EOC Stars - Diamond Circle
Scroll down to read about our Diamond Circle Members
JULIA MARTIN ASTLE 1944-2019
MARJORIE McWHERTER "Polly" GAST 1941-2016
HARRIET MAIN DOHRMANN 1937-2012
MARGARET GOTHARD HICKS 1933-2008
JANET CONNICK WYKOFF 1924-1999
Julia Martin Astle
Julia was born in 1926 in Anaheim, CA. By the time she reached second grade she had lived in Santa Ana, Huntington Park, West LA, and Alhambra. In 1933, the Long Beach earthquake occurred and her brick school house was destroyed. Her family moved to Rosemead where they lived for 10.5 years. It was a great little town, with a population of 800-1000 people. She attended El Monte High School for 3.5 years. Julie made many lifelong friendships. They had such a good time together.
She decided to attend USC. By now it was war time and things were different. Rush was wonderful. She had two recommendations, Pi Phi and Tri Delta. The Pi Phi girls all looked alike and wore their hair in big bows. The Tri Deltas were more interesting and were not all the same. They all seemed to have a great time. So, she chose Tri Delta!
It was probably one of the best decisions of her life. Julie loved all 38 of her pledge sisters. They helped each other, bailed each other out of difficulties, and were supportive in every way.
“I even met my husband through a Tri Delta sister on a blind Date. My daughter, Joy, is named for another dear Tri Delta. My “real” sister is also a Tri Delta. As you can see, Tri Delta has been a wonderful part of my life for 75 years.
We came to Yorba Linda in 1958 and were fortunate to find a local resident willing to sell us a share of the Yorba Linda Water district, so we could build our first house. In 1962 we bought 4 acres, where my husband built our house and I still live. We raised two sons and a daughter in Yorba Linda.
I became interested in community affairs in Yorba Linda. I found Service League in 1959, Historical Society, Friends of the Library and the Civic Light Opera. In 2007, I received the Yorba Linda Citizen of the Year Award.
A fellow pledge sister Mary Kay Lovell and two friends started Eastern Orange County AC and they invited me to join but I was busy with my kids. I finally joined Eastern Orange County AC in 1979 and I have been an active member for 40 years.”
Julia was initiated into Theta Xi chapter at USC in 1944. Eastern Orange County Alumnae Chapter is proud to have the honor of presenting the Diamond Circle Degree to Julia at our 2019 May Dinner for her 75 years of Delta Delta Delta membership. We also proudly add her to our prestigious group of EOC Stars!
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Marjorie McWherter Gast
Marjorie “Polly” McWherter Gast was initiated in 1941 into the Nu Chapter at Ohio State which was the closest state university to her family home in Cleveland. She met her husband, John, during college. They married and had three sons. In 1973, the family moved to Placentia. Shortly thereafter, a member of our Eastern Orange County Alumnae Chapter came to her home and encouraged her to become a member. Polly has been a loyal and caring EOC Tri Delta sister ever since.
Polly served for many years as the alumnae chapter’s corresponding secretary. She has offered her home for meetings on many occasions and rarely misses an EOC function or meeting. She is also an enthusiastic member of the Lunch Bunch group. Our shining star was deservingly awarded the Margaret Hicks award in 2000. Polly Gast was recognized for her 75 years of Tri Delta membership at Founders’ Day and was honored with the Diamond Circle Degree at EOC’s May Dinner 2016. We are proud to honor Polly and call her our sister!
Polly passed away on March 13, 2020. Her beautiful smile and love for Tri Delta will long be remembered.
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Harriet Main Dohrmann
Harriet Dohrmann has been a member of EOCAC for over 50 years and, as her Diamond Circle status reveals, a member of Delta Delta Delta for 75 years and counting. We are proud to say that she is our sister. We thank her for her many years of service and support to our chapter and add her to our list of EOC Stars!!
When asked, Harriet gave this brief account of her Tri Delta life.
"In the fall of 1935, I packed my things and moved to Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, where I had been accepted. The Sorority Rush period, which I really enjoyed, started soon. I made a decision for which I have been so thankful. I accepted the Delta Delta Delta invitation and was initiated in 1937.
When we moved to California in 1960, I immediately looked up Eastern Orange County Delta Delta Delta and became active. I also joined the Bridge group. I have played with some Delta Delta Delta bridge group ever since. At age 95, I am still enjoying playing with Margaret Hicks, Donna Gregg and Mary Fryer.
I was President of Eastern Orange County Alumnae chapter in 1963 and 1964. I have made many wonderful friendships in the Eastern Orange County Alumnae Group."
Harriet was unable to participate in a Diamond Circle Degree ceremony at an EOCAC meeting or event. However, her accomplishments were recognized at our May Dinner. Shortly thereafter, Donna Gregg presented Harriet with the Delta Delta Delta Diamond Circle stickpin along with a Diamond Circle 75 year member certificate at her home in Orange, California.
Harriet passed away on July 9, 2014 after a long illness. She is greatly missed.
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Margaret Gothard Hicks
Margaret Hicks has been an inspiration to all of us for many years. She is a charter member of Eastern Orange County Alumnae and has served our chapter in many capacities during our 50-plus year history. Her beautiful needlepoint wall hangings and pillows were coveted auction items at our Pansy Potpourri fundraisers for many years. Many of them still grace the homes of our own members.
In 1989 the membership honored Margaret with an award for “Meritorious Service to EOC Alumnae Chapter.” Named for its first recipient, the Margaret Hicks Award has since been presented to EOC Alumnae members for outstanding service to the chapter.
Margaret was initiated into Theta Lambda chapter at Colorado State in 1933. It was our chapter's honor to perform the Diamond Circle Degree ceremony and present Margaret with the Diamond Circle pin and certificate on January 26, 2008. She was also honored for her lifetime of dedication to Tri Delta at the 2009 Founders' Day celebration in Long Beach.
Margaret is definitely an EOC Star!
Margaret passed away in the summer of 2017 at the age of 102.
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Janet Connick Wykoff
Janet Connick was born Sept 2, 1906, in Eureka, California. Her father was a superior court judge and her mother a lady sheep rancher. Janet went to the University of Washington where she pledged Tri Delta. She planned to be a teacher, but at the age of 22 her father passed away and her mother was anxious to travel. Together they toured the world for six months - steamer trunks and all.
Janet met her true love Victor Wykoff in the San Francisco area and they were married in 1931. After six months in Palo Alto, they moved to San Francisco until 1945, then to West Los Angeles. Janet was primary and rush advisor for UCLA Tri Delta. She was very active in PTA, then became president of National Charity League, LA and Spastic Children’s League.
She sold her home in 1989 and moved in with her daughter, Patricia Coakley, and family in Villa Park. She quickly became involved with the Villa Park Woman’s League, joined an EOC Alumnae Chapter bridge group and “Book Browsers” where she wrote reviews for several years. She made many dear friends and was soon selected as “The Most Inspirational Woman of Villa Park.” What she enjoyed most during her last 20 years was being near her large family.
In 1999, Janet Connick Wykoff became the first member of EOC Alumnae Chapter to reach the Delta Delta Delta Diamond Circle Milestone along with the distinction of being the first EOC Star. Janet passed away in 2006 less than three months shy of her 100th birthday. She was a treasured member of our Eastern Orange County Alumnae Chapter.