The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 197
A warning, a gathering, performances, Mr. Ed, photos, a book review, a tribute, and the usual
Dear Wheatley Wildcats and other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 197.
Another Scam Warning
Be Careful! - Some entity is offering a “Wheatley School Alumni Professionals 2025 Mailing List.” This is not related to us, The Wheatley School Alumni Association. At best, the offer is probably almost worthless, and at worst, it could be harmful. If you want to contact a person or a group of persons, ask us. “A word to the wise is sufficient.”
San Francisco Bay Area Gathering
Larry Rosenthal (1965) Writes - “Art, I am pleased to announce that The Fourth Annual (?) Unofficial San Francisco Bay Area Wheatley Reunion Potluck—TFA(?)USFBAWRP-- will be held on Sunday May 4, 2025, noon - 4pm, in my Berkeley back yard. As before, fellow Berkeleyan Peter Siegel (’66) will be there, along with Barry Gordon (’65) from the South Bay. Interested Wildcats, please email me at
larros99@gmail.com. Out-of-towners welcome! Best, Larry”
Wheatley Alumni Perform in Famous Venues
Bob Stern (1965) at Birdland
Bob Stern (1965) Writes - “Once again, I am playing at NYC's famed Birdland (315 W44th St, NY, NY) with the Gil Gutierrez Trio, May 16-18. Tickets can be gotten at their website: https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/gil-gutierrez-trio-2/.
Seeing Wheatley people there last year was wonderful -- I hope to see you once again this year!”
Carol Leifer (1974) at The 92nd Street “Y”
Carol Leifer (1974) Writes - “Hi, Art! I just thanked Linda Jordan Samuels (1974) for her incredible shout out about my new book, so sweet of her! I’ll be coming in from California to do an event at The 92nd St. Y with Susie Essman on April 9. All Wheatley-ites welcome!
Carol Leifer at 92nd St. Y
92ny.org
Faculty - Edward Ouchi Revisited
Jesse Samberg (1964) Writes - “Most of high school is a blur, but Mr. Ouchi stands out. During one of his classes, I said too loudly, “This is all nuts.” He said, “Samberg, see me after class.” When it was just we two, he said, “You are a punk. You think you are tough? I can easily kick your ass.” Even though I was pretty short, I looked down at him, and I knew that he meant it. Somehow, I made it through the year.”
Louise Triano (Kampa) (1965) Writes - “As a junior in 1964, I took Mr. Ouchi’s linguistic class. I loved it and him. He was engaging and funny. My best memory was from a late day project that I stayed in class to work on with him, way after any transportation was available. I planned to walk home to Post Ave. in East Williston, but he offered to drive me. Two things remain with me; the first is that we chatted comfortably on the five-minute drive, and the second is that he sat on the biggest cushion I had ever seen in a car in order to see over the steering wheel.”
Ken Gallard (1968) Writes - “Say Art...It is interesting to read the spectrum of comments as concerns Mr. Ouchi's "Boinguage," as I remember it being called. But I would have to concur with the comments of my classmate and long-time buddy, David Hechler (1968), that it made for a confusing approach to grammar. My siblings and I were blessed with educated parents who emphasized correct grammar during dinnertime conversation every day. That was reinforced at school with the traditional approach to correct grammar, evident with much of the other English Department faculty. Indeed, I also remember one year being presented with another approach called "Programmed English." It, too, seemed to confuse things--at least for me; as a student I certainly wasn't either the most attentive or accomplished member of the class. Be well...All the best, Ken”
Laura Nathanson (1970) Writes - “Hi Art, I remember Mr. Ouchi’s class well, and even though we made fun of his name, as teenagers are wont to do, I had a very different experience from the many graduates who reported in the Newsletter, so I must respond in his defense. His method of visually diagramming sentences greatly appealed to me. I enjoyed diagramming sentences to look at the root of them and the various modifiers, and I think it strengthened my sense of grammar and gave me a strong foundation in thinking and writing and sparked an interest in linguistics.”
Robin Hack Silverberg (1971) Writes - “Mr. Ouchi must have enjoyed his time at Wheatley very much. His wife, Joyce, passed away fairly recently. In her will, she named The Wheatley Scholarship Fund as a beneficiary, and we ended up receiving close to $100,000 due to her generosity. (As the will is a publicly-filed document, I am not giving away any confidential information.) The scholarship fund had basically run out of money before this donation, and because of it, we have been able to continue to operate.”
Administration
Wheatley’s New Principal, Wayne Jensen, and Wheatley’s Old Graduate, Art Engoron (1967)
Graduates
1967 - 20th-Year Reunion at Friends World College in Lloyd Harbor
L-R - Front Row - Phil Celella, Dominick Foresto, Bob Rico, Bob Scandurra
Back Row - Mitch Stephens (beard and sunglasses), Jack Wolf, (straw hat), Larry Baum (colorful sweatshirt)
Paula Panzeca Foresto (1969) Writes - “I’ve been going through old photos and came across another gem…The guys all had a lot of dark hair back in the day😊 Check out Dom’s white pants!😁
1968 - Asoka Bandarage - Writes about “Indian Colonialism in Sri Lanka.”
https://www.ipsnews.net/2025/03/indian-colonialism-sri-lanka/
1968 - Stephen Saletan - Shelley “Sheli Nan” Herschopf (1968) Writes - “Greetings all. I just finished ‘To the Midnight Sun’ by classmate Stephen Saletan. Many classmates have families that came here from Russia, as do I. This book is not only a memory of Stephen’s family but a wide ranging history of Russia from approximately 1886-current times. It is written with poetic clarity and historical facts. I found it absolutely fascinating and was able to relate it at times to my own family’s journey.
As well, growing up in the Country Club and knowing Stephen when we were young, it brought a reminiscent sensibility to my understanding both of my upbringing and my family and the breadth of history that is deeply explored in the book.
If you have family from Russia, read this book. If you come from the “Club,” read this book. If you are interested in Russian history, revolution, exile and return, this marvelous book is for you.
1970 - Haywood “Woody” Mann - Beatrice Thiel Zasowski (1970) Writes - “I fondly remember Woody Mann. He was such a kind soul. When things got tough in high school, he always had a kind word and smile.”
Fan Mail
1964 (Natalie Cobb Wentworth) - “I always enjoy reading the Wheatley Alumni Newsletter.
1965 (Bob Gregory) - “Hi Art - I enjoyed reading many of the posts in the last issue (# 196). The accomplishments of Wheatley students never cease to amaze me. Thank you for the connection.”
1965 (Bob Stern) - “I always (eagerly) anticipate the next email blast of the Wheatley Alumni Newsletter!”
1967 (Phil Fea) - “Thanks again for all you do. I enjoy reading the Newsletters.”
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “Hi Art , another walk down Memory Lane.”
1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - “Another great issue. Thank you, Art.”
1968 (Asoka Bandarage) - “Thank You, Arthur!”
1968 (Ken Gallard) - “Thanks for all the great work you and Keith are doing. Herculean!”
1968 (Lois Hegyi Goldstein) - “Art , I love getting the Newsletters. Thank you for all the work you have been putting into them for all these years. We all appreciate them!”
1969 (Karen Berley) - “Thank you for keeping the Wheatley community together.”
1970 (Laura Nathanson) - “I love your Newsletters!”
1974 (Carol Leifer) - “I absolutely love the Newsletter!”
1997 (Kristina Fiorillo Saxena) - “Thank you very much for all the work that you do for our Newsletter.”
The Official Notices
All underlined text is a link-to-a-link or a link-to-an-email-address. Clicking anywhere on underlined text, and then clicking on the text that pops up, will get you to your on-line destination or will address an email.
In the first 24 or so hours after publication, Wheatley Alumni Newsletter # 196 was viewed 3,854 times, was liked ten times, and received one comment. In all, 4,740 email addresses received Newsletter # 195.
The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 196 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 # 197. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
Mr Ouchi inspired me. I remember coming up with a personal symbolism in a Joseph Conrad novel we read and he totally understood and acknowledged my adolescent theory. He will remain in my core always.