It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Ted Scharfenstein, Beta Beta (Florida Southern) passed away on September 2.
Ted was initiated into Beta Beta Chapter at Florida Southern University on April 20, 1958. He joined Pi Kappa Phi staff in June 1961 in the role of traveling counselor, today known as leadership consultant. He served as a member of staff for four years.
Ted went on to serve the Fraternity in a variety of positions through the years, including chapter advisor and area governor. He was a member of the National Council for nine years and served the Fraternity as national president from 1972-77. Ted received the Merit Citation award in 1981.
He was also the board chairman and executive vice president of the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation, in addition to serving as a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He was selected as Mr. Pi Kappa Phi in 1983 and became a member of Nu Phi in the same year. Most recently, Ted served as Pi Kappa Phi’s archivist and on the Growth Committee. His last act of service to the Fraternity was in February 2023, when he helped install Kappa Psi Chapter (Wake Forest) as the assistant chartering officer. It was a long-held dream of Ted’s to have a Pi Kappa Phi chapter at Wake Forest, and we thank him for his dedication to making that dream a reality.
“Ted is one of the heroes of Pi Kappa Phi,” said Pi Kappa Phi CEO Jake Henderson. He truly believed in lifetime commitment and loved his membership and his brothers. Every time we spoke you could hear the passion and excitement in his voice for expansion, housing and the trajectory of Pi Kappa Phi. I will greatly miss our shared moments of brotherhood and appreciate everything he has taught me throughout my Pi Kappa Phi journey.”
Ted is survived by his wife, Madeline; son, T.J. Beta Beta (Florida Southern); daughter, Mary Ebert; two grandchildren, McKenna and Zachary Ebert; and great-grandson, Colton Wheeler. Services for Ted will be held at the Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, September 16 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Ted’s family is requesting that friends and family consider a donation to the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation in his memory.
Ted’s impact on Pi Kappa Phi was immeasurable, and he will be dearly missed but fondly remembered. Please keep Ted’s family, friends and Pi Kappa Phi brothers in your thoughts and prayers.