Sigma Nu alumni, we want to hear from you!  

As you know, our communications sometimes feature alumni profiles from brothers across all decades. We love publishing these stories because our alumni are the heart of everything we do, and now, we are looking for more alumni to participate! 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

When life gets in the way, it can become increasingly difficult to stay in touch with our Beta Rho buddies. That is why we want to hear from you.  

By filling out the survey, you can share what you have been up to since the Sigma Nu days, your favorite memories at the house, and what being a brother means to you. We will publish your responses in an upcoming communication in your own alumni profile. 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

We are saddened to share that Brother John Blake Kirkpatrick, 79, a 49-year resident of White Plains, died peacefully on Saturday, November 11 at his home.

John was born March 2, 1944, in Montgomery, Alabama to Margaret Blake and Robert Frederick Kirkpatrick. He was a devoted family man and leaves his wife Susan, daughter Kathryn (Jon Vail), sons Andrew (Katie Taylor) and Brian and grandchildren Dashiell and Violet. In addition, John is survived by his brother Robert and six nieces and nephews.

To read the full obituary, please click here.

How many of us set New Year’s resolutions goals each year, only to forget about them halfway through January? We know we are guilty of that! But this year our goal is to help Sigma Nu brothers stay more connected. Keep reading below for some tips on how to stay better connected as we head into 2024.  

Looking for a pal that you lost touch with after graduation, don’t worry, we have you covered! Log in and head to the Directory tab on the home page, then from there you can search for all your long-lost pals from over the years.   

Already planning a reunion or small get together this summer? Send us a message by logging in and heading to the Submit an Update page on the home page. We will share it in our next communications. This is also a great place to share your updates with your brothers!  

Happy New Year, Brother! Our wish for you in 2024 is for a year filled with happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity. As we continue to reflect on 2023, we must keep at the for front of our minds, the mission and objective of Sigma Nu, and the responsibility we have as alumni to the place that has provided us with the foundation skills for our success we have now.  

Now as alumni, we ask that you continue to put your best foot forward to help support not only our alumni events and communications, but that we continue to help perpetuate our undergrad chapter forward so that these fine young undergraduates can experience all the opportunities we had during our time in Sigma Nu. 

For those who are able, please consider a monetary donation by CLICKING HERE, this will also get you a spot on the Honor Roll, FOUND HERE. We thank you in advance for your continued support. 

We want to wish all our current Beta Rho Chapter undergraduates as well as all of our alumni members a Happy Thanksgiving. The holiday season is always a time of reflection, celebration, memories and most importantly, gratitude. 

Whether it be through donations, attending reunions or time spent volunteering, we are thankful for your support in more ways than one. As Sigma Nu brothers, we share a passion for the brotherhood that contributed to our personal development, our relationships, and our lives as students and far beyond to our roles as husbands, fathers, professionals, volunteers, neighbors, and friends. 

We can’t overestimate the true meaning of adding your name to the ranks of our alumni donors. We want to share our continued gratitude to those brothers listed on the honor roll HERE who have graciously given back to Sigma Nu this holiday season. 

As the season of giving approaches, we would like to extend our heartfelt invitation to participate in Giving Tuesday, scheduled for November 28th. This special occasion provides an excellent opportunity for us to come together as members of the Beta Rho Chapter of Sigma Nu and make a meaningful contribution. 

It is important to emphasize the crucial role that our alumni play in shaping the future of our organization. Donations to Sigma Nu are instrumental in various ways, including facilitating improvements to our chapter house, providing essential support to our undergraduate brothers, contributing to the success of alumni reunions, and bolstering our communication efforts. Your generosity will be a driving force behind the enduring legacy of the Beta Rho Chapter for generations to come. 

We kindly invite you to join us in this noble cause by making a donation on Giving Tuesday, regardless of the amount. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, makes a significant impact. The online giving link is provided below, and we want to express our sincere appreciation in advance for your support. 

GIVE HERE

Thank you for your dedication to our beloved fraternity and your commitment to ensuring the continued success of the Beta Rho Chapter. 

Have you used our Beta Rho directory lately? Our website has a full directory of our alumni – including the people who made your undergrad years so unforgettable. Take some time to reconnect. Here’s some tips on ways to search for other brothers. 

After you log in, the directory can be found under the Alumni tab. From there, hit ‘alumni directory,” and if you are logged in, you can let your searching begin!  

Search by location: With our map feature, you can see where Sigma Nu brothers currently live. This is a helpful feature for reunions, tailgate plans or an impromptu meetup on your next trip.   

Search by name: Have you lost touch with your old roommate? Use the advanced search feature to find by first or last name.   

Over and over, we hear that being part of Sigma Nu was a formative part of life at UPenn … and the rest of our lives. Get reconnected to an old friend this year. You’ll be glad you did. 

Thank you to the following brothers who have helped support Sigma Nu this past giving year. Your support helped us raise $17,140 towards our Annual Fund. Alumni support is at the heart of everything we do, and we can’t thank you enough for your continued support.  

We hope to see your name listed on the Honor Roll of Donors again as we enter the 2023-24 Give Year. 

DONATE HERE

2022-2023 Honor Roll

Ralph “Rox” Reynolds Founder’s Circle ($1,000+)
Mr. Richard Study, 1960
F. Harlan Batrus, 1971
Mr. Joseph Axelrod, 1973
Roger H. Ballou, 1973
Mr. Andrew Adelson, 1977
Mr. Ofer Nemirovsky, 1979
Mr. Ian Zuckerman, 2007

Beta Rho Legacy Society ($750-$999.99)
Mr. Henry Stewart III, 1964

Love, Truth, & Honor Circle ($500-$749.99)
Mr. Hartwell Davis Jr., 1959
Mr. John Niccollai Jr., 1961
Mr. David Prescott, 1961
Conrad Foa, 1962
Dr. Tyler Mahy, 1963
Mr. David Riddell, 1973
Dr. Ralph Rosato, 1981
Kirk M. Moyer, 1986
Brian Moran, 1990

Zane Grey Society ($350-$499.99)
Mr. John Byko, 1973

Serpent Society ($250-$349.99)
Albert Nocciolino, 1973
Mr. Mitchell Zimmer, 1976
Mr. Stephan Rodolakis, 1984
Mr. Neil Anand, 2004

White Rose Club ($100-$249.99)
Mr. Monroe Garthwaite, 1955
Mr. William Murray Esq, 1960
Mr. Anthony Adams, 1962
Mr. Ronald Schafer, 1962
Mr. Samuel Heffner III, 1965
Mr. Richard Sica, 1966
Mr. David Harshbarger, 1966
Mr. Charles Smith Jr., 1966
Mr. Michael Cantelmo, 1967
Mr. William Herrmann Jr., 1968
Mr. Donald Evans Jr., 1969
Mr. Michael McGuire, 1969
Mr. William Johnson, 1970
Stephen A. Keyser, 1970
Mr. Kevin Koons, 1970
Mr. Robert Slone, 1971
Mr Thomas McFadden, 1972
Robert Thomas, 1972
Mr. Jeffery Bender, 1973
Keith Hall, 1973
Mr. Richard Coons, 1976
Mr. John Zervas, 1976
Dr. Andrew Goldberg M.D., 1980
Edgar Cale III, 1985
Mr. John Caby, 1989
Mr. Simone Dagnino, 1989
Trevor Young, 1992

Beta Rho Supporter (Up to $99.99)
Mr. Robert Harrison, 1968
Mr. Stephen Chopnick, 1971
Dr. Ithan Zimmer, 1986
Nikolas Casagrande, 1996

This year, UPenn homecoming is taking place November 4, and we want to see you there!

Join us for Homecoming and stop by the Chapter House anytime, starting at 12pm! Brief presentations and house updates will begin at 4pm.

RSVP HERE

Don’t miss the chance to rekindle old Beta Rho Chapter friendships and blaze new Sigma Nu alumni traditions this year. Reach out to a brother and make a plan to come celebrate homecoming with your fellow alumni on November 4.

We hope to see you there!

As the years go by since our time as undergraduates at UPenn came to an end, it can be increasingly difficult to keep tabs on what our Beta Rho buddies have been up to. Time passes, life gets in the way, and we naturally lose touch.  

To fight that progressive drift, we want to hear from you! What have you been up to since the Sigma Nu days? Have you reconnected with any fellow alumni? Have you been thinking about any good stories from back in the day? We want to know! 

CLICK HERE to submit any updates or stories you want to share, and we will publish it in an upcoming eLetter or newsletter! 

 

Did you receive your Spring 2023 edition of Sigma Nu’s? If not, you’re missing out!

If you didn’t receive your copy in the mail, send your current mailing address to us at [email protected] and let us know to add you to the Beta Rho Chapter at UPenn mailing list.

To read the digital newsletter on our alumni website, CLICK HERE.

Thank you to these fine gentlemen listed below in the 2022-23 Honor Roll for their continued support of Beta Rho Chapter! Because of them, we have been able to not only support our chapter, but support the alumni through communications, reunions, and financing.

View the Honor Roll here!

Our giving year ends 8/31/2023, and we are so close to our goal. If you have not already given this year, please consider a gift and earn your spot on this year’s Honor Roll!

DONATE HERE

When you’re in middle age, you start to realize how very much you need your friends. After decades of relentless striving — kids, house, career, spouse — we find ourselves coming up for breath at some point in these middle decades. And what remains? With any luck, our friends.  

An Atlantic Monthly article (do yourself a favor and read it at tinyurl.com/lifelongfriends), says that according to the Stanford Center on Longevity, those of us over 40 have aged out of the friendship-collecting business, which tends to peak in the tumbleweed stage of life, and move into the friendship-enjoying business, luxuriating in the relationships that survived as we put down roots. 

The problem? Those friendships are awfully hard-won. Life’s significant upheavals and changes can prove too much for many friendships to withstand. As years go by, some of the dearest people in your life have gently faded away.  

But these bonds with friends are more than an extra in your life story — they are the story. Over and over, we hear stories of how Sigma Nu friends drove overnight to be in weddings, wept together at funerals, cheered at the news of new babies, toasted promotions, and gathered together in adversity. In a nutshell: the friendships we gained — and still have — with our fraternity brothers are exquisitely rare in today’s world. 

Author Jennifer Senior says, “Practically everyone who studies friendship says this in some form or another: What makes friendship so fragile is also exactly what makes it so special. You have to continually opt in. That you choose it is what gives it its value.” 

Our Beta Rho friendships have seen us through so much, but don’t take them for granted. Take a minute to text or call your roommate, or intramural teammate, and tell them that you are thinking of them. Our friendships have fueled these decades since graduation… Let’s keep it going.  

P.S. Don’t have the most recent contact information? We do! Log in, and then head over to our alumni directory.  

Who doesn’t love a good throwback photo? This month we are taking a trip down memory lane, all the way back to the ’60s, and we sure do have a throwback for you! Check out this photo of Beta Rho chapter from back in the day.  

Were you there? Are you in this picture? If you remember this photo, CLICK HERE or email us to share a story about it.  

If you have great photos from your glory days to share, log in to upload them to our photo gallery or email them to [email protected]! 

Brothers, we have less than 4 months left in our 2022-2023 giving year, which began on 9/1/2022. So, we are reaching out to you with a reminder to donate before the giving year ends on 8/31/2023, and earn your spot on the Honor Roll of Donors. Alumni support is the heart and soul of our fraternity, here’s why giving back is so important… 

Because being a donor is being a leader—seeing your name on the Honor Roll of Donors inspires others to join you by making their own gift. You don’t have to stop there, make a personal invitation to a fellow brother to join you on the Honor Roll. Remind him that without alumni support, we cannot carry on.

Because—if you’re like me—your fraternity experience helped to shape the person you are today and gave YOU invaluable gifts like leadership experience, interpersonal skills, lifelong friendships and more. Because of these invaluable experiences, we remain resolved that as long as Penn exists, Sigma Nu will thrive there. 

We would like to thank those brothers who have generously contributed to Sigma Nu Penn this giving year. Can you help us reach our goal before 8/31/2023?   

If you have not yet made your gift, add your name to the Honor Roll by using any of the following methods:   

• Click here to give online;   
• Call our toll-free Donation Hotline at 1-800-975-6699;  
• Mail a check to our donation processing center:

Sigma Nu – Beta Rho Chapter

Alumni Relations Processing Center

P.O. Box 7007

Albert Lea, MN 56007-8007

It is always a great opportunity when you get to catch up with a brother you haven’t seen in a while! We recently caught up with a brother who gave us an update on what they have been up to since UPenn! Read on to hear his updates. 

After graduating, Charles worked for Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp for three years before attending Army OCS and spending a year in Vietnam as an advisor. After leaving the Army, he began a 23-year career with Nationwide Insurance Company. After retiring from the insurance business, he moved to Florida and ran a Medicare processing service company for 15 years. Charles, an avid golfer, currently lives with Betty, his wife of 25 years, at Ironhorse Country Club in West Palm Beach. – Charles P. Smith ’66

Share your updates here!

When Charles Smith looks back on his Sigma Nu experience, a very memorable road trip stands out: “I drove straight through to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break with two brothers. We smoked cigars to stay awake!!” 

He also recalls, “several pledge pranks we pulled on the Brothers. One which almost got me arrested!” 

On a more serious note, Charles say he values the learning experiences and relationships that came with being part of the fraternity. “I was the treasurer and formed bonds with my fellow officers.” He cites “helping our fellow brothers and those in need” as staples of the Sigma Nu character that he hopes will always endure. 

Despite great memories and friendships, the realities of life after college have also challenged his ability to stay closely connected with his fellow brothers. When the opportunities do come up, however, it’s always a positive experience. “We are scattered across the U.S., so it’s hard to keep in touch, but I have attended two reunions at Beta Rho in Philadelphia and enjoyed catching up.” 

After graduating, he worked for Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp for three years before attending Army OCS and spending a year in Viet Nam as an advisor. After leaving the Army, he began a 23-year career with Nationwide Insurance Company. After retiring from the insurance business, he moved to Florida and ran a Medicare processing service company for 15 years. Charles, an avid golfer, currently lives with Betty, his wife of 25 years, at Ironhorse Country Club in West Palm Beach. 

Are you plugged in to our Sigma Nu at UPenn social media pages? The undergrads recently shared an update about Spring 2022 rush, which is set to begin on 1/19. Follow @upennsigmanu to keep up to date on all things happening at the Beta Rho Chapter. Want to get in touch with some fellow Beta Rho alumni? You can find the Alumni Facebook page here!

Happy New Year, Brother! Our wish for you in 2023 is for a year filled with happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity. As we continue to reflect on 2022, we must keep at the for front of our minds, the mission and objective of Sigma Nu, and the responsibility we have as alumni to the place that has provided us with the foundation skills for our success we have now.  

Now as alumni, we ask that you continue to put your best foot forward to help support not only our alumni events and communications, but that we continue to help perpetuate our undergrad chapter forward. So that these fine young men can experience all the opportunities we had during our time in Sigma Nu. 

For those who are able, please consider a monetary donation by CLICKING HERE, this will also get you a spot on the Honor Roll, FOUND HERE. We thank you in advance for your continued support.