Peter Schwartz ’68: “I didn’t have the ability to pay it forward then so I do it the other way around”

Peter Schwartz ’68 ([email protected]) believes in paying it forward. His experience at Zeta Beta Tau impacted him for the better and left him with a lifetime of memories. Here’s why he gives back. 

Schwartz pledged to Zeta Beta Tau because “I was motivated by the sense of community that came through in the Brothers of Xi Chapter as I started at Tech, and this was reinforced after pledging. Our pledge class was small (eight or nine, I believe) but a rowdy bunch. Not one of us was from Atlanta or even Georgia.” 

The sports scene on campus set Zeta Beta Tau apart for him. “The Chapter was either one of the larger of the smaller fraternities or one of the smaller of the larger fraternities and that made IFC sports interesting indeed.” 

Schwartz’s favorite memories are innumerable. “Oh my, I have so many that I wouldn’t know where to start without slighting someone. But, to try to avoid that, here goes: Sheba, the ping-pong table, the endless bridge game, trying to adjourn Chapter Meetings in time for Star Trek. Pick one.” 

“The lessons learned by interacting with people from all over the place with different life experiences, perspectives, hopes, and dreams were invaluable. I didn’t have the ability to pay it forward then so I do it the other way around.” 

He believes in “the good of giving a new generation of Tech Rats the opportunities we had and then some of those we didn’t.” 

Without Zeta Beta Tau, I wouldn’t be able to finish this sentence. (I told you we were a rowdy bunch!)