UPJ Greek Alumni
  • Home
  • About
    • Purpose
    • Philanthropy
    • By Laws
    • History Timeline >
      • UPJ 1927 - 1959
      • UPJ 1960 - 1970
      • UPJ 1970 - 1980
      • UPJ 1980 - 1990
      • UPJ 1990 - 2000
      • UPJ 2000 - 2010
      • UPJ 2010 - Present
    • The Owl
  • Fraternities
    • Acacia
    • Delta Chi
    • Delta Sigma Chi
    • Kappa Delta Rho
    • Lambda Sigma Rho
    • Phi Delta Psi
    • Sigma Tau Gamma
  • Sororities
    • Alpha Kappa Pi
    • Alpha Gamma Delta
    • Alpha Sigma Alpha
    • Alpha Xi Delta
    • Chi Epsilon Nu
    • Delta Zeta
    • Kappa Zeta
    • Omega Alpha Tau
    • Phi Sigma Sigma
    • Zeta Sigma Tau
  • Reunions
    • Reunion Registration
    • Events
    • All Greek Reunion 2013
    • All Greek Reunion 2010
  • News
  • Contact

Sun shines at memorial Saturday

10/2/2012

0 Comments

 
Trevor Monk, Advertising Director
October 2, 2012 
Filed under News, Top Stories

Two Marines in dress uniforms stood straight and somber Saturday before a crowed of approximately 150 people, surrounding the Pitt-Johnstown gazebo.

The crowd was filled with students, family and acquaintances of former  student Brian Gindlesperger.
Picture
Gindlesperger with Delta Chi brother Chi Chan presiding. Gindlesperger was a former UPJ marketing student.
Those who spoke described Gindlesperger as selfless, kind-hearted and a man with never-ending love.

The sky was overcast and fellow Marine Brad Watts lead a prayer in memory of Brian.

“God, we thank you for Brian’s life Lord God, we thank you for having put us in the presence of a man that was so great, a man that could inspire so many people, that he could do so much for so many people Lord God.

“We thank you for the gift you have given us that was Brian’s life, for his family, for the community that you raised him in.

“Thank you for those peoples’ lives Brian has touched Lord God. We pray in Lord Jesus’ name for him. Amen.”

The crowd was silent except for sniffles and sobs as Watts left the podium.

But as the prayer finished with a collective “Amen” the clouds broke and the sun shined.

The memorial service speakers were filled with close friends, Delta Chi brothers, and Pitt-Johnstown administrators.

Brian’s mother, Barb Gindlesperger spoke of fond memories and times they shared with Brian.

Delta Chi Vice President Chi Chan said the timing of the sunshine was heartwarming. Some said it was eerie as though Gindlesperger was shining through.

“Today is not meant to be sad. It is a day to cherish and reignite the memories of our time with Brian.

Remember how he cared for us, how he loved us and how we still love him today and always.”

Chan recalled a conversation he had with Brain that described the kind of man Brian was.

“Nice guys often do finish last and the jerk usually wins. You can be a jerk to, and you will get what you want, but isn’t it better knowing that you are doing the right thing and being there for that person?

This person may not be grateful for what you have done for them but you still need to continue helping and being there for them when they are in need.

This was type of person Brian Gindelsperger was.”

Delta Chi Brother Kevin McDonald was Brian’s little brother and was unable to attend the memorial services, but prepared a speech read by Chi Chan.

“He would be mad at me for telling this story, but I remember the one time we illegally dove down a road with no lights on only using his night-vision goggles.

It was probably one of the scariest things I have ever done but I would give anything to do it again because we had that much fun doing it.”

“We were all very impressed with Brian’s commitment to serving his country and he stood as an out-standing model of the men and woman who serve in our military,” said External Relations Director Robert Knipple reading after Spectar’s statement.

“I personally was honored to be in his presence and moved by his eloquent sprit to service to his country and impressed with his passion for his fellow citizens.

“It is with heavy heart we say goodbye to such a good friend

“After working closely with Pitt-Johnstown president Jem Spectar for five years, that Monday morning, when I got the call from him, I didn’t know what had happened, but I could tell by his voice he had lost a member of his family.”

Brian’s mother was the last to take the podium. She told stories of Brian’s life while growing up and lead to the story of when he decided to join the Marine Corps.

“Brian was a ordinary kid, until 9-11. It affected so many people as well as Brian.

“That day, he told us he was going to join the United States Marine Corps. He had a lot of reason why he choose the Marine Corps.

“The one that I thought was rather comical was he liked their uniforms. So Semper Fi, once a Marine always a Marine, and god bless all of the men and women who serve our country.”

The ceremony came to close with the unveiling of a plaque in honor of Gindlesperger that is going to be mounted on the new nursing building. Along with the plaque, a tree is going to be planted in memory of Gindlesperger.

The Delta Chi brothers are selling memorial T-shirts for Gindlesperger and all proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project, a charity that assists disabled veterans with counseling and medical equipment. After the memorial service, Brian’s mother said she forgot to mention this when she was speaking at the service.

“I want to say thanks to the wonderful people at UPJ that took Brian in when he came to UPJ. They became his family and our family; we are grateful for everything they have done.”

- See more at: http://www.upj-advocate.com/news/2012/10/02/sun-shines-at-memorial-saturday/#sthash.7TshKu9p.dpuf
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    UPJ Greek News Today

    Find the latest breaking news about UPJ. You can search by your organization name of by a date below.

    You can also take look back into time so you can remember what happened while you where at UPJ

    Click the Social Media links below for even more current info...

    Categories

    All
    Acacia
    Alpha Gamma Delta
    Alpha Kappa Psi
    Alpha Sigma Alpha
    Alpha Xi Delta
    Delta Chi
    Delta Phi Epsilon
    Delta Sigma Chi
    Delta Zeta
    Farewell & Parting
    Fundraising
    Go Greek
    Homecoming
    Housing
    Intramurals
    Kappa Delta Rho
    Kappa Zeta
    Lambda Sigma Rho
    Omega Alpha Tau
    Phi Delta Psi
    Philanthropy
    Phi Sigma Sigma
    Reunion
    Rush
    SGA
    Sigma Tau Gamma
    Student Senate
    UPJ
    Zeta Sigma Tau
    Zeta Tau Alpha

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    September 2010
    July 2010
    March 2010
    December 2009
    September 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    January 2009
    September 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    March 2008
    January 2008
    November 2007
    September 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    November 2006
    September 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    September 2004
    August 2003
    May 2003
    March 2003
    January 2003
    November 2002
    October 2002
    August 2002
    July 2002
    June 2002
    May 2002
    March 2002
    October 2001
    August 2001
    June 2001
    April 2001
    March 2001
    December 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    February 2000
    October 1999
    July 1999
    May 1999
    April 1999
    March 1999
    February 1999
    June 1998
    February 1995
    July 1988
    January 1968

    RSS Feed

Creative Commons License
UPJ Greek Alumni is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
©2023 UPJ Greek Alumni Council
site design by Rapid Production Marketing