Delta Tau Delta - Cornell University

3 DTD THE CORDELT Alan Paez '88 Encourages Alumni to Set Example W hy did you decide to join Delta Tau Delta can be a difficult question, but for Alan Paez '88, the answer comes easily. "e personal connections I made with brothers like Tom Stewart '86, who eventually became my big brother during my sophomore year of college, is what separated Delta Tau Delta from the rest," he says. "Beta Omicron was by far the best experience I had in college and it has been an honor to be part of a diverse, invaluable brotherhood that truly lasts a lifetime." Alan explains that the dedication of alumni like Joe Wilson '76 and John Dorfman '49 made a lasting impression on him and encouraged him to get involved. Alan's leadership abilities did not go unrecognized in Beta Omicron as he served as chapter president during his junior and senior year. He recalls the fun he had working with fellow officers and leaders like Rob Twyford '88, Gus Faucher '88, Rob Goldbaum '89, Matt Berta '89, Ed Clary '89, Mark Nassi '89, Eric Paley '90, and Roger Pilc '89. "My most valued memories as chapter president were participating in fun-filled philanthropic events for charities, such as the Delt Fall Rock Party to raise money for the National Arthritis Foundation and building a dunk tank for the Greek spring festival at Cornell, which were among the most popular events on campus," Alan says. "Aside from the philanthropic aspects of leadership, however, I cherished the guidance and mentorship I received from former Chapter Advisor Duncan Perry '84. He was always there for me and provided the resources necessary to help our chapter succeed. Duncan was, and still is, an all-around great guy who set the example for brotherhood and leadership in Beta Omicron." e profound experiences and memories Alan gained in Beta Omicron inspired him to stay involved with the chapter as an alumnus. "As an undergraduate, we were very fortunate to have alumni who donated their time, finances, and efforts to keep Beta Omicron thriving at Cornell. I got so much out of my Delt experience and, as a result, this has encouraged me to give back and play an active role in the continued tradition of excellence at Beta Omicron. e Shelter is a source of pride for undergraduates and alumni alike, and in order to preserve the integrity of Beta Omicron at Cornell, we must step up and be proactive in securing a future for our chapter." Alan makes it a goal to attend Cornell hockey games, Homecoming, Reunions, and Founders Day for Beta Omicron, and he cherishes the bonds he has with Duncan, John Pirie '83, Mark McCarthy '86, Allen Wong '85, Jim Schneider '87, Dave Ungerleider '97, Bob LaFleur '88, John McCarthy '89, James Johnson '89, Bob Lis '89, Carl Neff '89, Himanshu Goodluck '89, Jon Walton '89, Jason Saltsberg '94, and countless others. "No matter where life takes us, Beta Omicron has been and always will be a common thread we all share," he says. Alan lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and enjoys a rewarding career as a federal administrative law judge in Washington, D.C. He takes pleasure in playing and listening to music, watching his son play travel soccer, serving as the rules and discipline chairman for the National Capital Soccer League, which is the largest soccer association in the D.C. metropolitan area, and traveling across the nation. His involvement in a rock band, the Cornell Symphony Orchestra, and the pit orchestra for Gilbert & Sullivan theatrical productions led him to become an advisory board member of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. Alan and his wife, Laura, have three children, Sarah, Anna, and Evan. His daughter, Sarah, is a junior at Cornell and his daughter, Anna, is a freshman at UPenn. Both are members of the Greek community on campus. You can contact Alan at agp1776@yahoo.com. More Delt, Less Self Sonny Sonnenstein '90 Envisions Successful Future for Beta Omicron F or many of us, our years in college provided some of our most cherished memories and friendships. Delta Tau Delta provided just that for Sonny Sonnenstein '90. "Cornell is a large university, and the idea of joining a fraternity appealed to me as a way to find a home within that larger community," he says. "I met several Delt brothers through activities on campus who introduced me to the chapter. At the end of the day, it came down to Beta Omicron and the brotherhood they evidenced, which was by far the strongest of all the fraternities." Sonny wasted no time getting involved in Beta Omicron and served as treasurer of the undergraduate chapter for two years. e invaluable knowledge and leadership experience Sonny gained in Beta Omicron carried on past graduation and paved the way for his professional career. "Duncan Perry '84; Dave Wagner, Beta Lambda '85, a Lehigh University alumnus who volunteered for our chapter and helped us bring home the Hugh Shields Award; and Joe Wilson '76 were instrumental in my growth as a leader in Beta Omicron," he says. "Delta Tau Delta truly defined my undergraduate and graduate experience at Cornell and has impacted everything I have done since then." As an alumnus, Sonny's dedication to Beta Omicron continued aer graduation as treasurer for the House Corporation and a vice president of the Eastern Division of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He stays connected with many of his brothers and says, "While I now live on the West Coast, I was able to attend my 25th alumni reunion and Beta Omicron's 125th anniversary celebration at Homecoming last year, and it was rejuvenating to me on so many levels. I ran into many brothers I hadn't seen for far too long, some for more than 20 years, and it was amazing to be able to pick up the conversation with them as if the intervening years had not passed." Sonny hopes that alumni will take time to reconnect with Beta Omicron and be a driving force in the continued success of the chapter. He says, "I want future generations to have the opportunity to experience what I experienced with Delt and gain the same benefits I did. Contributing your time and efforts to Beta Omicron will ensure our chapter's existence at Cornell for the next 125 years." Sonny currently serves as the executive vice president and chief information officer for Umpqua Bank, which is the largest regional bank in the Pacific Northwest, based in Portland, Oregon. He has served in this position for more than three years aer previous stops in Memphis, Charlotte, and London over the last 10 years. When he is not hard at work, Sonny enjoys singing and writing music with his band and exploring Portland's amazing food scene with his wife, Diane. You can contact Sonny at sonny_sonnenstein@hotmail.com. "I want future generations to have the opportunity to experience what I experienced with Delt and gain the same benefits I did. Contributing your time and efforts to Beta Omicron will ensure our chapter's existence at Cornell for the next 125 years."

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