March 30th Raymond C. McCron Gathering at NYC’s Penn Club Largest in Penn Delta History

Over 110 alumni and undergrads attended last month’s over 30 year-span of annual NYC alumni/undergraduate gatherings.  We were delighted to welcome alumni from several other local SigEp chapters and SigEp CEO Brian Warren, who graduated from the University of Virginia and who was effusive in his praise of the alumni service of 80-year young Conrad Eberstein ’65.
Nearly 35 undergraduates from Philadelphia made the trek (by bus) to New York, and undergraduate president Alexander Chinea ’25, and other officers and members seemed particularly glad to attend, meet many alumni and join in the celebration of one of Penn Delta’s most loyal and productive alumni.  And, yes, there was a hearty buffet, a generous bar, a jazz pianist, and a ton of good will and fun. 
“This evening will probably go down in Penn Delta history as being comparable to the end-of war reunions of 1945 and 1946 at 3909 Spruce Street, our 1954 50th Anniversary of the founding of our chapter which included SigEp Founder Uncle Billy Phillips, our tribute at the University Museum to long-time “property manager” Bed Wooley, 1916, in the early 70’s, our retirement send-off to Mr. Marshall in 1976, and the many tributes to our beloved Dorsey Baker and Jack Shores,” said Pennsylvania Delta Foundation President Brett Danko ’90.
And there was even a SPEcial birthday cake for the Birthday Boy which did not include the requisite number of candles, probably for fire safety reasons.
In his brief talk at the close of the evening, Conrad acknowledged the distances some of the alumni traveled to attend and noted the presence on the Penn Delta alumni board of several “really young alumni,” a harbinger of a solid future for Penn Delta.   With echoes of SigEp CEO Brian Warren’s flat-out declaration, “We need more Conrads”, there were shouts of “Remember his 85th in 2028 ! ” 
A new McCron gathering tradition seemed to have been born at Conrad’s 80th, for his (somewhat loud, madras jacket) was auctioned off to the attendees, raising $3,000 and supplemented by bidders who did not win and who contributed anyway to a fund explicitly created to benefit the undergraduate chapter in seeking to reconcile and settle its Covid-affected debt to Richmond.
To say a good time was held by all ought not come as a surprise to the many Penn Delta brothers who attended this or previous Penn Delta events.