Remembering Jim Prescott

Jan 19, 2022 – On January 14, the Fraternity lost one of its most special Deltasigs, James L. Prescott, who passed away at the age of 70.

Jim’s nearly 50 years of involvement covered all levels of Fraternity activity, starting when he was initiated on April 29, 1972 into Gamma Pi Chapter at Loyola University of Chicago. He received his Silver Helmet in 1997—recognizing 25 years of fraternal service—and in 2006, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-term involvement and dedication to Delta Sigma Pi.

Nationally, Brother Prescott is known for being a Deltasig historian—he was very passionate about Fraternity history and loved to talk about it. He assisted with Deltasig’s 75th Anniversary Celebration as chair of the National History of the Fraternity committee. Twenty-five years later he served again as a member of the National Centennial Celebration Committee and author of the Centennial series featured in The Deltasig magazine. Read his full historical account in the Centennial issue

Locally, Jim has made an impact within the Chicagoland area. After graduating, he served as both Chapter Advisor and District Director for the Loyola-Chicago chapter. He has also been an active member of Chicago Alumni Chapter for more than 45 years, serving many years as president and also filling the role of treasurer and secretary. Chicago presented the Anthony Z. Fernandez Distinguished Alumni Service Award to him in 2018 for his years of service to the alumni chapter.

Brother Prescott was also Chair of the Chicago Alumni Chapter Scholarship Committee from 2000 to 2015 and resumed this position in 2019. During his time as Chair, he negotiated the terms of the Thomas M. Mocella Scholarship and the H.G. Gig Wright Fellowship with the Leadership Foundation. Jim was a longtime supporter of the Leadership Foundation and the scholarships, assisted in raising more than $58,000 for those two scholarships and continuing to support the fund with new donations. We encourage you to continue his legacy with a donation to either fund (Chicago Alumni Chapter – Thomas M. Mocella Scholarship Fund or Chicago Alumni Chapter – H. G. “Gig” Wright Graduate Fellowship). 

Brother Prescott volunteered in a number of other roles. He served as president of the Delta Sigma Pi Educational Foundation during the time of the merger between the Foundation and the Leadership Fund (which became the modern day Delta Sigma Pi Leadership Foundation). He also served as chair of the National Life Membership Committee from 1979 to 1980 and as a member of the National Alumni Activities Committee. He served as secretary/treasurer of several regional conferences of the Central and Great Lakes Regions held in the mid-70s and early 1980s. He also served on many regional committees over the decades.

Brother Prescott has attended 20 Grand Chapter Congresses, every Central or Great Lakes Regional Conference since initiation, and attended most North Central LEAD Provincial Conferences since the start of the “modern day” conferences.

Brother Prescott’s wisdom, experience, stories and example will be sorely missed.

 

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