CORNELL UNIVERSITY
ΣΑΜ BETA BULLETIN
CORNELL UNIVERSITY FALL 2005
Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu, Ithaca, NY
Prior Reports On State Of Beta Chapter As usual, it has been and will definitely continue to be a busy semester for everyone. The work is difficult, the weather is cold, and exams are just around the corner here at Cornell. As the month of November slowly creeps up on the brothers of Beta Chapter, we begin to realize just how far into the semester we really are and all that has happened up to this point. For the alumni who are not familiar with the council situation here at Sammy Beta, my name is Benjamin Greene, and I am the prior for the current 2005-2006 academic year. As I look back on what has happened in the last three months, I would argue that the beginning months of this year are something every brother in the chapter should be proud of. Our accomplishments both in the house and in the classroom are unmatched by the great majority of fraternities on the Hill. Since starting in August, we have: successfully recruited a fall pledge class; greatly improved our social status on campus by holding extremely successful social events with sororities and friends across Cornell; restructured the chair sys-
tem within the house; prepared two huge philanthropic events for later in the semester; and instilled one of the strongest recruiting mentalities among members that most brothers have ever experienced. Among other things, the most important goal for the upcoming year is recruitment. After beginning our year with 42 active brothers and continuing to live in our new house at 10 Sisson Place, there is a need to expand our numbers. The focus this year will be on recruitment and how we can incorporate it into every aspect of our semester’s schedules. This year’s rush chair and committee are stacked with some of the most committed and experienced brothers in the house including the prior Prior, Dan Bushansky ’06, and the prior social chair, Justin Weitz ’07. As a brotherhood, we are doing everything we can to finish the year with at least 62 or more active members. However, the semester is not all work and no play, as most of the alumni probably know. The house has major plans in
the works for some huge social events, as well as some major trips to other chapters. The purpose of these trips is to not only show brothers a good time, but also to enhance new members’ experiences by showing them what other chapters are like and the mentality of the Sammy family. Since the start of the year, we have been able to visit Sammy Sigma Iota at the University of Michigan and are in the process of planning an event in early November with the Sammy Ottowa chapter in Ontario. Other events will be announced later on in the semester via the list serve. Overall, the current status of Sammy at this point in the semester is something every brother should be proud of. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me or our alumni chair, Adam Schnabel ’07, at [email protected]. Thanks again to all readers, and I look forward to hearing from you. Fast and Firm, Ben Greene ’07 Prior
Homecoming 2005 A Great Success This year, the Beta Chapter welcomed its alumni back to campus with a stellar lineup of events over Homecoming weekend. It is now our second year at the new house at 10 Sisson Place, and the brotherhood has learned a great deal about how to organize and execute a great Homecoming program; and this year went more smoothly than ever. On Friday evening, a reception was held at 10 Sisson Place as the alumni were just getting into town. Cocktails were shared over sparkling conversation, and a good time was had by all. Saturday morning was host to the (continued on page two)
Sammy Betas watch the Cornell Homecoming football game with alumni. Front row, from left to right, are Brian Wolther ’05, Adam Gad Fischman ’05, Andrew Coren ’05, and Andrew Zizmor ’05. Back row, from left to right, are Matt Rogers ’06, Daniel Bushansky ’06, Brett Greenberg, ’08, Justin Weitz ’07, Ben Greene ’07, and Adam Schnabel ’07.
Beta Alumni Invade Los Angeles Several months ago, I received a request from Steve Scheck ’72 for the mailing list for Sammies from the classes of 1969-’73. Steve, Norm Rafelson ’71, Squire Junger ’71, and Marc Cohen ’71 put their heads together and contacted members of these class about having a reunion of Sammies on the west coast. Steve is the GM at the Sportmen’s Lodge Hotel in Studio City, and this became our headquarters for the weekend. The response was tremendous. On October 7-9, brothers from all over the country showed up—some alone, some with wives, and others with their whole family. Some of us hadn’t seen each other in 35 years. The weekend was filled with a number of memorable events, both planned and otherwise, and an excellent time was had by all.
In addition to a barbecue on Friday evening, a dinner cruise on Saturday from Marina Del Rey, and the Sunday Gospel Brunch at the LA House of Blues, Steve arranged for VIP tickets to the King Tut Exhibit in LA, and others were able to take in sites such as the new Getty Museum. There were a couple of cocktails throughout the weekend, a late-night poker game, and hours and hours of jokes, stories and memories that made the whole weekend totally outstanding. At Friday night’s barbecue, each brother took the mic and spent a few minutes bringing each of us up to date on what they had been doing since graduation. I was able to give the group an update on our chapter, and the strides it had made since its refounding in 1985—including moving to a new home just last year.
It was an amazing gathering. People in different fields, from different parts of the country, and completely different life experiences gathered together because they all had one thing in common: They are all Sammies. As has been said many, many times, you are not a Sammy for four years, but for a lifetime. It seemed like just yesterday when we were all together at Cornell. The only sour note of the entire gathering was that Norm Rafelson “got an offer he couldn’t refuse” to run a hotel in China, and thus was not able to attend. He was truly missed, especially, as I understand it, since the gathering was his idea. Dennis Paese ’73 Chapter Advisor
Alumni and friends gather for a Beta reunion in Los Angeles.
Beta Bulletin Published regularly by Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at Cornell University for its members and friends. News contributions and pictures are always welcome and should be sent to Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Alumni Records Office, P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876.
Beta Bulletin
2
Homecoming (continued from page one) annual Sammy tailgate before the Cornell Homecoming football game. Undergraduate brothers gathering in the parking lot behind Schloellkopf field were joined by many recent graduates, as well as some alumni whom they had never met before. Dennis Paese ’73 took his usual position behind the grill for the majority of the morning, serving an abundance of food— including a veritable cornucopia of produce bought by Joel Moses ’85 at the Ithaca Farmers Market that morning. Later on in the afternoon, the group made its way to the football game to watch Big Red
crush the Georgetown Hoyas 57-7, confirming rumors that the Cornell football team has shown improvement this season. The following morning, some of the visiting alumni gathered back at the house for a farewell brunch before hitting the road for the ride home. Scott Kramer ’06 remarked, “It was great to be able to hang out with brothers who graduated in the past few years. We all had a really great time.” The Beta Chapter is looking forward to hosting more great alumni events in the near future. Adam Schnabel ’07 Alumni Chair
Beta Chapter Rushes To Success Once again, the Beta Chapter kicked off its recruitment season with exciting activities designed to swell our ranks and improve our brotherhood. The four rush chairs—Dan Bushansky ’06, Justin Weitz ’07, Andrew Lamkay ’07, and Charles Niesenbaum ’08—spearheaded Beta’s efforts to attract a class of exemplary young men for the future. For the first time since 2001, the Beta Chapter has a fall pledge class. Fall rush featured frequent dinners at the house, an orientation week barbecue, and the ninth annual Sammy Autumn Fest—a traditional celebration of Indian summer. But all good fraters know the ancient saying that rush, from infancy to old age, “never ends.” The rush chairs have planned a spate of events to attract
potential candidates for the brotherhood. Special rush-only social events, freshmanthemed weekly dinners, and Monday Night Football are once again a cornerstone of our rush foundation. Of course, Sammygiving, our annual Thanksgiving festival, is right around the corner! For Beta, rush is an ongoing process that requires the multilateral efforts of everyone in the house. Philanthropic, social, and brotherhood events all contain a rush component with the underlying goal of strengthening our house and upholding the high standards of moral distinction that characterize our brotherhood. As alumni, parents, and friends of the Beta Chapter, the power is in your hands to help us out. Rush is not a one-way
street, and Beta is not a one-horse house. By referring potential candidates to the rush chairs, you can help sustain and nurture the growth of the Beta Chapter in the future. If you know any young men with the character, integrity, and leadership worthy of becoming a Sammy Beta, please let us know. Send an e-mail to [email protected]; your referral will be deeply appreciated. Have a terrific holiday season, and we look forward to bringing you news of our pledge class in the spring. Best regards to your friends, family, and loved ones. Justin Weitz ’07 Rush Chair
Brothers Attend National Convention “Elia, get up.” That large burly hand shaking me awake, the gruff voice, Dennis Paese is definitely waking me up. Where am I, I ask myself; why is Dennis here? I roll out of bed, my mind full of fog. I’m starting to remember now: its convention! This summer, Prior Ben Greene ’07, Exchequer Matt Miller ’07, and I—Elia Zaitsev, recorder extraordinaire—attended the annual Sigma Alpha Mu national convention, hosted this year in the fabulous city of New Orleans. Convention was really something amazing, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend. However, I realize that most of you reading this have probably never been to a Sammy convention. Convention is a grand two- or four-day (alternates every other year) spectacular, where delegates, alumni, and national officers from all over the country converge. It’s all about octagons, handshakes, and risk management. But underneath all that— what it’s really all about—is exactly what any real fraternity is about: the brothers. Attending a convention really shows you
how special and strong the fraternal bond is. You find yourself making instant friends with people you’ve only known for a day. You see men who have jobs, families, and grandchildren reciting the creed and circling up for a good round of fast and firm. All jokes aside, we really learned a lot over the course of those four days. National paid for some top-quality guest speakers, who gave us some new and very different ideas on recruitment, pledging, and risk management. We also had the chance to talk with officers from other chapters to see how people do things differently around the country. We’ve already incorporated some of those ideas this year with great results. We have our first fall pledge class in several years. The rush list for next semester is already much bigger than last year—over 150 at last count. I look forward to attending convention again next year, when we will take home the Founder’s Cup. Elia Zaitsev ’07 Recorder
Brothers from Beta Chapter pose for a photo with Sigma Iotas in front of their house at the University of Michigan. Back row, from left to right, are Jamie Spithogiannis (Sigma Iota), Ben Greene ’07, David Fine ’07, David Kiferbaum ’08, Adam Schnabel ’07, and Joshua Goldman ’07. Sigma Iotas Jon Sherman and Jeremy Cohen are pictured in front.
Sammy Performs Well In Fall Athletics This fall semester saw some of the best athletic performances in recent years by Sammy brothers. With a number of crushing victories in both soccer and flag football early in the season, we had two teams proceed all the way to the finals. The soccer team proved to put up a strong fight with solid goalkeeping by Daniel Carlton ’06. Other team members included Daniel Orr ’07, Joshua Rubin ’06, and David Zahora ’06. The dedication showed by this team was immense— not only participating in weekly games but also practicing once or twice a week. The final game, although it was an upset, dis-
played great team effort and sportsmanship. A crowd of brothers were on the sidelines cheering in support in what was truly one of the finer sporting events the brotherhood has seen this semester. Sammy Beta not only dominated the soccer fields but also the football this fall. Under the coaching of Charlie Niesenbaum ’08, the flag football team had a record of 4-1 before making it to the playoffs. This team also had weekly practices along with games, showing a level of commitment not seen in recent years. One game in particular stands out with an impressive win of 49-7 versus Pi Kappa
Phi. The team performed well in the final game, but was unsuccessful in taking the win. Sammy Beta is looking forward to competing in ultimate frisbee, bowling, and basketball for the rest of the fall semester. Brandon Charles ’07 Athletic Chair
3
Fall 2005
OUR ALUMNI SEND THEIR NEWS Sanford Reiss ’47 writes, “Bea and I retired in 1996. I’m loving retirement. I attend LIFE classes (learning is forever) and Bible class, which is a great, fun learning experience.” Sandy, a retired physician reports that he has four children and three grandchildren. Write to him at 846 Village Green, Westfield, NJ 07090. Bernard A. Yablin ’48 reports that he has four daughters: Vanessa, 51, head of Jewish religious studies at the University of Virigina and a writer; Rachelle, 42, a school guidance counselor; Adrian, 14; and Dorian, 11. “I am nine years into retirement from pediatrics practice and live in the Jewish House of Rochester. My wife and two youngest daughters live in Fairport, New York.” Write to “Bud” at Jewish House of Rochester, 2021 Wint o n R d . S , # 3 2 5 , R o c h e s t e r, N Y 14618; [email protected]. “I have not retired, but continue to work at my apartment houses,” writes Richard J. Gilbert ’49. “My wife—Joy (Stern) Gilbert , Cornell class of 1951 and Sigma Delta Tau—and I continue to take trips all over the world.” Keep in touch with Dick at 20 Winchester Dr., Lexington, MA 02420. E-mail him at [email protected]. Norman Morse ’51 reports an updated address of 111 Wedgewood Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221. E-mail him at [email protected]. Irwin M. Jacobs ’54 (2710 Inverness Ct., LaJolla, CA 92037; [email protected]) writes, “Our grandson, Adam Jacobs, is a sophomore at Cornell this fall. We enjoyed a visit with him last fall while speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Cornell Nano-Scale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), just as he learned he had earned a position as catcher on the baseball team. We enjoyed a dinner with President Lehman and his wife, along with Adam and Professor Les Eastman, with whom I took a course on vacuum tubes (yes, that’s how old I am) and his wife, and also Professor Toby Berger, who holds the Jacobs chair, and his wife, Florence. Florence is a professor in the hotel school,
Beta Bulletin
4
where I was enrolled for three semesters before transferring to engineering. Adam is the oldest of our 10 grandchildren, with one more on the way.”
editor, and we’re gearing up for our 45th reunion in 2007.” Keep in touch with Mike at 444 E. 82nd St., #26 D, New York, NY 10028. E-mail him at [email protected].
“After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1962 and six months active duty in the Army, I started practicing law, and 41 years later finds me doing the same thing,” writes Steven W. Wolfe ’59. “I am a partner in the midtown Manhattan firm of Kantor, Daidoff, Wolfe, Mandelker, and Kass, where I maintain a varied practice. I am also in charge of IT at my firm— perhaps those two years of math and physics at Cornell did accomplish anything. My wife and I celebrate our 40 th wedding anniversary next year. We have one child, Jessica, who graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1992, first in her class and summa cum laude, and got a PhD from Stamford. She is now an assistant professor at UNC. My wife and I travel regularly, and our last exciting trip was to Sicily this past May. I have also become a drinker and collector of fine wines (I hate the word “connoisseur”) and have shared bottles with some of the heavyweights, speaking metaphorically, of course, in the wine world.” Write to Steven at 400 W. End Ave., #4C, New York, NY 10024. Send him e-mail at [email protected].
“Jane and I are teaching computer courses abroad cruise ships,” writes Leonard Levine ’63. “Our latest venture is a six-week cruise around the southern tip of South America to Buenos Aires. Our son, Mark, is married a year now to Joelle, and we have two lovely grandchildren (by marriage), Brook and Adam. Many trips to Indianapolis are predicted to see the k i d s . ” Wr i t e t o L e n a t 1 4 9 8 6 E . Crown Ct., Scottsdale, AZ 85268. E-mail him at [email protected].
Michael Eisgrau ’62 writes, “After getting my BA from Cornell in literature and speech and drama, I received my master’s in broadcast journalism from Medill Graduate School of Journalism at Northwestern University. I’ve spent the last 43 years in broadcast news and public relations.” During that time, Mike has held a number of positions in his field—including serving as a reporter for WNEW Radio News in New York, working as a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and serving as an editor of “Good Day, New York.” Mike now works as the director of public affairs for the Jacob K. Javits Convention C e n t e r o f N e w Yo r k . “ I ’ m s h o r t l y going to retire, and my wife, Betty, and I hope to divide our time between homes in Florida, in the winter, and New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in the summer. But I will continue in PR consulting and perhaps journalism teaching. Since graduation, I’ve been a vice president of the Cornell class of 1962. I’m the class newsletter
David A. Beale ’71 writes, “I have been practicing law in Delray Beach, Florida, for the past seven years and prior to that, for five years in Boca Raton, since moving to Florida from New York in 1993. My wife, Tina now works with me as office manager and paralegal after careers as social worker, school administrator, insurance agent, and banker. Our daughter, Janna, 23, works in an after-school center for disadvantaged kids. Our son, Joshua, 22, is about to make Aliya to Israel, and o u r d a u g h t e r, E l a n a , 1 8 , i s i n h e r sophomore year at Cornell.” Write to David at 11894 Island Lakes Ln., Boca Raton, FL 33498; [email protected]. “I got married in 1999 to my beautiful wife, Paulette,” writes David S. Rowell ’93 (202 Ryder Corner Rd., Sunapee, NH 03782; david@rowell). “We had our first child, Abigail, in 2001, and she has been the center of my world ever since. I have been working as a software engineer since graduation and just marked my 10th year at my current employer, Tally Systems Corp. I’ve become an avid runner, competing in seven half marathons since 2000 and one marathon of my own making to memorialize my mother, who passed away from cancer in 2003. I am also the captain of a relay team that competes in a 209-mile relay race called Reach the Beach. Our team website is www.runrestrepeat.com.” Eric S. Braustein ’99 reports a new address of 301 E. 47th St., #16E, New York, NY 10017. Send him e-mail at [email protected].
CORNELL UNIVERSITY FALL 2005
Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu, Ithaca, NY
Prior Reports On State Of Beta Chapter As usual, it has been and will definitely continue to be a busy semester for everyone. The work is difficult, the weather is cold, and exams are just around the corner here at Cornell. As the month of November slowly creeps up on the brothers of Beta Chapter, we begin to realize just how far into the semester we really are and all that has happened up to this point. For the alumni who are not familiar with the council situation here at Sammy Beta, my name is Benjamin Greene, and I am the prior for the current 2005-2006 academic year. As I look back on what has happened in the last three months, I would argue that the beginning months of this year are something every brother in the chapter should be proud of. Our accomplishments both in the house and in the classroom are unmatched by the great majority of fraternities on the Hill. Since starting in August, we have: successfully recruited a fall pledge class; greatly improved our social status on campus by holding extremely successful social events with sororities and friends across Cornell; restructured the chair sys-
tem within the house; prepared two huge philanthropic events for later in the semester; and instilled one of the strongest recruiting mentalities among members that most brothers have ever experienced. Among other things, the most important goal for the upcoming year is recruitment. After beginning our year with 42 active brothers and continuing to live in our new house at 10 Sisson Place, there is a need to expand our numbers. The focus this year will be on recruitment and how we can incorporate it into every aspect of our semester’s schedules. This year’s rush chair and committee are stacked with some of the most committed and experienced brothers in the house including the prior Prior, Dan Bushansky ’06, and the prior social chair, Justin Weitz ’07. As a brotherhood, we are doing everything we can to finish the year with at least 62 or more active members. However, the semester is not all work and no play, as most of the alumni probably know. The house has major plans in
the works for some huge social events, as well as some major trips to other chapters. The purpose of these trips is to not only show brothers a good time, but also to enhance new members’ experiences by showing them what other chapters are like and the mentality of the Sammy family. Since the start of the year, we have been able to visit Sammy Sigma Iota at the University of Michigan and are in the process of planning an event in early November with the Sammy Ottowa chapter in Ontario. Other events will be announced later on in the semester via the list serve. Overall, the current status of Sammy at this point in the semester is something every brother should be proud of. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me or our alumni chair, Adam Schnabel ’07, at [email protected]. Thanks again to all readers, and I look forward to hearing from you. Fast and Firm, Ben Greene ’07 Prior
Homecoming 2005 A Great Success This year, the Beta Chapter welcomed its alumni back to campus with a stellar lineup of events over Homecoming weekend. It is now our second year at the new house at 10 Sisson Place, and the brotherhood has learned a great deal about how to organize and execute a great Homecoming program; and this year went more smoothly than ever. On Friday evening, a reception was held at 10 Sisson Place as the alumni were just getting into town. Cocktails were shared over sparkling conversation, and a good time was had by all. Saturday morning was host to the (continued on page two)
Sammy Betas watch the Cornell Homecoming football game with alumni. Front row, from left to right, are Brian Wolther ’05, Adam Gad Fischman ’05, Andrew Coren ’05, and Andrew Zizmor ’05. Back row, from left to right, are Matt Rogers ’06, Daniel Bushansky ’06, Brett Greenberg, ’08, Justin Weitz ’07, Ben Greene ’07, and Adam Schnabel ’07.
Beta Alumni Invade Los Angeles Several months ago, I received a request from Steve Scheck ’72 for the mailing list for Sammies from the classes of 1969-’73. Steve, Norm Rafelson ’71, Squire Junger ’71, and Marc Cohen ’71 put their heads together and contacted members of these class about having a reunion of Sammies on the west coast. Steve is the GM at the Sportmen’s Lodge Hotel in Studio City, and this became our headquarters for the weekend. The response was tremendous. On October 7-9, brothers from all over the country showed up—some alone, some with wives, and others with their whole family. Some of us hadn’t seen each other in 35 years. The weekend was filled with a number of memorable events, both planned and otherwise, and an excellent time was had by all.
In addition to a barbecue on Friday evening, a dinner cruise on Saturday from Marina Del Rey, and the Sunday Gospel Brunch at the LA House of Blues, Steve arranged for VIP tickets to the King Tut Exhibit in LA, and others were able to take in sites such as the new Getty Museum. There were a couple of cocktails throughout the weekend, a late-night poker game, and hours and hours of jokes, stories and memories that made the whole weekend totally outstanding. At Friday night’s barbecue, each brother took the mic and spent a few minutes bringing each of us up to date on what they had been doing since graduation. I was able to give the group an update on our chapter, and the strides it had made since its refounding in 1985—including moving to a new home just last year.
It was an amazing gathering. People in different fields, from different parts of the country, and completely different life experiences gathered together because they all had one thing in common: They are all Sammies. As has been said many, many times, you are not a Sammy for four years, but for a lifetime. It seemed like just yesterday when we were all together at Cornell. The only sour note of the entire gathering was that Norm Rafelson “got an offer he couldn’t refuse” to run a hotel in China, and thus was not able to attend. He was truly missed, especially, as I understand it, since the gathering was his idea. Dennis Paese ’73 Chapter Advisor
Alumni and friends gather for a Beta reunion in Los Angeles.
Beta Bulletin Published regularly by Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity at Cornell University for its members and friends. News contributions and pictures are always welcome and should be sent to Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Alumni Records Office, P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876.
Beta Bulletin
2
Homecoming (continued from page one) annual Sammy tailgate before the Cornell Homecoming football game. Undergraduate brothers gathering in the parking lot behind Schloellkopf field were joined by many recent graduates, as well as some alumni whom they had never met before. Dennis Paese ’73 took his usual position behind the grill for the majority of the morning, serving an abundance of food— including a veritable cornucopia of produce bought by Joel Moses ’85 at the Ithaca Farmers Market that morning. Later on in the afternoon, the group made its way to the football game to watch Big Red
crush the Georgetown Hoyas 57-7, confirming rumors that the Cornell football team has shown improvement this season. The following morning, some of the visiting alumni gathered back at the house for a farewell brunch before hitting the road for the ride home. Scott Kramer ’06 remarked, “It was great to be able to hang out with brothers who graduated in the past few years. We all had a really great time.” The Beta Chapter is looking forward to hosting more great alumni events in the near future. Adam Schnabel ’07 Alumni Chair
Beta Chapter Rushes To Success Once again, the Beta Chapter kicked off its recruitment season with exciting activities designed to swell our ranks and improve our brotherhood. The four rush chairs—Dan Bushansky ’06, Justin Weitz ’07, Andrew Lamkay ’07, and Charles Niesenbaum ’08—spearheaded Beta’s efforts to attract a class of exemplary young men for the future. For the first time since 2001, the Beta Chapter has a fall pledge class. Fall rush featured frequent dinners at the house, an orientation week barbecue, and the ninth annual Sammy Autumn Fest—a traditional celebration of Indian summer. But all good fraters know the ancient saying that rush, from infancy to old age, “never ends.” The rush chairs have planned a spate of events to attract
potential candidates for the brotherhood. Special rush-only social events, freshmanthemed weekly dinners, and Monday Night Football are once again a cornerstone of our rush foundation. Of course, Sammygiving, our annual Thanksgiving festival, is right around the corner! For Beta, rush is an ongoing process that requires the multilateral efforts of everyone in the house. Philanthropic, social, and brotherhood events all contain a rush component with the underlying goal of strengthening our house and upholding the high standards of moral distinction that characterize our brotherhood. As alumni, parents, and friends of the Beta Chapter, the power is in your hands to help us out. Rush is not a one-way
street, and Beta is not a one-horse house. By referring potential candidates to the rush chairs, you can help sustain and nurture the growth of the Beta Chapter in the future. If you know any young men with the character, integrity, and leadership worthy of becoming a Sammy Beta, please let us know. Send an e-mail to [email protected]; your referral will be deeply appreciated. Have a terrific holiday season, and we look forward to bringing you news of our pledge class in the spring. Best regards to your friends, family, and loved ones. Justin Weitz ’07 Rush Chair
Brothers Attend National Convention “Elia, get up.” That large burly hand shaking me awake, the gruff voice, Dennis Paese is definitely waking me up. Where am I, I ask myself; why is Dennis here? I roll out of bed, my mind full of fog. I’m starting to remember now: its convention! This summer, Prior Ben Greene ’07, Exchequer Matt Miller ’07, and I—Elia Zaitsev, recorder extraordinaire—attended the annual Sigma Alpha Mu national convention, hosted this year in the fabulous city of New Orleans. Convention was really something amazing, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend. However, I realize that most of you reading this have probably never been to a Sammy convention. Convention is a grand two- or four-day (alternates every other year) spectacular, where delegates, alumni, and national officers from all over the country converge. It’s all about octagons, handshakes, and risk management. But underneath all that— what it’s really all about—is exactly what any real fraternity is about: the brothers. Attending a convention really shows you
how special and strong the fraternal bond is. You find yourself making instant friends with people you’ve only known for a day. You see men who have jobs, families, and grandchildren reciting the creed and circling up for a good round of fast and firm. All jokes aside, we really learned a lot over the course of those four days. National paid for some top-quality guest speakers, who gave us some new and very different ideas on recruitment, pledging, and risk management. We also had the chance to talk with officers from other chapters to see how people do things differently around the country. We’ve already incorporated some of those ideas this year with great results. We have our first fall pledge class in several years. The rush list for next semester is already much bigger than last year—over 150 at last count. I look forward to attending convention again next year, when we will take home the Founder’s Cup. Elia Zaitsev ’07 Recorder
Brothers from Beta Chapter pose for a photo with Sigma Iotas in front of their house at the University of Michigan. Back row, from left to right, are Jamie Spithogiannis (Sigma Iota), Ben Greene ’07, David Fine ’07, David Kiferbaum ’08, Adam Schnabel ’07, and Joshua Goldman ’07. Sigma Iotas Jon Sherman and Jeremy Cohen are pictured in front.
Sammy Performs Well In Fall Athletics This fall semester saw some of the best athletic performances in recent years by Sammy brothers. With a number of crushing victories in both soccer and flag football early in the season, we had two teams proceed all the way to the finals. The soccer team proved to put up a strong fight with solid goalkeeping by Daniel Carlton ’06. Other team members included Daniel Orr ’07, Joshua Rubin ’06, and David Zahora ’06. The dedication showed by this team was immense— not only participating in weekly games but also practicing once or twice a week. The final game, although it was an upset, dis-
played great team effort and sportsmanship. A crowd of brothers were on the sidelines cheering in support in what was truly one of the finer sporting events the brotherhood has seen this semester. Sammy Beta not only dominated the soccer fields but also the football this fall. Under the coaching of Charlie Niesenbaum ’08, the flag football team had a record of 4-1 before making it to the playoffs. This team also had weekly practices along with games, showing a level of commitment not seen in recent years. One game in particular stands out with an impressive win of 49-7 versus Pi Kappa
Phi. The team performed well in the final game, but was unsuccessful in taking the win. Sammy Beta is looking forward to competing in ultimate frisbee, bowling, and basketball for the rest of the fall semester. Brandon Charles ’07 Athletic Chair
3
Fall 2005
OUR ALUMNI SEND THEIR NEWS Sanford Reiss ’47 writes, “Bea and I retired in 1996. I’m loving retirement. I attend LIFE classes (learning is forever) and Bible class, which is a great, fun learning experience.” Sandy, a retired physician reports that he has four children and three grandchildren. Write to him at 846 Village Green, Westfield, NJ 07090. Bernard A. Yablin ’48 reports that he has four daughters: Vanessa, 51, head of Jewish religious studies at the University of Virigina and a writer; Rachelle, 42, a school guidance counselor; Adrian, 14; and Dorian, 11. “I am nine years into retirement from pediatrics practice and live in the Jewish House of Rochester. My wife and two youngest daughters live in Fairport, New York.” Write to “Bud” at Jewish House of Rochester, 2021 Wint o n R d . S , # 3 2 5 , R o c h e s t e r, N Y 14618; [email protected]. “I have not retired, but continue to work at my apartment houses,” writes Richard J. Gilbert ’49. “My wife—Joy (Stern) Gilbert , Cornell class of 1951 and Sigma Delta Tau—and I continue to take trips all over the world.” Keep in touch with Dick at 20 Winchester Dr., Lexington, MA 02420. E-mail him at [email protected]. Norman Morse ’51 reports an updated address of 111 Wedgewood Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221. E-mail him at [email protected]. Irwin M. Jacobs ’54 (2710 Inverness Ct., LaJolla, CA 92037; [email protected]) writes, “Our grandson, Adam Jacobs, is a sophomore at Cornell this fall. We enjoyed a visit with him last fall while speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Cornell Nano-Scale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), just as he learned he had earned a position as catcher on the baseball team. We enjoyed a dinner with President Lehman and his wife, along with Adam and Professor Les Eastman, with whom I took a course on vacuum tubes (yes, that’s how old I am) and his wife, and also Professor Toby Berger, who holds the Jacobs chair, and his wife, Florence. Florence is a professor in the hotel school,
Beta Bulletin
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where I was enrolled for three semesters before transferring to engineering. Adam is the oldest of our 10 grandchildren, with one more on the way.”
editor, and we’re gearing up for our 45th reunion in 2007.” Keep in touch with Mike at 444 E. 82nd St., #26 D, New York, NY 10028. E-mail him at [email protected].
“After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1962 and six months active duty in the Army, I started practicing law, and 41 years later finds me doing the same thing,” writes Steven W. Wolfe ’59. “I am a partner in the midtown Manhattan firm of Kantor, Daidoff, Wolfe, Mandelker, and Kass, where I maintain a varied practice. I am also in charge of IT at my firm— perhaps those two years of math and physics at Cornell did accomplish anything. My wife and I celebrate our 40 th wedding anniversary next year. We have one child, Jessica, who graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1992, first in her class and summa cum laude, and got a PhD from Stamford. She is now an assistant professor at UNC. My wife and I travel regularly, and our last exciting trip was to Sicily this past May. I have also become a drinker and collector of fine wines (I hate the word “connoisseur”) and have shared bottles with some of the heavyweights, speaking metaphorically, of course, in the wine world.” Write to Steven at 400 W. End Ave., #4C, New York, NY 10024. Send him e-mail at [email protected].
“Jane and I are teaching computer courses abroad cruise ships,” writes Leonard Levine ’63. “Our latest venture is a six-week cruise around the southern tip of South America to Buenos Aires. Our son, Mark, is married a year now to Joelle, and we have two lovely grandchildren (by marriage), Brook and Adam. Many trips to Indianapolis are predicted to see the k i d s . ” Wr i t e t o L e n a t 1 4 9 8 6 E . Crown Ct., Scottsdale, AZ 85268. E-mail him at [email protected].
Michael Eisgrau ’62 writes, “After getting my BA from Cornell in literature and speech and drama, I received my master’s in broadcast journalism from Medill Graduate School of Journalism at Northwestern University. I’ve spent the last 43 years in broadcast news and public relations.” During that time, Mike has held a number of positions in his field—including serving as a reporter for WNEW Radio News in New York, working as a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and serving as an editor of “Good Day, New York.” Mike now works as the director of public affairs for the Jacob K. Javits Convention C e n t e r o f N e w Yo r k . “ I ’ m s h o r t l y going to retire, and my wife, Betty, and I hope to divide our time between homes in Florida, in the winter, and New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in the summer. But I will continue in PR consulting and perhaps journalism teaching. Since graduation, I’ve been a vice president of the Cornell class of 1962. I’m the class newsletter
David A. Beale ’71 writes, “I have been practicing law in Delray Beach, Florida, for the past seven years and prior to that, for five years in Boca Raton, since moving to Florida from New York in 1993. My wife, Tina now works with me as office manager and paralegal after careers as social worker, school administrator, insurance agent, and banker. Our daughter, Janna, 23, works in an after-school center for disadvantaged kids. Our son, Joshua, 22, is about to make Aliya to Israel, and o u r d a u g h t e r, E l a n a , 1 8 , i s i n h e r sophomore year at Cornell.” Write to David at 11894 Island Lakes Ln., Boca Raton, FL 33498; [email protected]. “I got married in 1999 to my beautiful wife, Paulette,” writes David S. Rowell ’93 (202 Ryder Corner Rd., Sunapee, NH 03782; david@rowell). “We had our first child, Abigail, in 2001, and she has been the center of my world ever since. I have been working as a software engineer since graduation and just marked my 10th year at my current employer, Tally Systems Corp. I’ve become an avid runner, competing in seven half marathons since 2000 and one marathon of my own making to memorialize my mother, who passed away from cancer in 2003. I am also the captain of a relay team that competes in a 209-mile relay race called Reach the Beach. Our team website is www.runrestrepeat.com.” Eric S. Braustein ’99 reports a new address of 301 E. 47th St., #16E, New York, NY 10017. Send him e-mail at [email protected].
