The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 168
Two Newsletters in One Day!
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 168.
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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 167 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
John Fitzgerald Kennedy - November 22, 1963
Bruce Orosz (1967) Writes - “Howard Kirchick (1967) - like you, I was in the Wheatley nurse’s office when word came that JFK was shot! An unforgettable moment in our history!”
The Sports Section
Richard Jalonack Writes - “Mr August might not have been a football coach like Jack ‘Cat’ Davis, but he ran the hell out of me at football practice. I never missed a day of practice, so once he gave me a day off; wow, was I surprised! Fond memories of Wheatley. Rick”
Faculty
Michael Silverstein (1969) Writes - “One of my forever memories of Willets Road was 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Gunderson and her communication box/corner. Periodically we each had to stand in the box and talk about whatever came to mind. The box was creatively painted each year by the new class. Mrs. Gunderson lived in an apartment across from the Roslyn Duck Pond, and she had a white peacock figurine in her windowsill that I always looked for when I passed it. She was a fantastic teacher and human being.”
Graduates
1961 - Peter Calderon - “Only Spaniards can compete in their national fencing championship. The same is true in France and the US. I no longer do the US championship because I would need to fly back to the US at the end of June. And at 81, I would no longer win the 70s category. There is less competition in Spain, and even though I am the oldest competitor by many years, no one over 70 can beat me. I won the epee championship this year by beating a 59-year-old. My only other bragging right is when I beat the 23-year-old US epee champion in a competition when I was 60. He didn’t take me seriously.”
1961 - Nancy Kurshan - “I loved seeing the vibrant faces of the seven gal pals. Always so proud to be part of the Class of 1961.”
(Republished from Newsletter # 167)
Top Row - L-R - Carol Matlick Rosen, Chicca (Henni Young) D’Agostino, Carol Jalonack Blum, Jeanne Messing Sommer
Bottom Row - L-R - Camille Napoli Cannizzo, Jill Davidson Blaney, Judy Schaffel Rubin
1964 - Helen Garfinkel Lobel Writes - “Classmate Beth Sack and I are planning to be at our class’s 60th-year reunion in September. I’m sure that my brother-in-law, Jim Russek (1964) and sister Judy (1972) will be attending as well. Best wishes, Helen”
1964 - Ted Rothstein Writes - “While Alan Scheffels (1962) was a good friend, it was actually Peter Wilner (1963) who was my magician partner. We performed at many children’s birthday parties, and at a few adult events, too. Another good friend, with whom I spent a lot of time, was Harold Standish (1963).”
L-R - Harold Standish (1963), Robert Orloff (1963), Alan Scheffels (1962), Ted Rothstein (wearing sunglasses) (1964), Randolph “Randy” Brown (largely obscured, except for his left arm) (1963). Ready to go on Bengeyfield Drive.
1964 + 1967 + 1970 + 1973 - The Engoron Boys
Bottom Row - L-R - Frank (1970), Danny (1973) and Gerry (1973) Engoron, Cousin Jeanne, Cousin Charles.
Top Row - Malcolm (1964) and Arthur (1967) Engoron (notice the portraits) (and my snazzy jacket)
1967 - Jill Simon Forte - Teacher Stories
Jill Writes - “Hi Art , I have a little story to add to Robert Halper’s (1965) writing. My husband, Bob Forte (1965), also had Mr. Ellman, and Bob liked him. But one day he came up to Bob in a ‘jolly’ mood (Bob’s words 😉) and messed up Bob’s hair 🫤🤣🤣🤣🤣. Bob was very particular about his upsweep do 🤣!, so he remembers that till this day! I don’t think he held it against Mr. Ellman, because Bob remembers that teacher fondly.
Even though Mr. Bentley was not thought of as fondly, not allowing me to hold hands with Bob in the halls, I still liked him, and the first dog we had, our sheepdog, was named after him, Bentley. 😊
I have a new Facebook Wheatley friend, our classmate Richard Friedman, who got in touch with me one night. I enjoyed talking to him through to the morning.”
1983 - Michael Pliskin - Father of the Bride
Writes Michael - Hi Art, I am pleased to announce that my daughter, Lyndsey Pliskin, got married to Sam Cusano (Wheatley Class of 2013) on Saturday July 13, 2024 at The Village Club of Lake Success. I told her that she was only allowed to marry a Wheatley Alumnus!
There were many notable Wheatley Alumni at the wedding:
Michael Pliskin - Class of 1983
Randi Pliskin Wilkins - Class of 1976
Scott Epstein - 1983
Steven Zimmerman - 1983
Wheatley Basketball Coach Ted Kiamos
Devon Stein - Class of 1996
Felix Cusano - 2010
Matt Black - 2013
Bryan Dennis - 2013
Owen Spisak - 2013
Marisa Cristina - 2013
Rob Vella - 2013
Zachary Klar - 2013
Nick Arcieri - 2013
Kevin Polinsky - 2013
Robert Halpern - 2013
Bryan Wilson - 2012
L-R - Missy Rubenfeld (fiancé of Ryan Pliskin, Michael’s son), Ryan Pliskin, Rhonda Pliskin (Michael Pliskin’s wife), Groom Sam Cusano (2013), Bride Lyndsey Pliskin, Michael Pliskin (1983), Reid Pliskin (Michael’s son)
Wheatley Groomsmen at the rehearsal dinner at La Parma in Huntington, NY, 7/12/24: L-R - Matt Black, Bryan Dennis, Groom Sam Cusano, Owen Spisak (All Wheatley Class of 2013).
Fan Mail
1960 (John Haas) - “Many thanks for your tireless efforts at archiving our school's history and keeping us informed about alumni activities.”
1961 (Nancy Kurshan) - “Thanks, Art and Keith.”
1962 (Bill Cerillo) - “Thanks for your efforts in keeping the Wheatley spirit alive!”
1964 (Richard Ilsley) - ❤️
1964 (Barbara Rosenbaum Carey) - “Thank you for keeping us informed and updated.”
1965 (Ira Kent) - “Thanks for making the Newsletters a walk down Memory Lane.”
1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “Thanks, Art.”
1971 (Rick Shapiro) - “I enjoy reading the Alumni Newsletters. Thank you very much, for facilitating the publication of the fun, interesting and informative information.”
1971 (Laura Soll) - “Hi Art, Another wonderful Newsletter. Thank you so much for continuing this important tradition.”
1972 (Rick Frishman) - “Art, Great newsletter as usual. Thank you for all that you do.”
1972 (Delores “Lori” Waltzer Bernstein) - ❤️
1976 (Carole Miner Schuman) - ❤️
1976 (Leigh Tessler) - ❤️
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 168. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833