Sigma Delta Tau

Symbols

The membership badge is represented by the torch.

The current badge is a jeweled gold torch. On the front of the torch are the Greek letters ΣΔΤ, with 6 pearls and a diamond. The badge is worn strictly as an emblem of membership and only by initiated members. New Members of Sigma Delta Tau wear a different badge, a gold torch enameled in old blue, representing the colors of the sorority, cafe au lait and old blue. The new member pin is only worn during the new member period.

The official flower is the golden tea rose and the sorority jewel is the lapis lazuli. The sorority coat of arms combines all the elements of Sigma Delta Tau. The colors of Sigma Delta Tau are cafe au lait and old blue. The sorority's symbol is the Torch, which is also the name of its national publication.

Philanthropy

At the 1982 National Convention, the convention body unanimously agreed to adopt Prevent Child Abuse America as Sigma Delta Tau's National Philanthropy. Prevent Child Abuse America is a voluntary organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse through citizen action. Each Sigma Delta Tau chapter conducts an annual service project, educational program, or major fund raiser for the benefit of Prevent Child Abuse America. Together, the SDT chapters contribute more than $300,000 each year to their National Philanthropy.

Sigma Delta Tau supports the mission of Jewish Women International…to make certain that all girls and women have the fundamental right to live in a safe home, thrive in healthy relationships and realize the full potential of their personal strength. Jewish Women International (JWI) works to ensure that all women and girls thrive in healthy relationships, control their financial futures and realize the full potential of their personal strength. JWI is a leading Jewish organization empowering women and girls of all backgrounds through economic literacy, community training, healthy relationships, and the proliferation of women’s leadership.

Sigma Delta Tau is proud to partner with Women for Women International, an organization supporting women in war-torn regions with financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance so they can rebuild their lives. This association mobilizes women to change their lives by bringing a holistic approach to addressing the unique needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments.

One chapter stands out among the rest in the efforts of philanthropy. The Eta chapter at the University of Georgia raised $100,150.00 in 2016 for Prevent Child Abuse America. This was raised through a dance show names SDT's Greek Grind. Sororities compete, while campus leaders judge the dances for a chance to be named the winner. Banner and other fundraising efforts combined with attendance fees all added up to this extremely generous amount of money.

Founders

Dora Bloom Turteltaub was “the leader.” She was the first chapter president and was calm and placid throughout the hectic first year of Sigma Delta Tau. Dora married John Turteltaub and at the time of her death, in March 1970, lived in West Orange, New Jersey. She was a community-minded woman, an extensive world traveler, and a mother and grandmother. Dora served as President of the Theresa Grotta Home for many years and was Secretary of the Conference of Jewish Women’s Organizations.

Amy Apfel was the “personality-plus coed.” She married Alexander Tishman and made New York City her home for many years. Amy was a member of many worthy charitable organizations and a devoted mother and grandmother. Upon her death, in 1982, the Tishman family bequeathed to the Sigma Delta Tau Foundation a scholarship in Amy’s name to be awarded to deserving members of the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Delta Tau.

Marian Gerber was considered “the brain” and was more interested in her studies than campus activities. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors in History. Marian married David B. Greenberg and they co-authored two books on travel: What to Buy in Europe and What to Buy in South America. Marian earned international recognition for her volunteer work as the first American Chairman of Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah. Marian taught courses at the University of Massachusetts in the Judaic Studies Department.

Grace Srenco was the “campus queen.” Grace was a freshman, assigned to a dormitory with a sophomore roommate. This roommate was Dora Bloom. Grace said, “This chance meeting led to many happy events in my life: the founding of Sigma Delta Tau and my marriage to a Philadelphia lawyer.” She helped found the Beta Chapter and met her future husband, J. Grossman, at their installation banquet. Grace devoted much of her time to the American Red Cross and to her hobby, painting. Grace had two sons and a daughter, Nancy, who joined SDT at the University of Pennsylvania.

Inez Ross was considered “the sophisticate” and helped Dora Bloom get the idea of Sigma Delta Tau rolling. Inez became a prominent social worker in New York City. During the Depression era of the 1930s, she was associated with several state and federal relief agencies where her outstanding efforts came to the attention of Eleanor Roosevelt, who honored her at the White House. It was Inez who designed our National crest and selected the colors of “cafè au lait and old blue.”

Regene Freund called herself “the activity girl.” She balanced her work in campus organizations and her pre-law studies very well. After graduating from law school, she married Louis Cohane. They maintained law offices in Detroit the entire period of their marriage. In 1924, they earned the distinction of being the first married couple to try a case before the United States Supreme Court. Regene served as Sigma Delta Tau’s first National President from 1918-1922. She continued to serve as SDT’s National Counselor, a volunteer position she held for 35 years. Regene has been honored many times over the years for her leadership roles in civic and social welfare organizations, as well as for her contributions to Sigma Delta Tau. Regene was chosen one of Detroit’s “Women of Achievement” and her portrait has been placed in the Detroit Historical Museum. Sigma Delta Tau honored Regene in 1991 by establishing the Regene Freund Cohane Outstanding President Award.

Lenore Rubinow was known as “the idealist.” She studied dance during college and dreamed of a career on the stage. Lenore studied sociology in graduate school at Columbia University. She became a successful social worker in Newark, New Jersey. She organized and directed the Department of Social Service of the Neward Beth Israel Hospital. In connection with her profession, she spent three years in Germany after World War II as part of the displaced persons’ program.

The services of an idealist and poet were sought to write a ritual worthy of the philosophy of Sigma Delta Tau. The boyfriend of Dora Bloom at the time, Nathan House was such a person and he wrote the ritual keeping in mind the personalities of the seven young women as an act of love for Dora. A love that was lost however when Dora married John Turtletaub. After leaving Cornell, Brother Nat was “lost.” In a chance look through the New York City phone book, by Jean Marie Schwartz Burke, of Tau Chapter, University of Texas, Nat was “found” and brought as a surprise to the 1958 National Convention. From that time until his death, Brother Nat attended almost every biennial Convention and maintained correspondence and visits with many alumnae and collegiate chapters. Brother Nat was the only man to wear the Sigma Delta Tau gold Torch pin.

National Presidents

The National President of Sigma Delta Tau is voted on by the Chapters and National Council Members every two years. Below is a list of Past National Presidents:

1918-1922 Regene Freund Cohane

1922-1924 Adele H. Land

1924-1926 Miriam Hoffman Jacobs

1926-1934 Miriam Simon Levy

1934-1935 Mildred Elkes Wallens

1935-1936 Miriam Simon Levy

1936-1942 Roselyn Mathews Reisman

1942-1948 Leah Affon Kartman

1948-1950 Doris Lesser Garbose

1950-1954 Miriam Rosenbloum Grant

1954-1958 Ruth Metzger Katz

1958-1960 Rose Fisher Michel

1960-1964 Ray Sommer

1964-1968 Lorrain Spinner Orner

1968-1970 Patricia Jackson Linderman

1970-1972 Harriet Bergheim Rodenberg

1972-1976 Joan Ellis Shatkin

1976-1980 Carol Stein Loewenstein

1980-1984 Roberta Katz Sacks

1984-1988 Lynn Berman Marano

1988-1992 Karen Sorkin Braverman

1992-1994 Sari Gold Factor

1994-1998 Elizabeth McQueen Sesler

1998-2002 Mardi Swartz Kunik

2002-2006 Beth Metzger Gruber

2006-2010 Marissa Altman Gottfried

2010-2012 Amy Mitchell Krouse

2012-2016 Michelle Keck Carlson

2016-Present Debbie Reduce Eleftheriou

Chapter List

Sigma Delta Tau currently has a total of 64 active collegiate chapters across North America.

Notable alumnae