Jon Dodd (Rhode Island '84)
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Ways to Protect Mental Health
Spotlight - Zach Scheerer (SIUE ’07)
Spotlight - Adam Dibble (Ferris State ’03)
Chartering - Iota-Chi at Coastal Carolina
“Iwould do it all over again,” Jon Dodd (Rhode Island ’84) said of his Sigma Pi experience. From undergraduate leadership to two successful career paths, Jon is grateful for the formative years he spent in AlphaUpsilon Chapter and as a Sigma Pi staff member.
Seeking an immersive college experience, Jon was fascinated at the thought of growing Sigma Pi during his time on campus. In just a short time, Alpha-Upsilon Chapter grew to around 100 members, becoming the largest Fraternity at the University of Rhode Island (URI). “It didn’t matter if it was excellent food, great accommodations, a clean house, great events, significant representation at sporting events, or anything else—we wanted to be the best at it.”
Jon was elected chapter president once the Fraternity was settled into the new chapter house, helping the brotherhood strive toward the vision they had in mind for Alpha-Upsilon.
His professional development during those years was invaluable, and lessons in leadership have stuck with Jon well into his adult years.
There was always something going on from recruitment to events and charity service, which Jon compares to operating a small business. Some of his favorite Sigma Pi memories are tied to gatherings, like the first social event with a sorority. “We planned a great event and the women loved it; we had a great time and word quickly spread around campus that we were fun and the place to be. We never had an open week the rest of the years we were on campus!”
Chapter events were an excellent vehicle to growing the brotherhood in the same way that Greek Week success helped promote Sigma Pi on campus. Jon enjoyed the yearly competitions and sorority pairings that consistently led to dominant performances by Sigma Pi members.
Jon recently returned to URI as a keynote speaker to address all fraternity and sorority executive teams on campus. In his speech, Jon discussed his remarkable Sigma Pi experience and how today’s undergraduates can make the most of their college years.
Sigma Pi provided a great launching point for my life’s journey.
“It was a great place to bring the Fraternity together, compete as a unit, and grow our reputation.”
Jon’s leadership within AlphaUpsilon Chapter played a major role in organizing for future chapter success. His undergraduate years also prepared him for an opportunity to continue working with Sigma Pi at the national level.
Jon wanted to give back to Sigma Pi for such an impactful college experience, which led to him joining the Sigma Pi staff. Visiting chapter houses nationwide, Jon utilized his leadership and training skills to help undergraduates learn to better
develop their chapters. “It was great to engage so many other chapters and help in any way I could.”
Jon also helped the Fraternity expand as new chapters opened across the country. Lifelong Fraternity connections remain at the core of his social life today, as Jon places great emphasis on the importance of alumni retaining undergraduate bonds.
“My experiences at Sigma Pi at such a young age really allowed me to be involved in things I never could have found anywhere else on campus. We had so much fun and accomplished so much; I wanted to help others get the same experience.”
The brotherhood spans further than ever today, and Jon hopes Sigma Pi undergraduates from various backgrounds can continue to shape the ongoing Fraternity experience. “It’s critical that everyone gets experiences in different geography, people, cultures, styles, and more as we start out,” he added.
Throughout his travels with Sigma Pi, Jon understood the importance of strategy and preparation to influence growth. “The goal was simply to make each chapter better with only a few days at each one. Life is like that in so many ways; it proved to be a great first job for me.”
Jon’s role with the Atlantic Shark Institute allows him to live out his early dreams.
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On January 30, 2024, Sigma Pi unveiled its latest venture: the Sigma Pi Store, a streamlined Vendor Hub designed to enhance the shopping experience for our members. This virtual storefront gathers offerings from licensed vendors throughout the Sigma Pi network, establishing a centralized destination for members to effortlessly discover and acquire the merchandise they seek.
Sigma Pi deeply values our history. On October 12, 2023, the Fraternity and HistoryIT proudly announced the launch of an official digital museum.
This platform digitally preserves our stories to ensure they’re available to present and future generations. The Fraternity’s partnership with the innovative
Popcam is the official composite provider of Sigma Pi. Spend less, and make composites easy with Popcam using portable, automated headshot cameras.
digital preservation company ensures that the organization’s history and legacy are accessible to members and alumni across the globe.
“Our digital museum marks a pivotal moment in the history of Sigma Pi, ensuring our legacy’s accessibility to all brothers,” said CEO Jonathan Frost (UMSL ’99). “Through our partnership
with HistoryIT, we’ve preserved these memories for everyone to explore. This is just one step in preserving our timeless traditions and values for future generations.”
Explore our shared past through a dynamic timeline, member features, image gallery and more, all available at sigmapi.historyit.com.
Alumni have the unique opportunity to support our undergraduate brothers with handcrafted, limited production wines made exclusively for the men of Sigma Pi.
Paramount+ provides a unique way to give back to the Fraternity through the Affiliate program. Alumni, friends, and family can take part, and students can benefit from savings.
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You can learn more about each of these membership benefits, as well as additional perks, online at sigmapi.org/benefits
Talking about mental health is becoming more accepted, but it’s still difficult for many men to open up and get the support they need.
Boys are taught from a young age to be self-reliant and tough. Long-standing stereotypes and the influence of important role models — both in their personal lives and on social media — can reinforce young men’s tendency to suppress their emotions and avoid the vulnerability that’s needed to ask for help. That tendency may lead them to suffer in silence when they struggle with their mental health.
Silence has consequences. More than six million men in the United States experience depression, and the actual rate is likely much higher because depression among men is underdiagnosed. Men are also much more likely than women to die by suicide.
The true scope of these challenges may be even more pronounced than data suggests, since men are more likely to avoid seeking professional help. Help-seeking is a particular area of concern for Black and Hispanic men in the United States, groups in which a significantly lower percentage report getting help when they need it.
To better understand these trends and areas for improvement, The Jed Foundation (JED) — a strategic partner of Sigma Pi — researched what college-age men need to improve their mental health. The findings were powerful and clear: Men recognize the challenges they face and are expressing a genuine desire for more support.
Based on our research and the best practices emerging from the field, here are six things men can do to support and improve their mental health and well-being.
It can be hard to tell if you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health, but there are common signs you can look out for.
+ Changes in mood, appetite, or usual activities that last more than a few weeks
+ Chronic feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or fatigue
+ Suicidal thoughts
Men, in particular, may also notice they are:
+ Spending too much time online, at work, or working out
+ Misusing alcohol or drugs
+ Experiencing aggressiveness, anger, or chronic irritability
+ Behaving in a risky or reckless way
Being able to identify the signs that you or a friend is struggling is the first step toward getting support.
Men who participated in our study consistently expressed that they want to be more comfortable identifying and sharing how they feel. They recognized that the societal pressure on men to suppress their emotions and maintain an exterior of toughness makes it hard to know how they feel at times, let alone talk about it.
Talking about your feelings takes practice. One way to get started is to use a feelings wheel to label what you’re experiencing. You may then write about your feelings, talk about them with someone you trust, or simply sit with them and reflect. With time, you may find that identifying — and then talking about — your feelings becomes easier.
Having things you do regularly to support your emotional health is a great — and often enjoyable — way to safeguard your well-being and buffer the effects of stress. Movement and exercise are important, but it’s just as important to make sure your workouts are not so goal-oriented that they become stressful.
+ Moving your body is just one way to take care of yourself. You can also:
+ Spend time outside walking, people- or cloud-watching, sketching, or doing something else you enjoy
+ Do something creative, such as playing or listening to music, taking photos, making art, or cooking
+ Learn something new by giving yourself time to dive into something that fascinates or inspires you
+ Get involved in a club, support group, intramural sports team, or another community at your school or in your neighborhood
+ Engage in something else that helps you feel happy, peaceful, or energized
The desire for healthy relationships grounded in authentic connection was another key finding from the study. Men report significantly higher rates of social isolation than women of all ages, and isolation can negatively impact mental health by increasing risk of suicide and rates of anxiety and depression. A key to healthy relationships is open, honest conversation. It takes time and practice, but it’s well worth the effort. Asking your friends and family meaningful questions, listening to them when they speak, and sharing your own experiences — even if it’s awkward or uncomfortable at first — are great ways to have better conversations and build deeper connections.
Sharing that you feel isolated, angry, sad, or whatever you’re going through is another important step in getting support. It takes courage and a willingness to be uncomfortable, but the act of sharing with someone you trust can make a positive difference in how you feel. Despite common fears that it will hurt relationships, sharing honestly with a friend, family member, coach, professor, or someone else about what’s going on can make your relationship stronger.
Getting professional help is sometimes what’s needed to best care for your mental health. Research suggests that college-age men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women and they hold stigmas about help-seeking, but research also shows that therapy is a great mental health tool, and it’s just as effective for men as it is for women. Asking for help is a sign of strength and resilience.
To make the help-seeking experience easier, look to resources such as HeadsUpGuys and Man Therapy, which are specifically geared toward helping men overcome stigmas and get the support they need and deserve. You can also lean on JED’s How to Get Help hub.
Being open about your own mental health journey can have a positive domino effect. By being direct and honest with other men in your life, expressing your emotions, and sharing raw or vulnerable experiences, such as your experience in therapy or asking for help, you may encourage other men to do the same. Say something to your friends if you notice they’re struggling. You can check in with them, point them to resources, or at the very least remind them that you are there for them and that you care. We all have to work together to break the silence around mental health. When we choose our well-being over the fear of not fitting in, each of us becomes a role model for someone else and an advocate for ourselves.
For resources pertaining to mental health, please visit jedfoundation.org and click on "Resource Center." If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988.
Learn more about Bonds of Brotherhood by scanning the QR code or visiting sigmapi.org/mentalhealth
In recent years, Sigma Pi has embarked on a significant journey to prioritize and enhance the mental health and safety of its members. This journey reflects a deep commitment to addressing mental health challenges within the Fraternity and beyond. Studies show that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to seek therapy or counseling at some point in their lives, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in Greek life.
The shift towards a focus on mental health began in 2018 when Sigma Pi recognized the need to address this crucial aspect among its members.
Mental health, alongside suicide prevention and awareness, became central to the Fraternity's philanthropic and altruistic missions. Notably, research indicates that fraternity-affiliated students have lower lifetime diagnoses of depression by a medical professional, but higher lifetime diagnoses of anxiety, which Sigma Pi aims to address through these efforts.
Tragically, in 2019, Director of Chapter Services Sonny Age (Alabama ‘08) took his own life. This heartbreaking event galvanized the Fraternity's commitment to
advancing mental health awareness. Studies suggest that members are twice as likely to turn to a brother than anyone else for help, underscoring the need for internal support systems within fraternities.
In 2020, Sgma Pi created the Bonds of Brotherhood Companion Guide, a culmination of years of motivation to support Sigma Pi members in advocating for mental health awareness and addressing personal challenges. This guide represents a significant step in the Fraternity's mission to foster a supportive and informed community. It acknowledges the unique role that fraternities play in providing an environment where members can have tough conversations, especially about personal issues like relationships, family, and mental health struggles.
The Bonds of Brotherhood initiative is designed to leverage insights into fraternity life to create a comprehensive Mental Health and Safety (MH&S) experience. It promotes the idea that fraternity members are more likely to be thriving in every aspect of wellbeing – career, community, financial,
physical, and social well-being, as found in recent studies.
This initiative aims to underscore the importance of MH&S within Sigma Pi, highlighting its impact on both individual members and the community at large. The program encourages proactive mental health strategies and fosters an environment conducive to open discussions on personal challenges.
The Bonds of Brotherhood initiative seeks to educate Sigma Pi members and integrate MH&S awareness into daily fraternity life. It also serves as a platform for educational programming grants to enhance understanding of MH&S issues both locally and fraternity-wide.
To date, Sigma Pi has provided over 125,000 handout cards to chapters across the nation, empowering them to spread awareness on their own campuses. By engaging in Bonds of Brotherhood, members will not only expand their knowledge of MH&S but also drive local community awareness. This dual approach will involve alumni and community members in fundraising efforts, demonstrating the Fraternity’s commitment to MH&S.
The journey for Jeremy Lessmann (Franklin & Marshall ’88) with Sigma Pi Fraternity is a story of dedication, growth, and giving back. A 1993 alumnus of Franklin & Marshall College and a member of Nu Chapter, Lessmann has been an active and devoted member of Sigma Pi for nearly 30 years, contributing significantly to both Nu Chapter and the Fraternity at large. Reflecting on his decision to join Sigma Pi, Lessmann recalls the sense of belonging he felt from the start. "I was rushed by a couple of people who lived in my residence hall and just felt at home with the members. And I really felt they wanted me to be a part of it," he shares. This initial connection sparked a series of unforgettable memories. "Some of the best are the trips several of us made while we were undergraduates, going to other chapters in Pennsylvania. There was good camaraderie and fun times," Lessmann reminisces.
Beyond the camaraderie and fun, Sigma Pi played a pivotal role in Lessmann's personal and professional development. "It gave me a lot of confidence in myself and helped pull me out of my shell. Turns out I picked up some leadership skills along the way as well," he notes. This growth was not attributed to a single individual but to the collective influence of his Fraternity brothers.
Lessmann's involvement with Sigma Pi didn't end with his undergraduate years. After earning his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Penn State in 1999 and becoming a Chemistry Professor at Washington State University, he continued his engagement with Sigma Pi, serving as Chapter Advisor to Iota-Nu Chapter and volunteering in various capacities. His commitment extended to consistent financial contributions to the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation, with monthly giving since 2010.
When asked why he decided to give back, Lessmann's response reflects his deep appreciation for the Fraternity. "The Fraternity was such a net positive force in my development that I wanted to help make sure new generations of men get the same chances to grow as I did," he explains. He views his ability to contribute as a marker of his successful life choices and personal growth.
Lessmann hopes his contributions, both monetary and voluntary, will continue to foster the Fraternity's development. "I know my monetary contributions help provide continuing support for the Fraternity’s programming, but it is volunteer contributions where I know I have made the difference in the lives of past and current members of the Chapter I advise and have set up attitudes and systems in the Chapter to pull in the right kind of new members," he states. He hopes this will help to ensure the Fraternity's positive impact at Washington State for years to come.
Jeremy's story is a shining example of how fraternity life can shape an individual's path, instilling confidence, leadership skills, and a deep sense of community. His ongoing dedication to Sigma Pi speaks volumes about the lasting impact that Sigma Pi can provide, not just during the collegiate experience, but throughout life.
It’s time to gear up for the 57th Biennial Convocation in Indianapolis! This upcoming Convocation will be taking place at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana from June 6-8, 2024 for a week full of celebration! You will have the opportunity to join fellow brothers for an opening reception at the NCAA Hall of Champions, take part in the Biennial Sigma Pi Golf Classic, and more as we look to celebrate the 127th year of Sigma Pi History.
Mark your calendars for June 6-9, 2024, to join us for Sigma Pi Fraternity's 57th Biennial Convocation in the vibrant city of Indianapolis! Learn more by visiting sigmapi.org/convocation or by scanning the QR Code.
Indianapolis is a booming city with attractions and offers its visitors many opportunities to explore and experience the racing capital of the world! From dazzling art to delicious food with a rich history and diverse entertainment options, the “Circle City” has something exciting for each and every type of visitor. Whether you’re a longtime Hoosier or a first-time visitor, the selection of things to do in Indianapolis will never disappoint. Some things to check out when you get to Indianapolis are:
Surrounding the iconic 284-foot-tall Soldiers and Sailors Monument, this iconic spot is the beating heart of Downtown Indy, regularly hosting festivals and never shy of a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Standing tall in the middle of a traffic circle, the limestone memorial offers striking views from its observation deck and acts as the center point for the city’s biggest events, with no shortage of local food trucks and occasional light shows after sunset.
Traveling with energetic kids in tow? Then head straight for the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in the United Northwest Area!
As officially the world’s largest children’s museum, this Indi staple sells itself as a must-see family attraction that’ll keep the whole clan entertained and engaged all day long! With a whopping five floors
of interactive galleries and displays, including an impressive railroad exhibition, as well as countless rotating exhibits, there’s so much to do at this world-class museum.
This beloved Indi attraction is regularly atop traveler’s list of things to do in Indianapolis. Spread across 64 acres of land and with twice as many exhibits as any other zoo in the state, you’ll find everything from the rare and endangered — including white rhinos, Amur tigers, Guinea baboons, red pandas, and Komodo dragons — to the most common of cheeky monkeys and slithery snakes!
Perhaps best known for its spot on the NASCAR calendar with the Indy 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the home of racing in Indianapolis, is also a must-see for lovers of all things fast and furious! Sitting inside the middle of the famous 2.5-mile oval track, the Museum covers two whole floors with dozens of historic cars (including those that won the coveted rave), motorcycles, engines and memorabilia dating back to the late 1800s. While the rotating exhibits come and go, the undisputed highlight is the permanent fixture of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame — a must for any devout petrolhead. We look forward to seeing you in Indianapolis!
The dynamic Sigma Pi membership experience prepares young men for life after college in various ways. Adam Dibble (Ferris State ’03) began his fraternal journey as a member of Theta-Theta, committing himself to the brotherhood’s growth.
Beyond college, Adam’s work with the Sigma Pi national organization propelled him into a successful career in environmental solutions.
Adam had the opportunity to be a founding father for Theta-Theta, influencing the Chapter’s direction and new traditions while adhering to the longstanding virtues of Sigma Pi Fraternity. His elevated involvement led to becoming chapter president, representing the growing brotherhood on campus as a registered student organization.
“The involvement, from managing a calendar and tracking and prioritizing things to being able to know when to commit to opportunities or pass on things, really created those hard and soft skills in me.”
With Adam’s background as a founding father, he was recruited to become an expansion consultant for Sigma Pi. This opened the door to becoming the director of marketing and communications, working on corporate communications, publication materials, and early social-media engagement.
“I was the managing director of our award-winning publication. We won nine awards, I believe, during that time.”
Adam is fortunate for his Sigma Pi career experiences that paved the way for future success. Fraternal pride was a driving factor in his roles with Sigma Pi, and Adam even maintains some alumni connections in his current line of work.
He was also recognized for his success with the Young Professional Achievement Award from Sigma Pi in 2018.
As vice president of environmental solutions for Profile Products, Adam is responsible for managing day-today operations, strategic direction, and executing plans for more than $120 million in company assets.
Adam’s company is an industryleading manufacturer of erosion control technologies.
“I’m at 14 years with Profile,” Adam shared. “Over that time, starting in the sports division and evolving into the erosion control environmental division, opportunities continued to come up that led to further advancements and more collaboration across the business.”
Adam is grateful for the immediate bond of trust he finds with fellow fraternity alumni in the workforce. “I regularly find that sharing that I am a fraternity alumnus, and specifically Sigma Pi, in meetings or business ice breakers makes new connections of other Greek alumni in those meetings.”
Alongside his work at Profile, Adam served as the board of directors president for International Erosion Control Association Region One from 2019-21. Becoming the youngest board member ever, Adam was glad to contribute to the organization
It is truly a sense of pride to be Greek, specifically Sigma Pi. If you continue to cherish it and talk about it, opportunities often come up to find connections.
regardless of his age or experience.
Adam’s leadership gave him the opportunity to represent the IECA in discussions with the EPA, state regulators, and congress in Washington, D.C. In 2023, the IECA recognized Adam with the Sustained Contributor Award, honoring one individual making strides within the erosion and sediment control industry.
“It was really unexpected,” Adam added. “Many previous winners have been in the industry for maybe 20 or 30 years. I think it showcased that my contributions have remained steadfast throughout different leadership roles.”
Looking back at his Sigma Pi experience, Adam is grateful for the fraternal lessons in trust, diversity, and accountability that made him a better person. Adam met his wife, Stephanie, at Ferris State, where she was chapter president of her sorority. Adam and Stephanie enjoy traveling and taking care of their three St. Bernards.
Did you spent time on the staff at the national organization? Share your story with us!
To submit a story, just visit sigmapi.org/paststaff
Coastal Carolina University was founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College, a two-year community college, by the Coastal Educational Foundation, a group of citizens who wanted to establish a postsecondary institution in the region. The college originally operated under contract as an extension of the College of Charleston. Classes met at night at Conway High School and were taught by part-time faculty.
After the College of Charleston contract expired in 1958, Coastal
became an independent community college supported by Horry County.
The Horry County Educational Commission was created in 1959 to oversee the college's county tax money. This body was responsible for contracting operations to the University of South Carolina a year later under the name Coastal Carolina Regional Campus. The deal was finalized at the Chat 'n' Chew restaurant in Turbeville, South Carolina, a town halfway between Conway and Columbia.
The site of the present-day campus,
then known as USC Coastal Carolina College, was chosen in 1960, on a plot of land between U.S. 501 and S.C. 544, on land owned by Burroughs Timber Company and International Paper. The campus' first building, later named the Edward M. Singleton Building, opened in 1963. A decade of growth saw the school add a third year in 1973 and a fourth in 1974. The first residence halls (currently "The Woods" residence halls) opened in 1987.
By 1991, enrollment had grown to over 4,000 students, leading the
"Our Ancient Sage firmly believed in the persistence of the soul beyond the grave, and although we mourn our brother's passing from this world, we take comfort in sharing this belief that life is not ended, but changed, and that he now enjoys the reward for a life welllived and guided by the ideals of our Fraternity."
From the Fraternity's Manual of Ceremonies
ARKANSAS (ALPHA-SIGMA)
Phillip Smith ('60)
ARKANSAS STATE (ALPHA-PI)
Billy Jones ('58)
AUBURN (ALPHA-DELTA)
Lawrence Phelps ('67)
BARTON (BETA-RHO)
William Batchelor PhD ('60)
CAL STATE LONG BEACH (BETA-OMICRON)
Don Bauchiero ('67)
Bruce Bennett ('67)
Frederick Sorsabal ('58)
Joe Stilinovich ('89)
CORNELL (MU)
Lawrence McGuinn ('65)
EAST STROUDSBURG (BETA-PSI)
Christopher Yeager ('71)
EASTERN ILLINOIS (BETA-GAMMA)
Jerome Ashworth ('56)
Donald Bragg ('50)
Kenneth Brauer ('49)
Charles Cole ('51)
Hicks Cornett ('49)
Lester Crum ('53)
Tom Danneberger ('49)
Donald England ('49)
Richard Fiscus ('49)
John Hamilton ('51)
John Hazelton ('53)
Carl Jackson ('51)
James Kehias ('49)
John Montgomery ('58)
Paul Rinesmith ('49)
Roger Rodden ('69)
Virgil Sweet ('49)
Edward Taylor ('52)
Thomas Thode ('52)
Richard Wilkin ('50)
EMPORIA STATE (EPSILON-EPSILON)
James Sutton ('86)
FLORIDA STATE (ETA-EPSILON)
Robert Martin ('89)
ILLINOIS (PHI)
John Bodoh ('65)
Paul Player ('58)
INDIANA (BETA)
Harold Anderson ('30)
Crist Blassaras ('41)
Timothy Doyle ('80)
INDIANA STATE (GAMMA-PI)
Walter Botich Jr. ('68)
JOHNSON & WALES (ETA-OMEGA)
Brian Hurtubise ('96)
LOCK HAVEN (BETA-OMEGA)
David Glossner ('62)
LYCOMING (BETA-LAMBDA)
Clemens Heick ('63)
MICHIGAN STATE (ZETA-MU)
Rowan Palen ('23)
MILTON (DELTA-GAMMA)
James Pouchot II ('70)
MISSOURI S&T (ALPHA-IOTA)
James Logan ('46)
MONMOUTH (DELTA-BETA)
Ken Edens ('92)
MOREHEAD STATE (DELTA-RHO)
Kevin Smith ('71)
MURRAY STATE (GAMMA-UPSILON)
Jody Keymon ('96)
NJIT (ALPHA-MU)
Eugene Flaherty ('65)
Joseph Kavalus ('68)
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (BETA-SIGMA)
Glenn Engelhardt ('60)
OHIO NORTHERN (ZETA)
Brent Fisher ('78)
David Gray ('73)
Terry Lacy ('69)
William Lang ('54)
Russell Moore Jr. ('68)
Clyde Quinby Jr. ('59)
William Ruse ('54)
John Sears III ('69)
Neil Shearer ('49)
Robert Shively ('49)
Richard Wagner ('49)
Dennis Westhoefer ('64)
Robert Woods ('64)
OREGON STATE (OMEGA)
Timothy Grim ('70)
Donald Pope ('51)
PENN STATE (THETA)
Stanley Von Nieda Jr. ('43)
RALEIGH, NC (RHO)
John Springthorpe Jr. ('52)
SALEM (DELTA-MU)
William McMaster Jr. ('71)
SETON HALL (DELTA-EPSILON)
Jason Campaiola ('97)
TEMPLE (KAPPA)
PGS Donald Cox ('53)
TOWSON (ETA-NU)
Eric Trumbauer ('97)
UCLA (UPSILON)
Thomas Miller ('58)
VINCENNES (ALPHA)
Harold Frederick ('69)
Johnny Furr ('66)
John Kalberer ('74)
Charles Renfro ('67)
WAKE FOREST (ALPHA-NU)
James Gambill Jr. ('63)
Jeffrey Gjerde ('81)
WEST VIRGINIA TECH (GAMMA-XI)
Michael Phillips ('69)
WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT (GAMMA-LAMBDA)
Dale Tetzloff ('68)
Past Grand Sage Donald J. Cox (Temple ‘53) passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the age of 90.
PGS Cox was a very active member of Sigma Pi and served the Fraternity in volunteer roles for many years throughout his life. For the Grand Council alone, PGS Cox served many positions, including Grand First Counselor (1990-1992), Grand Fourth Counselor (1992-1994), Grand Third Counselor (1994-1996), Grand Second Counselor (1996-1998), and Grand Sage (1998-2000). Additionally, he served as Past Grand Sage on the Grand Council from 2000-2002.
His contributions to the Fraternity also included time on the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation board, where he served from 2002-2003 as President and from 2014-2018 when he served as Trustee.
At the local level, PGS Cox also spent many years serving his own chapter, Kappa, as Chapter Director. In addition, he advised Theta-Delta Chapter in Ewing, NJ as their Chapter Director from when they started as a colony in 1999 through 2022, when he voluntarily stepped down to allow the next generation of volunteers to step up.. He also guided the Kappa of Sigma Pi Alumni Association from 1994 to 2017. PGS Cox was awarded the Founders’ Award in 2012 for his contributions to the Fraternity, where he stated “I have personally benefited from the educational and leadership opportunities I experienced both as an undergraduate and as an alumnus of Kappa Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity.”
In addition to his volunteerism, PGS Cox was also pivotal in creating the Mid-Year Leadership Conference (MYLC), launched during his time as Grand Sage. He committed the initial gift toward an endowment for future funding of MYLC.
Outside of Sigma Pi, PGS Cox truly believed in leadership development. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and was involved in the Council of the Eugene Township. His professional experience includes working as a purchasing agent for General Motors, owning Revere Travel, Inc., teaching government at Trenton High School, and serving as a financial representative for Investors Capital Corp. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army stationed in Greenland and as a General’s Aide with the New Jersey National Guard.
Step 1: Go to sigmapi.org/updateinfo
Step 2: Click on "Update Your Information and The Emerald Magazine Subscription"
Step 3: Fill out the simple form
Step 1: Go to sigmapi.org/updateinfo or scan the QR Code
Step 2: Click on "Report Deceased Members"
Step 3: Fill out the simple form
Recently, three remarkable undergraduate brothers from Zeta-Alpha Chapter at West Chester — Joshua George ('23), Nicholas Romano ('22), and John Ginsburg ('23) — took an extraordinary step in their leadership journey. Demonstrating immense dedication and commitment to personal and communal growth, they self-financed a trip to Los Angeles to participate in our Engage program, taking advantage of an exceptional opportunity to grow, network, and bring back valuable insights to the Chapter and community.
Sigma Pi Fraternity
1101 Kermit Dr., Suite 730 Nashville, TN 37217
When you pledged Sigma Pi, you joined a brotherhood for life. We’re always looking for new resources and ways we can support our members and their loved ones.
Do you have an estate plan? Every Sigma Pi brother should have a plan to protect the people they love and the things they’ve worked hard for.
As a member benefit, we partner with FreeWill to help you create a will online, at no cost.
Creating your will allows you to:
+ Care for your loved ones, including any children or pets
+ Complete an act of financial empowerment
+ Create a planned gift to inspire and support future generations of our brotherhood
This tool is 100% free for Sigma Pi brothers and their loved ones. Scan the QR code or visit freewill.com/sigmapi to create your free plan.
