We lost a beloved frater, Harvey Palash, on March 4, 2023.  He was a few weeks short of age 90, and suffered several years from bone marrow cancer..

Harvey transferred as a junior from Los Angeles City College to SC in fall 1953.  His leadership and charisma allowed him immediately to be elected Pledge Class President. Later he served as prytanus his entire senior year, graduating in June 1955 with a degree in political science.  

When he succeeded astronaut Jerry Carr as Prytanus, Jerry showed him a closet full of Memorabilia he had quietly pilfered from rival fraternities. He made Harvey promise to not reveal the secret.  Unknown to all including the rivals, Harvey secretly returned the entire stash.  It wasn’t until Jerry’s death several years ago that we learned of the skullduggery.

Harvey was always heavily involved in the entertainment industry.  He had early employment in labor relations with the American Television and Radio Actors (AFTRA) and the American Broadcasting Company, while attending law school at Loyola College and passing the bar.  As a successful entrepreneur  he formed three companies:  The Palash Agency, Diamond P Enterprises and Diamond P Sports.  The latter was sold in 1990 to setup his retirement.  His activities involved tennis, golf and reminiscing with old entertainment friends

In 1967 Harvey was connected with The National Hot Rod Association, later being elected to its Board of Directors.  It was at NHRA that he met his beloved wife of 25 years, Penny.  They lived in Coronado, Indian Wells and most recently Rancho Mirage, California.

Harvey was an exceptional man and will be remembered always for his quiet strength, his gentle and loving soul, and as a consummate gentleman.

TKE and DG paired for Homecoming, and DG wins the 2022 Powderpuff Championship, with TKE cheering them on and Caleb Williams coaching.

Alice “Alli” Faye Lockwood Solum
December 27, 1936 – August 16, 2022

Alli Solum, 85, passed away on August 16, 2022. Alli was born at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California, to parents Arthur and Sarah “Sally” Lockwood, an only child. Known to her ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren as “Mimi,” Alli approached every aspect of her life with a kindness and selflessness that inspired everyone around her.

Alli graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1955 with honors. She attended the University of Southern California (“U.S.C.”) graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1959. Alli was an active student, becoming Secretary of her Freshman Class, and President of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. While at U.S.C. she met her future husband, Conrad R. Solum, Jr. (“Connie”) in 1955. They were married on June 4, 1960, at the Catholic Newman Center at U.S.C., and recently celebrated 62 years of marriage in June of 2022.

With a shared passion for sports, Alli and Connie were lifelong U.S.C. football season ticket holders, enjoying games all over the country. Alli was a lifetime member of Woman of Troy, a football scholarship club, along with memberships in Cardinal and Gold, and Associates. As an alumna she belonged to many organizations at U.S.C., including, Trojan League of Los Angeles, Trojan Guild of Los Angeles, Half Century Trojan Club (Pres.), Trojan Marching Band Board and Town & Gown. She served as President of Town & Gown from 1996 – 1998 and was on the Board for many years. Alli and Connie established a Town & Gown Endowed Scholarship, and a Tau Kappa Epsilon “TKE” Endowed Scholarship, in their name.

Alli was the consummate volunteer. She volunteered at Corpus Christi School for 18 years while her children were attending both elementary and middle schools. She was a docent at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, a member of the Board of the Boosters Club for Loyola High School, and at the age of 81, became a member of the Board of Directors of the Homeowner’s Association at her residence.

Alli loved travelling the world, especially Hawaii, with her family and lifelong friends, known as the “Dirty Eleven.” She and Connie were among the founders of, and met the “Dirty Eleven” while volunteering for Palisades Jr. Women’s Club, Las Fortunas and Palisades Optimist’s Club. This informal group had many parties together, including “Halloween in May”, “Laugh In”, and the weddings of all of their children. They traveled together for weekends and vacations with families in tow, to Hawaii, Mexico, Tahiti, and Mammoth, just to name a few. Alli and Connie’s friendship with the “Dirty Eleven” has lasted for over 50 years.

Alli is survived by her husband Conrad R. Solum, Jr., her children, Lori Middleton, Kami Miller (John), Kathy Beckerman (Eric) and Michael Solum (Jennifer), her grandchildren, Ian Middleton, Kristien Hernandez (Michael), Meghan Middleton, C.J. Miller, Ryan Miller, Troy Miller, Lindsey Beckerman, Dylan Beckerman, Sierra Solum, Kaia Solum, and her great grandchildren, Lucy Hernandez and Bo Hernandez.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Corpus Christi Church on September 23, 2022, at 3:00 pm. For those who wish to remember Alli in a special way, please make donations in her memory to the U.S.C. Town & Gown Alli and Conrad Solum Endowed Scholarship. www.townandgownofusc.org

We are sad to announce that Frater George Strella, Beta-Sigma #21 and a chartering member of our chapter, died on June 14, 2022.  Frater George lived a very full life.  He would have been 93 years old on July 21st.  We remember George as a generous and consistent donor to our annual fund, an attendee of our alumni open house and bbq, and an alumni we are incredibly proud to call our own.  His last of many gifts to us were priceless photographs of our founders and 1948 chapter chartering event which we now proudly display here, here and here.  He even included a handwritten list of names by row in one of the photos.  We had never seen these photos before George sent them to us, and they are an incredibly important part of our history.  You can read George’s obituary here and watch his celebration of life service here.