Alpha Phi Delta (), commonly referred to as APD, is an American collegiate fraternity. Alpha Phi Delta was established at Syracuse University in 1914 as an Italian-heritage fraternity.
History In 1913, Syracuse University student Nicholas Frunzi had the idea to start a society for Italian students. He recruited six other students who formed an exclusive Italian society known as Il Circolo Italiano ("The Italian Circle") on November 5, 1913.
The seven members of Il Circolo Italiano met on October 14, 1914, to discuss becoming a Greek letter organization; they selected the name Alpha Phi Delta. On November 5, 1914, the seven founders met and swore an oath to Alpha Phi Delta, an Italian-heritage fraternity. The fraternity's founders were:
Frunzi was elected the fraternity's first president. During its first few weekly meetings, the fraternity's members adopted a constitution and ritual and also selected its banner, charter, coat of arms, handshake, motto, oath, pin, pledge, and whistle. DiBartolo was charged with approaching the university for official recognition, successfully making the case that Alpha Phi Delta's Italian members were prohibited from joining the existing campus fraternities.
When Frunzi transferred to Columbia University in 1916, he became friends with members of the local Italian heritage fraternity Sigma Gamma Phi. Frunzi convinced the founding members of Sigma Gamma Phi to merge with Alpha Phi Delta. Sigma Gamma Phi became the Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Delta, making the latter a national fraternity.
As time passed, Alpha Phi Delta chartered additional chapters. It began publishing its magazine, The Kleos of Alpha Phi Delta. Alpha Phi Delta became a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. On September 2, 1965, the fraternity began accepting members of all ethnic backgrounds.
In 2015, the fraternity reached 20,000 lifelong members. At the February 27, 2016, annual meeting in New Haven, Connecticut, the National Council of Alpha Phi Delta voted to leave the North-American Interfraternity Conference due to concerns over NIC's near-quadrupling of fees, its stripping of smaller fraternities from having voting privileges, and other grievances.
Symbols The Alpha Phi Delta motto is The fraternity's colors are royal purple and white. Its symbol is the Fasces. Its flower is the white carnation.
The Alpha Phi Delta badge is a shield with a black background bisected by a gold key. Across the shield and key is a white scroll and the letters . The shield is rimmed with gold and pearls, with a diamond star above its top and flaming torch at an angle behind the shield.
The fraternity's pledge pin is in the shape of a shield that is divided at an angle between the colors purple and white. Its publication is The Kleos.
Chapters Alpha Phi Delta has more than 100 chapters at various colleges across the United States.
Notable members NameChapter and pledgeNotabilityAnthony Cafaro Sr.Beta Omicron 1965President of Cafaro Company and real estate developmentMario CardulloDelta 1953Technology engineerErnie CasaleBeta Delta 1940Head baseball coach and athletic director at Temple UniversityBen CicconePsi 1933Professional football playerAlbert W. CretellaGamma 1919United States House of RepresentativesNick DeCarboPsi 1933Professional football playerAl DeMaoPsi 1941Professional football player, Washington RedskinsJoe DeNardoPsi 1950Emmy Award-winning meteorologistOrlando DiGirolamoTheta Beta 1950Jazz musicianPhil DiStefanoXi 1965Chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder Aldo DonelliPsi 1929Professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and head football coach at Duquesne UniversityGaston L. Gianni Jr.Beta Theta 1962Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Inspector GeneralHarvey GolubMu 1960CEO of American Express and CEO of the American International GroupRay ManciniOmicron Epsilon (Honorary) 2009Two-time world boxing lightweight champion"Council Meeting Elects New Members". The Kleos: The Magazine of Alpha Phi Delta, vol 80, no. 3, Summer 2009, p. 9. via APD Foundation.Armand NiccolaiPsi 1933Professional football player, Pittsburgh SteelersJohn A. Notte Jr.Mu 1931Governor of Rhode IslandRalph PenzaTheta Beta 1951NBC news anchorNicholas T. PomaroBeta Mu 1957Judge and advocate for the blind or visually impairedJoey PowersComposer and musician; had Top 10 1964 Hit "Midnight Mary"George RadoPsi 1934Professional football player, Pittsburgh SteelersDominic P. RendaXi 1933Founding president of Air Micronesia and chairman, chief executive, and operating officer of Western AirlinesMark RodakProfessional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Rams,Martin RussoBeta Mu 1962United States House of RepresentativesHenry SalvatoriLambda 1921Geophysicist and founder of Western GeophysicalPeter SammartinoEta 1924Founder of Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityAlfred E. SantangeloEta 1928United States House of RepresentativesRobert V. SantangeloBeta 1921New York State Supreme Court JusticeJoseph Ralph ScalzoChi 1938Coach of the University of Toledo wrestling team, referee and coach for nine Olympic Games, president of the Amateur Athletic Union, inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of FameFrank SinatraBeta Omicron (Honorary) 1967Singer and actor"Frank Sinatra Awarded Honorary Membership in Alpha Phi Delta". The Kleos of Alpha Phi Delta, v. 38, no. 1, October 1967, p. 1; via APD Foundation.Vito J. TitoneTheta Beta 1949Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Pete Van WierenMu 1962Announcer for the Atlanta BravesSal VulcanoGamma Sigma 1994Comedian and actorSilvio ZaninelliPsi 1933Professional football player, Pittsburgh Steelers
See also Cultural interest fraternities and sororities List of social fraternities
References
External links Alpha Phi Delta national website Alpha Phi Delta Foundation - charitable foundation website