Eugene D. Cote, III, 1981

Our brothers careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848 and 1874 and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will. 

We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. We continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles, and because of that we are an exceptional brotherhood because we remain committed and hardworking to assure that our Omega Mu brotherhood will continue to be the jewel at the University of Maine. Perge.

Omega Mu Portrait
Eugene D. Cote, III,
1981

Omega Mu Years

JT

Phi Gamma Delta
Leader

Buddy, truly, is one of a kind Omega Mu brother, and our everyday idiom does not aptly describe such a magnetically wonderful Omega MU brother. In short, his robust personality and the shining decency of his presence is something to behold. To begin with, Buddy extends his warm, upbeat, and caring nature to everyone he meets, and it is always sincere, and his wide grin of kindness is beautiful. Buddy is an imminently loyal friend, and in a most gracious manner, over and over again, he extends his infectious human warmth and kindness with everyone he meets. It is a preternatural gift, the best of all human graces. Buddy is simply a good-natured, warm-hearted person to be with at any time. His energy uplifts everyone that is around him, and for this human grace he is esteemed within our Omega Mu brotherhood, as well as the larger Phi Gamma Delta community. And it must be sated that one can readily state that we serve God best when we serve our fellow man in such a manner as Buddy Cote does, generously so, in all social circumstances, and no grace is greater than extending the grace of kindness and compassion to everyone as Buddy does because kindness always endures, and the ripple effect of kindness cannot be underestimated. It is the most valuable human quality that blesses and sustains everyone.

Buddy is true to human qualities that endure and make life better: friendship, integrity, love, forthrightness, and generosity of spirit. These things still matter to Buddy, and it is a particular joy to witness Buddy around anyone because he is charming and easy to be around, ready with a good supply of jokes, wonderful stories, and fulsome laughter, and let me tell you that you cannot help but laugh and smile. Mainly, without indulging in excessively hyperbole, Buddy knows how to embrace life lovingly and joyfully. He simply does.

Now, for some people, leadership is about the title, greed, power, and heightened prestige, but that is not the case with Buddy Cote. On the contrary, Buddy is a natural, inspiring, uniquely gifted leader who instills an enriching passion for Phi Gamma Delta because he truly cares about that and that alone. With never-ending energy, guided by his strong fraternal ideals, dedication, and direction, Buddy positively champions the life-affirming qualities Phi Gamma Delta brotherhood. And, in equal measure,  and with all his heart, he is positively proud to be one our Omega Mu number. He loves Omega Mu, and he is a lasting gift within our Omega Mu brotherhood.

Buddy is exemplary in the spotlight when he addresses people, and there is no pomp and circumstance when he does so, just up-lifting grace and clarity in addressing the positive good of Phi Gamma Delta brotherhood because he truly believes it. With human care, fraternal dignity, and professional integrity, Buddy Cote leads by example because he understands and fulfills the deeper calling of what it means to be a good, responsible leader in our brotherhood. His fraternal character and fraternal judgement are above reproach; hence, Buddy is resplendently and evangelically purple! With his beautiful twinkle in his eyes, and his endearing smile, Buddy is one of a kind in our Omega Mu brotherhood. In truth, he is a Phi Gamma Delta talisman of Fiji pride, and it is with considerable gratitude, affection and respect that we know Buddy Cote for being one of our best in our Omega Mu brotherhood.

​“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge