Two Huskies, One Epic Ride and a Nearly 50-Year Friendship
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Jim Lipuma, '83, (left) and J.D. McCourt, '83 prepare for a
2,500-mile bike ride to raise more than $25,000 for the Tunnel to
Towers Foundation. (Photo: Jim Lipuma)
J.D. McCourt (left) and Jim Lipuma met at NIU in 1979.
(Photo: Jim Lipuma)
Most friendships are measured in years.
For Northern Illinois University alumni Jim Lipuma, ’83, and Dr. J.D. McCourt, ’83, their friendship will soon be measured in miles.
This August, the two Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers will climb onto their bicycles in Minnesota and begin a 2,500-mile journey following the Mississippi River to the Gulf. Over roughly 30 days, they’ll pedal through heat, humidity, unpredictable weather and sore muscles — all while raising money for Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports veterans, military families and first responders.
“It’s the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th birthday of America. We're riding 2,500 miles to raise over $25,000,” Lipuma said. “We want to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, healthy, free, and never ask for anything in return. Ninety-three cents on every dollar goes to affected families. We don't take a penny of it.”
With their original fundraising goal already in the rearview mirror, Lipuma and McCourt have set their sights even higher as they push towards exceeding $30,000 for Tunnel to Towers.
The fundraising goal is impressive. The ride is ambitious. But perhaps even more remarkable is the friendship that has carried them for nearly five decades.
Their story began in Grant North residence hall at NIU, where they met as freshmen. Lipuma grew up on Chicago’s South Side; McCourt grew up on the North Side. They quickly became friends, joined the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity — known to many as the “Skulls” — and built a bond that has remained strong through careers, marriages and children.
“I consider him a brother,” Lipuma said of McCourt. “I'll always be there for him. It's just a special friendship.”
They admit, like many male friends, their friendship isn't defined by long conversations or emotional check ins. Yet their connection has never faded.
They met their wives, Diane Lipuma, ’84, and Kim McCourt, ’84, at NIU. In fact, after Jim started dating Diane, they set Kim and J.D. up on a New Year’s Eve date. Today, the families remain close.
Despite the years that have passed, NIU remains a centerpiece of their friendship.
They share countless memories of campus and Greek life, and experiences that shaped them. They speak about Northern with the kind of affection that only comes from a place that was truly life changing.
1983 Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers celebrate their NIU
graduation. (Photo: Jim Lipuma)
“I love NIU and DeKalb; I miss the cornfields,” said J.D., now an emergency medicine physician in Nevada who also trains military medical personnel. “NIU doesn’t get enough credit as a place for pre-med majors, but it teaches the same topics. It’s just how bad you want it and what you put into it, but NIU offers it.”
Every evening after dinner, J.D. went to the library. Jim followed.
Because fraternity life offered plenty of distractions, Jim said that those nightly study sessions helped keep him focused on his future.
“J.D. really helped me through college,” Jim said. "He was disciplined. We saw people who didn’t make it because they didn’t have that discipline. He probably doesn’t even realize how much that helped me.”
After graduation, J.D. built a career in medicine, while Jim entered the business world and remained connected to NIU by sitting on the sales advisory board and judging pitch competitions.
In 2024, Jim suffered a pulmonary embolism and retired from his chief revenue officer role at Tarro soon after. The health scare served as a reminder of how quickly life can change, making the upcoming ride even more significant.
J.D. McCourt rides across Iowa during Ragbrai.
(Photo: Jim Lipuma)
“You know, as you get older, we want to make sure that we stay healthy,” said Jim, determined to embrace the challenge while he still can.
The idea originated with J.D., a former runner and marathoner, though not as a bicycle trip. His initial proposal was a cross-country motorcycle ride.
“Our wives put the kibosh on that,” J.D. said.
Since the two had done a couple of longer bike rides together, one around Lake Michigan, they moved to plan B.
“Diane agreed because I’m riding with a doctor,” Jim said laughing.
J.D. didn’t miss a beat.
“The problem is, I don’t take Jim’s insurance!” he said.
The joke brought plenty of laughter, but both admitted the challenge ahead is very real.
Their route will average roughly 85 miles per day, with stops ranging from campgrounds to motels. Along the way, they’ll reunite with their families in St. Louis before continuing south.
“We can handle 85 miles a day,” Jim said. “We’ll reach 2,500 miles one pedal stroke, one mile and one day at a time. We'll get where we need to go because we're doing it for other people.”
The pair chose Tunnel to Towers because its mission mirrors the values behind their ride: honoring those who put their lives on the line to keep others safe and remembering 9/11. Through programs that support veterans, military families and first responders — including building veteran villages to combat homelessness and smart homes for those severely injured — Tunnel to Towers provides tangible assistance to those who have sacrificed for their communities and the country.
“You get to a stage of your life where it’s not just about yourself anymore,” Jim said. “It’s about how you can help. These are our true American heroes. That’s why we call it We Ride for Heroes. We believe we should be focused on helping the people who put their lives on the line every day.”
Follow Lipuma and McCourt on their Facebook page as they prove that some NIU friendships go the distance.
Visit their website to support their fundraising efforts for Tunnel to Towers.