Not all of us can be founders but we can all be builders. We can work on behalf of an organization and make it better. Lambda Chi Alpha just lost one of its best builders with the passing of George Spasyk at the age of 95.
George Spasyk was the son of immigrants, the youngest of nine children. He grew up in western Massachusetts. He might have had a career as one of the country’s finest chemists, but after working on the Manhattan Project and serving in the U.S. Navy, he changed his career path and earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan (M Go Blue!). At Michigan he became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. That decision had a profound effect on his life.
In 1950, after graduation, he was hired as Lambda Chi Alpha’s Traveling Secretary. From there he served in a variety of fraternity staff jobs until he replaced Cyril F. “Duke” Flad as Lambda Chi’s Executive Director in 1968. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1990. He was the force behind replacing pledges with Associate Members. In 1970, he put his thoughts into words for an article in the Cross and Crescent.
On his 90th birthday in 2013, an alumnus said, “Had the distinct pleasure of hearing Brother Spasyk speak at my chapter’s 40th Anniversary celebration a few years ago. having my picture taken with him was one of the highlights of my fraternal experience. Unquestionably one of the best dinner speakers I’ve ever listened to.”
George Spasyk was recognized by the interfraternal world for his efforts. My condolences to Lambda Chi Alpha on the loss of one of its influential builders. Mike Raymond offered his reflections this morning.
