Chuck & Lynn Werner, Omega ‘55 & ‘08h (University of Chicago) honored with George L. Howell, Eta ’55,Psi Upsilon Philanthropist Award
Chuck Werner, Omega ‘55 (University of Chicago) has volunteered for Psi Upsilon almost continuously since completing his graduate studies. He’s currently the Alumni President of the Board of Trustees for the chapter at UC.
Chuck joined Psi Upsilon while attending the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business in the 1950s. At the time, the university did not permit undergraduates to join fraternities. Combined with the end of the Korean War in 1953 and the GI Bill, the chapter was a group of somewhat older students than one would see today. Chuck met a number of Psi Upsilon brothers in accounting classes in the business school, and he credits one of those men, Brother Mo Philon Omega ‘54, as the reason he became a member of Psi U. Today, the two are still in touch, and they try to get together during the summer whenever Mo visits the Chicago area.
After earning his MBA, Chuck was drafted and spent two years in the U.S Army—most of that time in Tokyo, Japan conducting Army audits. Upon his return to the U.S. he attended law school to become a tax specialist. He began his career in public accounting and served just over 20 years with Grant Thornton, primarily as Chief Technical Officer. Upon leaving that position, and for the past 25 years, Chuck has been an accounting professor at Loyola University in Chicago, a job he says he enjoys because of the opportunity to interact with college students.
After completing law school Chuck joined Omega’s alumni board almost immediately. Over the years, he has enjoyed this role, especially since his wife Lynn has gotten involved as well. Both love gardening, and they have done a great deal to improve the landscaping and flower gardens around the chapter house; Chuck also repairs just about anything that needs fixing at the house. Together they are known as the chapter’s “off-campus house father and mother.” They also hardly miss a chapter social event and especially enjoy the Christmastime Jazz Dance.
When the Psi U Annual Convention came to Chicago, Chuck and his Lynn combined efforts with the chapter to provide a memorable experience for the few hundred brothers in attendance. Lynn arranged for the Convention to be held at the elegant Union League Club in downtown Chicago. Chuck raised money for a private cruise on Lake Michigan, and both invested significant time and effort to prepare the chapter house and undergraduates to host the three-day event. They coordinated a BBQ at the chapter house and arranged for a walking tour of the campus, including a visit to the National Historic Landmark and Henry Moore sculpture commemorating the site of the first nuclear chain reaction in 1942. Having attended almost every Psi U Convention, Chuck says this one was special because it was the first time the Convention had returned to Chicago since the 1950s, when he was a chapter member. “We did a lot of work on the house that year to make the place look nice. My second Chicago Convention brought back many great memories for me,” says Chuck.
After close to 50 years of serving Psi U, Chuck is still involved with the chapter because he says, “It’s a fun, lively way to be around some delightful and smart young people. The school is extremely selective which trickles down to the type of members the chapter recruits. They are a select, high-powered group of young men.”
In addition to Psi U, Chuck & Lynn are faithful donors and volunteer with numerous professional, charitable and social organizations throughout the city. Their service to the Fraternity is invaluable, and the spirit demonstrated by both through giving back to both the Omega chapter and to the international Fraternity demonstrates the great loyalty they share for Psi Upsilon.
