Stephen Phillips ’78: “This is truly a time when the brotherhood needs to come forth”

Stephen Phillips ’78 (sphill5037@aol.com) pledged to Sigma Nu because of “the quality of the men who were brothers at Sigma Nu. [They were] smart, socially well-adjusted (well, most), open and funny! Also, the fact that our house was not owned by the University.” 

The “in-house dining and a professional kitchen” were what set Sigma Nu apart on campus for him, as well as the diversity and skill sets of the brothers. “Leadership, academics, athletics, support of the brothers. We were a mixture of different people, who melded together for the betterment of all.” 

One of his favorite memories was a humbling moment of miscalculation. “On the first day of sophomore year, I and three other roommates moving into the second floor ‘Cooler’ tried to move an old couch out of the living room, via the fire escape. And indeed, the couch did escape our grasp, fell from the second floor, and landed on the VW Beetle of one of the senior brothers. The worst was that we had been warned by the owner of the car not to do something so stupid. So the four brothers in the Cooler started the semester a couple of hundred dollars lighter and much more humble.” 

Sigma Nu continued to impact Phillips’ life long after graduation. “In the first years after college, since I lived in Philadelphia, it was a great way to return and to stay in touch with younger brothers. The house provided a great meeting place for homecoming. But things were hectic…new marriage, new job, family responsibilities, new social circles. So for a while, my participation declined.” 

“Then I was asked to participate in a large group of Beta Rho brothers who (pre-COVID) met once a year to enjoy each other’s company.” 

“How did Beta Rho prepare me for life? By emulating the hard work, aggressiveness, honor and leadership skills that are exemplified by our brothers. The house became an anchor for continuing our friendships after graduation.” 

He gives back to the house because he wants to pass on the experience that he had. “My experience at the Beta Rho house was incredibly uplifting. I want the new brothers to enjoy that. But the house deteriorated year by year. It takes lots of money to remodel/restore an older home. Beta Rho has been good to me, and I wanted to return something to the brotherhood.” 

“Just like having children, our hope is that the next generation is better than our generation.” 

“I often think of the saying, ‘Some give from their excess, some give from their wants and needs,’ while it is incredibly wonderful to see the higher income brothers donating to the house, I am more impressed by those of modest means that continue to donate to Beta Rho.” 

“This is truly a time when the brotherhood needs to come forth and donate to restore the house to its former glory. Without the restoration, the quality and quantity of the brothers will decline. Eventually, Sigma Nu Beta Rho would flounder. We need to save the house, by which we save the chapter.” 

“I wish that everyone would have the lasting fraternity experience that I had. If so, this would be a better world.” 

Without Sigma Nu, I wouldn’t… 

…have stayed in touch with so many fellow Penn graduates. 

…I wouldn’t have lived with my best friend in life, Bill Albers ’78 (bill.albers@mpka.com).  

…I wouldn’t have met my big Brother, Mason Haupt ’76 (mason@hauptnyc.com), one of the nicest and most accomplished of the brothers. I chose well! 

…I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of so many of the brothers excelling in their professions and family life. 

…and now that I am old, and getting ready to go (not any time soon, I hope), it’s nice to have others to share the lifelong reward of having grandchildren and to share the foibles of the aging process. We are all brothers for life.