News

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.

Top level for fun and sun.  Often used as the DJ booth.

Lower level cabana for shade and chillin next to the volleyball court.

The deck at night complete with dimmable lights, fan, and power outlets.

After a more than year long battle with cancer, Nico Stillman passed away on January 30th shortly after his 28th birthday.  A former Beta-Sigma TKE President, Nico will be greatly missed.  A Celebration of  Life will be held on February, 23rd at 4:30PM at The Jonathan Club Santa Monica.  All are invited but please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/NicoRSVP

Photos credit to John Dau (Beta-Sigma #644)

The new school year is fast approaching. If you live in TKE now or will be moving into TKE, here are important dates and details regarding our move-out and move-in process:

Parking Lease End Date:  8/3/2021 at 6pm (this is when all cars must be removed from TKE parking spaces)
Move-Out Date:  8/6/2021 (this is when your TKE room lease ends)
Move-In Date:  8/18/2021 at 10AM (this is when your TKE room lease starts)
Parking Lease Start Date: 8/21/2021 at 3PM (this is when you can start parking in your leased space)

From 8/7/21 to 8/17/21 Lee and her crew will be preparing the properties for a new school year and for rush house tours.  This includes cleaning, hauling away stuff, making repairs, sanitizing, painting, maintenance and many other things as needed. To successfully execute this process we need our members to cooperate and understand the following:

1. Move all of your stuff out of your rooms as early as possible and no later than August 6th at Midnight.  On August 7th all personal stuff left in rooms or common areas will be thrown away.  There will be no second chance area.  The only exception is the TKE East garage where members may store stuff.
2. After cars leave the garage on August 3rd members may store their personal stuff in the garage.  On August 7th the garage will be locked and secured and there will be no access until move in on August 18th.  You then have until August 21st at 7AM to move your stuff out of the garage and into your room. Any personal items left in the garage after August 21st at 7AM will be thrown away.
3. Be prepared to move into TKE on August 18th and make sure that all your personal items are in your room by August 21st at 7AM.  We need boxes, packing materials, and your stuff cleared out of the hallways and common areas for rush tours.  Any personal items left in the garage or common areas after August 21st at 7AM will be thrown away.