A sudden health crisis left Gerard Begg, Southern Methodist ’87, in need of heart surgery. Because he wouldn’t be able to operate a vehicle for several weeks post-op, Begg knew he’d need someone to drive him home when he was released, but decided he’d figure that out later.

While recovering from his successful operation, Begg thought about how to get back home. The exact date and time of his discharge were subject to his doctor’s assessment that he was healthy enough to be home on his own. There was no way to schedule that; as it happened, the moment came on a weekday when friends were unable to take impromptu time off work.

Eager to return home, he pondered who might be available on short notice and thought of a neighbor he chatted with from time to time. The younger man was friendly and had even driven him to get his initial tests done. He called, and the neighbor agreed to pick him up. After getting him settled at home, Begg’s neighbor checked in on him, making sure he got his medication and taking him for follow-up tests.

A couple of months later, Begg ran into his neighbor as he was leaving his house. To his surprise, the younger man was wearing a shirt with SigEp letters!

Begg (a founding father of his chapter) and Matthew Schulz, Truman State ’17, have now bonded over their shared experiences and ideals as SigEps.

While at first pleasantly surprised to learn Schulz was a brother, Begg said on further reflection, it made perfect sense. “I thought it now makes sense in so many ways that he offered to help me. I am convinced he was carrying forth the three principles — Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love — that Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on.”

Schulz says he’s just glad he could assist a neighbor in need and discovering a brother was a bonus. “Seeing his recovery has been awesome,” Schulz added. “I was helping him out because it’s the right thing to do. It’s what I would have done for anyone, but finding out he was a brother was a nice surprise. It’s something you don’t really expect.”