Roll of Chapter Presidents

Since the founding of the Alpha Sigma Chi precursor chapter in 1874 and the subsequent 1879 chartering of Beta Delta, student leadership has been the driving force behind the chapter’s operational success and campus standing. This roster documents the undergraduate brothers who have served as Chapter President across more than 150 years of continuous activity.

Because executive governance formats have evolved over time, terms designated by a two-year range (e.g., 1975–1976) reflect leadership during the traditional academic year, whereas terms designated by a single year indicate a full calendar-year term (January to December). Terms marked with an asterisk (*) represent transition years where a president served a partial single-semester term to realign executive elections with calendar or academic shifts.

Because early yearbooks and university records frequently listed chapter members without designated officer roles—and wartime dislocations periodically disrupted record-keeping—this roll remains an active archival project. The lineage presented below reflects our current historical findings, and we invite alumni and families to help complete missing entries as old meeting minutes, composite photographs, and personal records continue to surface.

Help Complete the Chapter Archives

This roster reflects current historical findings from fraternity journals, university records, and composite photos. If you can fill in missing names or correct dates, please contact the chapter archivist at archivist@CornellBetaThetaPi.org.

The Alpha Sigma Chi Era (1874–1879)

Origins as the Beta Chapter of Alpha Sigma Chi prior to the national merger.

Term / YearPresidentClass YearEra Milestone / Context
1874-1875Ellis Thompson1876Chartering of Alpha Sigma Chi (Beta Chapter)

Early Beta Delta & Rented Residences (1879–1901)

Following the merger into Beta Theta Pi, the chapter occupied rented residences on East Seneca St., Huestis St. (College Ave.), and East Buffalo St.

Archival Notice: Officer roles were not designated in university yearbooks during this period. Presidential terms for 1879–1901 are currently being compiled from national fraternity journals and university archives. If you have meeting minutes or composite records from this era, please contact the chapter archivist.

The 17 South Avenue Era (1901–1915)

The chapter’s first purpose-built West Campus lodge, followed by a brief interim residence at 523 East Buffalo Street prior to the completion of the Castle.

Archival Notice: Records for the 17 South Avenue era are undergoing active research. Contributions of early meeting minutes or composite photos are welcome.

Castle Construction & World Wars (1915–1945)

The move to 100 Ridgewood Road, navigating the Great Depression, and chapter operations during WWI and WWII.

Term / YearPresidentClass YearEra Milestone / Context
1930-1931Richard West1931—
1933-1934Carlton Abbott1935—
1939-1940Gordon Beh1940—
1940-1941John Kruse1941Pre-WWII Chapter Operations & Draft Registration Begins
1941-1942Joe Davidson1942U.S. Entry into World War II & Wartime Chapter Mobilization
1942-1943Thomas Nobis1943Wartime Operational Transition & Navy V-12/V-5 Enlistments
1943-1944Calvin Roper1947—
1944-1945[Record Archive Pending]

Post-War Growth & Mid-Century (1945–1990)

Post-WWII expansion, chapter stabilization, and modern alumni governance.

Term / YearPresidentClass YearEra Milestone / Context
1945-1946John Haughwout1944Post-War Transition
1946-1947Calvin Roper1947—
1947-1948James Cox1950—
1948-1949Victor Stibolt1949—
1949-1950Joe Woods1951—
1950-1951John Boehringer1953—
1951-1952Richard Smith1952—
1952-1953Phillip St Clair1953—
1953-1954Jerry Schurmeier1954—
1954-1955Bob Gerhardt1956—
1955-1956Don Phillips1956—
1956-1957Dick Eales1958—
1957-1958Mike Gainey1957—
1958-1959Tom Cottrell1960—
1959-1960David Smith1960—
1960-1961Pete Avondoglio1962—
1961-1962Mike Mowry1962—
1962-1963Frank Kaphan1965—
1963-1964William Hamilton1965—
1964-1965Clarence Jentes1965—
1965-1966Stan Kochanoff1966—
1966-1967David Ayres1967—
1967-1968Peter Tyson1968—
1968-1969Walt Tusinski1969Campus Crisis Era & Willard Straight Hall Takeover
1969-1970Lawrence Morgan1970—
1970-1971Bert McCulloch1971—
1971-1972Bob Mendola1972—
1972-1973Peter Rohr1972—
1973-1974Donald Winnicki1974—
1974-1975Craig Seaman1975—
1975-1976Lance Greenberg1976—
1976-1977Philip Wetzel1978—
Fall 1977*Philip Wetzel (2nd Term)1978—
1978Michael D’Ambrose1979—
1979Rick Morgan1980Chapter Centennial Celebration
1980Bob McDonald1981—
1981Dan Loughridge1982—
1982Bruce Blakely1983—
1983Jeffrey Beyer1984—
1984Doug Weiskopf1985—
1985Eric Degenfelder1986—
1986Joseph Jayasundera1987—
1987Eran Gartner1988—
1988John Dalton1989—
1989Doug Onsi1990Centennial Plus 10 Celebration

Modern Renewal & Contemporary Era (1990–Present)

Capital restoration projects, modern house operations, and active undergraduate leadership.

Term / YearPresidentClass YearEra Milestone / Context
1990Brent Sohngen199175th Anniversary of the Castle at 100 Ridgewood Road
1991Dan Devorsetz1992—
1992Jim Christie1993—
1993Matthew Shafiroff1994—
1994William Nahmias1995—
1995Michael Perera1997Castle Campaign
1996Robert Nahmias1997House Rededication
1997Eric Sophir1999—
1998Jeremy Graff1998—
1999Nathan Gunsch2000Implementation of the Men of Principle Standards
2000Cristopher Petelle2002—
2001Karl Najork2003—
2002James Hakim2004—
2003John Black2005—
2004Robert Leslie2006—
2005Kevin Ciaccio2007—
2006Rob Ippolito2008—
2007Alan Arnedo2009—
2008Robert Frost2009—
2009Ryan Holy2010—
2010Xiaoteng Huang2011—
2011Andrew Broenen2013—
2012Ryan Gryszko2014—
2013Daniel Anderson2015—
2014Kevin Coughlin2017Centennial of the Castle at 100 Ridgewood Rd.
2015Red Giuliano2018—
2016Red Giuliano (2nd Term)2018—
2017George Ayob2018—
2018David Navedah2019—
2019Michael Sarkis2020—
2020Nathaniel Dwyer2021—
2021Alex Sieganthaler2022—
2022Andrew Mackin2022—
Spring 2023*Paouli Pitang2025
2023-2024Ron Varghese2025150th Anniversary of Beta Operations at Cornell
2024-2025Gavin Reider2026—
2025-2026Andrew Tauro2026—
2026-2027Desmond Carson2028Active Chapter Leadership
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