NEWS from the KNOLL HOUSE GETS HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING UNITS The house at 106 The Knoll is saying goodbye to the old-school radiators and natural-gas boilers in the basement, making way for a state-of-the-art, greener air-sourced heat-pump HVAC system. The upgrade was necessary due to the repeated failure of the existing system and old pipes in the basement and below the foundation, which were leaking. One of the two natural-gas boilers will remain in use for hot water, though heat and air conditioning will now be provided from multiple heat-pump units on the exterior of the house and blower units mounted on the wall in each of the rooms, including the third floor. For all those alumni who lived in the Crow’s Nest, Penthouse, or the Swamp, you can finally be happy to know that the third floor will have air conditioning too. Planning for the major capital improvement took over one year to coordinate and involved the House Corporation Board of Directors, property management firm (Wishful Necessities), contractors (Van Hee Heating Service Inc. and Pleasant Valley Electric), and the Ithaca Landmark Preservation Committee (ILPC). Since the house is located within New York State Cornell Heights Historic District, exterior changes or additions must be reviewed and approved by the IPLC. To satisfy the IPLC, the exterior placement of the heat pumps needed to be mostly out of public view from The Knoll, and all exterior wiring was routed within line hides that look like regular gutters. The overall bill for the project came to about $200,000. The Board of Directors is happy to report, though, that the project will be fully funded without having to take out any loans. Of the $200,000, one third ($67,000) is from alumni donations that have been made CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE
HOMECOMING LIVENS UP THE FALL
Connecting before the big game (left to right): Alex Mayo Smith ’19, Vice President Willem Clendenin ’21, President Scott Siegel ’21, and Bob Cundall ’83.
Homecoming took place September 23–24. Although the Cornell football team lost to Ivy League rival Yale by a score of 38–14, that did not stop the brothers from having a celebration. Prior to the game, the chapter hosted a tailgate in Collegetown. The location of the tailgate, on the corner of Eddy and Catherine, made the tailgate hosted by Phi Kappa Tau the center of attention. Friends of brothers made sure to stop by prior to heading to Schoellkopf Field. In addition to great brotherhood attendance, great jams, and great vibes, several Phi Kappa Tau alumni came back to Ithaca. We had a starstudded reunion with Rory Williams ’19 (former president), Luke Pichini ’20 (former VPAR and vice president), Stephen Kaiser ’19 (former treasurer), Hamza Akik ’18 (former philanthropy chair), Bob Cundall ’83 (who was a recruitment chair back in the ‘80s), and Scott Conroe ’01
(current chapter advisor). Bob came from Syracuse and brothers were able to learn about a different generation of Phi Tau. The brothers enjoyed seeing some familiar faces, and the newer guys enjoyed strengthening ties to the chapter. Whether the conversations were personal or professional, the red and gold energy was contagious and demonstrated the power of our alumni network. One of the best parts about being vice president of alumni relations and being in the house is being able to meet Phi Tau brothers from all over the world, which is really inspiring and reminds us of what it means to be part of such an organization that impacts our everyday lives. Without the executive leadership and brotherhood collaboration in the chapter, Homecoming would not have been possible. David Salmonson ’21 VP for Alumni Relations
www.phitaucornell.com
ALPHA TAU CHAPTER of PHI KAPPA TAU at CORNELL • ALUMNIRECORDS@CORNELLPKT.ORG • FALL 2022
FALL RECRUITMENT EFFORTS SEE THREE INITIATED, INCLUDING ONE LEGACY The Alpha Tau of the 1980s and the current chapter intersected this fall when Alex Aubrecht ’22 became a brother. Alex grew up hearing from his mother about Alpha Tau Chapter, where his father, Christian ’87, was a member. A sophomore at Cornell, Alex decided to follow his father and went through fall rush. He was initiated with one of his father’s friends, Bob Cundall ’83, taking part and, at the end, he received his father’s brother pin from Jack Zinn ’84. Two other sophomores, Max Dittgen and Dylan Sheng, were initiated the same day. Max is the younger brother of Sebastian Dittgen ’17. “It was suggested that I should look at Phi Tau,” Alex said. “I liked them because they were not a ‘fratty’ kind of fraternity.” Christian Aubrecht died in December 2006. Alex’s mother, Karen, who has remained active with the chapter’s 1980s alumni, told their youngest child about Phi Tau as he grew up in Orchard Park, New York. A sailor and triathlete, Alex is the first legacy in the chapter since Matt Coster ’12, son of Gary Gilbert ’69, and Derek Paxson ’11, grandson of Chuck West ’49.
Fall initiates Max Dittgen, Dylan Sheng, and Alex Aubrecht ’22.
The alumni who belonged to the chapter with Christian Aubrecht, especially Cundall, Zinn, and Richard Rose ’87, said they were pleased that Alex decided to find his way to 106 The Knoll. They conferred with him before rush and while he went
Bob Cundall ’83 with Alex Aubrecht ’22.
through association. Besides the pin, they gave him other items that belonged to his father. Scott Conroe ’01 Alumni Communications
BROTHERHOOD TAKES MONTREAL DURING FALL BREAK Reinvigorating a years-old tradition, a group of brothers made the trek back to Montreal over fall break. Our chapter had previously planned an annual Montreal trip until the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Canadian border in 2020. This year, however, the regulations loosened up enough that we could finally go, and we took a group of 15 guys up north. We rented two three-bedroom Airbnbs for the weekend and organized rides for everyone there and back. Montreal itself was a blast; it is easy to see why alumni have spoken so highly of the experience. We spent a lot of our time during the day exploring the city, with beautiful locations in the old town, and exploring Mount Royal Park. The food in the city was especially good, so much so that groups would split it so we could cover as much ground as possible. We got to enjoy more traditional dishes, such as poutine and crepes, but there were also other hidden gems, such as a great ramen shop in Chinatown and an excellent burger place not far from our Airbnb. Some of us seniors on the trip had previously been on an amusement park tour last spring break, so when we saw that there was an amusement park within the city limits, we immediately decided to go. We convinced a few of the underclassmen to go with us and went to La Ronde. While La Ronde isn’t known as a top-tier park, its central location on an island provides spectacular views of the
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On a rollercoaster (left to right): David Sugarmann ’21 and Jordan Fuentes ’20.
Enjoying views of Montreal (left to right): David Sugarmann ’21, Cameron Fearn ’20, Max Kaufman ’20, Albert Shabaev ’20, Ethan Igel ’20, and Scott Sigel ’21.
entire city, namely right before plunging you down a roller coaster. There were also spots by the island where you could sit down and relax, which were beautiful spots to take in the crisp fall air and look out on the beautiful scenery. Additionally, Montreal doesn’t hold back with its nightlife; there are numerous excellent establishments all down Boul St. Laurent and Crescent Street. This provided a great opportunity for brothers to experience local culture at some great places.
We got back to Ithaca from the trip on Monday night, so we all had time to rest up before Tuesday and the start of classes on Wednesday. As a relatively inexpensive destination and the trip fitting nicely into brothers’ schedules, the experience was a major success, and I look forward to the chapter continuing this tradition moving forward. Drew Bogdan ’20 Brotherhood Chair
SUNSET BARBECUE EVENT RAISES MONEY FOR SERIOUSFUN
Turnout from Backyard Sunset BBQ.
Phi Tau cohosted a fundraising sunset barbecue at the chapter house with Alpha Chi Omega on Friday, September 30. As the chapter’s philanthropy chairman and one of the main organizers of the event, I was happy with how the fundraiser went and the turnout; both of our houses raised over $1,000 for SeriousFun Children’s Network and the Tompkins County Advocacy Center, our respective philanthropies! Our chef, Matt Lea ’18, was busy manning the grill, cooking delicious burgers, hotdogs, and pulledpork sandwiches, all of which were happily consumed by the hungry attendees, who included not only the members of the two houses but also their friends and those from other Cornell chapters. With great music, a picturesque sunset, and a bonfire as night fell, everyone was in the perfect mood to have a good time and to enjoy the food. As one of the last warm days in Ithaca, it was also a perfect opportunity to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful fall foliage. The funds our chapter raised were donated to SeriousFun Children’s Network, Phi Tau’s national philanthropy, focused on providing a community of camps and programs dedicated to seriously ill children.
Sunset Views From Backyard at 106 The Knoll Road (pictured above and below right).
Having been established by esteemed Phi Tau alumnus Paul Newman ’43 (Ohio University), the organization has deep ties to every Phi Tau chapter nationwide. Our chapter’s focus on philanthropy was one of the major reasons why I decided to run for philanthropy chair; not only do I find SeriousFun’s mission important and noble, but I also believe it to be very important to give back to the local Cornell and Ithaca communities. With how hectic and busy fraternity life can get, being able to organize such events with the purpose of giving back to the community is one of the things that keep our chapter grounded. I would like to express my gratitude to the brothers who were involved in making this event possible: Matt for his amazing culinary skills and the sisters of Alpha Chi Omega for showing out in numbers and rallying support for their philanthropy. Planning this event was a great experience, and I definitely plan to help organize more events in the future that will allow our chapter to expand its philanthropic efforts! Brandon Lin ’22 Philanthropy Chair
HOUSE GETS HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING UNITS CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE to either the Alpha Tau Chapter Fund or the Phi Kappa Tau National Foundation (40% of these house improvements are deemed educational). The remaining amounts came from either the current budget or the major-repairs reserve, which is funded at the end of each budget year with excess funds or the calculated depreciation. This project could not have been a success without the many
donations from many generous alumni. Finally, a portion of the Alpha Tau Chapter Fund balance used to pay for this project will be from the Glenn Smith Memorial line, in memory of Glenn Smith’81, who tragically passed away in a car accident. Glenn was a volunteer on both alumni boards for many years and had always wanted to have heat installed on the third floor.
The House Corporation Board of Directors felt this was a very fitting use of the fund and will look to have a plaque installed on the third floor in memory of Glenn once the project is completed. Paul Martarono ’01 President Board of Directors
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ALUMNI NEWS Enoch Parry II ’61: Enjoy reading the newsletter about activities of the brotherhood. I’m still married (58 years this August) to a girl I met through PKT. Have three sons, six grandsons, one granddaughter, and one great grandson. Moved from Pennsylvania fourteen years ago to Alabama to retire and to get out of the snow and cold. I still horse around some (practice vet med on horses) to stay active and moving. Am a Gideon and enjoy handing out bibles to others. Scott Phillips ’79: Attended my 40th reunion in June and visited the house with a personal tour by Scott Conroe ‘01, who literally stuck his head
out of a window to say hello. Rest assured, alumni, the house has not changed a bit, except the mud slide appears to be gone, and there are more showers, which would have come in handy for the mudslide. Enjoyed visit to campus; I ran from one end to another and back again. Was not a runner as an undergraduate, but since then, have run 34 Boston Marathons, 28 consecutive, and ID Ironman triathlons. Living in Chicago, wife Lynn and three children, Hailey (Cornell 2015) Rayne (age 13), and Finely (age 11). Practice dermatology in Chicago the last 30 years, and though a New Yorker (Staten Islander) at heart, it has become home. I am already looking forward to my next visit to Cornell.
CHAPTER ETERNAL We regret to announce the death of the following alumnus:
Harold Gouinlock ’52
Joseph Billoni ’58
Bruce Kiefer ’57
Wallace “Wally” Day ’66
March 24, 2022
December 13, 2008
April 28, 2022 April 30, 2022
Richard Catanzaro Jr. ’70 September 17, 2021
ALUMNI BOARDS NEED MORE MEMBERS
Mike Bufano ’07, (pictured left) works with Phi Taus at Cornell Outdoor Education in 2019. Mike is co-chair of Board of Governors and a member of the Board of Directors.
Ithaca is home to many amazing features: picturesque waterfalls and lakes, a vibrant music and arts community, and organic farms and wineries. Even with these highlights, as many career trajectories drive brothers to larger cities, relatively few Cornellians find themselves back “on the hill” after graduation. When it comes to helping to develop and guide a fraternity, this creates the unique situation of needing to assemble and manage alumni boards remotely. As we think about the future of Phi Tau at Cornell, one thing is certain; we will require more alumni volunteers to join the Board of Governors and Board of Directors to support operations in the years to come to ensure success. Our chapter needs more alumni who have time and expertise to work with one another and with the undergraduates in the years ahead. As a refresher, the Board of Governors, currently co-chaired by Mike Bufano ’07 and Pat Nowak ’11, help to guide Resident Council operations with roles mirroring those of undergraduate
NEWS from the KNOLL
Pictured left to right: Four of Alpha Tau’s alumni volunteers celebrate the New York City gathering last March. Eric Oberman ’14, financial advisor; Mike Bufano ’07, Board of Governors co-chair; Pat Nowak ’11, Board of Governors co-chair, and Scott Conroe ’01, chapter advisor and scholarship advisor.
Executive Board positions. Currently vacant roles include recruitment advisor, philanthropy advisor, alumni development advisor, scholarship advisor, and risk management advisor. The Board of Directors, chaired by Paul Martorano ‘01, manages the physical house and property at 106 The Knoll, in addition to oversight of the alumni association and budget. This work ranges from physical updates to the house and partnership with the undergraduate house manager and property manager. The board has 12 elected members, with several vacant seats and room to replace those who currently sit on both boards. “What does the time commitment look like for these roles?”, one might ask. While involvement can certainly scale up to being what someone has the time and energy for, it will usually clock in at an average of two to three hours per month, with peaks and valleys of time commitment with particular projects. Whether your skill set is in copy editing (alumni
Mike Bufano ’07 and Pat Nowak ’11 Board of Governors Co-Chairs
is published by the Alpha Tau Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity at Cornell for its members & friends. News should be sent to alumnirecords@cornellpkt.org or Alumni Records Office, Alpha Tau of Phi Kappa Tau, P.O. Box 876, Ithaca, NY 14851-0876.
Alumni communication services provided by
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engagement), engaging community organizations (philanthropy), or sales (recruitment), you have the potential to be a valuable asset. Right now, we have a number of volunteers covering multiple roles on each of the boards, which is unsustainable in its current state. If you reflect fondly upon your time as an undergraduate brother in Phi Tau, board service is a gratifying and, at times, challenging: a way to give back as an educator, mentor, and steward of the fraternity experience. As our chapter is emerging from the pandemic’s restrictions and facing new policies imposed by Cornell, these contributions are needed now more than ever. The more help we can get from alumni, the better. If you are interested, contact Paul Martorano, Mike Bufano, or Pat Nowak.
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ALPHA TAU CHAPTER of PHI KAPPA TAU at CORNELL • ALUMNIRECORDS@CORNELLPKT.ORG • FALL 2022