Alpha Chapter of Theta Xi at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1046702
Theta xi 3 www.alpha6294.com Building Alpha's Future Together F rank Fischer '64 (A986) says he gives the same three answers when asked about his days at RPI: "I learned to think critically and analytically, I met my future wife, and I found a family at eta Xi." As all RPI graduates are aware, classes were demanding and required a significant commitment. Frank is grateful for his membership in Alpha Chapter, the support the fraternity offered, and the friendships created in the chapter house. "My fondest memories at RPI can all be traced back to eta Xi." Wanting to develop close friendships while at school, Frank went through rush and instantly liked the young men he met at Alpha Chapter. "ey were great guys, and I bonded with them immediately." e daily repetition of going to classes, then coming back to the house for dinner, studying, and socializing quickly developed into a close-knit kinship. "We were very much like a family, and my fraternity brothers are by far the major source of my lifetime friends." eta Xi provided the opportunity for Frank to enhance his social skills and engage and work with men of all backgrounds and personalities. is would prove beneficial aer graduation and throughout his career. Frank earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and later an M.S. in management, then joined the Navy and served as a naval officer in Newport, Rhode Island. He then went to work building locomotives for General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania. Aer seven years, he made the transition to a medical device company, Cordis Corporation, in Florida before joining a California startup in 1987, Ventritex, that pioneered implantable cardiac defibrillators. Aer St. Jude Medical acquired the company in 1997, Frank became president and CEO of Heartport, a cardiac surgery company. Since 2000, Frank has been CEO of NeuroPace, which was founded to design, develop, manufacture, and market implantable devices for the treatment of neurological disorders with brain responsive stimulation, focused specifically on the treatment of epilepsy. He says NeuroPace's work is incredibly rewarding, knowing that recipients of the device generally experience substantially reduced seizure frequency and severity and get back to enjoying a productive and fulfilling life. When he is not working to make life better for others, he enjoys playing co-ed soball and spending time with his wife of 50 years, Jeanne, a Russell Sage College graduate. ey live in Atherton, California, and have one son, David, who is an acupuncturist in Massachusetts. Staying connected with his Alpha Chapter family is also important, and several brothers get together for a reunion every few years. He also see Brothers Gary "Ichabod" Peterson '62 (A964) and George "Baby Huey" Dabb '62 (A972), who live in the Bay Area, a couple of times a year. As a loyal alumnus and campaign supporter, Frank has enjoyed seeing the chapter house updates and improvements. "It looks like they are doing a really good job restoring the house. I'm sure it's better than when we lived there!" He is also proud of RPI's role in committing to the preservation of the Greek system and believes Alpha Chapter will be a model for the future of fraternity-college relationships. Frank's contribution to eta Xi will ensure more young men have the opportunity to create bonds for a lifetime in the Alpha Chapter family. Frank can be reached at ffischer@neurospace.com. FRANK FISCHER '64 (A986) REFLECTS ON FINDING A FAMILY IN THETA XI Carlton E. Chase '50 In memory of William C. Chase (A373) omas H. Lavin '50 John C. Custer '51 Don Higgins '51 In memory of Harry Tomlinson '50 (A736) James E. Merkel '53 Edwin M. Walker '54 In memory of Roderic C. Wilson '54 (A811) Malcom B. Romeiser Jr. '57 Walter P. Rudolph Jr. '59 Robert M. Campbell '61 Richard J. Lundgren '62 Franklin L. Van Rensselaer Jr. '62 In memory of Pat Mahoney '64 (A1008) Charles Byington '63 Frederick C. Holschuh '63 Robert W. Nilsson '63 Kenneth Wilson '63 Charles W. Boylen, Indiana '64 Richard S. Piper '64 Michael Gass '65 In memory of Roger Lunden '64 (A974) Hank Malafronte '65 In memory of Roger Lunden '64 (A974) Steven W. Mendelsohn '65 Edward F. Maziarz Jr. '66 Rolf G. Medal '66 William P. Vrooman '66 Edward V. Fox Jr. '67 Richard F. Greenlaw '68 Anthony W. Djinis '71 Arthur J. Katz '71 Gary Lore '73 Fred E. Rehrig '77 Eugene F. Wardzinski '79 Mark A. Benedict '81 Larry J. Hart '85 Steven J. Herbold '85 John M. Noble '86 Jeffrey D. Platzman '88 Michael A. Rivera '88 Jeffrey D. Anderlik '89 Jeffrey P. ompson '89 Dylan T. Keenan '92 Paul Canino '93 Derek C. Liou '93 Frank J. Silvester '93 Patrick S. Marshall '94 John C. Norton Jr. '94 In memory of Jim Lichtenberg '80 (A1203) Jeffrey S. Gratz '96 omas P. Doherty '99 Dennis S. Lincoln '99 Adam Kiel '00 John Viggiano '02 In memory of Benny Ballz '04 (A1526) Kenneth W. Dias '03 Isaac M. Pelt '04 Robert B. Barton III '06 Richard M. Dearstyne Jonathan H. Shepard '10 William M. Simmons '10 Eric T. Jordan '12 Jared S. Corso '13 Robert K. Malhotra '13 Jacob S. Weinreb '13 Andrew J. Kelly '14 Jonathan E. Matla '15 David C. Miller '15 Adrian Pangilinan '16 Donate or make an early payment today by using the enclosed pledge card. Interested in giving a gi-in-kind? Contact dwfowkes@verizon.net.