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FSU Pikes Delta Lambda Newsletter- December 2025
Chris Dietz
December 31, 2025
Please forward this copy of your Delta Lambda Newsletter to your Pike friends and encourage them to sign up to receive the monthly letter. It’s free.
Join the Old Guard of Delta Lambda!
 | Preserving our Legacy; Securing the Future The Old Guard is Delta Lambda’s alumni Annual Fund. Your gift goes toward strengthening the Bonds among alumni, enriching both the alumni and undergraduate Delta Lambda experience. Volunteer dues are $100 or more annually. Alumni who give as much as $1,000 are recognized as Sembler Society members. All new contributions are recognized monthly. |
Contributions to the Old Guard may be made by credit card through this secure link, or, if you prefer to send a check, please make payable to The Old Guard of Delta Lambda and send to Charlie Barnes / 1490 Saint Charles Place / Tallahassee, FL 32308
We are grateful for the generosity as well as the stature of alumni who support The Old Guard, our alumni annual fund.
Thank you to regular contributor Harvey Mackler ’72 (Beta Pi Chapter, U-Penn). Harvey has been involved with Delta Lambda for a long time, and is an active member of the All-Pi Kappa Alpha alumni association in Tampa Bay. [email protected]
Delta Lambda’s MONTHLY LUNCHEONS
 | All are welcome to come and enjoy Pike Fellowship at these Monthly Luncheons featuring our Chapter Advisors and Undergraduate Officers. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month, at Madison Social in College Town. |
Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 chairs the meetings beginning at noon and concluding by 1:00 PM.
Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 850-321-2198 [email protected]
Co-Chapter Advisor Steve Walker ‘81 703-203-5494 [email protected]
Welcome New SMC!
Chapter SMC in 2026: Cole Summers ’23 813-539-1217
The next Luncheon will be Wednesday January 7th, 2026.
Pi Kappa Alpha Wishes You Merry Christmas, 2025
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Your Pike House in the Snow, 2025
UNDERGRADUATE NEWS
Your Delta Lambda athletes already won the 3x3 Basketball championship, as well as Tennis Singles and Tennis Doubles this fall. They crowned the fall semester with a repeat of their IM Football Championship. Pikes are on their way to another Overall Intramural Championship Cup in 2025-26. Since re-chartering in 2000, Pikes have won the Overall Trophy more than all the other 24 fraternities combined.
Delta Lambda Officers’ Leadership Recognized
At the final 2025 Monthly Leadership Luncheon with Chapter Officers and Alumni Advisors, three Chapter officers were singled out for their extraordinary leadership and performance.
Legacy Dads Chairman Doug Russell ’79 presented a plaque to Pledge Educator Riley Scofield ’23. Riley’s team conducted a highly effective Pledge program, bringing 81 new Brothers into the Fraternity.
Rush Advisor Charlie Barnes ’65 presented an engraved statue of Chief Osceola to Rush Chairman Cannon Diehl ’24. Cannon and his Rush Captains and the entire Chapter strove to recruit the largest fall class at FSU, and set a record in Pike National Fraternity with 85 New Members.
Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 presented an engraved statue to SMC Owen Murtagh ’22.
Owen’s exceptional and dynamic leadership throughout his tenure brought Delta Lambda to their strongest standing at FSU as well as within the National Fraternity. Delta Lambda, was awarded the prestigious Robert Adger Smythe Trophy in Memphis this past summer.
Present: Charlie Barnes ’65; Ed Barnes ’71; Lucas Bozeman ’21; Dylan Culmone ’22; Cannon Diehl 24; Mike DiLeo ’22; Kyle Hill ’16; Andy Miller ’70; Own Murtagh ’22; Ryan Paradela ’24; John Peacock ’01; Jim Riscigno ’66; Rudy Rowe ’87; Doug Russell ’79; Riley Scofield ‘23; Andrew Schatz ’23; Ryan Scofield ’23; Mike Sposato ’22; Cole Summers ’23.
ALUMNI NEWS
Under the direction of Bob Tunkel ’66 and Chairman Jim Riscigno ’65, the “Pikes of the 60s” gathered for a memorable Reunion Weekend of November 14th and 15th. Alumni and wives enjoyed an entertaining evening at the Hilton Garden Inn, site of the last Reunion in 2021. A poolside cocktail party and banquet also featured presentations, including a wonderful slide show compiled by Bob Tunkel, and an overview of the state of the Chapter and of FSU football. Jim Riscigno arranged for special tickets for the Virginia Tech game.
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Cliff Napolitano ’68, Andy Miller ’70, Jim Cobb ’63. John Stoner ‘64, Jack McMullen ’64, Carolyn McMullen and Jeanne Lyons.
Jim Riscigno ’65, Bob White ’63, Rich Wall ’66, John Scheldt ’64, Charlie Barnes ’65, Don Altemus ’66.
Those attending the Reunion Weekend included: Fred (and Gail) Ingley ‘62; David (and Lydia) Giordano ’66; John Stoner ’64; J.L. Milton ’62; Bob (and Karren Shoupe) Tunkel ’66; Ken (and son Kevin) McNulty ‘63; Clifford (and Laurie) Napolitano ‘68; Bob (and Debbie) White ‘63; John Scheldt ’64; Richard Boyd ‘69; Reunion Chairman Jim Riscigno ’65; Charlie Barnes ’65; Jim (and Roz) Cobb ’63; Dave (and Jeanne) Lyons ’65; Rich (and Mary Lou) Wall ’66; Don Altemus ’66; Jim (and Li) Poe ’66; Jack (and Carolyn) McMullen ’64; Andy Miller ’70.
The weekend was not without its sad moment. Michael Wolford ’68 passed into Chapter Eternal on November 17, in the presence of his lifelong friends Bob Ward ’67 and Dick Klunk ’67. Both Ward and Klunk have been regular Reunion attendees in the past.
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Dave Lyons ’65, Li Poe, Jim Poe ’66. Jim Cobb ’63, J.L. Milton ’62, Roz Cobb, Bob White ’63, Debbie White.
 | Anticipating a Capital Campaign in 2026 to secure our Delta Lambda fraternity house forever, Ken McNulty ’63 brought a game-day Bobby Bowden signed hat to the Reunion to contribute as a potential donor gift. Ken recalls, “A number of years ago Bobby Bowden ’49 came here to Harrisonburg Va at the invitation of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from James Madison University. When I went to this speech, I took that hat and also the Pike magazine that had the group picture with me and four others. And at a greet-and-meet-Bobby session before the event, he signed both of them for me. When he saw the magazine with that photo he immediately said ”0h, Delta Lambda”. That’s the back story on the signed hat, and I’d like to contribute it to the coming Campaign.” |
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Gail Ingley, Fred Ingley ’62, Lydia Giordano. Don Altemus ’66, Jack McMullen ’64, Bob Tunkel ‘66
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Mary Lou Wall, Dave Giordano ’66, Lydia Giordano. Ken McNulty ’63, Charlie Barnes ’65, Kevin McNulty ‘63.
AD ASTRA
Michael R. Wolford ‘68
“Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which strengthens with the setting sun of life”
Mike Wolford ’68 passed into Chapter Eternal on November 17, 2025. Bob Ward ’67 and Richard Klunk ’67 both were with him when he departed. Lifelong friendship is the Promise of Pi Kappa Alpha.
There may or may not be such a thing as a good death. But could any be more fortunate than Michael Wolford who passed peacefully in the presence of his lifelong Delta Lambda Brothers?
Bob Ward ’67 wrote, “We (Richard Klunk ’67 and I) visited Michael today. I wore my Pike shirt and FSU ball cap. Mike’s been unable to speak since Sunday. I arrived first and spent about 30 minutes with him. I said, ‘Brother Michael, Brother Ward here hoping you hear me’, He turned his head toward me and opened his eyes and moved his head acknowledging me …As he laid there I stroked his hair, massaged his chest and shoulders and shared memories…Peggy came in and said I was always his best friend among the few close…I said, ‘Your Brother Dick Klunk is here’, and he acknowledged him as he did me. I had to console Dick. Peggy said he had two strokes last night, and is on morphine now….Peggy laid his Pike jersey on his chest…[Soon] he was gone.”
Rich Wall ’66 wrote, “Michael was so proud of being a Pike and a Seminole. How can we forget Michael and his three-piece suits?”
Selected excerpts from Mike’s obituary: “Michael…distinguished himself at FSU as a creative leader, noteworthy student, and raucous member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity where his Brothers remember his bigger-than-life personality and preference for three-piece-suits…[Michael] was much in demand as a trainer in the financial industry…He was a much-traveled lover of life, explorer of world pubs, singer of Irish songs, weaver of humorous tales, and extraordinary Lord of the Kitchen.”
Michael and Peggy were married for over 40 years.
From a 17th Century prayer: “Thou knowest, Lord, that I ask only for a few friends at the end.”
Phi Phi Kappa Alpha always.
2025 Chapter Leadership
2025 Delta Lambda Elected Officers
SMC Owen Murtagh ‘22 813-382-6340
[email protected]
Treasurer Andrew Schatz 610-585-9035
[email protected]
External VP Jack Lennon 813-340-2032
[email protected]
Internal VP Dylan Culmone ‘22 609-457-2248
[email protected]
Social Chairman Chris Johnson ‘22 407-421-3337
[email protected]
Sergeant-at-Arms Nick DiLeo 845-905-6685
[email protected]
2024-2025 Alumni Advisory Board
Chapter Advisor: John Peacock ‘01
Co-Chapter Advisor Steve Walker ‘81
Chapter Advisory Board: Rudy Rowe ’87, Joe Feheley ’81, Eli Nortelus ’01, Jeff Moore ‘81
Legends of Delta Lambda: Brent Sembler ’78, Chairman
Legends of Delta Lambda: Jimmy Keen ’73, Vice chairman
Legends of Delta Lambda: Peter Ford ’14, General Contractor
Rush Advisors: Doug Russell ’79 and Charlie Barnes ‘65
Faculty Advisors: Andy Miller ’70 and Doug Tatum ‘77
Finance Advisor and Advisor to Treasurer and Secretary: Eli Nortelus ‘01
Risk Management: Tor Friedman (Delta Tau Delta); Carlos Lindo ’05, Clint Wallace ‘01
Pledge Education Advisor: John Peacock ’01 an Eli Nortelus ‘01
Technology Advisor, newsletter Publisher & Webmaster: Chris Dietz ‘87
Alumni Association Activity Chairmen: Gary Prescott ’72, Mark Smith ‘78
Alumni Association President: Eric Carr ‘01
Advisor on Conduct of the Ritual: Scott Roix ‘85
Newsletter Editors: Tim Sheridan ’79 and Charlie Barnes ’65
Member-at-Large and Activity Advisor: TBD
Chaplaincy Advisor: Dylan Nielander ‘05; plus John Peacock ’01; Rev. Rick Blythe ‘72
Chapter Advisor Emeritus Ed Barnes ’71 National Chapter Advisor of the Year 2005
Chapter Advisor Emeritus Joe Feheley ’81 (son Sean Feheley ’14)
Chapter Advisor Emeritus Jimmy Keen ’73 (son Michael Keen ’14)
Chapter Advisor Emeritus Doug Russell ’78 (son Tyler Russell ’10)
These six alumni organizations exist to support Pi Kappa Alpha at Florida State
The Legends of Delta Lambda. Legends owns the Chapter House. Brent Sembler ’78, Chairman. Jimmy Keen ‘73, Legends Vice Chairman. Capital gifts may also be made directly to the Legends of Delta Lambda. Brent Sembler [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Chapter Advisory Board. Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 Chairs the Chapter Advisory Board. John Peacock ’01, 850-321-2198 [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Alumni Association. Eric Carr ’01, President. [email protected]
The Old Guard of Delta Lambda. The Old Guard is the alumni annual fund. Jack McMullen ’64 and David Rancourt ’84 are Co-Chairmen of the Old Guard oversight board.
The Legacy Dads of Delta Lambda. Doug Russell ’78, Founder and President. [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Communications Team. The Delta Lambda Website and the Delta Lambda Monthly Newsletter are productions of Dietz Consulting, Inc. Chris Dietz ’87, owner. The monthly newsletter is Edited by Tim Sheridan ’78 and Charlie Barnes ’65. Len Tucker (and Jean) Tucker ’70 provides the chapter with its annual composite. The Team also consults with the Chapter on the annual production of Pikes Illustrated.
The official Delta Lambda website is: www.deltalambdapikes.com
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