OMEGA CHAPTER
Upon their death, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi joins the Omega Chapter and will forever be honored for his contributions to his family, his community, and this Fraternity.
The Greek Omega designation is the only Greek designation not used by the National Fraternity both singularly or in combination with another Greek designation. It is reserved exclusively for the Omega Chapter.
Upon entering the Omega Chapter, a Brother's Membership Badge should be bequeathed to the National Fraternity for safekeeping in its archives. If desired by the member, he may also be buried wearing his Membership Badge.
Below are biographies of Upsilon Chapter members who have joined the Omega Chapter. Families of deceased members are welcome to share obituaries, stories and biographies of our members to be included in the chapter’s records.
David P. Dapko 1966-2024
David graduated in 1984 from Pen Argyl Area High School, where he was the marching band Drum Major, played in the Concert Orchestra, and was a member of the National Honor Society. David earned a bachelors degree in marketing (1989) and a masters degree in Telecommunications (1997), both at Penn State University. David was a varsity Cheerleader at Penn State, a brother at Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, and “Dagger Man” at Kappa Delta sorority. He was active as a Graduate Student Assistant to Student Life, THON Advisor and Leadership Team member, Homecoming Advisor, Parmi Nous (President and Advisor), and he became a Lion Ambassador after graduating.
Davids professional career began at the Dow Chemical Company, where he was a Regional Market Manager (1989 1995). David then became a Training Consultant/Graduate Assistant at Penn State (1995 1997) and a Senior Consultant at Telcordia Technologies (1997 1999). David had a successful marketing career with firms Maloney & Fox (2003 2012) and Kaplow Communications (2013 2015) in NYC. In 2017 David began his real estate career with the Douglass Elliman Real Estate firm and then The Agency RE, both in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. David also embarked on his own entrepreneur ventures, ChelseaConnection.com (1999 2001) and Knot Common (2016 2020).
After having the strength to get through a life-threatening illness and surgeries, he was once again living his best life. David made remarkable impressions on the world that will endure long into the future. Building on his philanthropic commitment to Penn State, he created the David Dapko WE ARE endowment (2015) to ensure that alumni, students, fans, and friends continue to network and stay connected when the Lions take the field outside of Happy Valley. David's fun-loving personality helped him to make lifelong friends all over the country. We all will miss his smile, sense of humor, and infectious laugh.
RALPH F. BROWER 1933-2015
Ralph F. Brower of State College, Pennsylvania was born on January 3, 1933, in West Chester, he was the son of the late Ralph and Ruth Brower, he was the oldest of five children. On August 30, 1958 he married Joan Hawbaker who survives.
He graduated from Kennett Square High School in 1951 and The Pennsylvania State University in 1958. He attended Penn State after serving in the Army during the Korean War. At Penn State he was a member of the 1954-1955 NCAA Soccer Championship team which had a grand celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2005. He was captain of the Penn State soccer team in 1957.
He was involved in the early development of Park Forest Village since 1960 while employed by J. Alvin Hawbaker. He was a partner of Kissinger Bigatel and Brower and a member of Centre County Association of Realtors since 1960. He was president of the Board of Realtors in 1968 and 1983. He was the oldest active member of that Board having served in many capacities including the original committee to establish the Multiple Listing Service. He taught real estate courses at Penn State main campus as well as Penn State Altoona. He enjoyed many years as a licensed real estate appraiser. He was designated Realtor Emeritus along with his partner, Fred Kissinger, and his mother-in-law, Vera Hawbaker in 2005.
Although inactive in recent years, he never "retired" from the career he loved and enjoyed following the successful real estate careers of his son and daughter and all the associates at KBB. He would greet them with "what did you sell today?" He served as President of the State College Area Chamber of Commerce in 1976 and was past president of the State College Lions Club. He was a past regional director of Commonwealth Bank (now Santander). Mr. Brower was a member of the Park Forest Village United Methodist Church, Centre Hills Country Club, State College Elks Lodge 1600, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 245 and a 1968 member of Rho Epsilon Real Estate Fraternity.
He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi social fraternity and received the Delta Beta Xi award for service to the Fraternity. In 1991 he was a member of a small committee for the inaugural Mt. Nittany Medical Center golf classic. Through its endeavor, the tournament has raised funds for healthcare services and much needed equipment for the Medical Center. He enjoyed serving on that committee for nearly 25 years. He was a proud member of the "auxiliary" of the State College High School Class of 1954 consisting of spouses of class members. Over the years this very close knit group has enjoyed many breakfasts, reunions and cruises together. He and his wife are long time members of the Nittany Lion Club and Penn State Hoops Club. He enjoyed following Penn State sports and playing golf with his buddies at Centre Hills. When his health kept him off the golf course, he joined his wife in traveling to auctions, antique shows, and collecting vintage local postcards and memorabilia.
Dan H. Wise 1953-2015
Dan was born November 24th, 1953 in Danville, Pennsylvania to Howard E. and Helen E. (Dickerson) Wise. Dan and his brothers split their time growing up between their home in State College and the beloved family farm in Spring Mills. Dan graduated from State College Area High School in 1971, and went on to study Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization with a minor in Music at The Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity.
Dan was a custom home builder for almost 40 years, and he first committed himself to high performance, sustainable, green construction almost a decade ago. He was a Certified Green Builder and a Certified Green Professional, as well as a dedicated educator and advocate for the green construction industry, and the building industry as a whole. In 2013 he was awarded the National Home Builders Association Green Builder of the Year Award. Dan was also honored in 2014 as one as 30 individuals nationwide to receive the first ever Home Innovations Lab Green Partner Distinction Award, an honor he was especially proud of. Dan was also a dealer for Lindal Cedar Homes Board, based out of Seattle, WA, and served on their Board of Directors. Dan also spearheaded Lindal's initiative to become the first and only National Green Building Standard certified systems-built manufacturer in the country. Dan was also a longtime member of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, where he was a Life Director. Dan was an ardent member of the building industry in many aspects, from building codes to legislative advocacy, and his presence and passion will be sorely missed.
In addition to his accomplished professional life, Dan's personal life was equally as rich and fulfilling. Music was a large part of Dan's life, whether it be singing in the choir at State High or Pine Hall Lutheran Church, to playing in many bands, with many dear friends, to singing around the piano with his daughter. He was a talented musician and his mean renditions of Jimmy Buffett tunes are one of the many things his family will miss dearly. Dan loved to garden, something he learned from his father and growing up on the farm. He also enjoyed sports, particularly Penn State Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball. One of his favorite pastimes was attending a home Penn State football game with his wife, or a Sunday Penn State wrestling match with his daughter.