The Zeta Pi Chapter is saying goodbye to Vasile Nagy, one of our Sigma Pi chapter’s founding fathers.
Brother Nagy began his journey to the Adytum On High on January 14, 2025, at age 59. He lives on through his daughter, family, friends, and fraternity brothers.
As the loving son of Elisabeta and the late Alexandru, he grew up in Rochester and graduated from Rochester High School in 1984.
After college, he remained in Michigan before eventually moving to Arizona and living there for over a decade. He is survived by his mother, brother Alex, and daughter Becca.
Vasile and his daughter Becca
As a founding Zeta Pi brother, Nagy helped form the chapter at Oakland University in 1985.
Historical chapter records show he joined as a sophomore majoring in engineering. That was before the colony found the national Sigma Pi Fraternity and decided to become a new chapter, Omega Nu Pi (aka Oakland’s New Pioneers).
Brother Nagy became the founding Herald when our chapter was incorporated in March 1986.
“As an immigrant from Romania, he had certainly experienced more in his 18 or 19 years than most of us, and it seemed to give him an admirable swagger,” said Brother Rob Waters, who joined in that chartering year. “When I first met Vasile, I was most struck by his confidence. Although we were in the same class and had graduated high school in the same year, he always presented himself as somehow more worldly and experienced than his peers. Looking back, I suspect he was.”
Those who remember Brother Nagy fondly recall him as always being fun, carefree, and full of mischief.
Brother Waters recalls that mischievousness in a memory about 9 South Hamlin, the dorm room where Brother Nagy and others lived at the time. They had converted that corner room into a sort of nightclub, with a platform hiding the beds underneath so the entire room could be used for entertainment. Of course, the stereo system was nearly always in use.
One night, crates of vinyl records appeared in the dorm when OU’s radio station, WOUX, was purging its collection. Each album was given a 5-10 second spin on the turntable before being discarded if it “didn’t pass muster.”
Or as Brother Waters tells it: flung at high velocity out the window, where they smashed spectacularly against the opposing brick wall Probably not an activity that the university would have sanctioned, but it sure was fun.”
Fellow Founding Brother Chuck Surinck has fond memories of traveling together, as their families made trips through the years to Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, and Nevada.
“All trips were made special by his cooking, organizing, and spirit,” Surinck said.
Brother John Zielke, who was in the Alpha pledge class in 1987, also shared good memories and described Brother Nagy as an excellent family man. The two had been friends in college and later worked together in the construction industry on projects that included restaurants, nightclubs, and new homes.
“We, of course, had many shenanigan moments (boy many),” Zielke said. “When I initiated, he was the Herald. In those early fraternity times, we spent much time together. Of course, we all did. He was always a loyal brother.”
Reflecting back on their college days, Waters thinks of Brother Nagy’s spirit and personality more than anything.
“It was his audacity that I admired most. There are always a million reasons not to act. Most of them based around your own fears and insecurities. Vasile was always ready to act and his ‘damn the torpedoes’ spirit was infectious,” Waters said.
“Young men and young organizations, like our nascent chapter, needed doers. Vasile was always ready to push forward. His audacity helped establish a new fraternity at Oakland, and for that, we are certainly grateful. Rest in peace, Brother Nagy.”
Arrangements can be found here, and you can send flowers and share memories on the virtual tribute wall.
