A male was involved in the beginnings of Sigma Delta Tau. Bloom asked Nathan Caleb House  to write the ritual. “Brother Nat”  is the only man to honored with the organization’s gold membership pin. As the story is told on the Sigma Delta Tau web-site:

After leaving Cornell University, Brother Nat was ‘lost.’ In a chance look through the New York City phone book, Nat was ‘found’ and brought as a surprise to the 1958 National Convention. From that time until his death, Brother Nat attended almost every Biennial Convention and maintained correspondence and visits with many alumnae and collegiate chapters.

Sigma Delta Tau Founders and Ritualist, Regene Freund is on the bottom row, second from left.

Regene Freund Cohane

Regene Freund (Cohane), a Sigma Delta Tau founder, as an undergraduate, was one of three women majoring in law. She was also the organization’s first National President. Her term began in 1918. Two years later, she graduated and moved to Detroit. As a female lawyer, she had a difficult time landing a job because of her gender, but  she persisted. After serving as National President until 1922, she spent the next 35 years as the sorority’s National Counselor.

In December 1924, she married another lawyer, Louis Starfield Cohane, whom she met at a funeral. They formed their own law firm. In the first year of their marriage, the Cohanes became the first married couple to try a case before the United States Supreme Court. Louis Cohane died in 1958, but his wife continued to practice law for 72 years almost until the end of her life.

The Cohane’s marriage information

Cohane was active in Detroit’s Jewish community and served as President of the National Council of Jewish Women in 1933. She was named  one of Detroit’s “Women of Achievement.” In 1991, Sigma Delta Tau honored her with the establishment of the Regene Freund Cohane Outstanding President Award. She died in 1992 at the age of 92.