Andy’s Jacket Journey

In the Fall of 1962, Andy Ivan arrived at Marietta College as a member of the Class of 1966. He was from South River, New Jersey. Walter Koziatek, his best friend in high school, said in addition to being the star pitcher, Andy played quarterback and tight end on our football team, was a great trumpeter, and a member of the National Honor Society.

Andy was very recognizable around campus as he was often wearing his South River High School letterman jacket. Most of us from that era remember Andy’s jacket.

“Andy’s dad was a semi-pro baseball player; he taught Andy and I all the skills we needed to play the game. Andy loved baseball and chose to attend Marietta College because of its baseball tradition,” Walter says.

Andy joined Alpha Tau Omega, but could often be found at the Alpha Sigma Phi house where many of his Pioneer baseball teammates were members. Andy pitched a no-hit game against Otterbein on May 9, 1964, and holds the fourth best earned run average in MC baseball history; in third place is Kent Tekulve, who played 16 seasons of Major League baseball with the Pirates and the Reds.

Andy’s athletic skills were matched by his musical prowess. He continued to play the trumpet and, since folk music was popular back then, Andy took up the guitar. He belonged to two folk singing groups made up of brother ATO’s. In 1966, he was the Chapter “Song Leader” when ATO won the Greek Sing trophy. He held several ATO leadership offices, including, and known as a very strict, Pledge Master.

In Andy’s junior year he moved to a bungalow, owned by then Biology Professor William Brown, at 419 Mulberry Street. His roommates were ATO brothers Rod Holsinger ’67 and Bill McRae ’66. Bill remembers, he, Andy and Steve White ’66 gathering at the Wakefield Hotel for after-hours rum and Cokes. The same Wakefield that a few years later would become the ATO House.

Andy spent his final semester at MC in Dr. Browns bungalow with roommates Ted Veit ’67, John Frey and Dickie Harris ’68. When Andy graduated in January of 1967, he left his letter jacket behind and worked as a substitute teacher at his high school alma mater. One of his students was famed NFL quarterback Joe Theismann.

For the next five semesters the Mulberry Street bungalow was occupied by Andy’s Jacket and ATO brothers. One was Dennis DeGroat ’69. When Dennis graduated, he knew there would be no ATOs living in the bungalow the following year; so, he took Andy’s jacket to his home in New Jersey, intending to return it to Andy. It never happened.

Andy volunteered for the United States Air Force and eventually qualified as an F-4 pilot. He attended Officer Training School in San Antonio, where ATO Brother Ted Veit arrived one month later.

“Andy, now an upper classman, gave my room a full inspection, which reminded me of Andy’s role as Pledge Master back at MC,” Ted says. “Years later, I was at Torrejon Air Force Base in Spain and Andy was in Arizona having completed a tour in Southeast Asia. We had three F-4 squadrons, so I suggested he ask for a transfer to my base. Andy said he was looking forward to returning to Vietnam.”

During Andy’s second tour in Asia, Brother ATO John Greene ’68 was in the same fighter wing.

“Andy and I were reunited in 1971 while flying combat missions in the F-4 at Udorn RTAFB Thailand,” John says. “We spent a lot of time together often drinking rum and Cokes.”

Andy’s aircraft disappeared on September 10, 1971. He was listed as MIA until 1994 and his death was confirmed in 1996. Major Andrew Ivan Jr. is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Major Andrew Ivan Jr., Class of 1966

Memorial bench for Major Andrew Ivan Jr. installed by ATO Brothers in front of Gilman Student Center.

Major Andrew Ivan Jr. memorial marker.

When Andy was listed as MIA, several ATO Brothers had the memorial bench installed in front of Gilman. Whenever Steve Jory ’66 visits Marietta, he places a spray of flowers on Andy’s bench. Later when Andy was identified, ATO Brothers added the memorial marker.

Roger Patterson ’62, long-time ATO Chapter Advisor, was in graduate school at Ohio University when Andy was on campus. Roger knew Andy because Roger’s mom was the cook at the ATO House. When Andy was hospitalized in his sophomore year, Roger drove a group of brothers to New Jersey to visit him.

Many years later when Andy was still listed as MIA, Roger and his family visited Washington, D.C. This was before the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

“One summer I was returning from a beach vacation with my wife and two daughters. We planned to spend one day in Washington, D.C.,” Roger says. “On the way, I told my family about Andy. At the end of the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, there were several tents manned by Veterans. They were raising money by selling MIA bracelets. At one tent there was a thick computer printout of all those “missing in action.” It was all single spaced. One of my daughters looked at the printout and said, ‘Dad, there’s your friend’s name.’ On that page there was an empty line, a line with Andy’s name and then another empty line. His name jumped out at us. Leafing through the thick printout we could not find any other blank lines. Next, I went over to the tent where they had several boxes of MIA bracelets. I reached into one box and the first bracelet I picked out was Andy’s. I still get chills when I tell this story.”

Roger relates this story at least once each year as part of ATO pledge “training.” Pledges learn the history of ATO and the local Beta Rho chapter, including Andy Ivan and his service to our nation, the history of the memorial bench, and the marker in front of Gilman.

Twenty-five years later, Dennis DeGroat visited MC for an ATO Reunion and brought Andy’s jacket with him. John Frey ’68 then took the jacket to his home in Colorado, where it rested for another 25 years.

As Homecoming 2021 and the 131^st chapter reunion was anticipated, many ATO alums were sharing memories of Andy via email and phone. As a result of these “Andy” stories, John Frey thought it might be appropriate to return the jacket to Andy’s high school. John contacted the Athletic Director and as a result, Andy’s jacket has been sent to South River, where it will become part of an appropriate display recognizing Andy for his service.

For more than 50 years, Andy’s jacket was cared for by a member of ATO and now it is back where it belongs in a place of honor at South River High School.

Story Index