About Us

The True Gentleman

“The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.“

– John Walter Wayland

A Brief History of Ohio Rho

(1901-Present)

1901–1905 | The Founding & Chartering

• In the fall of 1901, three Case School of Applied Science students—John Anderson, Leonard David, and Art Hudson—founded a local fraternity named Sigma Rho.
• In 1902, the brothers rented a small house on Cornell Road to live, eat, study, and recruit together.
• Yearbook editor Art Hudson connected with national fraternity editors and petitioned for an SAE charter at the December 1902 Washington Convention.
• Although initially turned down to “prove our stability,” the chapter strengthened its rushing and operations, earning its charter at the December 1904 Memphis Convention.
• Ohio Rho was officially born on February 18, 1905.

1907–1941 | Expansion & Persevering Through the Depression

• Early chapter life featured prominent leadership across campus organizations, intramural sports, and inter-collegiate athletics.
• While the Great Depression forced many fraternities to close their doors, Ohio Rho persevered and stayed alive.
• By 1940, the chapter had rebounded and outgrown its home, leading a dedicated group of alumni to purchase the famous A. Y. Gowen house at 11116 Magnolia Drive.
• The house was dedicated on November 1, 1941, with over 125 actives, alumni, and national officers in attendance.

1950s–1968 | Campus Evolution & The Moseley Award

• In the mid-1950s, the chapter replaced “Hell Week” with “Greek Week,” redirecting hazing practices toward constructive work on the chapter house.
• When Case Institute of Technology merged with Western Reserve University in the late 1960s, the university’s new master plan forced Ohio Rho to relocate to 11915 Carlton Road, and the Magnolia Drive house was demolished.
• At the 1968 Leadership School at the Levere Memorial Temple, Ohio Rho achieved national distinction by winning the John O. Moseley Award for Fraternity Zeal, the highest honor awarded to a chapter in the realm of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

2005–2006 | The Centennial & Charter Suspension

• After celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2005 with over 100 alumni and guests, the chapter suffered a setback in 2006. Due to multiple alcohol policy violations and a failure to be truthful with university and SAE national officials, Ohio Rho’s charter was suspended by the university for six years. This period of dormancy set the stage for a dedicated alumni-led rebuild.

2010–2017 | The Re-establishment of Ohio Rho

• Circa 2010, during the Case Homecoming Weekend, Rick LeFauve ’84 hosted an informal gathering of approximately twenty interested Ohio Rho alumni to discuss re-establishing the chapter.
• Despite having over 100 years of history, the university advised the group to apply as one of the “new” fraternities being added to campus; however, Ohio Rho was initially not selected to proceed in the application process.
• Ollie Poppenberg ’59 arranged a meeting with key university administrators, which resulted in the university allowing SAE to return to campus, with timing to be determined by the Inter-Fraternity Council.
• While working with SAE National to meet requirements for a new colony, Jake Showalter ’98 recruited the first new members after speaking with unsatisfied students at a recruitment event in Twing Hall.
• The colony, which heavily recruited varsity athletes and football players, grew strong and was eventually named the second best colony in the Realm of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
• On February 18, 2017—exactly 112 years after Ohio Rho’s original founding—the new brothers were initiated, and the Eminent Supreme Archon presented the new charter with more than 100 alumni in attendance.

2017–2020 | Securing a New Chapter House & Project 51

• For a short-term solution, a donation from the Chapter House Trust allowed the new chapter to use the Case Alumni House for meetings and events.
• Ollie Poppenberg ’59 learned about a house available to lease on Hazel Road, and the alumni group quickly signed a thirty-year lease with two ten-year extension options.
• Built in 1909 and designed by architect Frank Meade, the stately house previously belonged to John F. Kilfoyle and required extensive remodeling to meet fraternity needs and current building codes.
• When renovation estimates doubled to approximately $1,800,000, Ed Morgan ’63 introduced “Project 51,” asking alumni to contribute $1,000 per year for five years.
• Almost 100 alumni donated nearly $400,000, while Brother John A. Pesec ’82 made a very large loan to the Chapter House Trust to ensure the renovation could be completed.
• The new chapter house was first occupied in the Fall semester of 2020, becoming the hub of chapter activities and a major recruiting asset.

2025–Present | The Carriage House & Today’s Chapter

• With a growing chapter of twenty-seven actives filling the house, attention turned in late 2025 and early 2026 to renovating the property’s old carriage house.
• Facing a $300,000 bid for the first-floor renovation, Brother Gary R. Rubin ’65 offered a $100,000 matching gift from his estate early, while Brother Jeffrey O. Herzog ’79 loaned approximately $80,000, and John A. Pesec ’82 committed additional funds to guarantee the project’s success.
• The first-floor carriage house renovation (housing four brothers) is expected to be completed for the Fall 2026 semester, with the second floor (housing two brothers) following in Fall 2027.
• Today, Ohio Rho is one of the largest fraternities on the Case campus with approximately 70-80 members, featuring a 3.78 GPA, deep ties to the football team, and active community service engagement.

Ohio Rho Chapter Houses

• Cornell Road (Rented): Occupied when the chapter was a local fraternity, Sigma Rho.
• Random Road (Rented): Occupied when the chapter was a local fraternity, Sigma Rho, until 1907.
• 2080 East 105 Street (Rented): Occupied from 1907 to 1915.
• 2066 East 107 Street (Dellenbaugh House): Occupied from 1915 to 1922.
• 1641 East 117 Street: Occupied from 1922 to 1941.
• 11116 Magnolia Drive (A. Y. Gowen House): Built in 1908, occupied by Ohio Rho on April 2, 1941, and dedicated on November 1, 1941. The chapter resided here until 1968, when the university forced a move to the Murray Hill “Greek Village” due to campus expansion plans for the site.
• 11915 Carlton Road (University Owned): Served as the chapter’s home from 1968 until its charter was suspended in 2006.
• 1588 Hazel Drive (Leased): Our current home from 2020 to present, secured under a 30-year lease with two 10-year options to renew.

Ohio Rho Chapter House Trust

Ohio Rho Chapter House LLC

Chapter Advisors & Important Figures

Historical Chapter Advisors

• Philip A. (Phil) Legge ‘43 (1964 or 1965 – 1983 or 1984)
• Marc L. (Vit) Vitantonio ‘81 (1983 or 1984 – Circa 1985)
• Bruce A. Caris ‘81 (Circa 1985 – 1986)
• Matt D. (Matt) Farrell ‘84 (1986 – 1996)
• William B. (Bill) Manus ‘92 (1996 – 2006)
• Jacob C. (Jake) Showalter ‘98 (2006 – 2016)
• Yovan Lou Nikola (Lou) Radivoyevitch ‘93 (2016 – 2025)
• John (John) Brkic ’09, Ohio Alpha (2025 – Present)

Other Important People

• Ma Finger — Housemother and Cook (Circa 1910 – Late 1920’s)
• Ma and Pa Keller — Cooks (Late 1920’s – 1944)
• Frank and Mike (pronounced “Mikie”) Tanaka — Cooks (1944 – 1968)
• Helen B. (Susie) Mott — Housemother (1957 – 1968)

Fundraising & Financial Support

Those of us actively involved in supporting the chapter are investing our time, effort, and talents to provide a positive fraternity experience for other young men, and we ask for your help through financial support.

Chapter House LLC & Project 51

• While Project 51 is completed, there is still a significant need for additional contributions to continue work on the new chapter house and pay down the large debt owed to Brother John Pesec ’82.
• How to give: Please make checks payable to “Ohio Rho Chapter House LLC” and mail to: C/O John Pesec, 11705 Cali Court, Concord, OH 44077.

Project Live-On (Estate Planning)

• Initiated earlier this year, this program asks alumni to include the Ohio Rho Chapter House Trust in their estate plans (wills, trusts, etc.), allowing your legacy to benefit future brothers while potentially offering important tax savings for your estate.
• Donors may choose to have their biography published in the Ohio Rhoar to share their history with over 600 living alumni.
• Donors receive a plate with their name and class year on a plaque displayed in the new chapter house: Gold for donations of $100,000 or more, Silver for $10,000 or more, and Bronze for other donations.
• How to give: Contact John Pesec (johnpesec@gmail.com) for more information and the correct legal wording to include in your estate plan.

Phil Legge Scholarship Fund

• The Philip A. Legge ’43 Sigma Alpha Epsilon Scholarship Fund was initiated many years ago to honor Ohio Rho’s long-time chapter advisor and to fund annual scholarships for members of the active chapter.
• How to give: Make a tax-deductible contribution to the Case Fund and specifically designate it for the “Phil Legge Scholarship Fund”.

Ohio Rho Alumni Association Dues

• Dues fund initiatives that benefit both alumni and actives, including Founders Day, the 120-Year Anniversary Celebration, Homecoming Weekend, sending actives to Leadership School, the SAE National Convention, and other local events.
• Paying dues by the end of the calendar year (12/31/25) grants you eligibility to vote on issues brought before the membership in the following calendar year, including ORAA board elections.
• Membership Levels: General Membership is $35 per year, and Order of the Lion level is $120 per year (commemorating 120 years since the founding of the Ohio Rho Chapter).
• How to give: Pay via major credit cards or PayPal using the online links, or make checks payable to “Ohio Rho Alumni Association” and mail to: C/O Gary Warzynski, Treasurer, 106 Old Garrison Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776.