Former National Treasurer dies

Gerald Bridges, who was instrumental in helping navigate the national fraternity through very difficult times in the 1970s and prosperous times in the 80s, died Friday. Gerry served the fraternity as National Treasurer, a member of the National Board of Directors, and as a governor on the ATO Foundation Board.

“Jerry was never shy about what the fraternity should be doing,” said ATO Chief Executive Officer Wynn Smiley. “He was passionate about ATO and clearly loved the fraternity.”

Gerry was a 1956 initiate of the USC chapter in Los Angeles which he continued to actively support. “If it were not for Gerry, I would not have continued my post-undergraduate association with ATO. He was the one person I could not say “no” to when he asked if I would follow in his footsteps as chapter advisor,” said current USC chapter advisor Jerry Papazian, USC ’74. “We have all lost a true friend of our fraternity. “

Bridges was a two-time winner of the National President’s award for outstanding alumni service to Alpha Tau Omega. His service to the Fraternity is hard to overlook. Bridges served as a province chief from 1970-1974 and again from 1981-1989 and was National Treasurer from 1974-1977. At the local level, Bridges was a member of the both the Zeta Beta and Delta Phi House Corporations, chapter advisor to multiple ATO chapters, and served as president of the Zeta Beta Alumni Association in 1967 and 1970.

“I’m sad to hear about his illness and death,” said former National President Dave Thomas, Northwestern ’69. “He was an instrumental force in national finance, house loans, California chapter expansion and redevelopment efforts.”