Ryan S. Ledwith '78 awarded Knight Commander's Accolade in 2007

Ryan S. Ledwith ’78 was presented with the Knight Commander’s Accolade in 2007 at the Kappa Alpha Order national convention. The Accolade is presented to alumni for their outstanding work with individual chapters. Ryan was an instrumental piece in keeping the Berkeley chapter house under Alpha Xi ownership during the chapter’s brief stint off campus and also in helping the recolonization effort.

Julian Angelo Pardini ‘52

Julian Pardini passed away on July 2, 2006. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and the Boalt Hall School of Law. Julian was elected Knight Commander of Kappa Alpha in 1989, the first time that office was held by someone born west of the Mississippi. He served as President of the Alpha Xi Building Association, and managed the ownership of the KA house at Berkeley during the 1970’s and early 1980’s and was instrumental in getting the house re-established on the campus in 1978 after being gone form Cal for almost a decade.

He practiced law for 47 years, specializing in probate and estate planning. He was an avid sports fan who passed on his enthusiasm for the Giants and all Cal sports teams to his children and grandchildren. He had a dry sense of humor and always saw the good in people. When asked the one word that would best describe him, he responded “tenacious.” He lived a full life. Julian is survived by his wife Kay, six children (including Jay and Bobby, both Alpha Xi alumni) and 13 grandchildren. He is truly missed.