Sigma Nu lost a brother to COVID-19 on May 26, 2020, when Tom Paddrik passed away in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Tom was born on May 5, 1955, and was one of the “Jamestown 5,” five high school friends from Jamestown, New York, who all went to Cornell’s engineering school as freshmen members of the class of ’77, and they all joined Sigma Nu and stayed in close touch after graduation.
Gamma Theta extends condolences to the entire Paddrik family. Memories of Tom are shared here by one of the brothers who knew him best, Rich Shaffer ’77 (rshaffer03@gmail.com).
“Tom was my best friend in high school. We were in Jamestown High’s G & T Program, so we were in mostly the same classes for three straight years. Even then, Tom was an organizer. And, sometimes, an instigator. He had a lot of interests, including ham radio and debating. And, he always aimed high. He organized our debate team’s ‘summer school’ at Georgetown University. He developed a ham radio relationship with Saddam Hussein. A high school kid!
“Tom graduated Jamestown High in 1973. We both enrolled in Cornell’s Engineering School. So did three of our classmates. All five of us were Cornell Engineering! We were all pretty close in high school, and got closer at Cornell. Tom and I roomed together freshman year. When it came time that fall to rush fraternities, Tom came up with a radical plan; we would rush the houses together. We’d attend dinners and smokers together. Houses gradually came to understand that we might all join the same one. Thus, the ‘Jamestown 5’ was born. And, Tom was our leader. When we came back early in January ’74 to be interviewed (rushed) by the houses, it was Tom who suggested we do it together. Two brothers would show up to see Tom, and they would have all five of us to deal with. The rooms got plenty smoky, but the brothers of Sigma Nu took it all in stride.
“Tom was interested in sports cars: Jaguars, Ferraris, and Austin Healys to name a few. He would help organize the brothers’ trips to the Grand Prix races at Watkins Glen. Again, Tom aimed high.
“So it was with women. He met his wife, Viviana, when she was a visiting student from Argentina. She hit him like a thunderbolt when they first met. They married very shortly after her graduation, and stayed that way until Tom’s passing earlier this year. We will all miss him.”