The Path Worth Taking

John Santeramo (Detroit-Mercy ’77) Reflects on a Life of Unexpected Blessings
Rachel Stringer (Pennington & Company), contributing writer

For John Santeramo (Detroit-Mercy ’77), the path to Sigma Pi was anything but typical. After high school, he entered a religious congregation and spent his first three years of college immersed in that life, intending to continue on to seminary. But as his junior year came to a close, he began to reconsider.

“Near the end of my junior year, I discerned that religious life was not right for me,” he explained. He left the congregation and returned to New York for the summer, still feeling a strong pull toward service. “I still felt called to serve… but I needed time away.” Instead of committing immediately to another path, he made a pivotal decision: to return to the University of Detroit and complete his senior year.

“That decision changed the course of my life.”

An Unexpected Introduction
Back on campus, Santeramo found himself starting over socially. “I was on my own and unfamiliar with student life,” he recalled. He attended a few recruitment events simply to meet people, not intending to join an organization. That changed through a chance connection with his dorm neighbor, Jerry Bajc (Detroit-Mercy ’78), who invited him to a Fraternity party.

“I wasn’t particularly interested, but I agreed,” Santeramo said. On the way, they encountered Sage George Hakim (Detroit-Mercy ’73), who hesitated before allowing Santeramo to attend the invitation-only event. At the party, Santeramo struck up a long conversation with Hakim about Sigma Pi. “I was tremendously impressed with his enthusiasm and his obvious love for the Fraternity,” he said. Acting on impulse, he asked how to join.

The chapter leadership wasn’t quite sure what to do with him. “I was a senior, newly out of a monastery, and the pledge class was already formed.” Ultimately, the decision was left to the pledges themselves. They had no objection, and Santeramowas offered a bid. In fall 1977, he was initiated into Sigma Pi.

Brotherhood and Belonging
From the outset, Santeramo found a strong sense of connection. “The pledges were expected to support one another, and I felt a strong sense of camaraderie,” he said. “Having spent years in a religious community, this was different but equally meaningful.”

That sense of belonging only deepened after initiation. “My undergraduate experience was life-changing,” he reflected. Through Fraternity activities, charitable work, and friendships, he found himself part of something larger. One year wasn’t enough—he extended his time on campus for a fifth undergraduate year and remained for graduate school.

“Through Sigma Pi, I built close friendships, took on leadership roles, and gained confidence,” he said. The Fraternity also helped him navigate a major life transition from religious to secular life and gave him the freedom to explore his future. Over time, his brothers became his chosen family, which influenced his decision to build his life in the Detroit area.

A Sigma Pi Love Story
It was also through Sigma Pi that Santeramo met his future wife, Kathy Keenan. During a Chapter canoe trip, he offered to help her set up a tent. “I felt an immediate connection,” he recalled, noting how naturally she fit in with the group. “She was at ease with the Fraternity because of how welcoming everyone was.”

Back on campus, he asked her out. She initially declined due to another commitment, and Santeramo began to walk away. “But something made me turn back and suggest a different date—and she said yes.” Kathy became a regular presence at Fraternity events as Santeramo completed graduate school and started his career. The couple eventually married, with Hakim standing as Santeramo’s best man. “In July 2026, we will celebrate 44 years of marriage,” he shared.

An Unexpected Career Path
Academically, Santeramo had focused on religious studies and developed an interest in psychology, leading him to pursue graduate work. But when it came time to find a job, reality shifted his trajectory. An opportunity arose through a civil service exam he had taken earlier, leading to a role with a state agency handling Social Security disability cases—work he had never envisioned performing. “I accepted the job expecting it to be temporary,” he said. Instead, it evolved into a 28-year career.

After 14 years, he advanced to a Hearing Officer role, reviewing and deciding appeals. Through this work, he interacted frequently with attorneys, which sparked a new interest. “My interest in law grew,” he explained. Encouraged by Geno Zayid (Detroit-Mercy ’78), Santeramo enrolled in law school at night while continuing to work full time. “After passing the Bar exam, Geno sponsored my admission to practice.”

A Lifelong Call to Serve
Despite stepping away from religious life earlier, Santeramonever lost his sense of calling. In 1988, during Pope John Paul II’s visit to Detroit, he learned about the permanent diaconate and the opportunity for married men to be ordained. “After reflection, I applied,” he said, and in 1993, he was ordained a deacon.

Since then, his service has spanned parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit. He has officiated baptisms, weddings, and funerals, while also preaching and teaching. Even after reaching senior status, his commitment has continued. “I visited hospice patients and led services at assisted living facilities,” he said. Looking ahead, his intention is clear: “I want to continue as long as I am able.”

Brotherhood That Endures
“Throughout every stage of his life, the lessons of Sigma Pi have remained central,” Santeramo said, pointing to the Creed’s message of “kindred minds, united in brotherhood.” Many of his closest friendships today trace back more than four decades. Even when time or distance intervenes, the connection holds. “Each time, the bond of brotherhood is immediately renewed.” He has also maintained active involvement through Chapter leadership and national service. “It remains an important part of my life,” he said.

Living with Purpose
Reflecting on his journey, Santeramo acknowledges that his life has not followed a straight or predictable path. “There have been unexpected turns and decisions I could not have predicted,” he said. Yet each chapter – from leaving religious life to joining Sigma Pi, building a career, and returning to ministry – has led to meaningful opportunities.

“I have been given much, and I am grateful to have been able to give back,” he said. That perspective shapes how he views both his past and present. “I have found that when we give generously, we often receive far more in return.”

Looking back, one thing is certain. “I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without Sigma Pi,” Santeramo said. “But by the grace of God, I will never need to know.”