CORNELLPHISIG.ORG FaLL 2013

GAMMA CHAPTER OF PHI SIGMA KAPPA • CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Alumni Fully EngAgEdIt’s been a very active year since Bill Miller

asked a small group of Phi Sig alumni to help the undergrads navigate through some tough times. In sum, the current brothers rose to the occasion and, just as importantly, so have our alumni. I can speak for all of us by saying we are “damn proud.”

Gamma Advisors: This informal commit-tee of alumni helped the undergrads regain university recognition in July. As Dave Makee points out, “We are working hard to change the way we operate.” Gamma Advisors contin-ues to meet monthly with Dave and the officers to ensure that they are actively managing their re-sponsibility and guaranteeing a strong future for the house.

Capital Campaign: In September, Steve Fontana ’79 hosted 11 alumni and under-grads at his Ithaca home to discuss the plans for the future of Gamma, focusing on five areas: undergrads, alumni as-sociation, Cornell community, house infrastructure, and finance.

Discussions included objec-tives, themes, undergraduate in-put, kitchen operations, culture, house appearance, capital needs, and the endowment fund. We agreed to spend the next few months building a plan that we will share with all of you in early 2014. In ad-dition, we agreed to spend this time strengthen-ing relationships through better communication between current brothers and alumni.

Database Clean-up and Communication Initiative: Techies Rob Comella and Mike Moore are parsing up the alumni database so that broth-ers can reach out to all of you by phone over the next two months with the goals of:• Confirming your contact information• Communicating what’s happening at Gamma• Laying the groundwork for a capital cam-

paign and celebration next year

So, please expect a call from a brother from your graduating year in the next two months. We could use more help on this from interested alum-ni, especially from the years 1995–2010.

Gamma@125 Celebration, October 2014: Mark your calendars for a celebration to rival Cornell Reunion! Brothers Mike Rosenblatt, Ken Dearden, and Rob Nieporent are working up a plan for our 125th anniversary next fall. More on this soon!

Greeks at Cornell: Mike “Dinty” Moore has been leading this effort to:

• Improve our relations with the Cornell ad-ministration

• Keep us abreast of Cornell’s planning and direction for the Greek system

See Mike’s article on page two for more.

Communications Team: Led by Jeff Hirschberg and Dun-

can Murrell, this team has added some spice to our Gamma Con-

tact. We hope you like it, espe-cially the interviews of alumni

by new members, edited by Bart Codd. It’s great to have world-class professionals help us in this way.

As you can see, we have an active group of alumni who have

stepped up to help us in many ways. We can always use more help, so reach out to

any of us if you are interested. The following brothers are playing an active

role for Gamma, so please thank them (in gradu-ation year order):Steve Hall ’56 — Capital CampaignBob Chase ’59 — Capital CampaignRon Obermeyer ’60 — Board, Capital CampaignDave McNeil ’72 — Gamma AdvisorsBill Miller ’73 — Board, Alumni President,

Gamma AdvisorsDave Roth ’75 — Gamma Advisors, Capital

CampaignSteve Fontana ’79 — Gamma Advisors, Capital

Campaign

Rob Comella ’88 — Data ManagementBart Codd ’88 — CommunicationDoug Ringel ’88 — Capital CampaignRichard Baker ’88 — Capital CampaignSean Callnin ’88 — Capital CampaignKen Terhaar ’88 — Gamma AdvisorsJeff Hirschberg ’89 — Communication, Gamma

AdvisorsDave Feldman ’89 — Capital CampaignKen Dearden ’89 — Gamma@125, Capital

CampaignDuncan Murrell ’90 — CommunicationSteve Cohen ’90 — CommunicationMike Rosenblatt ’90 — Gamma@125, Capital

CampaignRob Hadley ’92 — CommunicationBrian Drumm ’96 — Gamma Advisors, BoardRob Hadley ’92 — CommunicationJason Schiciano ’92 — CommunicationJosh Jacobs ’06 — Gamma AdvisorsMichael Weiss ’06 — Gamma Advisors, BoardRob Nieporent ’09 — Gamma@125, Gamma

AdvisorsMatt Loeb ’11 — Gamma AdvisorsMike Mascarenhas ’11 — Gamma Advisors

Finally, while this effort at a chapter level to rebuild relationships and chart our future is criti-cal, it is equally imperative that each of you make an effort to foster relationships with your brothers whenever you can. I encourage you to organize a quarterly coffee klatch, to invite brothers and their families over for a holiday party, to enjoy a barbe-cue and watch football, etc.

Because, as you all know, this is a brother-hood for life. And, it’s worth it.

Fraternally, Eric Bobby ’88Gamma Advisors, Capital Campaign, Board

HArd Work lEAds to strong rEcovEryBrothers:

I am proud to report that, after months of meetings and conference calls with undergradu-ates, alumni, and the administration, the frater-nity is making a strong recovery.

Recent highlights include:• Regaining our recognition in July, along with

all of the university-recognized benefits, in-cluding social privileges and the ability to take in new members

• Initiating six new sophomores in October, whom

we are proud to welcome to the brotherhood. • Planning a number of exciting philanthropy events• Preparing the rushing process for freshmen

next semesterBeyond these updates, the brotherhood has

also worked with alumni brothers to:• Rework our chapter’s culture and operations • Move Gamma Chapter in a positive direction

that is in tune with Cornell’s Greek system• Ensure a strong Gamma Chapter for the cur-

rent brotherhood and future Phi Sigs

Changes center around being a model chap-ter and improving social, operational, and financial management. We completely reworked our pledging process, and our process now emphasizes the educa-tion of the new brother and builds upon his character.

At the beginning of the semester, each brother signed a standards-of-conduct document, which contained an agreed-upon list of ideals and behaviors. Socially, we are more organized and more responsible when hosting events. We make

A PositivE PErsPEctivE on tHE cornEll grEEk systEmThe Greek system is dead! Long live the

Greeks! I have had the opportunity to get engaged with the Cornell administration in the last year and have gained a very positive perspective on the state of the Greek system at Cornell.

A few key statistics on the Greek system at Cornell from the last year: • 4,400 current members• 32% of undergrads• Total new members last year were

up over the five-year trend• 48 fraternities and sororities, plus 15

other recognized Greek associations• 51K hours and $220K raised for

philanthropic causes• $2.6 million invested in facilities improvements

My impression just six months ago, based pri-marily on ongoing media coverage of President Skorton by Cornell and independent media out-lets, had been that the administration views the Greek system primarily as a problem to the uni-versity and that the way to eliminate alcohol abuse and hazing from Cornell would be to eliminate the Greek system.

Having met with Travis Apgar, dean of students for the Greek system, with Kent Hubbell, dean of

students, and with other Greek alumni leaders, I now know that the university sees value in the Greek system (in fact, there are data from graduating se-niors showing that Greeks have development op-portunities that non-Greeks do not have) and that Cornell is very supportive of the Greek system. They did acknowledge that the Greek system was initially singled out as the focus of university efforts to reduce alcohol abuse and hazing: in particular, to the exclu-

sion of targeting other entities known to be problem-atic, such as athletics. That is no longer the case, as demonstrated by the suspension of the lacrosse team this fall for a hazing incident.

Cornell is also investing resources to help the Greek system adapt to a changing world; the drinking age is 21 (Rulloff ’s and Dunbars are the only bars left in C-town, and Dunbars is for sale) and hazing simply isn’t going to be tolerated (this is a nationwide change, not a Cornell-specific ef-fort). The university recognizes the importance of

the new-member education process (please don’t call it “pledging” any longer) and knows that cre-ating bonding experiences is key, but it just wants to ensure it is done without alcohol, without en-dangering anyone, and without creating a class hierarchy within the house. Cornell is commit-ted to working with the undergrads to build pro-grams that accomplish this. As Dean Apgar put it, we have some of the most creative minds on the

planet at Cornell; we ought to be able to come up with some ideas! To that end, the dean’s office has invested in the re-sources that are available to work with Greek houses on their new-member programs, ensuring that they meet the

objectives of the individual house in ways that also meet the new demands.

So, the Greek system continues to be quite healthy and strong, the university seems commit-ted to supporting it, the Phi Sig undergrads have done a great job getting back on track, and Phi Sig alumni have been extremely engaged and sup-portive. Through a period of adversity, the house becomes stronger!

Damn proud,Mike Moore ’88

gAnnon mEmoriAl golF tournAmEnt rEmEmbErs FAllEn brotHEr

At the end of September, many alumni brothers and friends gathered in Ithaca for the 10th annual Richard Gannon Memorial Golf Tournament. Brother Richard “Rick” Gannon ’95 was commissioned as a Marine of-ficer in 1995 after graduating from Cornell in December 1994, with majors in political science and history, and after attending the Naval Academy for advanced courses. He was killed in a firefight in Iraq during 2004 and post-humously received a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

During this year’s memorial tournament, Mrs. Sally Gannon and her son, Richard “Rick” John Gannon III, joined many undergrad brothers, alumni brothers, and Gannon’s fellow service members in Ithaca for a day of golf and a dinner reception. Specifically, 56 alumni and

16 undergrad brothers attended the event. Also, the alumni brothers of Phi Sigma Kappa sponsored several Marines who served with Rick to attend the tournament, including flights and hotels.

During the event, approximately $4,000 was raised for the Brother Rick Gannon Memorial Fund. In addi-tion, the team led by Brother Austin Lord captured the Gannon Cup with a blazing score of 59. Furthermore, Brother Rick’s tile from The Royal Palm was rescued, beautifully framed, and will hang in Gamma Chapter. Brother Kevin Ellenwood ’97 originally painted the tile. More details about next year’s tournament will be cir-culated as they are available.

Alec Kane ’15Brother Alex Bogel ’94 with

Rick’s tile from the Palm

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PaGE TWO CORNELLPHISIG.ORG

We have some of the most creative minds on the planet at Cornell; we ought

to be able to come up with some ideas!

nEW mEmbErs connEct WitH AlumniFrom time out of mind, new members (formerly

known as "pledges," among other monikers) have been required to interview all senior members of the chapter in order to ensure that the wit, wisdom, and hard-won experience of the senior brothers would be passed on to the new men. This year, the latest class of new members thought, "Why stop there?" So the new members also reached out to alumni brothers, many of whom, as we know, have gone on to great success. We're happy to bring you some of these interviews.

Thanks to brothers John Burchfield ’16, Brian Cummins ’16, Alex Farhang ’16, Luka Jankovic ’16, Andrew Petric ’16, and Antron Spooner ’16, who conducted these interviews as part of their new-member education program.

Brother Douglas Ralph Moore School of Industrial & Labor Relations, 1988

After graduating from the ILR school in 1988, Brother Moore received his MBA from the S.C. John-son Graduate School of Management in 1991 and has since developed a career in finance and management. For the past two and a half years, he has held the post of chief financial officer of Pyramis Global Advisors LLC, an institutional asset-management firm with nearly $200 billion in assets. Doug lives in Rhode Is-land with his wife, Amy, their three children, Sadie, Julia, and Grayson, and dog Charlie.

Q: Doug, what do remember most about your time as a Phi Sig?

A: I’ll never forget the “Escape” parties, our orientation-week outdoor bashes with band, and probably a thousand people on our back lawn! But what’s most important to me are the deep bonds of friendship I’ve formed with fellow brothers, which have only grown in the years since Cornell.

Q: And how have you stayed connected with the brothers?

A: Well, most significant has been Team “CU Later MS,” a bike team that has raised nearly $300,000 for multiple sclerosis (MS) research over the course of eight annual rides, starting in 2006, when a bunch of the brothers, including Eric Bob-by ’88, Doug Ringel ’88, Tim Goodman ’88, Sean

Callnin ’88, John Ehmann ’87, Dave McGinley ’88, Mike Moore ’88, Tim Harrison ’89, Bart Codd ’88, Dave Feldman ’89, and I first rode.

Q: Brother Moore, what advice would you offer to young Phi Sigs?

A: Take full advantage of the college experi-ence; it’s way more than just academics. Live your lives with integrity, and never forget the value of relationships and the power of networks.

Brother Richard Alan BakerSchool of Hotel Administration, 1988

After graduating from the School of Hotel Administration in 1988, Brother Richard Baker began his career working at his family’s business, National Realty Development Corporation, one of the largest private owners of shopping centers in the U.S., and went on to build an impressive track record in real estate and retail. He is now the CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company, an iconic Ca-nadian retailer founded in 1670, which is the old-est continuously operating company in the world. Revitalizing “the Bay,” which also owns Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue, ranks as his proud-est professional achievement.

Brother Baker has given back generously to Cornell and the hotel school, where he serves on the advisory board. In honor of an $11 million gift from Brother Baker and his wife, the university has just christened the Baker Program in Real Estate, a two-year professional program jointly adminis-tered by the School of Hotel Administration, the College of Art, Architecture, and Planning, and the Johnson School of Management.

Brother Baker lives in Greenwich, Connecticut with his family (“my real proudest achievement”): wife Lisa and children Henry, Jack, and Serena.

Q: Brother Baker, what do you think of when you think of Phi Sigma Kappa?

A: Phi Sig made a really strong impression on my life. The brotherhood is a special bond that can’t be replicated anywhere else. On a more prac-tical note, serving as house steward for three years was my first opportunity to run a high-class din-ing operation. (laughs)

Q: What advice would you offer to young Phi Sigs?

A: Work hard every day, and, whatever it is you do, give it your all.

Brother Jeffrey HirschbergCollege of Human Ecology, 1989

After graduating in 1989 with a degree in hu-man development, Brother Hirschberg attended Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Com-munications to earn a master’s degree in television and film. He is currently a film professor and direc-tor of the television and film arts program at SUNY Buffalo State. Brother Hirschberg formerly worked at Warner Brothers and in the late-night com-edy division at NBC. He has contributed scripts to Showtime and ABC. In addition to teaching, he has written and directed two short films that have appeared in NYC-based film festivals and has pub-lished a book entitled Reflections of a Shadow.

Q: Brother Hirschberg, what were your most memorable Phi Sig experiences?

A: Lobster dinner with Alpha Chi Omega, Syracuse sorority mixers, and drumming in the house band. And, of course, meeting my future wife, Cindy, an ΑΧΩ at Cornell, at a date night. [Jeff and Cindy have three kids: Marty, 15; Na-than, 12; and Justin, 7. Cindy attended Fordham Law School after graduation and currently works as an attorney.] I keep in touch with Eric Bobby ’88, Steve Cohen ’90, Duncan Murrell ’90, Mitch Kline ’90, Joe Schaal ’88, and many others.

Q: Any advice for the active brothers?A: Keep strong relationships with your brothers,

and build a strong professional network with alumni.

Brother Ozan Varol College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2003

After graduating from CALS in 2003 with a degree in plan-etary sciences, Brother Varol attended the Uni-versity of Iowa College of Law. Brother Varol formerly taught law at the Chicago-Kent Col-lege of Law and prac-ticed as an attorney at Keker & Van Nest LLP

in San Francisco. Last year, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he teaches at the Lewis and Clark Law

Brother Moore (top row, third from right) with CU Later MS 2006 teammates, Brothers Codd,

McGinley, Ehmann, Feldman, Goodman, Mosher, Ringel, and Bobby.

Brother Hirschberg ’89 on set (in light shirt) with film crew members and son Justin.

Jeff, is that what they mean by “best boy”?

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FaLL 2013 PaGE THREE

PAGE FOUR CORNELLPHISIG.ORG

School, specializing in constitutional and criminal law. Brother Varol loves the academic environment of teaching and also enjoys research and publication.

Q: Brother Varol, what do you remember most about your time as a Phi Sig?

A: I’d have to say all of it. It wouldn’t have been college without Phi Sig. But if I had to pick: the senior send-off at Hazlitt Winery, where the other seniors and I, plus our dates, all jumped into the pond; my time as social chair, inductor, and stew-ard; and the friendships most of all. I’m still in close touch with a bunch of the guys, including Steve Vazquez ’01, Andrew Smeltz ’01, Alex Jack ’03, Josh Ebner ’02, Gilbert Tsai ’02, and Joe Sabota ’03.

Q: I hear you have some big news lately?A: This past July, I married Cathy, whom I

met when Brother Sabota accidentally spilled his drink on her. Cathy works in the market-ing department at Adidas in Portland. We got married in Istanbul, Turkey, where I was born and raised.

Q: What advice do you have for the undergrad brothers?

A: Enjoy college, and don’t take life too seri-ously. Make the most of life, and don’t take any-thing for granted.

Brother Bill QuainSchool of Hotel Administration, 1974

Brother Quain did not wait until graduating to get a job. During his time at Cornell, he owned a hotel and restaurant and also acted as the Cornell bear mascot. Upon graduation, he worked in several California wineries with Brother John

Williams ’75. He moved on to get his master’s de-gree in hospitality and a Ph.D. in education. He is now a professor and writer with over 20 books published, including six international bestsellers.

Q: Brother Quain, what are your strongest memories of Phi Sig?

A: Best of all was meeting my wife, Jeanne, at a party in fall 1973! Working hard for the house as steward and social chair—I’ll admit, social chair was much more fun—and just having all those shared experiences with close friends, having up-perclassmen I could look up to, and being tied to a strong tradition.

Q: How are you keeping busy these days?I still teach, I do a lot of phone consulting,

and I do volunteer work with the State of New Jersey, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the De-partment of Homeland Security. I love spending time with my family: Jeanne, my two daughters, Amanda and Kathleen, and a dog named Bailey. I keep in touch with several brothers, including Paul Evans ’74, John Evans, and Bill Miller ’73.

Q: Any advice for today’s young Phi Sigs?A: Remember that all that glitters is not gold.

But if you want the gold, you have to glitter!

Brother Ben WatsonCollege of Arts & Sciences, 1991

Brother Watson was in ROTC at Cornell and, right after graduation in 1991, was com-missioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Ma-

rine Corps. He was soon leading 45 men as a rifle platoon commander. He has been an active duty marine ever since, with deployments to the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterra-nean and command of an infantry battalion that saw significant action in Afghanistan. Brother Watson earned master’s degrees in operational studies and national security strategy. He now holds the rank of lieutenant colonel and serves as special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.

Q: Brother Watson, what did Phi Sig mean to you?A: What was great about being a Phi Sig at Cor-

nell was that it made a big school seem a lot smaller. It was a place to call home and a group of broth-ers I could always count on. I’ll always remember Saturday-night dinners, senior-year spring break in Cancun, and keeping the brothers refreshed as soda-machine manager. I keep in close contact with Derek Chollet ’93, Bill DeVinney ’91, Chris Heffernan ’91, and Mike Gimbel ’91.

Q: What is your life like these days?A: Whew! I get to my office at the Pentagon

by 6:00 a.m., and I’m rarely home before 8:00 p.m. But I still manage to squeeze in quality time with my wife, Janet, my three mutts, and, of course, my two boys.

Q: Brother Watson, what advice can you offer the undergrad brothers?

A: Three things. First, a strong work ethic is everything. Don’t let setbacks discourage you from working hard to achieve your goals. Sec-ond, don’t forget to take the time to build and maintain strong friendships. And finally, above all, have integrity and do something meaningful with your lives.

Brother David B. RothCollege of Engineering, 1975

Brother Roth received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1975 and remained at Cornell for his master’s in the same field. He soon moved to Detroit, where he began working with BorgWarner, the worldwide automotive industry components supplier. He currently works as se-nior technical specialist at BorgWarner’s Ithaca facility, where he specializes in power train and the future of high fuel efficiency. Brother Roth’s proudest professional achievements are the tech-

Left to right: Brother Neil Cheperak ’75 and his wife, unknown, Brother Paul Dionisio ’75 and his wife,

Karen, and Brother Dave Roth ’75 and his wife, Elaine.

nEW mEmbErs connEct WitH Alumni

use of sober monitors and hired security person-nel to ensure adherence to university policies. Op-erationally, we have sought to smooth transitions between officer positions, preparing a training pe-riod in which the new officer can be fully readied for his responsibilities.

Furthermore, to help provide a more stable lead-ership, the president will now be a junior instead of a sophomore. In addition, we are sending brothers Brian Cummins ’16 and Andrew Petric ’16, two of the new initiates, to the university’s Greek Leadership Academy. Finally, Mitch, our live-in advisor, is a posi-tive resource with whom the other officers and I meet regularly. Financially, we are more responsible and have been able to allocate money more efficiently.

We all recognize that Phi Sigma Kappa is a life-long membership and that creating a sustainable fraternity is critical. The brotherhood rose to meet the challenge of regaining recognition and has imple-mented constructive changes with the help of alumni advisors. We strive not to simply conform to the uni-versity’s expectations, but to lead the Greek system as it moves in a new direction.

On behalf of the current undergraduate brothers, we want to thank our alumni for their tireless work in helping us achieve recognition and for setting a course for an undeniably positive future. This is just the beginning.

Damn Proud! Fraternally,

Dave Makee ’15

HArd Work lEAds to strong rEcovEry(continued from page two)

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Brother Ben Watson in Vietnam

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nical papers he has published, though he consid-ers his greatest personal achievements to be his marriage to his wife, Elaine, and the birth of his son, Andrew (now a freshman in college).

Q: What has being a Phi Sig meant to you?A: Phi Sigma Kappa has been an integral part

of my life. The friendships I made have lasted to this day. I and other members from the class of ’75 have kept in close touch through the years; some of us even get together every year after Thanksgiving and spend a day just catching up. More recently, we’ve started up an annual tour. All of these events just go to show how Phi Sig friendships remain tried and true, though many years have passed.

Q: Favorite memories?A: Pledging was a total blast. And getting the

Escape Party off the ground; it was my class that really got that going.

Q: Brother Roth, what is your advice to Phi Sigs facing graduation and moving on to the working world?

A: If you have a keen interest in any subject, stay focused and follow through on all opportunities in that field. You’ll be much happier if you make your life’s work in an area that is fascinating to you.

Brother Brian P. DonnellyCollege of Arts & Sciences, 2004

Brother Donnelly graduated from Cornell University in 2004 with degrees in economics and American studies and completed ROTC training as a commander of the Cornell Navy ROTC bri-gade. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, achieving the rank of captain and deploying to Iraq with Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. Following his service, Brother Donnelly earned master’s degrees in international relations and communications at the University of Oklahoma. He then completed his J.D. degree at Columbia University School of Law in 2011. He is currently living in Washing-ton, D.C., where he practices commercial litiga-tion for Nixon Peabody LLP. Brother Donnelly says that his proudest professional achievements are becoming a Marine, graduating from Colum-bia University School of Law, and his successful six-month deployment to Iraq in 2006.

Q: Brother Donnelly, what are your memories of Phi Sig?

A: Mud track! Escape! Early mornings with the pledges as clean-up manager. And serving as president in my junior and senior years. And just hanging around the house with the brothers.

Q: What’s happening in your life now?A: I’m working long days lately (I get in early

and leave around midnight most nights), but I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife, Jocelyn, and our baby boy, Kieran, who’s four months old now.

Q: Any sage advice for the active brotherhood, Brother Donnelly?

A: Don’t lose touch, maintain contact with your brothers (I’ve been to a bunch of weddings and play hockey every weekend with Rob Murdoch ’04 and Dave Breckbeel ’03), and be sure to keep your net-work of friends and Cornell classmates active.

Brother Paul Dionisio College of Engineering, 1975

After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in civil engineering and then stay-ing at Cornell to earn his master’s one year later, Brother Paul Dionisio went on to work for sev-eral engineering firms, most recently with Urban Engineers, Inc., in New York City. His career has progressed from largely doing environmental/civil engineering work to doing mostly commer-cial and mass-transit engineering. He currently does work on railroads, subways, and even the new World Trade Center tower in NYC. Brother Dionisio’s proudest professional achievement was being awarded fellow status by the American So-ciety of Civil Engineers.

Q: Brother Dionisio, tell us about your experi-ences as a Phi Sig.

I was proud to have the chance to be social chair, vice president, and president at Phi Sig. My most memorable experiences were the scavenger hunt during Christmas break freshman year, and, of course, my invention of the tradition of “kidnaps” of senior brothers by the incoming pledge class. And the lifelong friendships; I’m still in close contact with Dave Roth ’75, Bill Longhi ’75, Fred Fontana ’75, Neil Cheperak ’75, and Walter Milani ’78.

Q: Can you offer any words of wisdom for the men of Phi Sig?

A: Work hard and be aggressive, while main-taining your ethics and staying focused on your goals at the same time.

Brother Gary Stephen Petti College of Agriculture & Life Sciences 1972

Brother Petti is originally from Rochester, New York, and graduated from Cornell with a bachelor of science degree in meteorol-ogy. After gradua-tion, Brother Petti briefly served in the

Navy and then went on to pursue a career as one of the head meteorologists for the U.S. National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama. One of his proudest moments occurred in 1983 dur-ing a big tornado outbreak, after which the team he led won a national award for its outstanding work. Brother Petti has appeared on PBS and Larry King Live to talk about storms and other major weather events.

Q: Brother Petti, what does being part of the Phi Sigma Kappa brotherhood mean to you?

A: For me, personally, it was a life-changing experience! I was this shy and reserved guy be-fore joining the house, but my experiences in Phi Sig, especially being elected social chairman, were huge boosters to my confidence and gave me the opportunity to build leadership and organization-al skills that have been hugely valuable to me ever since. But most important, I see the brotherhood as a lifetime bond that is much stronger, more meaningful, and closer-knit than any other type of friendship.

Q: What’s life like now for you, Brother Petti?A: Life is good! I’m retired and living near

Tampa, and I love spending time with my wife, two children, and two grandchildren. A typical day includes early bicycle riding, walks near the beach, and swimming in the pool. A big hobby of mine is selling on eBay; I’d say I sell 150 to 200 items a week! I am happy to say I keep in touch with a majority of my pledge class.

Q: Your parting words to the brothers of Phi Sig?A: Work hard for what you want to accom-

plish, but be sure to keep a balance; make time for family, friends, and fun!

edited by Bart Codd ’88

FALL 2013 PAGE FIVE

Brian Donnelly at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006

nEW mEmbErs connEct WitH Alumni(continued from previous page)

After a long career as an orthopedic surgeon, Da-vid Murray ’52 is now a part owner of Boundary Breaks Vineyard in Ovid, New York. Their first vintage Riesling (2011) is now on the market, and they are expecting their next in 2014. Send him congratulations at 5 Quaker Hill Rd., Syracuse, NY 13274; dgmurray@twcny.rr.com.

“Downsizing is currently the big effort here at home,” says Henry Ver Valen ’52. He attended Continuous Reunion Club in June and was happy to see friends (old and new) at University Avenue. “What a great celebration buffet!” Reconnect with Henry at 17424 Wesley Chapel Rd., Monkton, MD, 21111; henrycvv@gmail.com.

Richard “Dicker” Kurtz ’55 still volunteers at San Diego Auto Museum as a docent and a restorer. He also volunteers for many hands-on jobs, in-cluding Carpenters Fellowship, Helping Hands, and Habitat for Humanity. “Still playing bridge, exercising regularly, entertaining friends, and as-sisting at the Corona Speed Festival.” Say hello to Richard at 17504 Plaza Gitana, San Diego, CA 92128; perrydicker@yahoo.com.

“Wife Peggy, a large dog, and I are alive and well and living in the deep woods,” reports Anders Kaufmann ’56. He transitioned from general ar-chitecture (15 years in justice-facilities planning, such as prisons, courthouses, etc.) to part-time work, specializing in leaky roofs and moisture problems in buildings. “Interesting, but I’m run-ning out of options.” He invites people to come see him: “We have a spare room and lots of walking places.” Pay him a visit: 2497 Browns Bridge Rd., Winnsboro, SC, 29180; pappyk56@gmail.com.

“Enjoying retirement after 40 years of teaching at Berklee College of Music,” writes F. Ted Pease ’61, though he is still active as a composer and au-thor of textbooks. His wife, Lucy, and he enjoys concerts, their beautiful backyard garden, spend-ing time with new and old friends, and keeping

up with scholastic and athletic exploits of six grandchildren. “Wonderful reunion of Phi Sigs at Chuck Hill’s (’59) house in Ipswich, Massachu-setts, in early August.” He reports that he feasted on lobster and “all the fixin’s” with Chuck, Clyde Crumpacker ’61, Bill Tafuri ’59, Gerry Bernier ’60, Bill Ferry ’58, and Bob Menger ’57.

September was a busy month for Rich Alther ’62, who went on a barge cruise in Burgundy with Dianne and Bill Mooney ’63 and published his third novel, The Scar Letters, with Centaur Books in Chicago. Say hello to him at Fort Cassin Point, 29 Diamond Island Ln., Ferrisburgh, VT 05456; richalther@msn.com.

William Brozowski ’62 considers tourism his main business. “Traveled to Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Canary Islands. From snow to tropics! Such variety in topography: rich soils to barren black lava fields.” He took a 17-state trip in August and September. “The roads are full of trailers delivering cargo.” While pass-ing through Ithaca, he drove past the chapter house and stopped in at Rogues Harbor. He also took a trip around Cayuga Lake, seeing Wells, the parks, Seneca Falls museums, the Erie Ca-nal locks, and Taughannock Falls. Invite him on a trip: 202 Smith St., Columbus, TX 78934; txfarmerbill@yahoo.com.

“Retired, and going through years decades gen-erations of family records,” reports Otis F. Curtis IV ’66. His grandfather (Otis F. Curtis), his father (Otis F. Curtis ’40), and his son (Otis F. Curtis V) got their degrees at Cornell. Send him a letter to say hello: 1830 Victory St., Brookings, SD 57006.

Harold Holshu ’66 just finished a three-month trip, traveling 14,500 miles through the Dakotas and Canada to Newfoundland. “Last year, traveled to Ethiopia; this year is Uganda and Rwanda.” Learn more about his adventures: 3015 Roxanne Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808; sipapu9@hotmail.com.

David Roth ’75 recently did a mini tour of the Finger Lakes with Karen and Paul Dionisio ’75. Send David a letter at 64 Walden Ln., Groton, NY 13073; droth3@twcny.rr.com.

Walter Milani ’78 is the company manager of a new musical about Billie Holiday. The musical, Lady Day, stars Dee Dee Bridgewater and is play-ing at The Little Shubert Theater on 42nd Street. Send him your regards: 553 Undercliff Ave. #8, Edgewater, NJ 07020; milanivice@msn.com.

Keith Symonds ’85 opened Next Door Brewing Company in Madison, Wisconson, this year. The restaurant and brewpub opened on August 31. Keith serves as head brewer, as well as part owner. “It is great to be back in brewing again.” Recon-nect with Keith at 1714 Sawtooth Ln., Madison, WI 53719, madsymo@aol.com.

PHi sig Alumni rEPort tHEir nEWs From FAr And nEAr

dEcEAsEdWe regret to announce the deaths

of the following alumni:

George A. Elliott ’35February 1, 1980

Sherwood A. Clow ’38October 10, 2009

Frederick D. Amsler ’41May 3, 2011

John A. Ulinski Jr. ’48April 30, 2013

John A. Mitchell Jr. ’48September 14, 2013

This newsletter depends, in part, on alumni participation. Please complete your newsform today and submit it to the address below. The Gamma Contact is published by the Gamma Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa Fra-ternity at Cornell University for alumni and friends. News and pictures are welcome and should be sent to Alumni Records Office, Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876.

gAmmA contAct

PaGE SIx CORNELLPHISIG.ORG