Westerville resident David Phillips said the historically Jewish Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been part of his life since he was very young, thanks to his father’s involvement, but that involvement doesn’t usually have much fanfare with it.
Though he admits he isn’t the type to celebrate personal achievements too much, his involvement with the fraternity hasn’t gone unrecognized. In September, Phillips was honored with one of Sigma Alpha Mu’s highest awards, the William P. Schwartz Distinguished Service Award.
“I have had an excellent experience my whole life and my participation is ongoing and will be for as long as I’m able,” Phillips told the Columbus Jewish News of his involvement in Sigma Alpha Mu. “My father introduced the fraternity to me when I was very young and I have been a part of it ever since. It’s been very nice, for a very long time.”
After attending conventions with his father as a kid and growing up with role models and influences from the fraternity, Phillips joined Sigma Alpha Mu’s Sigma Beta chapter officially when he went to school at The Ohio State University, and quickly established himself within the fraternity long before he graduated in 1984.
He said it was important to him to join a Jewish fraternity like Sigma Alpha Mu, also known as “Sammy.”
“(That is) because Jewishness is important to me,” said Phillips, who works as director of accounting and finance at Beacon 360º Management, a property management firm in Blacklick. “It’s what you make of it. I think you ask yourself what’s important in your life, and I know that the Jewish people and being Jewish is important to me. It was important to my family; it was important to my mother and father and sister growing up, and I think it’s important to get involved in as many Jewish organizations as possible.”
