FIJI is more than just four years of brotherhood and shared memories. Just ask Vince San Angelo.
A veteran Marine, businessman and owner of two master’s degrees, Brother San Angelo said the morals and values learned during his four years at the U of A taught him plenty about life.
“The UA and FIJI were the most influential elements of my college days,” he said. “I made lifelong friends, have lifelong memories and the days as an undergraduate FIJI were easily the most influential building blocks of my life.”
After serving as his chapter’s corresponding secretary, Brother San Angelo graduated from the U of A with a degree in zoology and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1962. During a 23-year career in the armed services, he served in Vietnam and controlled Marine security guards at U.S. embassies in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
He retired in 1985 and went into the private sector, serving as a head security trade at Trinity Investment Management until retiring in 1997. He now spends time with his wife, Gloria, and their two adult children, 35-year-old Vinson and 32-year-old Amie.
Brother San Angelo continued his education throughout his military career. He earned his Master’s degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1977, and added a Master’s in Public Administration from Penn State in 1983.
He has also remained active in FIJI during that time. He served as a Purple Legionnaire while at Penn State University, served as Section Chief XI from 1985-88 and has been a Graduate Trustee for Upsilon Alpha since 2001, and is also a recipient of the Silver Owl Award.
Things have now come full-circle for Brother San Angelo – the former U of A student is back living in Tucson, and helping future generations of Upsilon Alphas as one of the chapter’s undergraduate advisors.
Chapter president Sam Tantonese ’03 said the undergraduates have learned plenty from Brother San Angelo, including many traditions that have been lost for as many as 20 years.
“He has really helped us to get back on track,” Brother Tantonese said. “He’s an ex-Marine, which makes him a very sincere person. He’s old fashioned, but he’s really helped us out a lot.”
Simply, Brother San Angelo is simply trying to repay an organization that has provided him with so much.