Notable Zetes
For over 170 years, Zeta Psi has scaffolded our undergraduate brothers to be better leaders in their careers, communities, and in service to all humankind. We have been fortunate to have played a role in countless inspirational men’s lives throughout the years. Here is a list of some Zetes who have powerfully impacted the world.
You can find more photos and information about Zetes here on our new digital museum page.
Ackerman , William C.
Achievements: First Tennis Coach at UCLA (1920-1950) Coached UCLA to 10 Men's Tennis Pacific Coast Conference titles; 1950 coached the Men's tennis team UCLA's first NCAA title in any sport UCLA 1933-1967 Director of Associated Students of UCLA, the organization that oversees all student activities; namesake of UCLA Ackerman Student Union. In 1984 he was inducted into the College Tennis Hall of Fame, and was a charter member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.
Chapter: Sigma Zeta, 1924
DOD: February 15, 1988
Adner, Ph.D., Ron Y.
Achievements: Author, "The Wide Lens: A New Strategy for Innovation"
Chapter: Kappa Phi, 1993
Allen, Waldo, M.
Achievements: Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Honoree, 1982
Chapter: Eta, 1916
DOD: 2/17/1893 - 9/19/1982.
Arboleda, Julio N.
Achievements: 8th President of the Zeta Psi Foundation of Canada.
Chapter: Chi Gamma, 1988
Armstrong, George S.
Term: Phi Alpha from 1937-1938. Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award Honoree (1960).
Chapter: Phi, 1908
DOD: 1886 (approx.) - September 12, 1962
Arnold, Christopher
Achievements: 2022 Douglas P. Donaldson Young Alumni of the Year honoree. Member of the Worthy.
Chapter: Theta Eta, 2011
Arnold, Satterlee
Term: Phi Alpha from 1875–1876
Chapter: Pi, 1866
DOD: August 8, 1841 - 1900
Aspin, Les
Achievements: United States Representative from 1971 to 1993, and the United States Secretary of Defense from January 21, 1993 to February 3, 1994.
Chapter: Eta, 1960
DOD: May 21, 1995
Badagliacca, Mark
Achievements: CFO, Paramount Pictures
Chapter: Psi, 1978
Bakshi, Neal A.
Achievements: Author, "Banking on Angels: How an Investment Banker Found Spiritual Fulfillment and Inner Peace"
Chapter: Phi/NYU 2014
Ball, Jeffrey R. A.
Achievements: Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award (2014)
Chapter: Theta Xi, 1979
Ballard, Ellis Ames
Term: Phi Alpha from 1919–1920
Chapter: Sigma, 1881
DOD: May 7, 1861-June 13, 1938
Balsillie, Jim
Achievements: Former Co-CEO, Research in Motion (Blackberry)
Chapter: Theta Xi
Banaszek , Casimir Joseph “Caz”
Achievements: 11 season NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive lineman. He was an Assistant Offensive Line Coach for the 49ers in 1981, when the team won Super Bowl XVI.
Chapter: Omega, 1967
DOD: December 4, 2019
Bardeen, Dr. John
Achievements: Only Two-Time Nobel Prize Winner In Physics, in 1956, for the invention of the transistor and in 1972 for a fundamental theory of conventional superconductivity known as the BCS theory.
Chapter: Lambda Psi, 1928
DOD: January 30, 1991
Barokas, Ben
Achievements: Serial entrepreneur and angel Investor. Founder, AdMeld, which was sold to Google for a reported $400 million. Founder and CEO of Sourcepoint, the first content compensation platform.
Chapter: Alpha Pi, 1996
Barron, Lawrence Ira “Larry”
Achievements: Television Producer (The Amazing Race, Paradise Hotel, and Couples, among others). Founder of Syracuse's Z89FM. Inducted into the WJPZ Hall of Fame in 2012.
Chapter: Gamma, 1987
DOD: February 13, 1965 - December 23, 2020
Barton, Arthur, L.
Achievements: Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award Honoree, 1958
Chapter: Delta 1915 and Alpha Epsilon 1920
DOD: August, 18, 1893 - ?
Bass, John R.
Achievements: American diplomat, who served as the United States Ambassador to Georgia (2009–2012), Turkey (2014–2017), and Afghanistan (2017 - 2020).
Chapter: Gamma, 1986
Belcher, Walter H.
Term: Phi Alpha from 1922–1923
Chapter: Kappa, 1896
DOD: 1874- February 13, 1943
Benton, William
Achievements: US Senator - Connecticut (1949–1953) and publisher of the Encyclopedia Britannica (1943–1973).
Chapter: Eta
DOD: April 1, 1900 – March 18, 1973
Best, James A.
Achievements: 10th President of the Zeta Psi Foundation of Canada (2006).
Chapter: Pi Epsilon, 1997
Bethlenvalvy, Hon. Peter
Achievements: Minister of Finance for the Province of Ontario (2021- Present)
Chapter: Alpha Psi, 1982
Birchfield, John
Achievements: James H. McLaughlin Interfraternity Service Award (1994). Zeta Psi Distinguished Service Award (1997). The Circle of Zeta Psi Editor. Namesake of the John Birchfield Communications Award.
Chapter: Phi, 1949
Boccia, Jr., Joseph J.
Achievements: US Marine Captain, who died in a terrorist attack in Lebanon. Starlit Drive, a street that he grew up on, in Northport, Long Island, NY, has been renamed in his honor.
Chapter: Gamma, 1977
DOD: Oct. 23, 1983