23 Oct, 2020

Meet the Founders

23 Oct, 2020

Alpha Epsilon Pi’s heritage stems from 11 young Jewish men who banded together under New York City’s Washington Square Arch in 1913.

Known to Brothers as the “Immortal Eleven,” the founders of AEPi were young men of serious purpose. They were employed during the day, came from middle-class homes and sought to get ahead by taking night classes at New York University. In the spirit of our Founders Day on November 7, let’s take a moment to meet each one.

Pictured here are members of the Alpha chapter as they were shown and described from the pages of the New York University yearbook, The Violet. 

Learn more about the Founders Day Challenge and how you can help AEPi grow.

Charles C. Moskowitz

The Brother who started it all was, in fact, a transfer from the College of the City of New York. A fine basketball player, Brother Moskowitz was heavily sought after at NYU for his athletic ability by the current fraternities. When given a bid to an unknown fraternity, he asked if some of his close Jewish friends could also join. The answer to his question was the genesis of what would one day become an international Jewish fraternity that spans across the globe.

From the Violet:
Charlie is one of the best little Basket-ballers ever turned out of Commerce. Before coming here he played at C.C.N.Y. His “prep” course stood him in good stead. He played on the Commerce ‘Varsity team three years and managed it one year. Besides taking courses and playing Basketball, Charlie is an accountant in the theatrical business. On Sundays he manages the Manhattan Opera House-and the way he handles the “acts” and “actresses” classes him as ” some impresario.” Charlie is making good and we expect to hear from him. His hobby is pretty girls. He’s a jolly good fellow and is always ready to join the bunch and do his bit.

David K. Schafer

When the time came for AEPi to be recognized by NYU’s School of Commerce, David K. Schafer, as secretary of the chapter (and the only Brother who had typing skills), was chosen to draft and send a letter to Dean Joseph French Johnson outlining the aims and ideals of the new fraternity, requesting official recognition. After a long October of waiting, a reply was sent on November 7, 1913 affirming Alpha Epsilon Pi’s recognition. Brother Schafer would go on to become Supreme Master.

From the Violet:
Quiet, unassuming Dave. Slips in and out of his classrooms without causing commotion. He’s not over-studious, never burns the midnight oil except on advanced problems. Nevertheless, he manages to maintain a good average. Some three years ago he was a real Suffolk County hayseed. But N.Y.U. has completely worn all the green off. He’s the ideal fellow to have around when you’ve got an attack of the blues. He’s an excellent tonic for the grouch, when not himself suffering from the same malady. As a typist and stenographer, he’s some baseball player-and a south-paw at that. He’s some boy though. He’ll make you sit up and take notice some day. Watch him!

Isador M. Glazer

From the Violet:
“Tubby” started his Freshman year with a crash. Considerable cheerleader and a genuine detective is he. Knows more about yourself than you do, but keeps his own affairs undercover. Conspicuous for his beautifully harmonious snore. The Profs. know it by heart. He was an ardent accountancy enthusiast, but that was before Jack Jones resurrected him with his mystic wand and let him taste of the sweet nectar of salesmanship. You risk your life if you mention accounting to Gla now. He’ll make some salesman too. He’s a slick talker and can sell a “Saxon” to a peanut vendor or a straw hat to an Eskimo. He’s a good hustler when he gets going, but he needs a locomotive to get him started. Watch him, boys. He’s going to make good, and in a big way, too. He has already traversed the greater part of the road to matrimony.

Herman L. Kraus

Herman L. Kraus was a debater and helped the NYU Commerce team achieve victory in a debate over the Wharton School team of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Secretary of the Commerce debating society, was a member of the advertising staff of the Violet, an advertising society called the Triad League while also an editor of the Menorah Society.

From the Violet:
Well here’s Hermie again. Motto: ”It pays to advertise.” Can’t lose that fellow. You don’t have to see him, you can hear him. He must have put the ”C” in School of Commerce. From the Debating Tearn to the Menorah Society and from the Glee Club all the way down. He’s some busy fellow. Be easy with him boys. He’s the baby of the class and we must make some allowances. Another one of those to whom you can’t talk accounting. He’s going along splendidly in the advertising line. He’s a good chap and is “ever ready” to be ”deliciously frank,” as they say – or as he would like them to say – which is it, Herm? We almost lost him in the wilds of Philly. But the wanderlust wandered when he struck that burg, and as he pined for the gentler sex of “Lil’ Ole New York” and Fifth Avenue busses, we have him to ourselves once more. Here’s the best luck in the world to you, Herm.

Arthur E. Leopold

From the Violet:
The co-eds in the University must have overlooked Arthur. For, never has a finer fellow been in the school. Every inch a gentleman, a fine dancer and a good-looking chap as well – jingos, how could they miss him! Every one who knows him calls him the prince of good fellows and a real friend if there ever was one. He has made numerous friends during his three years here, and what is still better, not a single enemy. In truth, it can be said that nothing but himself can be paralleled.

Benjamin M. Meyer

From the Violet:
Ben comes from Brooklyn, but please don’t hold that against him. He can’t help himself. Otherwise he’s a real fine chap. Having an unusually well-balanced mind, he has always been one of our extremely conservative, sober fellows, who never gets excited, never raises a racket and never makes any foolish “breaks.” He is in the accounting business and is making out well, thank you. As we said before, except for the fact that he lives in Brooklyn – Ben is a fine chap.

 

Arthur M. Lipkint

From the Violet:
Artie is another one of our “sawed offs.” However, the boy is there with the right kind of stuff, for his biographer tell us that he is the one man who can take the count out of accounting. (Eddie!) But for a’ that, he is a fellow who it is a pleasure and a privilege to know – kind and gentle, thoughtful and considerate. A.M. has won for himself a circle of true and lasting friends. We hope that he will not disappear from our lives entirely now that he has gone heiress hunting in that desolate expanse of Long Island known as Bensonhurst.

 

Charles J. Pintel

Charles J. Pintel was a publication man who was the circulation manager for both the Commerce Record and the Washington Square Dealer, the downtown campus newspaper.

From the Violet:
Charlie is the only live circulation manager in captivity. He was circulation manager of the Commerce Record when it was organized. When the Washington Square Dealer was organized they grabbed him as Circulation Manager, for they knew a good man when they saw one. When he’s not selling the Square Dealer he finds time to take twenty-four hours of lectures. Between times he visits his girl in Brooklyn. Charlie is a busy man and a hard worker. He is a popular student and hopes some day to he a regular accountant. Accent please on the “hopes.” Anyhow, he has had “accountant” printed on his Cards. which you will admit shows he has confidence in himself and that is half the battle.

Maurice Plager

From the Violet:
Maurice is just a plain citizen. He works all day as an accountant, attends classes at night and after that trails with his own little particular crowd of fellows. He has come to school to study and learn things for future reference, rather than simply acquire a degree. Co-eds interest him not. The same goes for class meetings and society affairs. His greatest joy in life is to argue with Sam Spritzer, his greatest ambition is to beat Moskowitz at poker and his greatest need is a shave three times a clay.

 

Hyman Shulman

The class historian, ranked second in class beauty and second as best natured.

From the Violet:
The man who said that self-praise is mighty little recommendation may have been a nut or a squirrel, just as you like, but one thing is positive – he sure did know what he was talking about. Here are we forced to write our own history and not even a true enemy in sight accommodating enough, or rather, perhaps, bloodthirsty enough, to do it for us. It would be the height of self-conceit to say that we were very ambitious, peace-loving, nearly-intelligent, and very friendly inclined; so we just won’t say it. Just the same, we will rise to remark that this has been one young job, and if that if anyone thinks he could have done very much better, why in the tarnation blazes didn’t they speak up before we nearly flunked half our exams trying to get this thing into some shape?

Emil Lustgarten

From the Violet:
Although no portrait of Emil Lustgarten appears in these yearbooks, we show him here as taken from a group picture of the Commerce Record Board of the time.

 

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