Since 1930
Nearly a century of brotherhood, leadership, and legacy on the UCLA campus
The Epsilon Pi Chapter of Sigma Nu has called 601 Gayley Avenue home since 1940. Situated at the heart of UCLA’s Fraternity Row, our house is one of the most recognizable on campus — a landmark that has welcomed thousands of brothers over nearly a century.
Unlike many fraternities that have demolished and rebuilt, we take pride in preserving the iconic exterior of our historic home while continuously modernizing the interior. Over $3 million has been invested in renovations since 2010, including complete rebuilds of both wings and a new steel sundeck completed in 2024 — making Epsilon Pi one of the only UCLA fraternities to have remained in continuous operation.
Epsilon Pi has produced an extraordinary number of varsity athletes, coaches, and sports executives. Our brothers have lettered in football, basketball, baseball, water polo, swimming, and track — representing UCLA at the highest levels of collegiate competition.
That tradition continues in the professional ranks. George Paton (EP, ’92) serves as General Manager of the Denver Broncos. Gary Cunningham (EP) was a star under John Wooden and later Athletic Director at multiple universities. The competitive fire forged at 601 Gayley has a way of following our brothers for life.
The influence of Epsilon Pi alumni extends far beyond the UCLA campus. Alexander Butterfield (EP 276) served as Nixon’s Deputy White House Chief of Staff and played a pivotal role in the Watergate hearings. Larry Higby (EP 665) also served in the Nixon White House alongside Butterfield.
Our brothers have served in Congress, led Fortune 500 companies, commanded military units in combat, and contributed to nearly every field of American public life. The lessons of Love, Honor, and Truth learned at 601 Gayley have a long reach.
Epsilon Pi has a deep tradition of military service. Captain Gerald L. Coffee (EP 468) flew combat missions over Vietnam before being shot down in 1966 and held as a prisoner of war for seven years. His story of endurance and faith became one of the most celebrated in the history of the U.S. Navy.
Coffee’s legacy lives on in our chapter’s highest honor: the Gerald L. Coffee Scholarship, awarded each year to the member who best exemplifies the ideals of Sigma Nu leadership.
The Epsilon Pi chapter of Sigma Nu has a proud history of philanthropic generosity, reflecting its commitment to service and community impact. Central to this legacy is the Sigma Nu Alumni Scholarship Fund — the largest Greek-affiliated grant program in the country — which, since 2016, has provided crucial financial support to undergraduate members.
The Fund was born out of Brother Peter Merlone’s vision to help members achieve their academic and professional goals while enabling them to graduate without student loan debt. His leadership as board chair, and the investment strategy he oversaw, inspired more than 100 alumni to contribute in the Fund’s early years and enabled its remarkable growth. In addition to seeding the SNASF, Merlone also provided the lead gift to the UCLA Affordability Initiative launched in 2023.
One of the chapter’s most distinguished philanthropists, Bob Wilson, exemplified the spirit of giving in another arena entirely. Recognized with the UCLA Medal — the university’s highest honor — Wilson’s generosity has left a lasting mark on campus. His legacy is immortalized at Wilson Plaza, the expansive quad at the heart of UCLA where students gather, study, and celebrate.
With a story straight from the pages of a Horatio Alger novel, Brother Larry Canarelli’s extensive philanthropy enabled much of the chapter house’s physical renovations in the late 2000s and early 2020s. As a UCLA Health Board member alongside his wife Heidi, the pair made extraordinary investments to improve the lives of all Angelenos, including the founding of the UCLA Canarelli Family Oligodendroglioma Brain Tumor Research Fund in the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery in 2025.
Through its scholarship fund and unwavering dedication to philanthropy, Sigma Nu’s Epsilon Pi chapter continues to foster a culture of giving, strengthening both the UCLA community and the broader society.