Birdies for Brotherhood

James “Ozzy” Osborne (Cal State Long Beach ’85) on Yearly Alumni Golf Outings

Alex Beaven (Pennington & Company), contributing writer

Since the early 1990s, Beta-Omicron Chapter alumni have gathered for a yearly alumni golf outing to rekindle Sigma Pi bonds and support undergraduate brothers at California State University, Long Beach. James “Ozzy” Osborne (Cal State Long Beach ’85) took over event operations with his co-chairman, Jay “PJ” Herrera (Cal State Long Beach ’85), and they have enjoyed growing the tournament every year.

A Fraternal Foundation

“I had a couple friends from high school that joined Sigma Pi—that’s how it all started,” Ozzy said. As a computer science engineering major, he was glad to learn that several Sigma Pi brothers shared the same major with a focus on engineering. “My fall ’85 pledge class has to be one of the best to come out of Long Beach.”

Decades after college, Ozzy is grateful to maintain several Sigma Pi connections through group texts, annual camping trips to Mission Bay, and his involvement with the golf tournament. He has also served as a Beach Cities Alumni Board member alongside Matt Terrones (Cal State Long Beach ’87) for nearly eight years.

Professional Life

After graduation, Ozzy was hired by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he worked for more than a decade on the International Space Station’s guidance, navigation, and control flight software. He then became a director of software engineering and managed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for military programs before developing and testing flight management software for the Boeing 737 MAX.

“I love what I do now, which is developing automated test software, flying a simulator on a daily basis, working with Boeing test pilots, and going on flight tests that include the North Pole and flying around with a single engine.”

Beyond his work at Boeing, Ozzy enjoys engaging with various volunteer opportunities. He serves as vice president and logistics director for the San Clemente Ocean Festival, Support Autism Awareness events, BBQing for Marines going on deployment, and the Dana Point Turkey Trot. His passion for volunteering and lifelong devotion to Sigma Pi motivated Ozzy to step into a leadership role for the Long Beach Alumni Golf Outing. 

Connections on the Course

The alumni golf tournaments were started in the early ’90s by Scott Kufus (Cal State Long Beach ’82), and event leadership was managed by John Olsen (Cal State Long Beach ’86). When Jim Robertson (Cal State Long Beach ’92) tragically passed away in 1998, Beta-Omicron alumni decided to rename the event to the Jim Robertson Memorial Golf Classic in his honor.

“There were a number of brothers that worked with the Robertson family, and the endowment fund was started with Long Beach State that would generate funds for scholarships,” Ozzy mentioned. He cited John Olsen, PGS John Merino (Cal State Long Beach ’55), and Steve Lindholm (Cal State Long Beach ’92) as alumni who influenced the endowment fund’s creation, along with renaming the golf tournament. “With the brothers working together with Jim’s dad, Don, an endowment was set up with the school.”

When Ozzy took over golf outing management alongside PJ Herrera, they steadily grew the event’s attendance from 30-40 golfers to nearly 100 entrants at recent outings. In 2024, they had 160 attendees at the tournament’s dinner and awards gathering.

“Phone, text messages, and email chains have worked great with getting the word out. It puts a big smile on my face when I get to see everyone joking around with each other and reminiscing about the good old days.”

Funding the Fraternity

The fundraising element of the alumni golf outings allows Sigma Pi alumni to pay their experience forward for today’s Beta-Omicron Chapter members (who also choose one Sorority that receives a scholarship as well). Ozzy enjoys the fraternal banter and memories made on the course each year between alumni and undergraduates, and the tournament proceeds directly benefit scholarships and house maintenance funding. 

There are several key alumni that donate to directly support the golf tournament: Nelson Farris (Cal State Long Beach ’63), Marc McIntyre (Cal State Long Beach ’83), Mark Pittsey (Cal State Long Beach ’86) and Kevin Pittsey (Cal State Long Beach ’86), John Hatten, and Jay Kincaid (Cal State Long Beach ’86), just to name a few.

“Last year, a total of $19,000 was raised and donated directly to the scholarship fund,” he added, referencing tournament proceeds and Ozzy’s donation matched by his company. “I believe we’re the only house on campus that outright owns their house … I also believe that ours is the only house that has donated at least $100,000 to the athletic department (led by Nelson Farris).”

Following 10 years of event leadership, Ozzy is proud that he and PJ have managed to bring in around $15,000 each year from the golf outing for Beta-Omicron Chapter. Other alumni gatherings, like the chapter’s recent 70th anniversary Founders’ Day event, are a great chance to spread the word about the golf tournament and its impact on Sigma Pi at Cal State Long Beach. 

You can connect with Ozzy and learn more about the Jim Robertson Memorial Golf Classic at sanclementeozzy@gmail.com.