Following the annual meeting of Alpha Phi Delta and the Beta Pi Alumni Association, approximately 36 brothers attended a Founders Day Dinner at the Restaurant School in West Philadelphia.
The cocktail hour prior to the dinner gave everyone the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and be with lifelong friends. At the dinner portion of the evening, the brothers enjoyed a sit-down meal featuring fine service, a choice of meat, fish, chicken, or vegetarian, and dessert miniatures.
Dinner conversations were primarily about the undergraduate surrender of the Beta Pi Chapter Charter to Pi Kappa Alpha Inter/National (Memphis) and the closing of the Chapter House at 3916 Spruce Street. Reminiscing about their time at the Chapter House, fond memories recalled the fraternity’s importance to their social calendar, their personal growth, opportunities for leadership, and learning how to join and work with others toward a common goal. Many in attendance expressed the opinion that Pi Kappa Alpha means more to them than the University of Pennsylvania.
There were very few speeches. The presentation of awards drew the most interest. The Scott Mackler True Grit Award and the Dave Herman Award were both given to Luke Baber ’22. Working closely with Basil Jackson ’13, Luke tried very hard to keep the chapter going but was unable to break through the ambivalence of his fellow undergraduates.
Alumni Loyalty Awards were presented by Joel Catania ‘71, Beta Pi Alumni Association Treasurer. Chawner Hurd, Jeff Kaufman, Buddy Altus, Larry Orans, Bora Sila, Ross Weiner, all 1980 initiates, received 45-year certificates. Fred Bailey ’70 received a 55-year certificate. Joe DiMauro ’75 received a 50-year certificate. Dan Maldonado ’15 received a 10-year certificate. For his dedication and commitment to PiKA since his initiation in 1965, Morty Cohen received a sixty-year certificate.
In attendance were:
Buddy Altus ’80 Luke Baber ’22 Fred Bailey ‘70
Mark Berlyn ’77 Joel Catania ’71 Morty Cohen ‘65
Dan Darkes ’68 Joe DiMauro ’75 Joel Friedland ‘74
Tom Fogarty ’81 Jerry Herman ’72 Chawner Hurd ‘80
Basil Jackson ’13 Jeff Kaufman ’80 Bill Kenney ‘69
Stephen Leventhal ’67 Harvey Mackler ’72 Dan Maldonado ‘15
Mark Mancini ’69 Rich Myers ’69 Paul Newman ‘73
Tom Niesen ’73 Lawrence Orans ’80 Mark Perna ‘68
Steve Pyun ’72 Paul Reszutek ’76 Stephen Robinson ‘74
Scott Rothbort ’79 Bill Scott ’76 Ed Shamy ‘74
Bora Sila ’80 Richard Sussman ’69 Ross Weiner ’80
Todd Wieseneck ’72 Bruce Wolfson ’71 Paul Zaentz ‘69
After the conclusion of the Walnut Hill festivities, brothers Cohen, Catania, Myers, Bailey, and Zaentz, returned to the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel to continue the pinochle game that started when Beta Pi was still at 3900 Locust Street. Still going strong, the pinochle game symbolized the steadfast loyalty and longtime devotion the brothers have to Beta Pi. The highlight of the evening was the combined strength of the Cohen/Zaentz team (who combined to make a 50 bid years ago) when they employed the John Kollias defense to comeback from a 97 to -8 score (121 points win) to win five consecutive hands, including a six-card laydown schnitz, to win the game.
When the night was over, they returned to their hotel rooms to get some much-needed sleep, knowing the Beta Pi Sunday breakfast was the next morning.
