Thursday, November 9, 2017

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.07 – Becky Bruning Manyak Tribute







































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BECKY BRUNING MANYAK TRIBUTE


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you know, Becky Bruning Manyak passed away.  We sent an email to the group, and there were many heart felt comments, which we have put together for old time’s sake. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"Beta Pi,

I have some very, very sad news to share, our dear friend Becky Bruning Manyak passed away.  I received a very touching note from Becky’s daughter Rachel informing me that Becky died on October 19th. 

“Hi, Larry. This is Becky Bruning’s daughter, Rachel.  I know my mom had been in touch with you recently and thought I should reach out to you and let you know that my mom passed away peacefully on Thursday morning. She had really been struggling the past week but was a real fighter until the very end. We are comforted knowing her pain and suffering are over.  As she was reaching out to you towards the end, it’s obvious that the friendship you shared with my mom meant a lot to her.  Please pass along this information to the ATO group and anyone else you think might like to know.  Also, if you or anyone else have any old photos of my mom we would love to see them.  Thanks so much! 

Rachel Manyak
 
I followed up with Rachel, and told her I would share with my ATO email list, I told her I expected many responses, and she indicated she would like to be in the loop to receive responses.
 
Becky had informed me privately of her lung cancer several months ago, and at her request I kept it confidential.   During Homecoming Buck (who also knew) got news that Becky had decided to switch from treatment to palliative care, and we learned that Katie Herrington and Becky’s closest friends were going to visit.  I texted Becky sending love and prayers and how much I admire her courage.  On October 6th, Becky sent me a very sweet note that I will never forget.  

“Hi Larry— Well maybe you now know my sad news... I will miss the crew but you know I’m getting OK and beginning to accept my fate.... It will all be just fine, I’m not one bit worried. Just put me in some of your prayers. 

Love to Buck too!!


We are heartbroken.   

Becky had the best care and fought the good fight.  Rachel, thank you so much for sharing with us. 

Becky, we love you, we will never forget you, you are in our prayers always.  A dear friend, a beautiful and courageous woman, I remember her as a person who would look you straight in the eye and accept you as you are.  May God bless Becky and her beautiful family.
 
Larry

Here are some pictures. Several years ago, Becky sent me some photos of back-in-the-day. 
 
Also, Marlon sent some old pictures, and Jeff Perout sent some more – thanks to Marlon and Jeff. 
 
I took several pictures of Becky at our 2010 Reunion, and to my knowledge these are the most recent.  I saw Becky briefly at the 2015 Reunion – at the Class Party – but didn’t manage to get a picture, and due to a conflict she had, she said she was unable to attend our ATO party.

FROM JACK MUENCH
Oh, no. And at the same time, Larry, I continue to thank you for your work and getting us all together. I got to see Becky at a reunion probably around 2010 or so, and I'm so glad that I did. At that reunion, she brought a wonderful little picture book. Not only were the pictures wonderful, but the book itself was most fanciful, 60s style. And our friend Debbie Payne, herself an accomplished artist, remarked on what a cool book it was.  I will have stories to share when the time comes. For now, perhaps not.  Had to Cry Today. 
 
 
 
 
 
FROM MARK REED
Larry, thank you and we will keep Rachel and her family in our prayers. 

Rachel, your Mom was a fun loving easy to be with sweet gal.  She was either 2 or 3 years behind my wife, Kimey and our class of 1973.  My wife, Kimey, was a Pi Phi as well.  The ATO’s and Pi Phi’s were intertwined in many ways.  Kimey sends her love and is sad to hear of your loss.  I believe the last time I saw your Mom was July 20, 1974.  Kimey and were married on that day in Charlottesville, VA (actually Keene, VA, a tiny little cross roads outside of Charlottesville). Becky had made the road trip to be at her sorority sister’s wedding.  We had a large time.  May God Bless you and your family during this time of loss.  Remember the good times and hold on to them!!

With Sincerest Condolences,
Mark and Kimey Reed
  
 













FROM MARK McGANN
Larry,
Hard news. As usual my mail won't let reply to "all" so I'm leaving it to you to pass on the attached photo with my sentiments, if you would be so kind.
It was our great good fortune to have known Becky, truly one of the best.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FROM JEFF PEROUT
She was a beautiful woman in every way...
  
 
FROM FRANK BILLER
Prelude:  Roxy Roxbury at Churchill Downs Racing and Sports book set the over/under on how many times I will break down to sob before this writing is finished at 6.5.
 
Remembering Becky…

I have just poured a generous glass of Pinot Noir in preparation for my writing tonight. My goal is to be open with my feelings on the passing of this wonderful woman and friend. We are of an age where family and friends dwindle at an ever increasing rate.  I was saddened when we lost David Howe, Ted Stephany and the others who were the first of our group to pass.  Miles and X. Neal’s deaths on a surfboard and motorcycle respectively were more shocking (if not poetic).     

Becky’s passing has had a rather profound effect on me.  She has been in my daily thoughts for several months during her courageous battle.  When I found out she was ill my heart sank.  I thought, “This is how it will be now.  The best of us will suffer and die young.  One by one we will fall until none are left to tell our tales”.  Becky was so strong and she had our hopes up for a while that she would pull through.  It happens you know.  Our dear friends Marlon and Leapin’ Gene Young are a testimony to beating the odds.  But my heart sank again when I talked to Katie just before homecoming.  Becky had fought the good fight.  She took her rest in the comfort of her loving family and now she sleeps with the angels.  I will stop my melancholy on death and aging.  Lord knows you all have much better resources than Buck Biller for insights and soothing thoughts on that subject.  I want to remember Becky for the wonderful person she was.      

I would be remiss in my remembrance of our sister Becky if I did not start out with this first thought…  Becky was a very attractive woman back in the day and throughout her life.  Beautiful, confident, determined, outgoing.  A friend to all and never a bad word to say about anyone or anything.  She could smoke and drink with the boys but always cleaned up well and was always a lady.   

Becky was the icon of the ladies in our group.   Over the years I came to appreciate Becky and her Pi Phi sisters for their tolerance of “the boys”.  Beer wenches???  Can you imagine such a thing today?  If someone told my daughter she was a beer wench she would geld them on the spot.  I started to realize how preposterously immature we were when I moved to Hawaii and went into business with Miles and Kay.  They rented a beach house on the North shore of Oahu. We would hang out there on the weekends.  Kay would regularly shoo Miles, Harpo and I out of the house saying “Why don’t you boys go down and play on the beach.  I will call you when dinner is ready”.  I kept thinking- “That’s the kind of stuff my Mom used to say.  Maybe I am still a boy and I need to grow up a bit?”  Hawaii is where I really felt like I connected with Becky.  She came to visit us for a week or two.  I remember having some really great talks with her during that time about life and the state of the universe.  She was so wise and strong and confident and understanding.  As solid a person as I have ever had the chance to meet. 

I well remember meeting Becky at a cocktail party at the Law School during homecoming 5-6 years ago.  I had been divorced for several years and clumsily foundering through a series of doomed relationships.  Becky was so cool!  She looked great and was her own sweet steady self.  I remember thinking that her husband was a very lucky man. 

I apologize for the random rambling thoughts.  Anyway, the Pinot is gone and I am proud to say those who bet the under won that prop.  I only broke down 5 times over the 5 paragraphs.  Becky was an icon.  I keep coming back to descriptive words like strong, solid, even tempered, etc.  I just know that I am better for having known her and that we are all diminished by her loss.
 
RIP Becky, I love you my sweet sister.     



 
 
FROM STEVEN STARR
I did not know Becky as well as many other ATO’s, but I do know she was a good friend to the Wales Tales community.  And I know that she had a wonderful personality and was always a cheerful and positive person.  Obviously this carried her throughout her life and was a key to the utterly dignified way she met the challenge of her final battle.  I have a picture of her outside the bar in Eleuthera that personifies her cheerful character and spirit. A good and great friend to all ATO’s.



 
 
FROM GEORGE TOMLINSON
Bozino,
I don't remember much about Becky, except that she was an exceptionally tolerant woman with a great sense of humor.   And, I must say a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame for "Tales Beer Wenches".   She played along with us very well, without confrontation.    Maybe it was out of fear, but I rather think her quest for fun!  RIP Becky!
THE HEME 
  
 

 
FROM MATT HART
What a shock. I don't need to tell all of the nice people on this list what a great person Becky was. She was always cool, calm and collected. She hung right in there with a bunch of total nut jobs, myself included. If there was such a thing as Top Sister to all of the ATO lads she would have been the one. She was the original 'Beer Wench' for our many Wales Tales games. I'm guessing that she defended many of us to her friends who thought 'What a bunch of idiots'.  We were all lucky to have known Becky Bruning.
  
 
 
FROM CHRIS REGAS
Amen Matt... well said.
  


 
FROM SALLY TUCKER JASPER
Oh, that is so sad. Too young! Thank you for letting us know.
Sally Jasper
  
 
FROM DOUG CAMPBELL
What a classy, laid back, lovely soul. aaargh..
 
 
FROM MARC DARLING
Beck was and always will be one of my most favorite Ladies, an exalted wench, who had a ready smile and a great laugh.  I will miss her spirit and her loss, lessens me.   Marc




FROM TISON KEEL
Dear Rachel:
 
I am heartsick to get this news, and overwhelmed by the grace of Becky's last message to all of us.  She was an intelligent, funny, thoughtful, playful and beautiful woman.  We met early in our freshman year, and our paths crossed frequently and continuously all four years at school.   I am proud to call Becky a friend.  It didn't take long to recall favorite story, timely with Halloween approaching.  One year after we had graduated, I was making my first return to Nashville as an employed alumnus, and stopped by a house in Nashville to visit some Pi Phi friends who had stayed in town for work or to finish school, among whom was Bruning.   (I had dated a couple of Pi Phis, but sadly for me, never Becky) I was looking for an idea for a costume to wear to the ATO house Halloween party.  Becky challenged me (actually dared me) to go in drag, in a dress.  Not to be faced down, I called her bluff and she provided what she considered the appropriate attire.  After I had squeezed into the dress, Becky then started trying to talk me out of wearing it.  She finally admitted she didn't want me in that dress because she was embarrassed that it fit me! (It did not, really).  I refused to remove it, Becky and Katey H. helped with some makeup, I went to the party, to much hilarity in those oh so different days, but kept my promise, until now, not to reveal the owner of my apparel.  I am sure Becky is smiling!   Becky was an old soul, and is sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are that you will  celebrate her life, and take solace in a passage that has helped me in time of loss, Ephesians 3:18.
            Tison
 
 
 

FROM ART LANDRY
What can you say? The eternal mystery is why do bad things happen to good people. She was good people. RIP.
Arthur
  
 


FROM PIERCE HODNETTE
Thanks for sharing this.  Becky was a wonderful, spirit-filled person.  We were blessed to know her.  Pierce H.



 
 
FROM RACHEL MANYAK
Thank you all for your kind words and for sharing these stories I hadn't heard before!  Please feel free to keep them coming and to attach any photos if you happen to come across them.
            Take care,
Rachel Manyak
 
 
 
FROM KINGSLEY KAMINER
Bruning (as we called her) was one of the Pi Phis I looked up to....eternally cool, calm, collected...wicked smart...effortlessly gorgeous . . one of the "super nurses"...I always think of her in a triumvirate with Denham & Degerberg.  I think they joined the men's rugby club one year...And now she lives only in the fecund soil of our memory. 

Kingsley

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Kingsley also provided us with a link to Becky’s Obituary, thank you Kingsley.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=rebecca-manyak&pid=187110606

 
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KEEPING TABS: 

Here is a reminder of the Brothers and Sisters we have lost.

BECKY BRUNING MANYAK, died October 19, 2017.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.07. Archive: Sept. 2017
Obituary:


ROB BLANKENHORN, died December, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017
EDWARD G. “TED” STEPHANY, died January 20, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.01, Archive: Jan. 2016

J. NEAL CRENSHAW, died November 12, 2014.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014

MILES WALSH, died in July, 2013.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2013, No.05, Comments Section (over 50 comments), Archive: Aug.2013

DAVID HOWE, died November 30, 2006.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.68, Archive: Dec. 2006.   
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2007, No.30, Archive: May. 2007

KURT WAGNER,  died in July, 2002.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.02, Archive: Jan. 2016

ALEXANDER WILSON, died April 9, 1977. Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.25, Lowenstein Essay Contest. Archive: Aug. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.33, Honoring Alex and Laura. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.45, Tale-o-Pig-Roast. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.50, Winner Essay Contest.  Archive: Oct. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, Alexander Wilson. Archive: Sept. 2017

Alex and Laura are buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. The cemetery at 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115.  Alex and Laura are at Section KK,  Site 794. 

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VTL,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72

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