AlumniThe fraternity which started out in E. Frederick Low's apartment in Boston on January 26, 1921 has come a long way in the past 90 years. Fred Low was born as Elmer Frederick Low on June 4, 1900 in Portland, Maine, the son of Herbert Isaac and Harriet Vining (Ring) Low. He graduated from Deering High School in Portland on June 18, 1920, so in January 1921, Fred must have been completing his freshman year at Northeastern. On that day in January, Fred met with eight other young men to establish an engineering fraternity that we know today as the Nu Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. The original name for the fraternity, Zeta Gamma Epsilon, was not approved by the University, but on November 3, 1921, the University did recognize it as Nu Epsilon Zeta. The University selected Harold W. Melvin then a Professor of English, to be fraternity's first faculty advisor. When Professor Melvin became Dean of Students, Professor Towle assumed the duties of faculty advisor and served our fraternity with distinction until his retirement in 1938.
During its earlier years the fraternity had a brief fling at being a “National Fraternity” by the establishment of Beta Chapters at the University of Connecticut and at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Those efforts dwindled and only the original Northeastern Chapter survived. Unfortunately, no records of this phase of our history have been found.
In 1923, Nu Epsilon Zeta acquired its first home, an apartment at 25 St. Botolph Street in Boston, and one year later, moved into Brookline and the first rented fraternity house at 19 Brook Street. We were continuous residents of Brookline for the next 64 years. The rented houses included 19 Brook Street (1924-1929), 16 Greenough Street (1929-1940), 71 Toxteth Street (1941) and 16 Greenough Street again (1942-1952).
In the early years at Greenough Street the first housemother, Hannah “Ma” Smith, was hired and for 19 years she was mother and friend to the NEZ men. After Mrs. Smith's retirement in 1947 the housemothers were Mrs. Picchi, Mrs. Matzdorff, Mrs. Mills and Mrs. Ferguson. In June of 1961, with the approval of the University, the fraternity hired a chef rather than a housemother, Mr. John Andrew Johnson. Mr. Johnson was an unforgettable character of advanced age who even accompanied the brothers at beach parties. After he left there were a few other cooks, some good and some not so good.
In 1951, for the first time, the University appointed one of our alumni brothers, Albert E. Sanderson #23, to be faculty advisor to the Active Chapter. In 1955, Brother Sanderson resigned and was succeeded by another of our alumni brothers, Sid Austin #254. Sid served the fraternity as advisor for 11 years, donating his time, energy, ideas and experience to the Brotherhood. Brother Austin finally had to forgo his position as advisor in 1966 due his prestigious appointment as Associate Dean of Cooperative Education at the University.
Upon Brother Austin's retirement the University appointed Gerald Brown advisor. Mr. Brown was made an official Brother at a formal initiation and given Brotherhood #589. Brother Brown served until 1970 when increased workload as Coordinator of Cooperative Placement for Graduate Students forced Gerry to resign. In October 1970, the University appointed David Robbins, Assistant Director of Housing, to be our faculty advisor. Mr. Robbins was also made an official Brother by formal initiation and given Brotherhood #653. Dave contributed tirelessly for 26 years with great dedication to the fraternity, leveraging his influence with the University to help with recruiting, providing spare furnishings, and facilitating NEZ's good standing with Northeastern - all the while anchoring the Alumni Association and providing stability, common sense and friendship to the active chapter. In later years, Dave contributed a legacy in his son Lance Robbins (#775), who pledged and served the fraternity with distinction.
A very significant event occurred in 1952 when NEZ Alumni, Inc. was formed under the leadership of Brother Earl Thomson #17. Other Alumni Organizations had been formed over the years, but none had proved to be as lasting as this organization. Shortly after its beginning, NEZ Alumni, Inc. purchased the Fraternity House at 255 St. Paul Street that had previously been owned by the MIT Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. The Alumni Corporation leased this property to the active chapter who made it their home for 36 years. These were the “Golden Years” of NEZ.
In the late 1980's the Town of Brookline revoked NEZ's boarding house license and in June 1988 the brotherhood waved good-bye to Brookline. With determination and great effort by the Alumni and Active Chapter, NEZ moved into 388 Arborway, Jamaica Plain on September 17, 1988. After 12 years in Jamaica Plain, changes in University policies and a decline in active membership almost ended the existence of Nu Epsilon Zeta.
By the year 2000, Northeastern University was only interested in established National Fraternities on campus. Thanks to efforts by Peter Luiso #758, Keith Harrington #764 and Joel Yergeau #828, who reengaged the Alumni Board, and with the help of Gene Flynn #511, Joe Gullotta #512, Paul Burbine #517, and Steve Drowne #573, a search for a nationally recognized parent fraternity was conducted. On November 8, 2003 all NEZ alumni were invited to a dinner/dance at the Westin Hotel in Waltham. Prior to the dinner, a meeting was held to interview three National Fraternities that were interested in establishing a chapter at Northeastern. At that meeting, Alpha Delta Phi (ADP) was chosen as the National Fraternity we would consider joining.
Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity was founded in 1832 at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, by Samuel Eells (1810-1842). While founded as a literary society, it evolved into one of the most distinguished of the original American college fraternities. It has retained its focus on its literary roots, by attracting only the best students at only the best colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. With 30 Chapters and 50,000 Alumni, including US Presidents, Supreme Court Chief Justices, and Senators, it is an organization that we are proud to be associated with. Negotiations continued with ADP through 2004 and a formal commitment was made by the brotherhood at the Annual Meeting on November 6, 2004. In 2005, we started looking for prospective candidates to become the founding fathers of Northeastern's newest fraternity on campus, the Nu Epsilon Zeta chapter of the Alpha Delta Phi. In fall 2005, Alumni President Matt Shortsleeve #767, Pete Luiso and Keith Harrington met the members of a well organized, though not formally recognized Northeastern fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP). The "brothers" had previously been an active chapter of a national fraternity in good standing with Northeastern, but had seceded from TEP National 2 years prior citing irreconcilable differences. Despite losing formal recognition from Northeastern, the brotherhood maintained successful operations as an off-campus "underground" group, and continued their fraternal lifestyle and rituals, including remaining in good social standing with other fraternities and sororities within the Greek system. The 17 remaining brothers of the former TEP fraternity had been torn between rejoining their TEP National, remaining an independent unrecognized social organization, or exploring the possibility of joining another national fraternity - the only path to regain official University recognition. In January 2006, the NEZ Alumni leaders, ADP Assistant Director for Expansion, Jay Flynn, and the former TEP brothers met at a restaurant on Huntington Avenue to explore the dynamics of the three organizations coming together, and the pieces began to fall into place. Following that meeting, the undergraduates held a private meeting to debate their options. By overwhelmingly favorable vote, the decision was made to trade in their old colors and join forces with NEZ and ADP. The winter 2006 semester brought a leadership transition from TEP brother Dave Cohen, who graduated in 2006, to new Chancellor Jared Spinelli #846, who spearheaded the brothers' formal new member education process with the "NEZ Chapter of ADP". Vice-Chancellor Billy St. John #850 took a leading role working with the University, the Greek Council and the IFC to define and execute the series of procedures and requirements for a new fraternity acceptance. The brothers who had been formally inducted as brothers of TEP were granted their release by the National Intra-fraternity Council in September. Finally, on October 6, 2006 at 246 Parker Hill Avenue in Boston, the active undergraduates, unrecognized by Northeastern for over two and a half years, were officially pinned as the founding fathers of the Nu Epsilon Zeta chapter of Alpha Delta Phi. The founding fathers of the NEZ Chapter of ADP were: Todd French #840, Evan Rodriguez #841, Rory Douglas #842, Scott Gilmond #843, Tim Hopper #844, James Lutz #845, Jared Spinelli #846, Josh Stephens #847, Adam Tabas #848, Robert Brown #849, William St. John #850, Jonathan Yong #851, Leo Cohen #852, Matt Stevenson #853, Brett Tavares #854, Milby Thorington #856, and Jeremy Feldman #857. Over the ensuing years thru 2011, 77 ADP-NEZ brothers have been initiated and we are strong again with almost 40 active Brothers. In August 2011, at the National Alpha Delta Phi convention in Illinois, Nu Epsilon Zeta chapter delegate Benjamin Ratner #904 accepted the award for Most Improved Undergraduate Chapter! A proud accomplishment for the fraternity. Our success can be largely traced to improved brotherhood participation, innovative and effective recruitment practices, and hard work and dedication from the executive board and individual chairs. Coming forth from this tremendous feat, Nu Epsilon Zeta plans to continue building momentum as it moves forward, setting its sights on the coveted “Best Undergraduate Chapter” award at next year's convention.
Now, as we bring our beloved fraternity into a new era with a flourishing active chapter, an engaged and committed Alumni Association, working and improving relationships with the Alpha Delta Phi International Fraternity, Northeastern University, and our communities, we must remember that the underlying goal of our fraternity is to continue the tradition of establishing true brotherhood relationships and memories that last a lifetime. We hope that all the brothers who celebrated our 90th Anniversary will return in 2021 to join hands with brothers of the past, present and the future and sing the fraternity song at our 100th anniversary.
Traditionally, before the end of each meeting, we would join together in a circle and sing our NEZ Fraternity Song. Though we are miles apart, we can silently review those familiar words in our memory, and in memory of our Brothers who are no longer with us.