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I recently caught up with Brother Lou Livolsi at his annual Phi Tau mini reunion at “Champ’s Farm” in Doylestown, PA. If you were a Phi Tau at Penn State in the 1980s, chances are you ran with many of the brothers who show-up for this yearly gathering. Here’s what he had to say …
What is your nickname and what year did you pledge Phi Tau?
LL: Fall of 1983. Believe it or not I really never had one. Perhaps that’s a good thing.
When did you host your first Phi Tau – Omicron mini-reunion?
LL: First reunion was 2016 and was meant to be a one off but we’ve continued every year since.
What is the largest number of brothers that you had attend one year?
LL: Approximately 25 but this also included significant others.
What brother came the farthest to attend?
LL: Newt Heilman from Chapel Hill, NC.
Why do you think these mini reunions have been so successful and well attended over the years?
LL: It speaks to the character of all that attend and how legitimate our brotherly bond really is. While diverse in many ways, we’ve been exposed to very similar experiences at Phi Tau which we shamelessly relive each reunion. Overall, it’s a great group of guys who like each other’s company.
What is the biggest change that you have seen over the years in your brothers?
LL: Personalities have remained the same. Some waistlines have expanded . . .
Any funny stories you can relay?
LL: Pleading the 5th to protect all those who attend.
What is Champ’s Farm?
LL: Named after my dog Champ who was my good buddy. The home was originally built in 1890 and was a large dairy farm at the time. Hence “Farm” in the name.
How often do you make it out to State College and 408 East Fairmount Avenue?
LL: I’m a season football ticket holder so I’m in Happy Valley most home games. I typically pop in the house and say hello when I’m there.
Any words of wisdom for your Omicron brothers out there?
LL: Stay true to who you are, make no excuses, and most importantly, make family and friends a priority. Everything else will fall into place from there.
What are you doing today? What’s going on in your life? Kids update? Mid-life crises?
LL: (I’m a) VP of a local bank in the role of Regional Mortgage Operations Manager. I’m also a Certified Personal Trainer but that’s more of a passion than job😊. I’m a proud girl dad. Em is 25, attended FSU and living her dream life Spain. Liv is 23, attended UVA and works in cyber security in VA. I’m fortunate to be in regular contact with my Phi Tau brothers on a regular basis and feel blessed for everything in my life. As far as a mid-life crisis, my clichéd purchase a few years ago is my beloved BMW R NineT Scrambler. If it were legal to marry her I would!
