Remembering Cynthia McCrory
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Cynthia Peckhart McCrory (Alpha Alpha 1962/Ball State) at the age of 84.
As a dedicated volunteer, she spent many years supporting and representing Alpha Sigma Tau on both the local and National levels. Her biggest volunteer role came from 1983 to 1985, when she served as Chair of the National Panhellenic Conference—the first and only Alpha Sigma Tau to have done so.
Her interest and involvement with Panhellenic began in her college days, when she served as the College Panhellenic Delegate for the Alpha Alpha Chapter at Ball State University. Following her graduation, Cynthia began her career in elementary education. She also helped organize Alpha Sigma Tau alumnae groups in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
It was in Fort Wayne that her dedication to the Panhellenic experience truly blossomed. As a member of the alumnae chapter, Cynthia served as the Alumnae Panhellenic Delegate and, in 1967, she became President of the Fort Wayne Alumnae Panhellenic, a role she held for 10 years. She continued to be involved with the alumnae Panhellenic well into the 1990s, serving in various leadership roles and heading committees.
As her time as Fort Wayne Alumnae Panhellenic President wrapped up in 1977, Alpha Sigma Tau recruited her to be our National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) delegate. Over the next 25 years, Cynthia would serve as Alpha Sigma Tau’s NPC Delegate, 1st Alternate NPC Delegate, and 2nd Alternate NPC Delegate.
Her hard work and dedication to the Panhellenic experience did not go unnoticed. In recognition of her skill set and vision, her NPC peers soon elected Cynthia as NPC Treasurer, NPC Secretary, and finally NPC Chair in 1983.
Shortly after she was elected NPC Chair, during an interview for The Anchor, Cynthia said, “The National Panhellenic Conference is made up of women who make things happen. Each time I travel throughout the country to the college campus and the community, I marvel at all the voluntary work these fraternity women do to make things happen.” Read more about Cynthia’s work as NPC Chair here.
In addition to her volunteer work with Alpha Sigma Tau and the NPC, Cynthia was also twice elected to the National Interfraternity Foundation Board of Directors, once as Treasurer and once as Secretary, in the 1990s.
Alpha Sigma Tau recognized Cynthia’s leadership and dedication to the Sorority, the Foundation, and the Panhellenic experience multiple times over the years. She was awarded the Order of the Yellow Rose twice (1978; 1996), the Ada A. Norton Award in 1986, and the Mary Louise Mandrea Doyle Panhellenic Award in 1982, just shortly before her time as NPC Chair began.
She was also honored as a Sustainer of the Sorority in 2000. This recognition was bestowed upon alumnae members for their dedication, loyalty, and perseverance in supporting Alpha Sigma Tau during the years between 1978 and 2000. Cynthia is one of only 17 members who received this recognition.
In 1998, to further celebrate Cynthia’s volunteer work and NPC representation, Alpha Sigma Tau created the McCrory Order of Interfraternity Excellence Award, given biannually at our National Convention to an individual who has contributed outstanding service to the betterment of the fraternity/sorority system.
Her most recent Alpha Sigma Tau volunteer years were spent with the Phoenix/Valley of the Sun Alumnae Chapter, where she served as Alumnae Treasurer, Alumnae Panhellenic Delegate, and Alumnae Chapter President between 2011 and 2021.
Cynthia’s dedication to Alpha Sigma Tau and her delight in preserving the Panhellenic experience will be missed by many within our Sorority and the larger fraternal world. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margaret, her husband Charles McCrory, and a great-grandson. She is survived by her son and Friend of Alpha Sigma Tau, Gregory McCrory, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her sister Rose Ray.
Those wishing to honor Cynthia’s memory may donate to the Alpha Sigma Tau Foundation via the Anchor Fund (area of greatest need) on this donation page here. If you wish to share a memory of Cynthia, please do so in the “I give because” section of the form below. Thank you.