Canadians Go Greek: the source for Canadian Chapters

by Barry Gough, Professor of History
Dean of Greek Life, Wilfrid Laurier University

Dr Frederick Binding, Associate Professor of Psychology and founding Dean of Greek Life, passed away on 3 August 2003. Many outstanding tributes were paid to him at the memorial service held at First United Church in Waterloo on 11 August.

I wish here to express a few personal remarks about Dr Binding, and what he meant to many of us as a friend and colleague. I wish particularly to pay tribute to his work as Dean of Greek Life. All of us who knew him are saddened by his passing but we remember keenly his appreciation and understanding of the complexities of social interaction on campus. He was a firm supported of Greek Life – fraternities and sororities – for he knew first hand from his days at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg about fraternal bonds through Tau Kappa Epsilon. He carried these forward into graduate school at the University of Kansas and even later still as an alumni brother. He was proud of his association with TKE, and served as founding director of its Educational Foundation, which he helped set up in Canada.

To those unfamiliar with Greek life its mysteries may seem confusing even distorted. But for those of us who know it – and have gone through its processes – it is a life enhancing process. Many students are content with dormitory life as a means of strengthening the bonds of friendship. But fraternities and sororities take such informal connections to another, deeper and better level. Dr Binding knew this from his own experience as do I from mine. My chapter of Psi Upsilon at the University of British Columbia was a powerful collection of academic and musical talents, with five Rhodes Scholars to its credit and high-ranking academic achievement among its brothers. Dr Binding always reminded members of fraternities and sonorities here at Laurier that their academic requirements came first, strengthened by bonds of social discourse and ethics unequaled anywhere else on campus among undergraduates. He was a true friend.

Dr Binding gave time and energy to the expansion of Greek Life at Laurier, and he saw the addition of a fraternity and a sorority to the already existing mix. There are currently two recognized fraternities (Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi) and three recognized sororities (Delta Gamma, Alpha Omega, and Alpha Phi). These five are strong organizations. Together they form membership in the Greek Council, the recognized regulatory body that supervises expansion and management of Greek Life at Laurier. Fraternities and sororities exist at nearby University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo. Laurier is regarded among the powerhouses of Greek Life in Canada, a status shared with Western and UBC. For this reason it will again host, in early November, a Canadian council of fraternities and sororities. Dr Binding gave full support to this conference. His presence there will be missed greatly.

Dr Binding was, as his obituary on the Greek Home Page says, a true model of those in the Greek system for he was truly a gentleman, scholar and teacher. That home page, which I urge you to visit, contains many fine tributes. Dr Binding’s academic interests included Athletic and recreational programs, ecology, human reaction in natural disasters, leadership and group dynamics. He taught a wide array of courses, especially in social personality and sport psychology. Tributes given stressed his huge devotion to causes he regarded as important: the Bruce Trail Association, the Pioneer Sportsmen Club, Scouts Canada, the Cabot Trail Association, and the New Democratic Party. He was a keen supported of Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association. His presence as Marshal of Convocation was unforgettable, but his organizational abilities and zeal which enabled our university graduating exercises to become first class, ordered events are legendary. They will not soon be forgotten by those of us who know how complicated such event arrangements are. Dr Binding gave unsparingly of his time and money, and the many good causes that he espoused and supported are not forgotten. He was an Olympic-level marksman and a true individual. He brought flair to life and to those around him.

Lastly let me say how many of his colleagues will miss this remarkable fellow. Not only will we miss his charming friendship. We will miss the example that he gave to us about commitment – commitment to important causes on and off campus. We could use many more Fred Bindings in our life.

Print Obituary
Print Obituary ©Kitchener-Waterloo Record, August 8, 2003

BINDING, Dr. Frederick Richard Stadelman - (May 13, 1938 - August 3, 2003), died, suddenly at Cape Chin, at the age of 65. Predeceased by his father, Fred Stadelman in 1938; his step-father, Fred Binding in 1979 and his mother, Gertrude Binding in 1997. He is survived by his brother, Bob (Karen) of Winnipeg, their three children, Rob, Dave and Kathy (Dave) and his grandniece, Anika and cousins in Canada and Switzerland. Fred was born and raised in Winnipeg and holds degrees from the University of Manitoba. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Kansas and began his teaching career at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1966. In 1971, he began teaching at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and retired from that position in June, 2003.

He was Marshall of the University and Dean of Greek Life. Fred was active in the Kitchener-Waterloo community with the Pioneer Sportsmen Club as Builder, President and Director; with Special Olympics and the Bruce Trail Association as well as many other groups in the area. He was also very involved with International Competitive Shooting as a competitor, official and manager. He participated in Olympic, Commonwealth and Pan American Games, Canadian National and Provincial Championships.

Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Fred's memory to Ontario Special Olympics Inc., K-W and District Special Olympics or the Pioneer Sportsmen Club, 211 Pioneer Tower Road, Cambridge. A Memorial Service will be held at First United Church, 16 William Street at King Street, Waterloo, at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 11, 2003. Cremation has taken place.