| Sigma Tau Psi is a local fraternity, with a forty-seven year history at SUNY Geneseo. We are currently one of the largest fraternities on campus, with 25 brothers strong, living at 27 Orchard Street. In following with the tradition of the annual Sig Tau Regatta Race of the 60's, the fraternity hosts a busy schedule of social events and parties with several of Geneseo's notable sororities. Sigma Tau Psi Alpha chapter was founded at SUNY Geneseo on November 22, 1963 on the principles of campus involvement, leadership, and excellence. The fraternity was formally incorporated with New York State on March 8th, 1967 as a non-for-profit organization. Sigma Tau Gamma is the national fraternity that was founded in 1920 by 17 men at Central Missouri College. Although Sigma Tau Psi is not officially affiliated with the national fraternity, the fraternity impliments many of its traditions, principles, and ideals set forthe by the Founding Brother's due to early interaction with surrounding national chapters during the time of Sigma Tau Psi's founding. In
1961 several SUNY fraternities that at one time were nationally
affiliated with The fraternity's Founding Brothers are Tom Debello, Jack Sheehan, and Bruce Jordan (below) along with Jim Vidocy, Ralph Harris, Walt Peek, Bill Ryan, Ray "Spike" Leonard, Dahn Walrath, Jack Piedmonte, Jack Morrell, and LeRoy Clinton. |
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Tom Debello '65 |
Jack Sheehan '66 |
Bruce Jordan '66 |
Click here for the complete story of Sigma Tau Psi's founding. Below is a picture taken at Sigma Tau Psi Forty Years of Pride 2003.
Click to Enlarge The Sig Tau Old Guard is a group of brothers who were members of the fraternity during the early formative years from 1963 to 1968. Many of the members are founders and original charter members of Sig Tau. We meet periodically for special events including Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, and other planned events. If you were a member of any Sig Tau pledge class from 1963 - 1967 apply for The Sig Tau Old Guard Newsletter which is published periodically throughout the year via email. You can contact Chuck, its editor at ccuratal@rochester.rr.com for more information. Below is a picture of some of the Sig Tau Old Guard.
click to enlarge Since then the fraternity has lived up to the aim of its honored Founding Brothers. Among Sig Tau's highly distinguished brothers is Thomas Basher, owner and operator of the In Between (IB) located here in Geneseo. Honorary Sig Tau's include Paul of Pizza Paul's on Main Street and Ron Aprile of Geneseo Liquor on Center Street, also here in Geneseo. Sig Tau was the first fraternity to have a female honorary member on campus when we inducted Bill and Cynthia Selden, whom later founded Geva Theatre in Rochester. The fraternity is proud of the overwhelming amount of prominent alumni who have carried on the tradition of excellence, leadership, and success into their respective careers and lives post Geneseo. A glance at some of our distinguished Sig Tau alumni: * Vice President of Wachovia Security The fraternity's first house was founded at 6 Park Street in 1970. Our second fraternity house was founded in 1980 at 11 Bank Street. 1989 we moved to 10 Court Street where we were for 15 years. Today we proudly sit on 21 Orchard Street on what is developing as Geneseo's Frat Row. Active brothers excel in the various aspects of campus life including athletics, academics, other organizations, and social events. In 2001, Sig Tau participated in 4 intramural finals games, held the highest overall GPA for the spring semester, and won numerous other awards as a fraternity. Brothers hosted the annual clam bake and participated in a number of local charities. 2002 included the fraternity's first annual Joseph Slosek Day as he reigned victorious in the Phi Kap's annual chug-off tournament for charities at the IB. Every year Sigma Tau volunteers to set-up and breakdown the Boys Scout's annual Western New York Farm Show. This year's event was a huge success at Geneseo High School. Sig Tau also captured intramural championships in both soccer and volleyball led by actives Eric Lauricella and Brian Simpson. Homecoming 2003 marked our forty year anniversary. Sigma Tau Forty Years of Pride allowed both actives and alumni, who have maintainted the attitude and acheivement over the years, to come together and share in our collective history. Pictured below are some of the founding brothers along with then actives Giovanni Giordano, Adam Wright, and Rob Julian. Spring 2004, active Sean Coughlin was elected to the Inter-Greek Council (IGC) Executive Board as Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) President.
Click to Enlarge In Fall 2004 Sig Tau reigned victorious, placing first at the Greek Olympics during Fall 2004's Greek Week. Led by John Bruno and paired with the sisters of Sigma Kappa, the team proved worthy in events like tug of war, relay races, and the chariot race with great bouts of strength, endurance, and agility. Our first annual Sig Tau Homecoming Sorority Flag Football Tournament, which was co-hosted with the brothers of Phi Kappa Chi on October 3rd, 2004 of Homecoming Weekend, was a huge success! All Geneseo sororities competed in the flag football to benefit the American Cancer Society. The winning sororities won a wide variety of prizes including gift certificates, bar tabs, and a party hosted by us all in the name of the American Cancer Society. Fall 2004 also included a perfect regular season record in intramural football led by Justin Benjamin and first place in rush points reflecting our philanthropy and community service. We topped off the semester with our Playboy Mansion Party with the sisters of Alpha Kappa Phi and one of the biggest opens ever imaginable with a DJ. Spring 2005 started off with momentum as actives John Bruno and Aaron Strahl were also elected to the IGC Executive Board joining Sean Coughlin comprising three of the 9 positions. Sean Coughlin and John Bruno were also inducted to the prestigious Order of Omega for their accomplishments. Graduating senior Aaron Strahl was also awarded outstanding Greek Man of the Year by the SUNY Geneseo community. The fraternity again helped the local Boys Scouts with their annual WNY Farm Show. Among new philanthropy events included a canned food drive and an all-town clean up where actives got a chance to give back to the Geneseo residents. We received news that our fraternity house at 10 Court will be bulldozed to make way for the expansion of the prison, allowing us the opportunity to move down to 21 Orchard Street where we will have a huge basement unparallel to anything Geneseo's ever seen with a 32 person apartment proudly standing above. The fraternity finished up the year with our first annual SQUIDSTOCK 2004 which was co-sponsored by Skoal Tobacco Co. and included a 5 hour concert, hundreds of people, 18 kegs, and a party that will be talked about years post graduation. In Fall 2005 Sig Tau moved to 21 Orchard Street, which quickly and undisputedly became the best place to be on a Thursday night. That Spring, the brothers brought home the Softball intramural championship and hosted SQUIDSTOCK 2005 - over 400 people attended. This number was dominated by the 600+ people who attended SQUIDSTOCK 2006 which included 3 live bands and 20 kegs. Fall 2008 brought along a new house at 27 Orchard Street. The active brothers and alumni came together for the Sigma Tau Psi 45 Years of Pride Celebration, taking place in late September and proving to be a huge success. Many alumni made the trip out to Geneseo to show their pride in the Blue and White. Sig Tau won the intramural basketball title, the Greek Excellence Committee's award for Most Outstanding Fraternity, and the Outstanding Greek Man of the Year award (President Adam Kelly) all in Spring 2009. The Sig Tau experience goes beyond good academic standing, powerhouse sports teams, community service, and a busy schedule of social events. Sig Tau prides itself on its closeness, diversity, mutual respect, and friendship within the brotherhood. If you are interested in seeing Sig Tau firsthand, be sure to stop by any of our rush events this spring. |
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