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

Photo of George Armstrong.

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

Headshot of Chris Arnold

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

Les Aspin

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

Austin, Robert B.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1917–1918

Chapter: Chi, 1899

Picture of Asa Barber.

Baber, Asa J.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1955-1956

Chapter: Alpha Epsilon, 1928

Mark Badagliacca

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

Headshot of Jeff Ball.

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

Jim Balsillie

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

Dr John Bardeen

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

Bateman, Frank B.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1941-1942

Chapter: Psi, 1919

Belcher, Walter H.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1922–1923

Chapter: Kappa, 1896

DOD: 1874- February 13, 1943

Photo of Ward Belcher.

Belcher, Ward C.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1934-1935

Chapter: Phi, 1904

Bennet, George L.

Term: Phi Alpha from 1857–1858

Chapter: Rho, 1854

William Benton

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