Founding Fathers – Sigma Pi Fraternity

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.”

You can read the online obituary for James Edward Lambouris as well as an online tribute and fundraiser posted by his family.

RIP, Brother.

In late December 1984, at the Great Lakes Invitational Hockey Tournament in Detroit, a very special meeting took place. Two strangers met, and an idea was formed. That idea was to create a chapter of a national fraternity on the campus of Oakland University, a small relatively unknown university.

The two strangers were Dave DeWolf and Vince Chrisman, both alumni of Lambda Chi Alpha. Dave was a transfer student from Michigan Tech who attended Oakland, and Vince was a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. Both men were very fond of their memories from their fraternity days, and wanted to somehow make new memories for new people at the young university.

Vince Chrisman

Dave DeWolf

Vince and Dave talked extensively and become determined to form a chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at Oakland. They went to work at once. While Vince researched the prospect of colonization, Dave began a small-scale recruitment campaign at Oakland. A few enthusiastic friends helped him post signs throughout the university that advertised the formation of the new group.

By March 1985, Dave had gathered a small but highly motivated group of men who were ready for the challenge of beginning a new fraternity chapter at Oakland. The group’s efforts culminated in their first, nervous on March 7, 1985. The nervousness was replaced with great excitement as Vince introduced himself and his fraternity. He was confident and reassuring with his knowledge of the fraternity as well as his desire to assist in any way possible. The members knew they would be guided ably in their quest.

Laying the Foundation

More meetings took place to recruit more members, elect officers, and plan events and meetings for the Summer.

By the time the school year ended, the group had a Summer schedule drawn up. The first true social event was to be a BBQ. Softball, hot dogs, and good times were planned. Since the group was already well-known in the campus’ Greek community, members from two of the three sororities attended. It was a smashing success. The brotherhood grew many times closer at that first party.

Indeed, the brotherhood continued to prosper with a road trip to King’s Island amusement park and a summer at a member’s home.

The group also took up philanthropic work. On April 23, 1985, several members walked in a 20 mile Walk-a-thon for the March of Dimes, raising almost $400 to fight birth defects. Also, a few of the members began working at a bingo hall that was operated by the American Diabetes Association.

The young fraternity’s officers worked hard over the summer, and on July 7, 1985, a comprehensive set of by-laws was passed to help the group operate in a more organized manner. All indications were given by Lambda Chi Alpha that the group was making tremendous progress toward colonization.

However, one day in late July 1985, the officers received a letter from the fraternity stating that it had decided not to accept further colonization from any chapter at that time. The members were only momentarily stunned, but were more determined than ever in their quest for a national fraternity.

Founding Omega Nu Pi and Finding Sigma Pi

OmegaNuPi The opening of the 85-86 school year saw an exciting new beginning for the group. Since it was disassociated with Lambda Chi Alpha, it changed its name to Omega Nu Pi, which stood for “Oakland’s New Pioneers” (in honor of the school’s mascot, the Pioneers, at the time).

Also, Dave DeWolf had since graduated, and a few former members dropped out, so the remaining members rushed aggressively and soon made up for more than the drop in membership.

With its newfound strength, Omega Nu Pi began its search for a national fraternity. Since Vince’s wife had been a Sigma Pi Little Sister during her college days, she suggested that the group look into that fraternity. As a result, the group’s first contact with Sigma Pi came on Sept. 12, 1985, when the area’s Chapter Consultant Patrick Stumpf visited Oakland.

His knowledge and willingness to help was very encouraging to the group, and they were very impressed with Sigma Pi as a whole. They made contact with several other fraternities to make sure they were making the right choice, and then Omega Nu Pi voted on October 19, 1985 to accept Sigma Pi as its national fraternity. Ten days later, the 20 members of Omega Nu Pi became pledges in the Oakland University Colony of Sigma Pi Fraternity.

Needless to say, there was much celebration that evening and at the colony’s Halloween party. It was truly a great moment. However, there was much work to be done to meet the colony’s goal of being chartered in Spring 1986.

Becoming the Zeta-Pi Chapter

Quickly the group began to grow. It held its first chapter retreat in November 1985 and planned social and fundraising events, prepared fraternity education tests, and laid out its plans for a small informal rush in early December followed by a formal rush in January 1986. The small informal rush was a learning experience as the group increased its size by 20%.

Those original 19 Founding Fathers would join with the first two Founding pledge classes to become our first 28 recognized members of the Sigma Pi Fraternity at Oakland University when it was chartered on March 15, 1986. And one of the men who originally came up with the idea for this to happen, Vince Chrisman, became the founding Chapter Director.

SigmaPiOUCharterYear

It all began with an idea: Two strangers with a dream, a goal. They helped build a group with solid, steady leadership that guided them through many uncertain moments. Now, the group is part of a fraternity that shares many of the ideals that those two strangers, Vince and Dave, held themselves. It is truly the story of a worthy quest. A quest that does not end with chartering and initiation, but lives eternally as a drive for excellence, chivalry, pride and (above all) brotherly love.

– Written in the original Founding Documents of Zeta-Pi Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, maintained by C. Surinck. Images added by M. Hoskins