Chapter Eternal - Richard Crowers '49 & Francis Conte '64

We have been honored to call these men our Brothers. The condolences of Theta Chi’s extended worldwide family are offered to the family and friends of our deceased brothers.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of:

Richard T. Crowers '49 - Social Circle, GA - April 15, 2012. World War II Army veteran & ret. president of Crowers & Co.

Francis J. Conte '64 - Dayton, OH - March 20, 2012 - Ret. Dean of University of Dayton Law School


Richard T. Crowers, September 23, 1923 - April 15, 2012 - Richard T. Crowers, 88, of Social Circle, Ga., died Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Newton Medical Center in Covington, Ga., after battling cancer for the last year. Born Sept. 23, 1923 in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late John W. and Mayme A. Crowers. On April 1, 1950 he married Edith Bane; they were married for 62 years and she survives at home. He is survived by three children, Eleanor Crowers Baker, of State College and her husband, David, John W. Crowers and his wife, Janet, of Woodstock, Ga., and Richard T. Crowers, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of McLean, Va. He had seven grandchildren, Brian and Rebecca Baker, Johnny, Mary, and Andrew Crowers, and Alison and Emma Crowers. Richard was a 1941 graduate of Slatington High School in Slatington and graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1949. He was a talented musician and played the violin, trumpet, and baritone horn and keenly enjoyed his membership in both the Allentown Band and the Penn State Blue Band. At Penn State, he was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and Theta Chi fraternity. His college years were interrupted by World War II and he served his country in the army artillery from 1943-1946, rising to the rank of provost sergeant. He returned to Penn State after the war and completed his degree. He worked for several firms in the Cleveland, Ohio area as an industrial engineer, and then in 1959, he joined Booz Allen Hamilton in New York City as a management consultant. He worked with many prominent companies during his Booz Allen years and in 1973, he founded his own consulting firm, Crowers and Company. After his retirement from consulting in 1995, he enjoyed a second career as Business Manager for Hard Labor Creek Golf Course in Rutledge, Ga. until he retired again in 2009. He was a member of the Yaarab Shrine in Atlanta, Ga. and played the baritone horn in the shrine band. Committal of his ashes will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Union Cemetery in Slatington. Pastor Henry Distler of St. John's United Church of Christ in Slatington will officiate at the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Penn State Blue Band, 1 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802 - Published in Centre Daily Times on April 18, 2012


Francis J. "Fran" Conte age 68, Professor of Law at the University of Dayton School of Law, died Sunday, March 20, 2011 at his Oakwood home. Preceded in death by his father Anthony V. Conte. Fran is survived by his devoted mother Eleanor Conte of Beverly Farms, Mass.; his loving wife Kathleen McShane and their children Brendan, Clare, Ciaran and Fiona. He is also survived by his brother Anthony Conte, Jr. and sisters Joyce Hill and Cheryl Cropley, all of Massachusetts. Fran will also be greatly missed by his Conte & McShane in-laws and his 11 nieces and nephews. Fran was born Aug. 16, 1942 in Salem Mass. He graduated from Beverly High School in 1960, obtained a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University in 1964 and a J.D. from University of Texas School of Law in 1969. Fran began his legal career with the Office of Counsel at the Department of the Navy. He then worked as a Legal Services staff attorney, eventually becoming Director of Legal Services for Northwestern Pennsylvania. Fran began teaching law at the University of Montana School of Law, where he was also Director of the Civil Clinical Program. For seven years Fran taught at Detroit College of Law, where he helped establish the Center for Canadian-US Law. Since 1987 Fran had been at the University of Dayton School of Law, first as Dean, then as a full-time Professor. During his 14 years as Dean he planned and raised funds for the new law school, Keller Hall, helped develop a new curriculum for students, including a program in Law and Technology, and increased the size and diversity of the faculty. Fran enjoyed his return to the classroom, teaching and mentoring law students both at UDSL and abroad. During the 2008-2009 academic year Fran taught at the University of Warsaw in Poland, as a Fulbright scholar. Fran was also the author of a number of scholarly articles, mostly about international and constitutional law. Fran was active in local and state bar associations, including the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, and as Administrator of the Dayton Bar Association minority student and summer internship program. Fran will be remembered for his kind nature and adventurous spirit. He had a lifelong passion for travel and a love of the outdoors. He especially enjoyed summers at his cottage on Percy Lake in Ontario. Above all, Fran was a loving and generous family man, who looked back on his life with much gratitude. He will be truly missed by family, friends, students and colleagues. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 25 from 4:00-8:00PM at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 26 at 11:00AM at Church of the Ascension, 2025 Woodman Drive, Kettering, Ohio. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Fran's name to the University of Dayton School of Law, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469 or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com - Published in Dayton Daily News on March 22, 2011