The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 176
Reunions, JFK, Hood History, More Early 1970s Musicals, and Even a Few Graduates
Welcome to the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 176,
Class of 1964 - 60th-Year Reunion - 9/19
Don’t miss out on The Wheatley Class of 1964 60th-Year Reunion.
Thursday, September 19, 2024, 5 PM at:
388, a restaurant at 388 Willis Ave. Roslyn Heights, NY. 516-621-3888
Handicapped accessible and close to the LIE and Northern State Parkway.
Cost is $65 per person (plus tax and tip) for a private room, with good Italian food at a decent price.
No payment is due in advance. Just let me know if you plan to come (or not). Partners are welcome.
The following people have said they will attend: Gary Briefel, Vivi Cilmi Kunz, John Corwin, Richard Friedman, Helen Garfinkel Lobel, Ellen Genat Hoffman, Jim Jerome, Rick Kaplin, Gail Knetzer Iannotti, Jim Lerner, Steve Lewis, Ron Miller, Steve Morris, Jim Paley, Joann Pedone Kiernan, Ted Rothstein, Jim Russek, Beth Sack, Jesse Samberg, Karen Schaller Hampton, Steve Simmons, Sue Skarka Miller, David Sobolow, Ellen Solow Holzman, John Sullivan, Davida Tunis Philips, Nancy Gittleson Hodson, Meryl Moritz, Laurie Rubin English, Michele Sklaire Jacobson, Kay Shamitz Leibowitz, Brian Stone, Diane Nissenfeld
The following people hope to attend: Jackie Axel Butensky, Barbara Goldman Krause, Richard Ilsley, Lynn Walsh
Please respond ASAP to: Nancy (Gittleson) Hodson,
516-972-2135 (cell)
Class of 1974 50th-Year Reunion - 10/19
Please note that people from other classes are welcome to attend. After all, siblings got to know the same friends!
Class of 2004 20th-Year Reunion - 10/26
Wheatley Class of 2004 20th-Year Reunion Registration (click and click again)
Correction
In the following photo, taken at the bar Mitzvah of Richard Jalonack (1966) the fellow in the front row, far right, is Jeff Gross (1966), not brother Mark Gross (1968).
Top Row - L-R - ????, Glen Greenbaum, Freddy Kerstein (all 1966)
Bottom Row - L-R - Adrienne Lagin, Susan Berger, Rick Jalonack, Jeff Gross (1966)
JFK
Alison Kent Bermant (1966) Writes - “My first thoughts when we were in our classrooms and first heard of the shooting were of Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, and what a terrible thing it would be for her to lose her father. My daughter Caroline is not named for her, but I did come to love the name. My memory of what happened in the auditorium is virtually word for word the same as Howard Klepper’s (1965).” Howard Kleppers Memories of the JFK Assassination
‘Hood History
Jerry Mintz (1961) Writes - “When I was a younger teen I discovered the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway where it crossed Roslyn Road. I then explored it by bicycle approximately 10 miles in both directions, from Queens out to Suffolk. Anyone else do that?”
Art Engoron (1967) Writes - Yes. I “discovered” what my friends and I called “The Old Motor Parkway” when I was approximately seven-years-old, and it has fascinated me ever since. Classmates Mark Friedberg, Richard Friedman and I bicycled west in approximately 10th grade, getting well into Queens. I later rode solo east until Salisbury (now “Eisenhower”) Park. Decades later by car, I travelled parts of it in Suffolk, where it is still a thoroughfare. Recently a friend and I walked from the bridge over Springfield Boulevard (in or near Bayside) through Cunningham Park and into around Flushing. I was sad in or about the 1970s when the two old stone bridges over the Grand Central Parkway were destroyed to allow the widening of the Parkway, A good section to walk (or cycle) is through Alley Pond Park (Queens) and beyond, heading west from Winchester Boulevard.
Graduates
1966 - Alison Kent Bermant - “Last week my Husband, Ed, and I had dinner with Jane Rosengarten Rosenof (1966) and her husband Howard at Tanglewood, MA, followed by a marvelous concert with violinist Midori. Jane and I have known each other since elementary school, where we both played violin in the Willets Road orchestra. As I recall, Jane was always first chair. I was always the very last chair. What a punishment it must have been for anyone to have to listen to me play.
But it was the mixed chorus and the girls’ chorus at Wheatley that had a lasting impact on me musically. Dr. Wills was extraordinary. He introduced so many of us to serious music. So many wonderful memories, from caroling at the East Williston Tree Lightings; to the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) competitions, where we often, if not, always received a 6A, the highest grade possible; to the friendships made. Chorus was always a high point of my day.
One of my most vivid chorus memories is of the time Dr. WiIls gave budding conductor Roddy Nierenberg (1965) the opportunity to conduct the chorus performing two incredibly fascinating pieces of music, “Mr. Finney’s Turnip” and “The Geographical Fugue.” That music runs through my mind to this day.”
1972 - Anything Goes!
Steve Krakauer (1972) Writes - “Hi Art, To add to classmate Linda Kaufman Schroeder's ‘ (1972) Anything Goes’ memories, here are Pages 1 and 2 of the Program.
It was performed in 1972 and was an absolutely fun show to be in.
And here are two photographs that I took during a rehearsal. The first is of Mindy Buckner (1972) and Rick Frishman (1972). The other is of Bob Biancavilla (1972), Janet Schaffel (1972), Roy Kessler (1974) and Gail Biggs (1972).
L-R - Mindy Buckner and Rick Frishman (both 1972)
L-R - Bob Biancavilla (1972), Janet Schaffel (1972), Roy Kessler (1974), and Gail Biggs (1972).”
Rick Frishman (1972) Writes - “Thank you, Linda Kaufman Schroeder (1972), for sending in the program of ‘Anything Goes.’ The show was wonderful. If anyone has other programs — ‘Guys and Dolls,’ ‘Fiorello,’ ‘Brigadoon,’….others? — please send them in.’
Jane Madison (1970) Writes - “I enjoyed seeing the program for ‘Anything Goes.’ I was home on leave from the Air Force and went to see my sister Cathy Madison (1974) perform. Such a great memory, thanks!”
Mary Vachris (1972) Writes - “Thanks to Linda Kaufman Schroeder (1972) for bringing back such wonderful memories of ‘Anything Goes.’ I always enjoyed being a part of the musicals at Wheatley. The cast and crew had a great deal of camaraderie.”
1970 to 1972 - More Musical Memories -
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wj1mKYMwRtQIKlr3IEE9ogJf36NfBeb1?usp=sharing\
1977 - Glenn Gerstner - “Reading Joanna Faber’s recollections of Mrs. Gunderson brought back some great memories. I was stunned to see her write about ‘a boy named Glenn in the advanced reading group’ because I was pretty sure she was referring to me. I wish I could remember details like that from almost 60 years ago! When Art reminded me that Joanna was in the class of 1978 and I was in the class of 1977, I clarified that discrepancy to him and figured it was time for me to talk about how Mrs. Gunderson affected my life.
I was in Mrs. Gunderson’s first-grade class at North Side, and on her recommendation, I was promoted directly to third grade. I understand this sort of thing is not done today, but my mother also skipped grades (she always reminded me that she skipped 1 ½ grades, not just one) and was comfortable with me doing the same. My birthday is in January, so I was one of the older students. When I moved up, I was just a couple of months younger than the youngest students in the new class.
Skipping a grade had a great impact on me, so I remember a lot of the details. Obviously, I knew none of the students in my new third-grade class. I was shy, to begin with, and I felt very alone. After about two weeks, I came home and told my mother I wanted to return to my friends in second grade. She said, in her infinite wisdom, "Let's visit Mr. Heroy (the Principal of North Side) and see what he thinks."
I remember Principal Heroy as a big man with a big voice and personality to go along with it. Mom and I went to his office, and I told him how unhappy I was. He thought momentarily and then offered a deal: "Give it two more weeks, and if you still don't like it, you can go back." I accepted his offer and returned to third grade the next day.
Mr. Heroy knew what he was doing. A detail of the story I did not know until many years later (when my Mom told me) was that no one told Mrs. Bromberg (my third-grade teacher) that I had been moved up. Had she known, she would have tried to integrate me into the student cliques as if I were a student who moved from another town. I suspect Mr. Heroy spoke with her immediately and armed with this intel, she began to make sure I mingled with the other students.
The strategy worked because two weeks came and went, and I never looked back. I made new friends, several of whom I stayed in touch with long after graduation, including Bob Bencivenga, Adam Zaid, and Carol McDowell. Sadly, I looked at our homeroom photograph and saw two friends who left this earth far too soon, Mark Sherman and Lance Manning.
I often wonder how my life would have been different had I gone back to join my previous classmates in second grade. Not that it would have been better or worse, just different. And I have Mrs. Gunderson, Mr. Heroy, and Mrs. Bromberg to thank for it!
1983 - Monique Lazar Ruane - With Dad, Ron, Age 92
Fan Mail
1960 (Donna Maxfield Chimera) - ❤️
1962 (William Cerillo) - “Thanks again for all your efforts making Wheatley come alive for an 80-year-old guy like me!”
1963 (Maida Holzman Ingalls) - “Thank you, Art.”
1964 (Richard Ilsley) - ❤️
1965 (Jane Goldenberg Fire) - ❤️
1965 (Sharon Neely Halm) - “I can't tell you how much joy the Newsletter brings to me. Thank you, Art, for your passion in creating this for us Alumni.”
1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “Thanks.”
1966 (Richard Jalonack) - “Art, the Newsletter is The Best. Thanks for all you do.” ❤️
1966 (Alison Kent Bermant) - “Thanks, Art, for everything you do to nurture community among Wheatley graduates.”
1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - ❤️
1968 (Mark Gross) - “Thanks for all you do.”
1970 (Nancy Simel) - ❤️
1983 - Monique Lazar Ruane - “Thanks for your fabulous work on the
Wheatley Newsletter. You’ve certainly helped to make so many connections possible!”
The Official Notices
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The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 175 or so Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletters (and much other Wheatley data and arcana) at
The Wheatley School Alumni Association Website
Also thanks to Keith is our search engine, prominently displayed on our home page: type in a word or phrase and, wow!, you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material.
I edit all submissions, even material in quotes, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof. I cannot and do not vouch for the accuracy of what people tell me, as TWSAA does not have a fact-checking department.
We welcome any and all text and photos relevant to The Wheatley School, 11 Bacon Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, and the people who administered, taught, worked, and/or studied there. Art Engoron, Class of 1967
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 176. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
The other student in the Bar Mitzvah photo is my cousin, David Sobolow ‘64
I love reading about the many inspiring teachers in the school district, many of whom I also had. They truly made a lasting impression on our lives!