YE QUAKER THE BETA CHAPTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FIJI IN THIS ISSUE: Letter from the Graduate Chapter President Homecoming Update Ad Astra Family Weekend Update BrotherSpotlight 2018 Frank Norris Pig Dinner Alumni Notes Fall 2018 Letter from the President of the Undergraduate Chapter Dear Fijis of past and present, parents and friends, I would like to start not by focusing on undergraduate brothers, but by thanking our wonderful Alumni and Housing Committee. As many of you know, the Beta Chapter house kitchen underwent a $400,000+ kitchen renovation this past summer, something that was long overdue. This new kitchen, fully stocked with new ovens, cold/hot food storage, serving station, and much more has enabled our chapter to increase our meal plan by over 50%, with over 2/3 of the chapter currently on the meal plan. There is nothing better than the undergrads sitting around the chapter room tables eating dinner together and sharing memories and stories from the day and weeks past. Thank you again to all of our alumni for your work and support with this new kitchen. I am excited to see how this renovation The new serving area and food preparation units in will impact the chapter for years to come. We have also achieved the kitchen record attendance this past year for Pig Dinner and Homecoming we hope to see all of you again at Pig Dinner this year. We continue to be one of the highest achieving chapters on campus, receiving the Silver Award for Chapter Performance this past year and attaining an average GPA of a 3.58 over the past academic year. Our chapter has focused efforts on philanthropy and community service in the past year, increasing the community service requirement so our brothers are more active in the Philadelphia community. Additionally, we have partnered with Penn Best Buddies (a program for forming relationships between persons with disabilities and the Penn community), Books Through Bars (a non-profit focused on sending books to local prisons), and various local schools and parks in the University City area. We have also continued to raise money for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, most recently through a Late-Night Brunch event that raised almost $2,000 for the cause. Lastly, we have focused this fall semester on informal recruitment to build out the Pi class that will be joining the chapter in late January. Our chapter has grown to be the fourth largest chapter on campus and we are continuing to increase our brotherhood numbers. As always, please contact me or our Recruitment chairman Arjun Patel (patelarjun99@gmail. com) with any potential freshman or sophomores to be added to our recruitment list. Please, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding the chapter or recruitment, job opportunities for the chapter or plans to visit Philadelphia and see the house! Thank you again for all the increased alumni participation in the past year and we hope to see you all for Pig Dinner in April! Best regards, Noah Gelles (2019) gellesnoah@gmail.com (203)-581-0019 \r\nLetter from the Graduate Chapter President This summer we commenced a much needed full kitchen renovation. The project was completed and we are awaiting the final cost, but we appear to be on budget. Penn green-lighted the project this summer predicated on the Beta Chapter’s commitment to raising the necessary funds in a timely manner. As of November 1, Penn has received $358,000 from the brotherhood with a total anticipated final cost of approximately $450,000. Thank you to those who have generously donated so far. Your names will be printed in our spring newsletter and memorialized on a plaque in the house. We must fulfill our obligation to Penn and beseech your support. If you have not contributed yet your donation is greatly needed to conclude our commitment to the University. Please send a one time tax deductible contribution in the enclosed envelope, payable to the “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania” and mailed to our treasurer: Gary Giegerich, 512 East Gravers Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038 In the memo section please write our gift account name and number: Phi Gamma Delta #601777 so Penn will credit the Phi Gam house. Contributions can be made electronically as well. If you choose this option please email Gary Giegerich garygiegerich@gmail.com the amount donated, so we can assure your gift is credited. Step 1: From the Penn homepage select Give to Penn. This can be found on the banner that is at the top of the homepage. Step 2: Once at the Give to Penn page scroll down and select Explore Funds with the Schools box. Step 3: Under the Explore Funds: a. School = University Life b. Select a Program = Fraternity / Dormitory Step 4: Scroll down to Preference for Phi Gamma Delta and press Give to This Fund Step 5: Complete the information required Thank you for your continued support to the greatest fraternity on Penn’s campus. Perge! Terry Spahr Alumni House Corporation Gift Levels: “Snowy White Owl” “Black Diamond” “Beta Star” Royal Purple 3619er Donor $50,000 + $25,000 + $10,000 + $5,000 + $1,000 + $1+ Homecoming Update Five classes of Fiji brothers celebrate homecoming together On Saturday, November 10, the Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta welcomed back graduate brothers of all ages for Penn Homecoming. We began the day with an early barbecue before unfortunately watching our Penn Quakers lose 29-7 to the Harvard Crimson. However, we kept our spirits high and enjoyed a lively happy hour at the chapter house, where we welcomed back alumni of all ages. Afterward, some of the more recent graduate brothers had dinner all together at a favorite local restaurant where they shared old stories and relived Fiji traditions. Many brothers reconnected over recollections of living together and events such as Pig Dinner, former homecomings, and the always memorable brotherhood initiation. Lots of wisdom was passed down to younger brothers; we even got to hear a speech from former president Ryan Anderson. The undergrads can say for the whole fraternity that we are looking forward to seeing these graduate brothers again, hopefully at Pig Dinner and future homecomings. \r\nAd Astra It is with great sadness that I inform you that our dear fraternity brother Ed McGinley Wharton (1950) passed away on Nov 12, 2018. Ed returned from the war and joined Fiji at 3619 where he would later be joined by his brothers Gerald (Gerry) Wharton (1952) and Richard (Rick) College (1958). All three brothers played football at Penn. Gerry was selected as all-American his senior year. Their father too had been an all-American. Ed was always generous with his time and advice. He served on the Beta Chapter Board for the past decade and treasured the traditions and heritage of the chapter house. When the building codes changed requiring higher banisters installed throughout the stairways of 3619, unlike many houses that patched iron rods on top of ornate wood carved stairways, Ed insisted and paid for a historical restoration woodworker to remove the top runner and add wood to every spindle to match the banister’s original look and feel. He was passionate about the relationships and deep friendships he maintained throughout his life from his association with Fiji. He will be sorely missed by his family, all his fraternity brothers and me. Perge! Jack Porter (1955) Ed McGinley III (second from the left) with his father (left) in 1979 at Franklin Field \r\nObituary: Edward F. McGinley III, a retired Vice President of the Goldman Sachs Group and member of the National Football Foundation Board of Directors, passed away at his home on November 11, 2018, fittingly on Veterans Day, as he served during World War II in the US Navy. The eldest of three brothers, McGinley was born in his home in Westfield, NJ on October 13, 1927. Edward attended Westfield High School and became an All-County tackle on the undefeated 1945 Westfield High School team. In 2012, the Westfield Historical Society honored Edward and his two brothers, Gerry and Rick, with an induction into the Westfield Hall of Fame. McGinley skipped his high school final exams to enlist in the US Navy as a seaman during World War II. After his service ended, he went on to play football for the University of Pennsylvania under George Munger, making him both a Munger Man and one of “four letter winners in football named McGinley (from the same family)” at Penn. McGinley graduated with a degree from the Wharton School of Business, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Mask & Whig Club, and served as a Scribe for the Friars Society. He and his brother Gerry went on to establish the Edward F. McGinley, Jr. Scholarship Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, which funded the scholarship of football players enrolled in the Wharton School. McGinley had a prolific and compelling career in business, starting out in the banking program at Marsh & McLennan. He then went on to spend time at both Merrill Lynch and Bache & Co, before setting out to start primary government bond broker/dealer Carroll, McEntee & McGinley. After CM&M was sold to Marine Midland Bank, McGinley returned to the business at Spear Leeds & Kellogg, where he helped re-build the fixed income business, which was then sold to Goldman Sachs. McGinley retired from Goldman at the age of 82. McGinley was a lifetime lover of jazz music and a savant of artists, lyrics, and melody. His voice in song often filled the rooms of the Villanova home he shared with the love of his life and wife of 28 years, Kate, and their dog Bella. The stories of concerts attended, friendships with great musicians, and recollections of musical memories in time brought tremendous joy to his family. His love of music was so great that Edward and his brother Gerry also established the Helen Hayes McGinley Scholarship Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, which funded the scholarship of female students who wished to study music. McGinley also spent his life sharing a love and reverence of trees with his friends, family and community. The Carriage House at Camp Woods was his arboretum and sanctuary through his adult life, where he planted dozens of copper beeches, horse chestnuts, red leaf plums and apple trees. After many commutes from Philadelphia to New York City, he donated a (now very happy) copper beech to the Bryn Mawr Train Station to brighten the day of all travellers passing through. His many valued associations over the years included the National Football Foundation, the National College Football Hall of Fame, the Cancer Research Foundation of America, the University of Pennsylvania, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the Bond Club of Philadelphia, and the Merion Cricket Club. Also fondly remembered are his countless friends and mentors in Alcoholics Anonymous that served to inspire and strengthen his life for over 32 years. McGinley is survived by his beloved wife Kate and his four children: Nancy McGinley Gardner, Edward F. McGinley IV (Geraldine), Douglas M. McGinley and Kathleen McGinley Whiteman (Robert) as well as 13 adoring grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is also survived by his youngest brother Richard. \r\nFamily Weekend Update On a positively beautiful Saturday, October 13, the Beta Chapter hosted our 4th Annual Fiji Family Weekend. In trending fashion, attendance exploded to our largest Family Weekend to date with over 60 family members present! Despite some morning showers, we were able to enjoy a barbecue outside our chapter house; families connected and reconnected as we prepared to head over to the Penn vs Columbia football game. The Quakers thrashed the Lions 13-10 and afterward, parents enjoyed seeing the Penn Campus, exploring downtown Philadelphia or getting some downtime with their son. As the sun was setting, the Xi Class (C’ 20) headed east to the center city restaurant Bocconcini with their families for a traditional Italian dinner. Simultaneously, the newest Omicron class walked over to Undergraduate brothers Mark, Pri, and Nate La Viola for an analogous feast. After joyous dinners on both ends, dine with recent graduate Mario during the families headed in for the night before final small brunches the next happy hour morning. The Cabinet received plenty of positive feedback from the event and we were pleased to see so many parents enjoyed their time at 3619 Locust Walk. We absolutely hope to see as strong of attendance for the years to come. Brother Spotlight: Alex Fisher This summer, one of our brothers, Alex Fisher (2019), spurned a traditional corporate path and instead chose to traverse through Scandinavia, researching the intersection between New Art Media and the internet from an institutional and individual perspective. He spent five weeks in Norway and Sweden, meeting with artists, musicians, elected officials and even members of the Swedish royal family. In fact, he got to stay at the royal palace and attended a private concert with them! After his time in Europe, Alex settled in New York where he worked with COMME des GARÇONS, a Japanese fashion house, on their press team. He worked to develop the brand and coordinate apparel choices with many celebrities. When he wasn’t Alex atop Preikestolen in County Rogaland, Norway, working at COMME, Fisher was managing the estate of Anna Mendieta, a deceased artist who he began working with last year. near his research home base in Stavanger Safe to say he was plenty busy this summer! Now that he’s back at school, Alex hasn’t slowed down. He is the curator of Refrigerator Residency (@ rerigerator.residency on Instagram), an art showcase he created, is writing a cookbook with a number of Fijis and is publishing the third issue of Mugshot, a magazine dedicated to coffee culture. When asked how he handles so much, Fisher simply said, “I thrive when I’m busy. I love getting work to with my peers and am constantly amazed by all the incredible things we can accomplish together.” 2018 Frank Norris Pig Dinner The date for this year’s spring Pig Dinner has been set for Saturday, April 27. We are still looking for our guest speaker; if you would like to nominate a distinguished individual, please email Bill Kalish at billykalish@gmail.com \r\nPHI GAMMA DELTA The University of Pennsylvania Beta Chapter Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Alumni Notes Edward (Ward) Stokes (1970): Kitchen and floors look great. A lot better than when I was there. Have a great year! A number of us from my era (mostly 68-70) still get together after 50 years. Great and enduring friendships were made at the Fiji lodge. Pledge Class of 1988 had its 30th reunion this past spring. Brig Henderson, Graham Clarke, Greg Jannetta, Bob Scheetz, Rafe Rosato, Bill Randall and Jim Grass all got together to celebrate and fit in a round of golf at the fabled Merion Golf Club. David Kirk (1965) was instrumental for coordinating a huge effort from his era specifically 1965 -1972 in donating to the kitchen capital campaign. Thank you, David and all the brothers from this period! Bill Randall, Greg Jannetta and Bob Scheetz at their 30th reunion this spring Brother Jerry Kinney: I was the treasurer in 1952 and when Phi Gamma was the very most outstanding house on campus. One of my most valued memories was when Rich Ryan, the president, and I had the third-floor office suite which had a long narrow bedroom over the front window, and a nice sized room behind. Most weekday evenings about 5 o’clock Rich and I, plus several friends would gather for a glass or so of cheap Gallo Jug red wine and wonderful conversation.