Steve Martin '88 (AKA Little Stevie) - Alumni Profile
Steve Martin - 1988
Big Brother: Leo D Sugg, Jr.
Little Brother: None, sadly
Offices Held: Secretary
OX: Why did you join Theta Chi?
Steve Martin : I had the chance to meet some of the brothers and I liked them, and thought it would be a good place to be involved with.
OX: What is your favorite Theta Chi memory or story?
SM: Wow, there are so many good experiences to choose from. I'll touch quickly on three—I remember everybody being super when my sister passed (two weeks from the end of pledging), including brothers and pledges driving me back and forth to Harrisburg so I could fly out for the services and helping me make it to the end. Summer of 1986 was great—the house was open, not too many people were staying there, and we had a blast all summer with activities, parties and the like. Family toasts in Ed Brown and Al Guber's room.
OX: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?
SM: I learned a lot about how things work and don’t work from the fraternity. While I was in school, there was no such thing as BYOB parties, or alcohol free housing. A lot of things have changed in the 15 years I've been out of school, so like in all things, you learn how to adjust.
OX: What is your nickname? How did you get it? Did anyone in particular give it to you?
SM: Little Stevie. I got the nickname because I looked like I was about 12, when I really was about 20. If I remember right, John Stagliano gave it to me.
OX: Did you live in the house? If so, who were your roommates? Tell us about a memorable time with them.
SM: Yes, I lived in the house for two years. I roomed one semester each with Doug (Skutch) Craig, Mike Fagan, Phil Katchur, and Rich Dubin. Skutch had a waterbed, and one morning I woke up in my loft to the sounds of some vigorous waterbed sloshing. I forced myself back to sleep. While living with Rich, a number of us got into Letterman late night and would normally haul a dozen oranges up to our room to eat while we watched Dave.
OX: Where did your pledge class go on their bolt? What brothers did you take? Any funny stories you can tell?
Steve and wife
SM: Our class bolted to the University of Maryland, primarily because one of my pledge brothers, Mark Lynch, had a brother who was a brother at UM, if memory serves. I think we took Jim Derrah and Tim Paulson, but much of it is a blur—almost 18 years ago. I do remember the weather being pretty warm at UM, and I remember the UM house having a toga party where at least one UM brother forgot to put anything on—naked toga!
OX: With whom do you stay in contact? And is there anyone with whom you’ve lost touch that you would like to find?
SM: Honestly, I haven’t done a great job staying in touch with anybody. Mechanicsville Maryland is far from PSU, I haven’t been there much lately, and it’s so easy to get rolled up in the day to day activities of life. I need to do a better job of emailing. Having a 14 year old stepdaughter in the house really cuts down the opportunities to use the phone! I’d be interested in hearing from John Stagliano, Bob Kramer, Phil Katchur and Mike Fagan, and anybody else who was at the house when I was there!
OX: What other activities or organizations were you involved with during your college days?
SM: Theta Chi was it!
OX: Tell us about your family. Have you married? Do you have children?
SM: I married my wife Stephanie in December 1999. We do not have any children together, but she had two daughters from a previous marriage. Nicole is 19, Laura is 14. They are quite a challenge.
OX: What do you do for a living?
SM: I work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren VA. I spent 3-1/2 years working as the Warhead Technical Direction Agent for Standard Missile. Just before Christmas, I began a detail as the SM-3 Telemetry team lead.
OX: What hobbies do you enjoy?
SM: I enjoy playing golf when I can get the time, and building golf clubs. I also enjoy going to a baseball game from time to time, especially if it is at a ballpark I have yet to visit. And I enjoy working around the house and yard, home projects.
OX: What are your goals for the next few years?
SM: Professionally, I’d like to work my way into a program management job at NSWC. The defense community is rapidly changing and evolving, and it’s hard to predict what will happen. Personally, I hope for continued good health and the opportunities to see some places I have yet to see. And I would like to get my wife up to PSU—she has never been there.