A Legacy of Brotherhood
Current fraternity members benefit from the members who came before them, but that was especially true for Gamma Chi’s Bobby Blanco ’14.
“I was in the initiation class of spring 2011 and Sigma Chi had just returned to campus in 2009. We had recently moved into 14 Fraternity Row. My pledge class was the biggest since they had been reestablished at Maryland,” he said.
“It was important for me to join Sigma Chi. My dad, Ramiro (Rome) Blanco, was a Sigma Chi at Maryland. I grew up around his friends and the alumni who were involved in getting the chapter established in the Greek community. We were the new kids on the block and not a lot of people knew about Sigma Chi on campus, so it was fun to help reestablish the chapter’s reputation.”
Bobby enjoyed living in the house and its placement was an asset. “14 Fraternity Row was the best location,” he said. “It was at the top of the row, and we loved hanging out on the porch. We would say goodbye to people going to class and greet people coming back from class.” Group living forged strong bonds among Bobby and “the ‘Bayou’ – a group of four who lived in one of the quads in the house: Mike Foster ’14, Tony Berner ’14, Paolo Rigor ’14, and myself. That year, we had a lot of fun and really grew close. I’ve known Michael since we were kids and grew up together. Paolo also went to our high school.
“We’re still close today. We have a group chat. I have a one-and-a-half-year-old, Paolo just welcomed a baby girl into the world, and Mike is about to become a father, so it’s been really cool to share milestones with each other.”
Another brother who had an impact on Bobby was Ryan Kennedy ’12. “He was the Consul when I was rushing. His dad and two uncles were at Sigma Chi with my dad in the 80s.
“Ryan took me under his wing,” Bobby said. “He showed me how the fraternity should work. He was my grand-big in the fraternity. We keep in touch and meet up when we go to the beach. He made a real impact on me as a Sigma Chi and as a person.”
Indeed, Ryan made an impression on Bobby before he even joined Gamma Chi. “Ryan definitely had my back in college. I got into some trouble before I became a pledge, during the fall of my freshman year,” said Bobby. “Nothing illegal or anything, but I got into trouble and he was helpful and helped me handle that. I was able to give back to the fraternity and the community by doing some community service.
“For a moment, I thought I had jeopardized my chance in getting in, but he affirmed that they wanted me because of how I handled myself after that. It was a learning experience, and I didn’t get in trouble again.”
“He brought me into this great world with these great people. I don’t think I would have had the college experience I did and met the people that I have without my dad.”
Of course, another Sigma Chi who impacted Bobby’s life was his father. “I was a Gamma Chi legacy and had been to the old house before it was demolished. We still go to tailgate together for every home football game,” Bobby said. “He brought me into this great world with these great people. I don’t think I would have had the college experience I did and met the people that I have without my dad.”
Bobby recalled the night of his initiation as a stand-out memory. “We were the biggest class, and the active brothers went all out for us to have a good initiation night. It was a surreal experience,” he said. “I was able to be pinned by my dad with some of his closest friends watching, so that was a really special experience for us both.”
The lessons Bobby learned in Gamma Chi didn’t leave him after graduation. “You learn so much in college in the classroom and, maybe more importantly, out of the classroom, and Sigma Chi was the catalyst for that,” he said. “The time I spent on the executive board taught me so much. It taught me how to deal with people.
“As a journalist, I need good people skills and networking skills. You have this vast network of people that you reach out to and who are resources for you,” said Bobby. “You have to be not just a smart person but a personable person. Paying it forward, too. I learned so much from Ryan and, as I got older, I had my grand-littles who were looking up to me and wanted guidance from me.
“I think giving back is an important aspect of grad life because Sigma Chi gave so much to me, not just the older brothers who were there but also the alumni,” Bobby said. “I joined at a special time. My dad’s generation was so excited to be involved because the chapter was back.
“I always look at campus, and I don’t know what the size of the house is now, but I look at it with so much pride based on my experiences. I helped to grow Gamma Chi into what it is now,” he said. “Brothers helped me and the brothers who are there now deserve the same experience, meeting new people. We are here for you. It is what was passed on to us, and I am happy to pass it on to other people.”
Sigma Chi also gave men a touchpoint at Maryland, Bobby said. “Everyone has a reason to go back to college. It’s why they host Homecoming. The value of Sigma Chi is the spirit of Sigma Chi. It truly is a homing beacon for our alumni. You know you can walk in and be welcomed and meet people from different walks of life.
“I saw it through my dad’s generation. They didn’t have Sigma Chi on campus, and I saw how that impacted their gathering and their relationships. We’ve been back for almost 20 years, we’ve been at the same tailgate, and I go each week and meet someone new every time. We have a place to gather and experience Sigma Chi, no matter how long you’ve been away.”
Bobby credited membership in the fraternity with his ability to persist at a university like Maryland. “Without Sigma Chi, I wouldn’t have been able to make a large campus feel smaller. It doesn’t matter what you do at a big university, it is important for you to find your place – a club sport, fraternity, sorority, whatever. You can get lost at a big school and that makes it much more difficult. Without Sigma Chi, I wouldn’t have made my college experience what it was.”
Bobby wanted more brothers to reconnect and spend time with each other. “I know life is crazy,” he said. “College was crazy, but I wish we could see each other and hang out. I know people have kids, jobs, family, lots going on. If I make a trip to a city where I know someone from the chapter lives, I try to reach out and make time to say hello. Anyone reading this, you know where I’ll be come football season, so come out. Go Terps!”