History of the Beta Chapter
Founding Until 1983
Joseph Lorin (Beta '18) has stated that the idea of forming a new fraternity at Cornell was his. Rooms were hard to get, and he thought that a fraternity would have the best opportunity to acquire suitable quarters. With him, were associated Milton Adler, Jacob Borach, M. Owen Brodner, Samuel S. Goldberg, Louis Kaufman, Joseph Rubinstein and Paul Schlein. Learning of this group in the summer of 1916, Alpha Epsilon Pi began to make overtures for affiliation. Correspondence ensued and finally the affiliation was decided upon. Theodore H. Racoosin and David K. Schafer were actively involved in obtaining the petition. For a while it seemed as if the initiation would not take place. The Alpha men (New York University) wanted to vote on each neophyte, while the Beta men said that it was all or none and were ready to withdraw. Finally things were smoothed over, and the initiation took place in Ithaca, New York. Sunday, January 27, 1917, was the date set for the induction ceremony. Theodore Racoosin, Murray Plager, Sidney Picker, Arthur Leopold and Isadore M. Glazer comprised the installing delegation. At the banquet one of the Alpha men in his speech said that they had almost turned the Beta group down, and the Beta men then related how they nearly withdrew their petition. Milton Adler was elected the first Master.
When the fledgling group returned in the fall, the nation was involved in World War I, and all but Lorin, Brodner, Rubinstein, and Goldberg had left to serve their country. They found eight men eager to join, but Mike Brodner objected to one man. Finally, after an all-night session, reason prevailed and the eight were admitted. Since there was no house, a suite of four rooms was rented by the brothers and used for rush. In 1918, the chapter rented a house and began wrestling with financial problems. By 1919, the chapter boasted Hy Adelsberg as Captain of the Cornell Varsity Chess Team, while another man was featherweight boxing champion. In February of 1920, Milton Adler, the last charter member, graduated. Early initiates included Alfred Peltz, Samuel Schwartz, Theodore Beskin, Louis Amreich, William Cohen, George Cooper, Felix Tyroler, Irving Ress, Benjamin Gerwin, Bernard Leifer, and Ben Ozaroff. On April 17, 1920, the chapter initiated Boris Bernard, Carl Fichlandler, Meyer Goldberg, and Michael Leifer. Beta's house was located at 704 East Buffalo Street.
On January 15, 1921, Beta added to its rolls Harry Ginsburg, Israel Harkavy, Joseph Rossheim and Norman Weisbrod, and on November 11 and 12 added eight more men; S. David Stutson, Louis Gerin, Archie Ginsburg, Reuben Gorgon, Walter Orloff, Saul Schwartzbach, Joseph Sorotsky and Jacob Wexler. The chapter seemed to be forging ahead. David Stutson became President of the Menorah Society. In 1922, Carl Fichlander was on the Varsity Tennis Team, while Brothers Beskin and Amreich played on the Varsity Football Squad. The next few years were a struggle for Beta. Cornell is a strong fraternity school with a tradition of a thriving greek system, hence, the chapter suffered from a lack of adequate housing. In 1925, however, the chapter purchased a house overlooking a gorge, at 216 Cascadilla Park Drive. Aubrey Schenck, Sidney Terr, and Sidney Stark were all pledged in the 1925 school year. Irving Bland '26 played Varsity Basketball. Officers in 1926 were Master Irving Bland, Lieutenant Master Mort Shapiro, Scribe Jules Lippman, Exchequer Al Kistin, and Sentinel Sol Snyder, and two men pledged were Julius Weiner and Ben Steinman, both of Livingston Manor, New York. The chapter reached the semi-finals in Basketball in a field of forty-eight houses. Sam Pearis won his letter for wrestling, and Norman Weisbrod went to work as chief paleontologist for Atlantic Refining Co.
In the 1926-27 school year, with Solomon Snyder as Master, the chapter pledged and initiated twelve men. Some of the men in this pledge class are familiar to those who followed Beta's fortunes. The list included Arthur Block, James Gitlitz, Joseph Libby, Howard Orloff, Richard Orloff, Max Rosen and Louis Schor, all of the class of 1930. Officers in 1927 were Master Nathan Hyman, Lieutenant Master Koppel Weskelblatt, Scribe Harry Chasin, Exchequer Charles Grodin, and Sentinel Aubrey Schenck. Pledged, were Theodore Mandelbaum, Harry Bellach, and Morton Tolleris; Karl Fischbach '28 made the Varsity Swimming Team. A Beta Fathers' Club, headed by Morton's father Judge Tolleris, was organized at the Fifth Avenue Restaurant on April 3, 1927. As well, that year Val Lorwin '27 was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to write several scholarly accounts of French History.
In 1928, Julius Weiner was elected Master, Nathan Hyman became Lieutenant Master, Sidney Stark was chosen as Scribe, Sidney Barnes was elected Exchequer and Nathan Sagan became Sentinel. Unfortunately the chapter lost in the finals in Interfraternity Football. The 1928-29 school year began with the pledging of eleven men. Members of this class included Ben Lowenstein, who later distinguished himself with the Syracuse chapter as its advisor. Sidney Stark was elected Master, Aubrey Schenck was elected Lieutenant Master, Max Rosen, who went on to become a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Justice, served as Scribe, Hobby Orloff as Exchequer and Mort Tolleris became Sentinel. Cy Katz became Beta's Athletic Manager. James Gitlitz, Poetry Editor of the Cornell Columns, was honored for admission into the Sigma Delta Chi journalism society. After the initiation of November 23, 1928, Beta numbered thirty-eight active brothers. Later that year, Brothers Chasin and Terr were nominated for membership in the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society. In 1929, Beta's house was destroyed by fire during the exam period. Alumnus Louis Amreich stepped in and worked out a settlement which enables Beta to return to a new, improved chapter house, in the fall. Temporary quarters were obtained at 128 Dryden Road, and this enabled the chapter to pledge seven freshmen.
For 1930, the elected officers were Master Nathan Pfeffer, Lieutenant Master Seymour Katz, Scribe Joseph Brandwene, Exchequer Robert Sheyer and Sentinel Nathan Koffsky. On Spring Day, then Supreme Master David Schlesinger, Supreme Lieutenant Master Maxwell Scheiber, Supreme Scribe Lester Block, and Past Supreme Master Sidney Picker, visited Beta with Lou Amreich, Beta Chapter Advisor. That year, Sam Meilman, a brother from Shanghai, China, was a Varsity Tennis Player, James Gitlitz was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Ben Lowenstein was selected for membership in Clef, music honorary. The chapter suffered in 1931, but in 1932 eighteen men were pledged and Wally Zwisohn was elected to the Willard Straight Board of Governors, an outstanding honor. Thirty-one made up the Beta Chapter in 1932, and included such Beta stalwarts as Paul Grossinger, who took second in the University Golf Tournament, while Morris Adelsberg reached the semi-finals of the University Tennis Tournament. As well, that year, Ben Shebar made Phi Beta Kappa. Wally Zwisohn added Cornell Debating Association membership to his laurels, and Leo Rokeach was a member of the Cornell Dramatic Club. Morris Adelsberg pitched for the Varsity Baseball Team, played on the Varsity Basketball Team, was a member of the Championship Doubles Tennis Team, and was a finalist in tennis singles. Other brothers also actively contributed to Beta's fine year.
In the fall of 1933, the chapter pledged seven men and featured a house party attended by Advisor Nat Hyman and Chapter Founder Joe Lorin. Brother Hyman was elected to the 1934 Supreme Board of Governors. For the second semester of 1934, Ben Shebar was elected Master, another Phi Beta Kappa key was worn by Irv Sharfstein, and the chapter numbered twenty-nine men. Samuel Stahl '38 made the Freshman Football Squad, and Harold Jacobs '37 was a standout player on the Cornell Basketball Team, while Mac Weiner '35 was elected Lieutenant Master. With Joseph Gottesman as Master and Paul Grossinger as Lieutenant Master, the chapter opened the 1935-36 year with a ten-man pledge class. The second term Master was Ted Elkins, with Richard Wisch as Lieutenant Master, Fred Sacks as Scribe and Paul Grossinger as Exchequer. Pledge Stahl was a member of the Varsity Football Squad as well as the Debating Team.
In November of 1937, Beta reported the initiation of four men and the pledging of ten more. Brother Ben Stahl, who played Varsity Center for Cornell Football, was elected to Sphinx Head, senior honorary for B.M.O.C.'s and Brother Spitzer was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. The chapter ranked second scholastically, out of forty-seven fraternities. Beta's 1938 tennis squad won the Interfraternity Tournament. Fred Tropp '38 played Varsity Basketball, Al Zeeve '38 was active in the Dramatic Club, and Larry Klein was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. John Weiner and Jeffrey Affron made Kappa Phi Kappa, and the chapter was very active in the Hillel Foundation. John Weiner also played Varsity Polo for Cornell; Jeffrey Affron played Varsity Tennis. In 1939-40, Beta Founder Samuel S. Goldberg was present to initiate his son Joseph '43. In the fall of 1940, the chapter returned to find the house redecorated, and, under the leadership of Maurice Dressler, rushing was more successful than it had been in recent years. Fifteen men pledged, and five more were added later. Milton Kaplan was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and Arnold Abelson and Leo Mandelkern to Phi Kappa Phi. The war years were difficult ones for Beta. Eleven men were pledged in 1942; nine more were pledged in the summer of 1942. In November of 1943 the chapter, one of the few remaining active at Cornell, had twenty-six brothers. In the summer term of 1944, seventeen more were added. Ten men left for the armed forces in 1944, but ten new men were added.
In 1946-47 the veterans began to return, and Beta suddenly found itself with more than fifty active brothers. Master David Gelbin made plans to accommodate the enlarged chapter. The year 1948-49 was yet another good one for Beta; the house was renovated, there were many noteworthy activities. Hy Etkind and Al Arnold were active in Cornell Debating, and the chapter athletic teams did well. Twenty-three men were pledged. During the 1950-51 academic year, sixteen men pledged, and the chapter ranked second scholastically. In 1951-52 rush results brought 25 new pledges, and the beginning of plans for a new house. Under the leadership of Master Barry Kolton, 1952-53 was an outstanding year, with Beta men in many activities. Jay Gold ranked number one in the Business School and Larry Skolnik gained a Phi Beta Kappa key. The fine performance of the Beta chapter continued in 1953-54. Arthur Ginsburg made Phi Beta Kappa, Allen Weissglass played Varsity Basketball, and the chapter's Basketball Team went to the playoffs before losing. Achievements continued in 1954-55, with ten Beta men on Student Council and IFC Committees. Marv Silverman was a coxswain on the crew, while Master Jay Hyman served as election commissioner for Student Council. The biggest news was that a site had been purchased for a new chapter house on Triphammer Road.
Master Steve Laden was a Student Council representative in the 1954-55 school year and worked closely with Hy Adelsberg '21 in the planning of the new house. He has remained one of Beta's most interested and active alumni. On January 7, 1957, Beta moved into its new home, capable of housing 40 men, and one of the finest structures at Cornell. Nick Schiff played Varsity Basketball, Steven Klein was undefeated in two years of Freshman and Varsity Golf, four brothers wrote for the Cornell Daily Sun and Ian Maksik was Treasurer of the Cornell radio station. With 29 men pledged and 27 initiated, the new house, and the activities named above, 1957-58 was an outstanding year for Beta. Nick Schiff was Captain of Cornell's Baseball Team, Larry Kaufman was a Varsity Swimmer, Pi Delta Epsilon Journalism honorary tapped Roy Lieberman, a Cornell Daily Sun Editor, and Dick Rosenthal of the Cornell Widow. Lawrence H. Kaufman was Secretary-Treasurer of Sigma Delta Chi professional Journalism society. Beta continued to lead at Cornell. In 1959-60, Jon Steinberg, son of Past Supreme Master Sigmund Steinberg, was appointed to the eight-man Executive Board of the University and elected to Sphinx Head Senior Society. Master Larry Klein was chairman of Fall Weekend, Howard Wilson was named President of the Liberal Arts College, and Charles Hecht was Commissioner of elections.
The year 1960-61 saw Tony Kahn elected President of the Sophomore Class and Comptroller of Cornell's Finance Commission, and Joel Bender served as Master. The year 1961-62 was a continuation of the chapter's top ranking on campus. The chapter continued during 1962-63 to be active in student government. Dick Hecht and Joe Basloe worked on the Public Affairs Committee, while other brothers were represented in many areas of Cornell activities. The four years of 1963-1967 saw Beta's continuing campus leadership. By 1966-67, William Caplan was Master and Martin Gold was President of Cornell's Senior Class. The chapter won its division title in football, and Richard Jaeger, former editor of the Cornellian, acted as advisor for the yearbook. But despite the good report, the chapter was beginning to feel the effects of the Viet Nam conflict. Advisor Alvin Kaskel '56, tried to hold the line, but to no avail. By the 1967-68 school year, Beta Chapter had succumbed and was no more.
Within the Lifetime of one Active Brother:
In 1969, the national office received a petition from a strong local fraternity at Cornell. This group had been a chapter of Phi Sigma Delta, but had not felt compatible with Cornell's Zeta Beta Tau chapter, when Phi Sigma Delta merged with Zeta Beta Tau national and consequently withdrew and became a local fraternity. Seeking a national affiliation, the local approached Alpha Epsilon Pi, and on October 25, 1969, it was installed with a complement of fifty men. The ritual team was headed by Past Supreme Masters Robert W. Krovitz, Irving Levin, and Supreme Sentinel Philip Cohen. Arthur Lustgarten represented the new Beta chapter. The Beta Chapter house on Triphammer was sold to the University since the new chapter preferred to remain in its own quarters. From that location, the chapter moved to the former Theta Chi house, a magnificent structure. This too, was taken over by the University, and the chapter moved to the former Alpha Epsilon Phi house, on Wyckoff, a building that was not suited to the chapter's needs. This constant moving about, destroyed the chapter's morale, and by 1976 the chapter was inactive, for all intents and purposes.
A drive to reactivate the chapter began with the acquisition of a house at 140 Thurston in 1976. With alumni like Paul Grossinger and Steve Laden actively interested, it was hoped that Beta would return to the active rolls in the 1978-79 school year. All efforts were in that direction. In 1978, Beta began reactivating with six men initiated and Sam Kramer, Iota Deuteron '42, acting as Advisor in Ithaca.
During the next few years, many additions were made to the building itself. The bar was built, a dumpster was added in the back, and the kitchen was completed. Originally, the kitchen was to be built during the summer of '79 as an addition to the house off the main room. But instead, it was built in its current basement location in 1980. Despite these physical improvements, the chapter never had more than 18 brothers. In 1981 the fraternity house was rented back to the University as a dorm ("Thurston Manor") for transfer students.
Milton Adler '19 was the eighth Supreme Master, and the only Beta man to hold the top position in Alpha Epsilon Pi. Alfred Peltz, Nathan Hyman and Louis Amreich all served on the Supreme Board of Governors. By and large, however, Beta men were not overly active in the work of the national fraternity. One thousand and forty-six are on the Beta rolls, as of 1990. Except for a very few added when Sigma Omega Psi became part of the fraternity (through a merger agreement), and this represents a dozen at most, all were initiated by the Beta Chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity.