The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 151

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 151.

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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 150 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

Wheatley Alma Mater

Writes Gene Razzetti (1961) - “Art, In my day, I believe that the last line of the alma mater was: ‘Our Alma Mater, Wheatley High, Hail to thee.’  Best to all, Gene.”

Faculty

Loretta “Lori” Wilson Roux - Physical Education Teacher - Deceased

Writes Gwendolyn “Wendy” McClure (1979) - I am sad to hear of Lori Roux’s passing. She was a tenacious, even ferocious, field hockey coach who always brought out the very best of us players. She took us to the County and Long Island championships three years in a row, two for L.I. We won the L.I. Championship my junior year —fall of ‘77.

I remember her husband, who was from Canada, singing the Canadian National Anthem on the bus ride to the LI championship in Suffolk in 1978. At that time there were no Field Hockey State championships, although I did hear that Lori took future teams to the NY State Field Hockey Championships with various great Wheatley female hockey athletes.

Lori Roux had a huge heart, sharp mind, and tenacious spirit. She had a mind of her own and would always tell you what she thought of you, and anyone and everything else. She became very close friends with Joan Feindler, the amazing Languages teacher. Joan could often be seen in Loretta’s coaching office chatting away, or they would be seen taking a mile-lap around the Wheatley grounds at lunchtime. I have many, many memories of Lori Roux. Her office was a safe haven where I could process Wheatley events. One time in the fall of my senior year, I went in there to talk to her after a harrowing experience in the guidance counselor’s board room. Apparently because so many Ivy League schools had admitted me, the head guidance counselor and his staff felt some kind of entitlement to forcefully tell me what school to choose. I’d also gotten two full scholarships, to UConn and UMass, to play field hockey, and apparently they were pressuring me to choose ivy. Whatever that was all about, I came into her office upset and shocked, and within a short while she set everything right in my world. She was the Queen of field hockey coaching, and she knew it. She told me that no one could tell me what to do with my future and that I had to forge my own path. She was spiritual, brilliant, stubborn, fierce, and loved us like a Mama Bear! We were very very lucky to have her as a coach and as a friend. It is fitting that news of her passing came on Mother’s Day. God Bless You in Heaven, Lori Roux!

♥️⭐️♥️🙏♥️ Gwendolyn “Wendy” McClure, ‘79”

Graduates

Writes Lucy Mullman (1960)

A Tribute to My Late Husband,  George ‘Dixie’ Howell (1960)

Highly intelligent and considered a natural athlete; his good looks with that boyish grin were irresistible. He had it all.

Quiet, soft-spoken, and reserved, I came to know his more complex layered mind. He thought deeply about things.  He was curious and always interested in expanding his knowledge about the things that interested him.  Informed politically, he liked to discuss and argue positions. He enjoyed a good political debate; he didn’t hold back. And when debating with me, I didn’t either.

Environmental concerns were uppermost in his mind, and he did whatever he could to be part of the solution. We started composting long before it was popular.

The kitchen was his domain. I learned early on that before I would purchase even a small appliance like the new vegetable peeler, I first had better run it by him. Having worked in kitchens, he was familiar with food preparation. He liked cooking and making healthy meals.  It was wonderful having guests for dinner; everything ran smoothly with him at the helm. I could relax and enjoy my role.  Unlike some memories that I have of myself cooking……

A confirmed Buddhist in his mid-thirties, he did their practises every morning, without fail. In addition, there were zoom seminars and other involvements in his Buddhist community.  It was interesting to me that we could talk about psychological issues without any interference because of our differing beliefs. 

Cultural areas where he was less informed, he relied on me. I introduced him to my favorite authors and poets.  We enjoyed sharing our thoughts and feelings about these various works. Sometimes we would read aloud from these works and our reflections would follow.  We were drawn to certain exhibits in New York's various museums.  It was sometimes fun to go and just walk through the rooms.  

We were a matched pair; both interested in the psychological interpretations of things.  He a Buddhist; me a psychoanalyst. He is calm and easy going;  me noisy and expressive. But it worked!  

We cobbled together the time we had visiting family on the west coast of Canada and east coast involvement with family and friends. They all came to love him.

His children, so much like him,  Julia, Patrick, and Diana, welcomed me into the family. Our relationships have only grown, During their father’s illness and afterwards as well, the help and support that they offered me has been immeasurable. And today, they are still helping me with any number of details. I am so very grateful to them for all their help and support.

Some of the treasured memories of our alone time are remembered with much love and fondness. Listening to oldies and dancing in the kitchen to Spotify while doing dishes.  At night, cuddling while watching MSNBC before we switched to Netflix or Amazon to watch a favorite series My sharing my love for Paris and anything French. Our trip there was terrific. He fell in love with Rodin sculptures, and dining in Paris, together with my French, was fabulous.

Our emotional visits to our old stomping grounds, swimming at Jones Beach, visiting our bygone summer houses out East. We went out East with his son Patrick and family to show him Dad’s house in East Williston, my monstrosity on Barnyard, his house in Nyack, our schools, and we eventually ended up at Hildebrandt’s!!!

There’s no end to discussing things Dixie. More memories, more sadness, more tears forever.

Oh yes; how I miss him.

A fitting end by The Bard:

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.

1967 - Jack Wolf - “Art, I hitchhiked to DC and stayed with your brother Malcolm (1964) and his Antioch friends off Dupont circle. I remember listening to the Holy Modal Rounders and not having quite enough courage to sample the pot.”

1968 - Lois Hegyi Goldstein - Remembering Her Parents on Mother’s Day

1971 - John Poulos - “Hi Art, GREAT photograph of Pete Siegelman (1969)…..looks like it might have been taken on the causeway bridge in Stuart, FL or the causeway bridge for Jensen Beach leading to Hutchinson Island. There is a memorial to another Wheatley Alumnus, on the Stuart Causeway, Bart Stuart (1972), how apropos. By the way, I had a LOT of friends in the Class of 1969 although I was class of 1971. Best Regards, John”

1979 - Paul Baldassin - Celebrating 30 Years of the Tucson Roundup

Writes Paul - “John Faruolo (1979) and Family (wife Angela, sons - John, Mark, Nick) hosted the Tucson Roundup for its 30th year in April 2024. This Arizona gathering has welcomed many Wheatley graduates and teachers (the count is just shy of 30 over the years) who travel from all parts of the country to spend a long weekend together catching up on family, personal accomplishments, and playing multiple competitive sports like deck and roller hockey, basketball, soccer, touch football, and, more recently golf, as we become wiser with age. Two on Two Wiffle Ball has always been and remains the highlight on the event calendar, in addition to great conversation with lifelong friends spanning nearly 60 years.

John has always been a special person and dear friend whom I’ve known since kindergarten at North Side. Always the organizer and statistics keeper… Yes, he even keeps track of career Wiffle Ball batting averages, ERA, home runs, etc. John shares his family and extended family with us, and what an amazing family that is. This gathering enriches all our lives beyond words. Some Wheatley friends have never missed a Roundup, others have come once just to visit, and many of us have brought our sons and daughters to one or more Roundups over the years. Jim O’Brien, our 9th-grade baseball coach and gym teacher, has become a staple of the Roundup. He is one of the most positively-minded individuals we’ve ever met and a wonderful example of the Wheatley experience we all had so many years ago.

Those of us who know John remember him as an artist who painted jean jackets in Wheatley. He himself has taught art in the Arizona school system for some 40 years, and we can see all the talented art displays throughout his house and backyard (field). Every year we look forward to what addition he’s made to the venue. We keep waiting for Bernie Hintz to make an appearance one year so we can repay him for the “do it for McDonald's” Junior Varsity baseball team winning our last game to break .500. Yes, John had the winning hit in that game and has that baseball on his trophy shelf. We welcome all those who have attended a Roundup to share their experiences with the Wheatley family. We welcome newcomers to take a look, maybe take some swings, and enjoy the Roundup. Story by Paul Baldassin - Class of 1979”

John and Angela raised three amazing young men. Their youngest, Nick, became a published writer last year and his second paperback was just released, both works are available on Amazon:

First Person: A book of Poetry – Through the power of creative writing, I find myself able, because of an eccentric and optimistic point of view. to meet the obstacles, including my disability, that confront me,

Self Care - What does it mean to practice self-care? Obviously, the answer to this question is going to be different for every individual. For me personally, the answer has always been writing.

Fan Mail

1967 (Arthur H. Brown) - “Thanks for keeping us up to date with all the Wildcats.”

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 151.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.

Art

Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967

WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM

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646-872-4833