Zeta Lambda brother saves a woman's life

[Editor's note: Brother Devin Gannon (Zeta Lambda/Westminster 2011) was recently recognized as a local hero for his quick thinking after saving the life of a woman who collapsed at the Crawford Swimming Pool in Shaler Township, PA. The below story is reprinted with permission from the Titan Sports Blog. You can read the original story here, or check out WTAE Pittsburgh Channel 4's coverage (with video) here.]

Posted by Titan Sports Blogger

Followers of sports often lose sight of who we recognize as true heroes. Gene Collier wrote in his column "The ex-sportswriter" for the Columbia Journalism Review that "an actual living hero is ten times as likely to walk down your street, sit next to you on a bus, or hold the door for you at the library than to appear on your television between the never varying pre-game yammer and the postgame lament about who 'stepped up' and who just 'didn't want it bad enough.'"

Last week a Westminster College varsity athlete was looked upon as a hero -- not a sports hero, but an actual living hero -- for helping save the life of a woman at the Kiwanis Park pool in Shaler Township. Devin Gannon (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler), a senior-to-be on the Westminster swim team, helped save the life of a woman that collapsed on Tuesday and she was subsequently in a coma for two days before she recovered. However, the efforts of Gannon and two other workers at the pool helped sustain the woman's life until paramedics arrived.

Gannon used an AED defibrillator to shock her heart to keep her alive. Gannon and the two other workers were honored Friday night at the pool in a special ceremony.

International Headquarters welcomes new staff addition

Theta Chi Fraternity is pleased to welcome Joel Wendland (Zeta Beta/Adrian 1996) to the International Headquarters staff. Joel will be serving as Director of Member Services and will be responsible for managing the new member registration, awards, and all other membership-related processes.

Brother Wendland brings a world of experience with him to the International Headquarters. Most recently, he was the Foundation Relations Manager for the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, where he managed grant programming by securing private and public funding for education programs and general operations. Previously, Brother Wendland worked at the Indiana University School of Medicine as a development specialist, managing the foundation database to build donor portfolios for the IU Simon Cancer Center. He had also previously worked in Venice, CA as a project director for L.A. Theatre Works, where he managed promotional marketing and fundraising projects and launched the organization’s first national touring program.

As an undergraduate, Brother Wendland served the Zeta Beta chapter as President, Vice President, Secretary and House Manager. He is a volunteer on Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity’s National Awards Committee and is also involved with the Indiana Youth Group as a grant writer.

“We are very excited to welcome Joel to the International Headquarters Staff,” Executive Director Michael Mayer said. “His experience in the nonprofit sector will serve Theta Chi very well.”

Brother Wendland began work at the International Headquarters on Monday, Aug. 16. He can be reached by e-mail at jwendland@thetachi.org or by calling the International Headquarters at 317-824-1881. Congratulations, brother!

"Caddyshack" Actor Dan Resin Dies at 79

Brother Dan Resin (Alpha Iota/Indiana 1953), best known for his role in the 1980 film "Caddyshack," has died. He was 79.

Born in South Bend, IN, Brother Resin had a long and distinguished acting career that spanned back to 1950s Broadway, where he had roles in productions including "My Fair Lady" and "Once Upon a Mattress." He later held roles in other TV shows and films such as "Wise Guys," "The Sunshine Boys," and "The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover."

Some of Brother Resin's more famous acting credits include his roles as the Ty-D-Bol Man in the 1970s toilet cleaner commercials and Dr. Beeper in the iconic 1980s classic "Caddyshack" alongside Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.

Resin died on July 31, 2010 in Oakland, N.J. after suffering complications from Parkinson's Disease. For funeral information, click here.