apply my energies to the Regional Director position of our amazing brotherhood for many years ahead.”
Anyone who’s been a part of our OU chapter during the past 20 years or so knows Scott — he’s a fixture for our Brothers. He initiated in March 1994 as part of the Rho pledge class.
His National ID: #66665.
During his years at Oakland, Scott studied political science and many of the Brothers who followed him in the Zeta-Pi Chapter have fond memories of him being a man of good conversation, quick-wit and a trivia-tuned mind. Many hold Scott in high regard as a “historian” of sorts, given his passion to connect the dots in our Chapter’s history and just sharing stories from throughout the years.
Professionally over the past 15 years, Scott worked primarily as a retail security supervisor at places like Somerset Mall in Troy. He notably obtained his EMT license, and works specifically with geriatric patients.
As to Sigma Pi, he’s been an alumni volunteer and advisor for many years — for our own local Zeta-Pi Chapter and beyond. Scott served as Chapter Director of the Gamma-Omega Chapter at Wayne State University for three years, and he also had previously been on the Advisory Board for our Zeta-Pi Chapter.
Personally, I have to say this: I’m so incredibly proud of Scott, who is my Big Brother.
He’s one of the first to introduce me to Sigma Pi back in my new undergraduate days in 97, and without him I probably wouldn’t have connected with or joined this Fraternity. I owe a lot to this man, and I consider him a good friend, and it’s straight from the heart that I congratulate him on this accomplishment.
All of us within the Zeta-Pi Chapter and beyond are lucky to have you working for Sigma Pi, Brother Andrews!
That is part of the reason why in early 2023, he finished his feat of becoming an Auxiliary Police Officer for the City of Birmingham.
