History
On March 25, 1917, seven young women who exemplified self-confidence and the willingness to take a chance, founded a new sorority at Cornell University. The name chosen, Sigma Delta Phi, was soon changed to Sigma Delta Tau when the women discovered the letters belonged to another Greek organization. Most of the seven had experienced the subtle, but very real, discrimination practiced against religious minorities by many Greek organizations at the time. In response to the closed doors, and as a way to meet their own social and housing needs, these young women established a sorority which would respect the individuality of its members. The personal growth and social development of each individual was the basis upon which the new organization would be built.
On June 16, 1917, the seven founders and their Ritualist were welcomed by Cornell administrators and faculty and representatives of the seven National sororities on campus--Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Kappa Delta--as their guests of honor at the Installation Banquet of Alpha Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau. Pledges Frances Bayard and Frances Brock also were present for the banquet.
Dora Bloom Turteltaub
Dora Bloom was "the leader." She was the first
chapter president and was calm and placid
throughout the hectic first year of
Sigma Delta Tau. Dora married John Turteltaub
and at the time of her death, in March 1970,
lived in West Orange, New Jersey. She was a
community-minded woman, an extensive
world traveler, and a proud mother and grandmother.
Dora served as President of the Theresa Grotta
Home for many years and was Secretary of the
Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations.
Amy Apfel Tishman
Amy Apfel was the "personality-plus coed."
She married Alexander Tishman and
made New York City her home
for many years. Amy was a member
of many worthy charity organizations and
a devoted mother and grandmother. Upon
her death, in 1982, the Tishman
family bequeathed to the Sigma Delta Tau
Foundation a scholarship in Amy's
name to be awarded to deserving
members of the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau.
Marian Gerber Greenberg
Marian Gerber was considered "the brain"
and was more interested in her studies
than campus activities. She was graduated
Phi Beta Kappa with honors in History.
Marian married David B. Greenberg and they
co-authored two books on travel:
What to Buy in Europe and What to
Buy in South America. Marian
earned international recognition for
her volunteer work as the first
American Chairman of Hadassah's Youth
Aliyah. Marian taught courses at
the University of Massachusetts in
the Judaic Studies Department.
Grace Srenco Grossman
Grace Srenco was the "campus queen." Grace was a freshman,
assigned to a dormitory with a sophomore roommate.
This roommate was Dora Bloom. Grace said, "This chance
meeting led to many happy events in my life:
the founding of Sigma Delta Tau and
my marriage to a Philadelphia lawyer." She helped found
the Beta Chapter and met her future husband,
J. Grossman, at their installation banquet.
Grace devoted much of her time to the
American Red Cross and to her hobby,
painting. Grace had two sons and a daughter, Nancy,
who joined SDT at the University of Pennsylvania.
Inez Dane Ross
Inez Ross was considered "the sophisticate"
and helped Dora Bloom get the idea of
Sigma Delta Tau rolling. Inez became a prominent
social worker in New York City. During the
Depression era of the 1930s, she was
associated with several state and federal relief
agencies where her outstanding efforts came
to the attention of Eleanor Roosevelt, who honored her at
the White House. It was Inez who designed our
National crest and selected the colors of "cafe au lait and old blue."
Regene Freund Cohane
Regene Freund called herself "the activity girl." She balanced her
work in campus organizations and her pre-law studies very well.
After graduating from law school, she married Louis Cohane.
They maintained law offices in Detroit the
entire period of their marriage. In 1924, they
earned the distinction of being the first
married couple to try a case before the United States
Supreme Court. Regene served as Sigma Delta Tau's
first National President from 1918-1922.
She continued to serve as SDT's National Counselor,
a volunteer position she held for 35 years.
Regene has been honored many times over the years for her
leadership roles in civic and social
welfare organizations, as well as for her contributions
to Sigma Delta Tau. Regene was chosen one of
Detroit's "Women of Achievement" and
her portrait has been placed in the Detroit Historical Museum.
Sigma Delta Tau honored Regene in 1991 by establishing
the Regene Freund Cohane Outstanding President Award.
Lenore Rubinow
Lenore Rubinow was known as "the idealist." She
studied dance during college and dreamed
of a career on the stage. Lenore studied sociology
in graduate school at Columbia University.
She became a successful social worker in
Newark, New Jersey. She organized and directed
the Department of Social Service of the Neward
Beth Israel Hospital. In connection with her profession,
she spent three years in Germany
after World War II as part of the displaced persons' program.
RITUALIST
Nathan Caleb House
"Brother Nat"
Through Dora Bloom, the services of an
idealist and poet were sought to write a
ritual worthy of the philosophy of Sigma Delta Tau.
Nathan House was such a person and he wrote
the ritual keeping in mind the personalities of the seven
young women. After leaving Cornell, Brother
Nat was "lost." In a chance look through the New
York City phone book, Nat was "found" and
brought as a surprise to the 1958 National
Convention. From that time until his death, Brother Nat
attended almost every Biennial Convention
and maintained corresondence and visits with many
alumnae and collegiate chapters. Brother Nat
was the only man to wear the Sigma Delta Tau gold Torch pin.