Past Regent David Nyman Enters Chapter Eternal
Brother David “Dave” Nyman (Southern Utah) entered Chapter Eternal on August 8, 2021. Dave passed peacefully and with family members nearby, in Cedar City, Utah. He was 83.
Dave attended Utah State University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education and later a Master of Music Performance. He also received a Master of Music from American University where he studied with the Master Symphony.
Music was a huge part of Dave’s life and he conducted and performed with many bands and orchestras, including the Utah Golden Spike Orchestra and the Weber State Community Orchestra. In 1970 he became the Director of Music at Southern Utah State College, now Southern Utah University, where he spent the next 30 years. He loved working with the students under his care and made many lifelong friendships.
Dave’s journey with Sigma Nu Fraternity began late in his career. In the late 1980s, the Fraternity set out to establish a chapter at Southern Utah University. Past Regent Gerald Sherratt (Utah State), then President of Southern Utah University, asked Dave to serve as faculty advisor to the new chapter. Dave agreed, and soon after was initiated as a non-matriculated upon the chartering of the Lambda Iota Chapter.
For nearly 20 years Brother Nyman served in many local and regional volunteer roles including a local advisor of the Lambda Iota Chapter and as a Division Commander. In 1998, Dave was first elected to the High Council serving as a Vice Regent from 1998 to 2000. In 2000 he was elected as Regent-Elect serving with now Past Regent and close friend, Howard Pickett. In 2002 at the 60th Grand Chapter, in Toronto, Ont., Canada, Brother Nyman was sworn in as the 58th Regent.
During Brother Nyman’s Regency, the Fraternity saw several changes to its operations and services provided to local chapters including the launch of the Fraternity’s Members Area, which eliminated the need for paper-based membership processing, the establishment of Fifth Point Properties, the implementation of the Pursuit of Excellence Program, and the launch of “Outside the Classroom,” the predecessor to GreekLifeEdu, now known as CommunityEdu.
Upon completing his term as Regent, Dave continued to remain engaged with the General Fraternity, volunteering in several capacities, such as extended terms on the Board of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation and as an Alumni Advisory Board member of the Lambda Iota AAB.
Outside of Sigma Nu and his professional career, Dave enjoyed traveling with his wife, Carol Ann, spending time with his children and many grandchildren whom he deeply loved, painting, sports cars, and the outdoors. He also was very fond of the bagpipes and kilts and will be remembered lovingly by his friends, family, and fraternity brothers.
Funeral services for Dave were held on Saturday, August 14, 2021. Click here to view Dave’s obituary.