Daniel P. “Itchy” Bower

There will be no more calls "Hey Matty, you'll never guess what I'm doing right now, (and of course no one ever could guess) I'm in the back of my RV playing poker online while Sharon is driving down the road"

To say Itch had an angle on life would be an insult; Itch had an angle on the angle to life! It was never a dull moment around him. Like the time at his parents cabin on Kuckles Creek, where he taught me to water ski for the first time and later that night Itch took all of us on his boat (overloaded of course) to the bar and had to drive back it total darkness. Itch said don't worry I know the way; we all put our faith in him and he didn't let us down. Or the time where Itch and the brothers rescued me and Sprintz from the crazy dudes downstairs at his Halloween party, he didn't let us down then either.

I will always remember that; Itch always had the nicest rooms wherever he lived stocked full with technology (he always had the latest gadgets and knew how to figure them out :) , when he did a U turn in the heart of New York city times square across many lanes of traffic in the Turbo Cougar Xr7, the awesome dartboard present for my surprise 30th birthday party, his buying all of the booze that the bartender stole from my wedding that I already paid for ( when he found out he gave one of those deep hearty laughs) , his hospitality towards everyone and his incredible attention to detail in planning to make any upcoming event as fun as possible, and so much more.

Itch was my Bigx3 brother in the fraternity. Without SIO many of us would never have met itch or each other through Itch. All of our lives are better because of Itch. I hope we don't let Itch down, and can do something meaningful in the form of some type of memorial. Its to hard to process that right now but maybe soon we can put our heads together and all do something "Itchy Style" in his memory.

I want to end with the two words that best describe Itch: " IM IN.” No matter what or where the event was or how hard a task it was going to be, or how many hours it was going to take, Itch was always in. Our last telephone conversation was about Itch, Sharon, and the kids going to the Galapagos Islands Itch's last email response was I’ll talk about it with the wife over the next few days- gotta get though the holiday of course…Itch-man-I’m-in-Man-Dad.

Well whatever God has in store for Itch, I'm sure he "IS IN"


Matty, 484

Here's my Itchy legend contribution: One day Itchy told me that he and his friends had booked a gorgeous home, basically a cliff top home w/ a pool, etc. (as if you needed a pool when you can walk down the cliff stairs to bathe in the Caribbean), and wanted to know if I was interested in joining as a fellow diver. Wow, that's weird, I told him, that's the exact week a buddy of mine from high school, just recently certified, had already booked a trip to Cancun w/ the intention of heading to Cozumel for a few days of diving. So I met a fairly friggin' hot Mexican girl in Cancun the first few days who would go nowhere without her friend. We met in a bar and apparently she had a rough divorce she hadn't gotten over yet and her friends kept trying to setup her up w/ people and she had no interest, would not speak to any guys. She spoke no English; I spoke little, lousy Spanish. Luckily her friend was fluent in English so I approached her after some liquid courage. For some reason that night I asked through her friend as they were leaving if they were interested in going out to eat. For some reason after a bunch of Spanish gibberish she nodded and on we went. Ah, who am I kidding, it was my looks and charm.

We went out every night for the next few nights but I couldn't seal the deal. My wingman was willing to do anything for me but she wasn't the type to go to a hotel room alone w/ basically a stranger. Believe me I tried even w/ her friend's blessing. Well we had some diving and partying to do w/ Itch so we invited them along. Her friend was extremely cool and wanted her to start moving along in life so she was on my side and made her go. I knew she was cool immediately b/c she mentioned I should buy a weed whacker to cut the hair on my forearms.

We get to Cozumel and she's extremely nervous, can't speak English, and we meet up at the house. I can tell you both she and I felt a little uncomfortable with a couple of women there b/c it was like "whose these Mexican girls?” Maybe it was our imagination or the tension of her not being able to speak English but I knew the guys were hip and Itchy and Sharon made it completely cool and comfortable for everyone. The mission was obvious, I needed to separate her from her friend (who was okay with that), get her relaxed and get into a place where she could trust me and help her in her personal life. It was a humanitarian mission that I wasn't sure would succeed. (Keep in mind this was with the full support of her friend that liked us and loved her). Itchy and Sharon to the rescue. Being the lovely people they are, they invited she and I to their room and were genuinely so good hearted and accommodating showing us the room which was of course spectacular and the best in the house and for the first time she was completely comfortable. It was after Itchy said "Mi casa es su casa" with complete genuineness that I knew the deal was complete. She smiled her gorgeous smile and laughed and truly felt comfortable that these nice gringos were trying so hard to make her feel welcome. It was like, "this couple is so nice and loving, this guy I'm with must be too". I don't know if he knew any other Spanish but probably learned that because really that is a motto that could be used to describe his entire life about how he felt about spreading his blessings with everyone.

So there was only one more step, which Itchy no doubt had already known from his great ability of observation the first time we arrived. I needed a place w/ her away from her friend so she and I could get to know each other a little better. Of course, there was a casita or something removed from the house and noise that he told us we should stay at and he fixed up separate accommodations for my friend and hers if I remember correctly. More importantly, he took care of me.

We walked under the "estrellas" and the deal was done and she put a bad part of her life behind her. Damn, I'm a good guy too for doing that. We later got serious, I moved to Cali after she did and after 5 years we got engaged. That ended but I still see her to help her now and then, about once a month or so as she loves my Italian sausage recipe.

Now I don't know who made that spectacular reservation, who found a nice, great Mexican couple that cooked, cleaned, and made drinks for he and his friends all week for pesos, who had arranged for the dive master and everything else. But if I was a betting man, and I am, I'd lay 1-5 that it was Itchy, Itchy, Itchy, and Itchy.

That's how I'll remember him "Mi casa es su casa". I also cancelled a dive trip to Belize for the holidays b/c of work and was fortunate to get an invite from Rasta that made for another great Christmas memory. Like Rasta said, for some reason Christmas Eve we were talking about Itchy. Maybe there is a God who does work in mysterious ways. I'm making a dive trip in the first quarter that I'm going on work be damned. Like an old Ted Nugent song, it's about "workin' hard, playin' hard".

Pooch, 501 (Mike Cappuccio)

Oh, and one other thing. As I was flipping through his X-mas photos on Facebook I came across one picture that made me stop and say, "holy shit, that guy looks exactly like Dave Shultz", (along w/ Bobbie Clarke my childhood hero). That lasted about one second when I thought, "this is an Itchy Christmas party, that is Dave Shultz".

Rasta, you are right on with this sad news just not computing. ...And thanks for throwing out a couple good old stories. Man, only Itchy could get a group of young turks taken away in a police cruiser after they ultimately had the shit kicked out of them in the Halloween party melee you referred to.... except for Matty's swollen eye socket from the sucker punch he took to which the Brothers had to respond. Whew, another Itchy life adventure experience. Ah, another smile brought to mind.

I have found myself just sitting and staring into space at various times today with Dan in mind as well as experiencing the intermittent melancholy moments coming from the heart. I think we would all agree that Dan was unique with his enduring endless goal of wringing out absolutely the most of every lifetime moment and adventure within which he would be a participant. If you were lucky, you were along for some the adventures that always had Itchy working some aspect of the particulars to make it the best it could be not for himself, but for everyone else to share in.

My thoughts leave me with two overarching points that help with putting a smile on my face and in my heart. One is the fact that Itchy's boundless childlike SPIRIT was ever-present in any and every endeavor, which left him getting every bit of fun out of every moment through his young life. He lived it with gusto 24/7 like no one else I have known...and I can't recall sharing time with Dan in one of those situations without picturing his flat out laughter as I would look at him to share the experience. We would look at each other laughing as if silently saying "Can you believe we are having this much freakin' fun. This is F'n great!" I will bet my last dollar every one of us can think of this type of occurrence with the Itchmeister. This first thought leaves me happy that he flat out succeeded at experiencing life to the fullest and sure did not leave himself short with regrets. The second thought is more selfish, which bears upon the fact that with being able to get beyond the melancholy...every thought of experiences with Dan lets me always bring a smile in mind and heart. This helps me as well. Like his life, what we recently said to him as Mary and I left Dan and Sharon's Christmas party this year is something that fits for what any one of us could say to him with any one of our Itchy adventures...."Great F'n Bash, You Always Do It Right Brother."

The last word of that last sentence really is special with my friend Itch and "Brother" Dan in mind. "Anima In Amicas Una"....a single soul in friends. What a great and poignant saying, ....I truly feel that way.

Okay Rasta, one quick typical Itchy story. Hopefully we might see a few more.

We had a group of guys that would get the Avalon NJ summer shore house. On one particular weekend, I couldn't leave until Saturday to get down there. Out of the blue, Itchy calls me at home before I leave and asks if I could bring a circular saw down to the shore. Now I am used to requests for beer, liquor, food, music, etc.; but a circular saw? And he would not tell me why. Well once I get to the shore house, I come to find that good old Steve Jones (a story for another day) almost burnt down the shore house. Fortunately, the fire was put out with only the attached outdoor shower and wooding siding there getting burned up. In typical Itchy style, he had already torn down the bad burnt wood of an outdoor shower and adjacent siding, had replacement supplies at the ready and within a couple hours...Dan already had the wooden siding fixed, the shower stall fully repaired/rebuilt and everything looking/functioning better than beforehand. You wouldn't even know the Jonesy fire ever happened. And we all know Itchy just loved diving into that project immediately and getting it all repaired. The man wanted to and did dive into any project or adventure with a verve unparalleled....and we all loved that about our Brother Itchy.

I can't think if it is one movie or a number of different movies that include a theme of some A-1 character succeeding, but this type of saying or group of words comes to mind with the Itchmeister - "Don't worry, he doesn't know how to fail." Well God, look out up there because you now have a whirlwind of a fun-time project manager on staff....be ready for the belly rollin' full throated laughs coming your way....and just wait until he plays the DJ role for the party dances.

Let's keep the Bower family in our prayers.

Frank "Bruha" Brulenski, 383

Hello All:

Listening to everyone's "Tales of Itch" certainly stirred many ghosts in my mind, and cements the fact that he will ALWAYS hold a special place in our collective hearts and minds.

I want to share a more recent memory that most are probably not aware.

This past summer, SIO was looking for someone to assume ownership of the SIO House. With tougher housing codes in affect, coupled with low occupancy (only 4 Brothers wanted to live in the House), it was difficult for SIO to financially make the necessary improvements required by the Town of Bloomsburg. Without the necessary improvements, the Town would have revoked our ability to rent the house.

To say the least, I was very discouraged.

Itch had placed a bid on the house, but negotiations and lawyer meetings still had not taken place. Therefore my apprehension level remained high. Would Itchy make the sizeable investment needed while allowing the structure to remain the SIO House?

My apprehension was baseless. (I guess I should have known better).

Itch made the entire process a breeze. As mentioned in everyone's earlier emails, Itch simply did what made him Itch - he set himself to task. Itch far exceeded any of our original goals. He gutted and remodeled the entire SIO House (Making many of the current Brother's "Party Room" suggestions a reality), assumed the below market rents, made a substantial donation to the fraternity and kept the SIO House the SIO House. After observing Itch's handiwork, I realized that there was no way in hell he would realize a return on his investment for years to come. Itch simply made the decision to live the motto we all agreed to so many years ago. "Leave SIO in better shape than we found it."

After one semester, we have doubled the number of Brothers living in the House.

I was talking with Itch in early December, when I mentioned that we now had more Brothers that wanted to live in the house than we had available bedrooms. True to form, I stopped by the house about 3 or 4 days later and Itch was already hard at work adding another bedroom to the House. Itch had now managed to endear himself to a whole new generation of Taters.

We love you and we miss you Brother; you touched us all!

PS

The best way to keep Itch's memory alive is to heed Mike Russello's advice. Many of us are at the age where shit starts to break down (Its not like we ever abused our bodies!!!). Make it a point in 2010 to get a full medical examination.

Dan and I became business partners about 5 years ago when he told me he was going to buy some student housing. Remembering how we took care of our house back in the day, I asked what is he thinking. As usual, Itch thought optimistically about the project and was all for it. I told him if he needed a partner, I would love to buy in with him.

His first reaction was he didn't need one, but would keep it in mind if he needed additional funds. When he couldn't get enough money for the down payment, he came back to me to see if I was still interested, I jumped in knowing Itch knew what he was doing, and the partnership began. With Itch as a partner, you don't sit back and relax, you hang on for the ride. Every few months he had a new idea for something to buy. We ended up buying student housing several more times, including the SIO house this year. In January of 2007 we purchased 3 warehouses in Berwick. I have an insurance business, I live in Montgomeryville. So buying warehouses in Berwick makes complete sense? Only with Itchy as a partner would somebody think it's a good idea.

We talked pretty much everyday about the business'. Dan would talk, I would listen. I was never amazed what he was saying, because it was Itchy. The Dave Schultz story would have been bizarre if told by anyone but Itch.

I am now going to help Sharon move on and keep everything going, but I feel like it's halftime at the Super bowl and the star quarterback can't play anymore, and I have to go in. Dan had the business really going well, I know he's telling someone in heaven that this really sucks, that he had a lot more to do down here. I know I will really miss him, as everybody whoever met him will. He was one of kind!

Brooksie

Dan Bower did it all. He was a great friend, husband, father, brother, social chairman for all occasions, motivator, salesman, organizer, businessman, heckler, dick, trouble maker, instigator, DJ, party master, go-to-guy, jack of all trades…….I could add on here for days about the unbelievable and undeniable multitude of talents and abilities the Itch man possessed. He always gave his all and wanted everyone to benefit from his successes. He loved life and lived it to the fullest extent of the law and sometimes more. And If you were lucky enough to be along for the ride you were going to have one hell of a story when it was said and done. He was a big kid inside who just wanted everyone to come over and play with his toys. I can hear his laugh right now.
I thank God that he was a part of my life.

I had the shear luck of having Itchy live nearby since graduating from Bloom. There are so many things we’ve done together over the past couple decades I don’t even know where to start. Eagles games, concerts, Shore trips, Itch and Sharon Xmas Parties, my wedding, Alumni weekends, Seeing him in the crowd at all the gigs I’ve played over the years, New year’s bashes, Backyard BBQ’s, various weddings, golf outings, benefits, beef and beers, Halloween costume parties, Weekends at his family’s cottage on the Chesapeake – all of my friends who ever met Itch instantly became Itch’s friends too. We both loved the blues and bourbon.

The hours we spent sipping bourbon, shooting pool, throwing darts, making plans. He was always working on something. He lived more in his life than anyone else I know. He did not know the phrase, “I can’t do that”. It did not exist in his life. Itch simply looked at the situation and got to work improving it. He was driven and motivated but he was never conceited or selfish about who he was or what he could do. He would help you at the drop of a hat and he’d stay all night until it was done whatever it was. And he’d try to teach you how to do what he was doing in the process.

When he would be telling me about all of the projects he had going, I used to think to myself “how the hell can one person accomplish all of that?” I was tired just thinking about it. But that was Itch. He thrived on that shit.

Rasta hit the nail on the head – Dan Bower was a Force of Nature. One of a kind. No one fills those shoes. No one replaces him.

If someone said, hey it would be cool if we had a volleyball net here for this party – Itch would run over to his car and pull out the coveted “System” which was basically a whole volleyball court in a duffle bag and he would set to work putting it together and bang – the party just took on a whole new level of fun. And no worries if it started getting dark, Itch would pull out portable floodlights. If there’s a keg but no bourbon – Itch would go out to his car and come back in with a bag filled with Jim Beam, Coke, Glasses, Ice.

When I moved into my home I needed to set up a laundry tub in the basement. Itch comes over with a basic plumber’s kit – all the tools you need to do plumbing work – and we worked together on some plumbing and afterwards he gave me the whole kit as a little house warming present! But he gave me, and many more, much more than that. Just knowing Dan has helped me many times to dive into a project and figure it out because I used to see him do it all the time. When I moved home from California years ago and was without a job. He and Sharon were going to gut their basement in their old house on Sumneytown pike and finish the basement as well as some other work upstairs. Itch paid me to help him do a lot of that work. That helped me out when I needed it and I learned a few things along the way – that was Dan Bower.

Here’s an odd memory but it just came to me, Two of the biggest trees I ever cut down in my life were with Dan Bower. With him involved I knew we could do it. ( one at his house and one at mine ) Most people would not even think of attempting something like that. Dan’s attitude was, “dude, we can do that”. Let’s just go rent a lift bucket. We had to drop a tree at least 60 feet tall and probably 10 foot around right next to his driveway. If it didn’t fall right it could have taken out the whole side of his house. I was definitely scared. At one point up in that bucket I just said no way – too high and shaky and I’m not dying here today get me down. Itch got up there and knocked it out. We did it. I’ll never forget that.
I was at that party Rasta mentioned – classic Itch. He could talk the stripes off a zebra. I’ve never know anyone in my lifetime who just seemed to have an innate ability to make things happen.

At his last Christmas party two weeks ago I hear about Itch going to a fundraiser for a local politician through a connection with Brooksie’s cousin. One of the people at this fundraiser was a legend in Philadelphia Flyers history – Itch says oh yeah I talked to him and he’s probably coming to this party. Not but a few minutes later Itch walks up with The Hammer, Dave Schultz and introduces him to me and I proceed to have conversation with Dave Schultz for the next 20 minutes – unbelievable! And Itch is off DJ’ng the party, shaking hands and showing everyone a great time. He wanted everyone to enjoy the party and that’s who he was.

There is a lifetime of things I could write and maybe will add more later. I just had a little bit of time here today and felt the need to write something.

I have so many memories of him. And through it all I can see Sharon rolling her eyes with that, “Oh Brother what has he done now” smile. Dan is fine now he has just moved on. Pray for Sharon and the kids that God will help them mourn and lift them up so that they can someday move forward again.

God damn I loved Dan Bower. I can’t say goodbye right now, just too much pain, so I’ll just say fare thee well, until we meet again.

Dave Bru #461

As a fellow "Lightstreet House" alumni we always had a saying in our house "Itch fix it" because he can always fix it whatever it was, including any problems we got in. He continued to do that his entire life. We got to see him in Arizona quite a few times and he never changed. Matty and I were just talking about him on Christmas not knowing what happened.

God bless you Itch, you will surely be missed.

Russello, 441

PS We are loosing way too many brothers lately. As a Heart Attack victim myself 4.5 years ago I urge everyone please have yourself tested. There is so much the doctors could do today if caught early.

I am so very sad to hear that our great friend Itch is gone. Dale Reitz called me last night to tell me the horrible news, and I couldn't believe it. I rolled around most of the night thinking about great times we had together, and rifled through old photo albums in the basement this morning, trying to find pictures of him. He had an energy that made everything more fun than it would have been had he not been there. The year and a half that we lived together are some of the best I've ever had. I love Paul's thought that Itch should have had a scheme to cheat death. He had a scheme for everything. That's what made him Itch. So unique, so much fun to be with, always had a plan. We lost touch for some time, and recently started emailing back and forth about stupid college stuff and stories. Just last week he emailed a picture to me from the 1984 Tri Sig banquet. Unbelievable...25 years. I will miss him very much.

Bo, 442

Itchy was a force of nature. As Ed Albertson suggested to me tonight, Dan did more in his too short 48 years than most people do their entire life. He was a special person that created great memories for many people. Undoubtedly, he will be starting the Barn Parties in Heaven.

We will all miss our friend and brother!

Steve Jones, 373

Brothers and friends.

This just does not compute. I am so very sad to hear of this news about Itchy, and my heart is broken for Sharon and the kids. Pooch is here in San Francisco visiting for the holidays, and for some reason we had been talking about Itchy and his recent Christmas party, which led to Itchy stories and fond memories of Bloomsburg and brotherhood. For you younger brothers who never made his acquaintance, this news comes as a shock in part because to know Itchy was to know that he was a force of nature. I am not being trite when I imagine him having a scheme to cheat death. This is all so horrible. His will to achieve anything from the mundane to the fantastic was beyond belief. I can only share a few of my stories, but I hope others are posted so we can celebrate this unique individual's life.

When I was pledging, a group of graduating brothers were living on Fourth Street. Russello, Bo, Dale, Mike Abraham and many other fine characters. For some unknown reason they found me humorous and we formed a long lasting friendship that included many wonderful people. Itchy was one of them. I got to know him through the fraternity, and because he and Bo got me a job DJing for Oliveri Sound (Oh, the stories). I liked him immediately and I believe he initially liked me because I was a young link to his good friends that were starting their post-Bloomsburg lives. I was a connection to a beautiful past. I distinctly remember when he met Sharon, and I will try to dig up pictures that may be amongst the first to show them together. I was very honored to later perform at their wedding. The story of Piker's dad and the La-Z-Boy is one for another day.

I include here a few memories that illustrate his unique way of making things happen according to his plan. Round about 1988-89, Itchy was living outside of Philadelphia. He threw a party and many Brothers and friends were in attendance. We of course were having a great time and if I remember correctly a few brothers who had not been seen in a very long time were in attendance. As the party went along, we started playing the (at the time) new Guns ‘n Roses album. The neighbors downstairs were obviously fans and a few came up to check out the party. As is stood, they were having a party of their own. The two parties became intermixed and all was well for a bit. About 45 minutes later, there was much commotion. It turns out Matty and Sprintz were downstairs, and got into a bit of a tussle with some of the locals, no doubt because Sprintz and Matty were kicking their ass in darts. It became quite heated, with the entire downstairs party against our two brothers. (Imagine: those two running back up the stairs, Sprintz with his glasses smashed, the imprint on his face.) Of course, this elicited quite a response from the brotherhood. An enormous melee unfolded, mostly in the stairwell leading to the apartments. Somebody smashed a bottle of Jack Daniels over my head, and my recollection is that it hit me in such a way that it simply exploded without cutting or hurting me. Lots of punches, etc. The rumble subsided when Frank Brulenski gathered the troops into Itchy's pad, and was closing the door. One more tweaker was coming up the steps, and as he reached Itchy's landing, with his face appearing level with said landing, Bru connected with a large boot to tweaker face and launched him into the opposite wall. Now, I don't know what Itchy said or did when he called the police, but when they arrived they had no doubt as to whom the offending party was. I don't know if he knew someone on the force or just used his Itchy powers of persuasion, but the tweakers were hauled off. My last recollection of that party (because then the drinking really began) was of the grand poobah tweaker getting put into the police cruiser. We, of course, were mildly heckling from Itchy's window, and in a fit of rage the perp decided to push an officer. As I recall, in what seemed like slow-motion, the officer pulled out his night-stick/tonfa and with a single blow crumbled the drug-addled youth. There was much rejoicing.

One time Itchy figured we would go see Genesis in concert at the Vet. Keep in mind, Itchy pledged and graduated long before me, and was living near Philly. So I hitchhiked from Bloom to his place and we were on our way. Lots of traffic? Itchy to the rescue. You know that guy who blows past two miles of merging traffic and sneaks in at the last moment, saving about a half hour of his time? Itchy. You know that guy who somehow hypnotizes parking attendants into giving the best parking spot for no charge, the concession attendants into giving two for one beers, and says follow me as you walk straight past security into the VIP lounge and drink for free before the concert? Daniel P. Fucking Bower. We get into the show and as we are walking up to our assigned seats, we notice something quite strange. At the vet, being a multi use facility, there was a device that inflated the pitchers mound so you wouldn't have to build it up every time there was a game. Well, someone forget to deflate it. My thought: damn. Itchy's thought: Jackpot. I said, "There are no seats on the mound, where the hell are we going to sit?" I followed Itchy to the top of the mound, and there we stood. As the concertgoers behind us started to get quite perturbed about two guys standing up on a 10 1/2 inch mound of dirt in front of them, Itchy's smile broadened. Naturally, a security guard appeared telling us we couldn't stand there. There were seats we could move to, but they were much less desirable than where we were perched. Itchy pointed out that our tickets specifically showed that this is where our seats should be located, and it is not the responsibility of Daniel P. Bower to make sure that the mound is deflated and there are appropriate accommodations for him and his friend who was so nice to travel from beautiful south central Pennsylvania to witness this fine spectacle of progressive rock as performed by these fine British gentlemen whom we see before us at this very moment, praise Jesus. And furthermore, I cannot believe a facility as revered as the veterans stadium, a stadium names after veterans, mind you, and most assuredly paid for with bonds and loans from fine upstanding citizens such as myself would not think to be proactive as to fine suitable alternatives for guests that were simply following the directions and specifics of their tickets that were in fact printed by you and your fine institution, hallelujah. After quickly working his way up the chain of command, Itchy's ultimatum was thus: we either stay here in our assigned seats, or we take those two seats up there. Yeah the ones in the first row. No, the other ones. Yes sir, the ones right in the middle so we can see the hair in Phil Collins' ears.

I think I met one of Phil Collins' wives that night.

I will always love you Itchy, and let us do what we can for his beloved wife and children.

Yours,

Paul "Rasta” Hayward, 506

My favorite Itchy story is the one where he was kidnapped during pledging; stripped naked and tied to a block of ice in the woods. Unbeknownst to the pledges, Itchy somehow freed himself and beat them back to campus. Needless to say, he did his best to make "Hell Week" and the rest of their pledging a living nightmare. That definitely earns the Itchman an "Atta Boy"! (I seem to remember a similar episode involving my little brother)

Itchy also saved the day at Matty's first wedding. It seems the bubble machine malfunctioned, and was ruining the romantic atmosphere. No problem for the Itchmeister. He dumped all of Mrs. Zoppetti's dish washing liquid into the broken unit and presto; the Wedding tent was filled with so many bubbles we felt like Willy Wonka and his uncle when they were trapped in the bubble tube.

Jeff Snyder, 488

And here's another oldie but goodie.





It's in my locker....Oh yeah


A fifth of vodka....Oh yeah




It's on the roof....Oh yeah


100 proof....Oh yeah




It's in my ear....Oh yeah


A can of beer....Oh yeah




It's in my kakhis....Oh yeah




Banana wackies...Oh yeah




It's on my mind....Oh yeah


A bottle of wine....Oh yeah




So pull up her dress....Oh yeah


I'll do the rest...Oh yeah


Some come along....Oh yeah


And sing this song....Oh yeah


Cause We're The Best....Oh yeah


Above all the rest.....


Na na-na na na, na na-na na......
We're number 1, hey hey hey hey





Man, Itchy still the catalyst for putting smiles on our faces.