Gentlemen,
I am writing to you today with a heavy heart to share the news that John Fantone entered Chapter Eternal this morning, June 24, 2026.
John was a man who truly embodied what it means to be a True Gentleman. Beyond his contributions to the Fraternity, many of you will remember his passion for basketball, and his inspiring leadership in spearheading our 50th-year celebration—an effort that served as a profound inspiration to us all.
As a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, John stood among a select few. This award, created in 1946, is the highest individual honor a member may receive. It is reserved for those who demonstrate a lifetime of service, loyalty, and a deep understanding of our Fraternity's teachings, distinguishing themselves as members deserving of recognition above all others. John's exemplary conduct and his dedication to promoting the welfare and honor of our brotherhood truly defined him as a leader who guarded well our high standing.
As we reflect on his legacy, let us remember the values that John lived by and that guide our organization:
OUR MISSION: The Fraternity's mission is advancing the highest standards of friendship, scholarship, leadership, and service for our members throughout life.
OUR VISION: The Fraternity's vision is True Gentlemen making our global community better.
In honoring John, I am reminded of the words of John Walter Wayland, which serve as the foundation of our brotherhood:
“The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.
John Fantone was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He will be deeply missed, but his impact on our chapter and our community will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his wife Linda and the entire Fantone family during this difficult time.
ΦΑ
Mitchell Feldman