September 6, 2020
That's Ethel in the middle. She was our Cook at my fraternity house. Ten meals a week - lunch (11-1) and dinner (5- out of food) Monday through Friday. The food was basic, but it met my needs (and was better than I could have done. I most remember Ethelgetti and Ethelzanga (“one bricks or two?”). We’d sit in the “tube room” for lunch and watch “Love Boat” or the “Gong Show.” Dinner on Friday was always special, not because of the food, but because of making plans for the night/weekend.
Ethel was more than our Cook. She was our friend. She had a happy way about her (unless you crossed her) and she really seemed to enjoy being part of the fraternity. She loved coming to Rose Ball, our spring formal. She would get all dressed up and be smiling from ear to ear the whole evening.
A very special lady who was an important part of my college years (which themselves were important years). I regret forgetting about her after I left Charlottesville. I don’t even know when she stopped working at the fraternity.
She died August 18, 1994 at the age of 53. Same as age as my dad when he passed away. They are probably up in Heaven having a smoke, and Ethel asking if he has a beer she can have. Hopefully she’s not telling him about my college years. 🤪
Ethel had the patience of a Saint . . . and was built like a Saints linebacker. She would get mad briefly at the hi-jinks we'd pull in a Kitchen Raid, but never stayed mad for long. She was an integral part of the PiKapp Experience from the late 1960s until the mid-1980s. She is sorely missed.....
truly an awesome and beautiful person who was much loved by all of us. i spent many a day in the tube room with her and her friends who cooked at neighboring fraternity houses as she watched her soap operas, many an afternoon in the kitchen chatting about everything. and always went to the store down by alpha mu to buy cigarettes for her and an occasional beer. the picture was the weekend of the 25th ( i believe) rose ball week, i remember they had the limo for her. but she was so worried she would not be appropriately dressed for the event. i couldn't let her down so told her to find the dress she really wante…