The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 106

Lots to Report

May 11, 2023

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 106.

According to Substack, in the first 24 hours after publication Newsletter # 105 was viewed 3,443 times, was “liked” 14 times, and received three (positive) comments. In all, 4,646 email addresses receive the Newsletter.

All underlined text is a link-to-a-link. Clicking anywhere on underlined text, and then left-clicking on the link that pops up, will get you to your on-line destination.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 105 Newsletters (and much other Wheatley data and arcana) at

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, mirabile dictu, you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material. I use it all the time; it works!

I edit all submissions, even material in quotes, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof. I do not vouch for the accuracy of what people tell me.

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 and/or studied there. Art Engoron, Class of 1967

Concert With Wheatley Wildcat

Takemi Ueno '83 will play with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra on Fri., June 2, at 8 PM, at Symphony Space (Broadway & W. 95^th St.) in Manhattan. The program consists of Mahler's First Symphony and the Butterfly Lovers violin concerto by Chen & He. Tickets are $23 for students and seniors. Usually, regular tickets are $30, but you can get them for $25 until 3 PM the day of the performance at Advance Ticket Sales – New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (nasorch.org)

“Wheatley” History

Writes Robert Holley (1958) - “I think that the ‘Wheatley’ in ‘The Wheatley School’ has a geographic origin. A while back I did quite a bit of research on real estate developments in East Williston--one of which was for my own little neighborhood which was originally (1937) marketed as "Wheatley Ridge" (see attached .pdf), known to us kids simply as "The Ridge." And then there was the immediately adjacent Wheatley Hills Golf Club, the history of which is reviewed in the attached Wheatley Hills Golf Club History. That document states that " The name ‘Wheatley’ chosen for the club dates back at least as far as the middle of the 18th century and is familiar throughout nearby Old Westbury. Indeed, the land immediately to the west of the club was known as Wheatley Ridge [quite possibly my neighborhood!]"

Been pondering some more about the name of our school. If the L.I. geography really means anything, the name Wheatley seems to have very positive connotations: elegance, wealth, prestige. But think some more! Who exactly decided to call our new, public institution THE Wheatley School. I doubt that was in any way an accident--and judging by history, the naming was something very clever and very purposeful !

The golfing text is surely an appropriate project for our own unforgettable Ferdie Carillo (1960), who was at one time both Wheatley Hills Golf Club president and Old Westbury Mayor.

Searching my library, I discovered East Williston History 1663-1978 by Nicholas Meyer & Cyril Lewis. Page 51 of that item describes the golf club. It states: ‘The name “Wheatley” appeared on a number of old maps and referred to an area north-east of East Williston just over the Town line in Oyster Bay. The name has been in use since 1758.’ Note # 23 for that sentence states that the earliest recorded use of the name ‘Wheatley’ is a March 1758 deed executed by a Nathaniel Seaman that gave his son Thomas property ‘on the Highway leading from the Meeting House to Wheatley.’ [Town Records of Hempstead, vol IV, p. 273]

This "Highway" and "Meeting House" is a bit mysterious, but a likely candidate might be the hamlet of Wheatley, [https://mapcarta.com/22634040] located on Wheatley Road. just inside the Town of Oyster Bay, about a mile NNE of Old Westbury, and a little over four miles NE of our high school on Bacon Road. Just east of the hamlet of Wheatley is the former grandiose estate of E.D. Morgan, III at a site called Wheatly, sometimes referred to as ‘Wheatley’ or ‘Wheatley Hills’ see:

http://www.oldlongisland.com/search/label/Wheatly As if all the above fun is not intriguing enough for you Wheatley fans, tune in to

http://theesotericcuriosa.blogspot.com/2012/10/eleanor-roosevelts-first-cousin-makes.html

that describes the marriage of Miss Edith Mortimer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Mortimer of Wheatley Hills, Roslyn, L.I. to Count Mario di Zoppola of Italy. The home of Miss Mortimer is described as follows: ‘The Mortimer’s home stands atop one of the highest hills in the Wheatley Ridge, over looking the harbor with a far view of New York.’ After some more geographical excursions, I believe this Mortimer estate was at Harbor Hill, near a 648 acre Clarence.H. Mackay estate in the Wheatley Hills just east of Roslyn, named for its exceptional view over Hempstead Harbor and sited on one of the highest points of Long Island, where on a clear day New York City was visible twenty three miles away.

see: https://househistree.com/houses/harbor-hill.

I am almost certain that we wandered onto this Harbor Hill area as ten year olds and were scared half to death by sounds in a creepy old graveyard. Later, we ate hot dogs on a cliff overlooking the harbor.

VQ, Robert Holley, Wheatley Class of 1958, https://yer-roots-tracker.com/. Miami, FL

see Wheatley Hills History

Wheatley Hills Golf Club History

Wheatley Hills Golf Club Excerpts from “Parkland by the Parkways” by Dr. William Quirin

In the early years of this century, the Garden City Company came to realize the need for a golf course available to the guests of the Garden City Hotel, which they owned, and other residents who were not members of the Garden City Golf Clubs. So they commissioned Walter Travis to design an 18-hole golf course on a tract of land south of the hotel whose terrain resembled that of the Golf Club to the north. The course, called the Salisbury Links, opened for play in 1907 as a public subscription facility, available to all approved players, male and female. To quote Travis, the 5838 yards course offered “a good game for all classes of players from the very top-notcher to the veriest duffer”.

Located within a ten minute walk of the hotel and railroad station, the new club proved very popular. Too popular, in fact, and by 1915 the course had become heavily congested. In May of 1916, the Garden City Company decided to re-organize it as a private club, which it called the Cherry Valley Golf Club, after the road which ran through the course. In fact, a group of golfers using the name “Cherry Valley Golf Club” had been playing at the Salisbury for years. To replace the public facility, a new course was built on 1916 at the foot of Stewart Ave, just to the east of Garden City in what is now called Eisenhower Park. It opened in 1917.

Aside from its present three clubs, Garden City’s past included the Midland Golf Club, an informal neighborhood club organized in 1899. The club’s 45 members (men and women) maintained their own clubhouse and 9-hole golf course. The latter was situated just a few blocks east of Cherry Valley, between Franklin and Hilton Avenues, south of Fourth Street. It occupied prime real estate in Garden City, and was used on “free lease” from the Garden City Company. After their course fell victim to real estate development, the Midland Club members played at the Salisbury Links, but in 1912 they decided to build their own course in East Williston. Although some backed out, the majority proceeded to found the Wheatley Hills Golf Club, which opened its doors in 1913. Those who stayed behind continued on at Salisbury until 1920, when they helped form the Hempstead Golf Club.

The Wheatley Hills Golf Club was organized on February 1, 1913, then incorporated on May 23rd of that year. The “movement away from Salisbury” was lead by R. W. “Pop” Turner, the club’s first president. The founding group consisted of about some forty men, former Salisbury players all, many of them members of the Midland Club. They were joined shortly thereafter by another group of the same size, mostly Brooklynites, who had tried unsuccessfully to organize the Glenwood Country Club. The latter were a part of a group that formed the Glenwood Holding Company, which purchased the 189 acres in Glenwood Landing, intending to lease part of it for a new golf course. That deal fell through, however, and the newly formed North Shore Country Club took over the property in 1914. Part of the Glenwood group then joined Wheatley Hills, others eventually turned up at Bethpage, and still others, members of Brooklyn’s Crescent Athletic Club, ultimately formed the Huntington Crescent Club.

The name “Wheatley” chosen for the club dates back at least as far as the middle of the 18th century, and is familiar throughout nearby Old Westbury. Indeed, the land immediately to the west of the club was known as Wheatley Ridge.

The club’s first official act was to lease some farm land from a farmer named A. H. Titus and engaged golf architect Devereux Emmett to design an 18-hole golf course. Emmett had nine holes ready for play by the fall of 1913, and the full course completed by the following year. The bunkering was added in 1916. The original course was a par 74 test of 6022 yards, and in true Emmett style featured significant carriers over deep rough to reach the fairways.

The Titus farmhouse, a white, two-story, Southern Colonial structure situated to the north of the present clubhouse, served as Wheatley Hills’ first home. An old ship bell, located behind the house and used to signal farm workers at mealtime and the end of the workday, is the only reminder of that period. Now located in the middle of the practice putting green, it once was used to salute the victor in the club’s championship tournament, and is now used to signal the start of shotgun tournaments.

When the club purchased the land from the Titus estate in 1926, the present clubhouse, designed by J. H. Phillips, was built at the cost of $134,000. It was seriously damaged by fire on February 6, 1976, but quickly restored.

Emmett and his partner, Alfred Tull, revised the golf course extensively after the 1931 season. Five new holes were built at that time, and the course yardage extended from 6205 to 6505 yards. The occasion for the change was the building of the Northern State Parkway – as far as nearby Jericho Turnpike at that time. The new roadway cut across the eastern end of the club property, destroying a few holes in that area. The land for the new holes #1 through #5 was donated by member Alfred Valentine.

Through its early years, the club’s property was bisected by the Long Island Motor Parkway, which divided the golf course in two nearly equal pieces. The Parkway was the vision of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and was constructed during the years of 1906-1910. A millionaire industrialist and sportsman, Vanderbilt initially viewed the Parkway as a safe place to conduct the Vanderbilt Cup automobile races, and annual contest of international import that originally and been routed through the streets of Nassau County – Hempstead and Jericho Turnpikes in particular. Ironically, auto racing was outlawed on Long Island in 1911, and the Motor Parkway became fenced-in toll road connecting Flushing with Lake Ronkonkoma, with bridges and overpasses over existing roads and all rail lines, that became antiquated, superseded by the new Northern and Southern Parkway’s right–of-way, had it landscaped, but did not revise the golf course. In the meantime, LILCO’s power lines had been installed across the course, paralleling the Motor Parkway’s right of way.

Wheatley Hills’ history is closely tied to that of two men: Willie Klein, the club’s golf professional from 1926 – 1957; and member Gene Francis, seven time Long Island Amateur champion.

Klein won the first two Long Island Opens, in 1922 at Cherry Valley and the following year at the Garden City Country Club, then won again in 1933 at the great Lido course. He held the course record (64) for the original Wheatley Hills layout, and also held the record for the revised course at the time of his retirement.

The Wheatley Hills’ pro shop was tended for the three decades following Klein by Jack Mallon (1957 – 1973) and his son Mike (1973 – 1987). Jack Mallon was one of the region’s greatest golf instructors, president of the Metropolitan P. G. A., and vice –president of the national P.G.A. organization. Mike Mallon had spent a couple of years on tour before coming back to the club after his father’s death.

Francis’s Long Island Amateurs spanned a quarter of a century (1963, 1969, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988), the latter two coming at Wheatley Hills. He also won the 1971 IKE individual championship, again at Wheatley Hills, and established the record (65) for the present course in 1961. He was club champion nine times during the years (1961 – 1978), starting as a junior member.

Other notable club champions include future tour winner George Burns (1972 –1973), who was a student of Jack Mallon’s, and Mal Galleta, who was nearly seventy years old when he won the 1982 club title.

Wheatley Hills hosted the 1975 Met Amateur, won by present – day professional Bill Britton 7&5 over Jack Dalrymle of Sinoway. Britton, 19 years old at the time and the reigning National Junior College champion, became the first publinx-er ever to win the championship. The previous year he had lead his Silver Lake team to victory in the IKE at Wheatley Hills. George Burns won the individual trophy that year.

Wheatley Hills has been the battle field for six Long Island Amateurs and two Long Island Opens over the years. Al Brosch won the first of his record Long Island Opens in the 1939 renewal. Among the Amateur winners, in addition to Francis (twice), have been Mal Galletta and Art Silverstone.

Bay Area Bash - Sunday, 6/4/23, Noon

To avoid a conflict between Mother’s Day and Alma Mater, The Second Annual (?) Unofficial San Francisco Bay Area Wheatley Reunion Potluck (TSA[?]USFBAWRP), has been rescheduled to Sunday June 4, 2023, noon-4 PM. Early signups are Barry Gordon (’65) and Roy Nierenberg (’63). COVID rates remain low and we’ll be outside, so no testing needed, but I’ll have little adhesive colored dots available for anyone wanting folks to give them six feet of room. Interested Wildcats, please email me at larros99@gmail.com. Best, Larry Rosenthal (‘65)

Wheatley Sports

Writes Jeff Carduner (1963) - “After two stories in your great Newsletter about that upset of Carle Place in Football in 1962, I want to set the record straight. If it wasn’t for a wonderful team effort, I would not have been in any position to help win that game. Also, Coaches Jack ‘Cat’ Davis and ‘Wild Bill’ Lawson put together a tremendous game plan. Though 60 years have passed, with great pleasure I still remember my teammates (too many to mention) and their faces and names. I hope that they are all happy and healthy. ‘Duner.’”

Tragedy and Trauma in 1963

Dom Foresto’s widow, Paula Panzeca Foresto, was kind enough to attach four photos of newspaper articles to allow us to ‘enjoy going down memory lane.’ Some older readers might instantaneously recall another memory when looking at the date of the third article, published on Friday, November 22, 1963. We remember that 60-year-old date like it was yesterday. We recall Officer J.D. Tippit, Gov. John Connally, the Texas School Book Depository Building, Jack Ruby, the Warren Commission, Lee Harvey Oswald, and, mostly, John Fitzgerald and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Even at our favorite times and events, sadness and suffering are not far away. A 1964 Wildcat

Graduates

1958 - Steve Nelson - Publishes his Deceased Wife’s Novel

The Berkshire Eagle reviewed a book that Steve’s wife, Jan Lewis Nelson, wrote, and that Steve published after her death. IMHO, the review itself is interesting. ‘The Memoir of a Female Soldier: Deborah Sampson's American Revolution" by Jan Lewis Nelson’

1960 - John (“Monk”) Moncure - Wheatley (Hills Golf Club)

Writes John - “At the Wheatley Hills Golf Club I first sat in the Caddie Shack—anxiously awaiting to be called by the Caddie Master. My first ‘Job.’ I would ride my bike to the club—and wait to be called. Unfortunately, because of my small size, he would only call me for singles—and it was always ‘late.’

The ‘Big Guys’ carried doubles—-and cost the golfers less. I think I made about $4.00 to $6.00 a round—depending on how much I praised my golfer—I was always very fulsome in my praise— ‘Nice shot’— ‘right down the middle,’ etc.

That lasted about 2 years—then I got a real job—as a soda jerk at ‘G&S Stores’ in Roslyn.

PS—I remember the controversy over the naming and the use of the word ‘The’—My folks thought it was to make it sound like a Prep school—and I always felt—’Fine with me.’

The Wheatley Hills Golf Club Website

1961 - Nancy Horowitz Schwartz - Survivor -

(Reprinted from Issue # 105)

Writes Nancy - “On May 23, 2020 I fell ill. I survived sepsis shock after 10 days in a coma; my family was told that I might not make it. Four weeks after being diagnosed I had a quadruple amputation (legs half-way below the knees; right hand above my wrist; left hand fingers except half my thumb and a quarter of my index finger). I have prosthetic legs from below my knees. I did not like the arm I got, so I do very well with the stump. You should see what I can do with just 2 short fingers! I taught myself to write, including my signature, and make beaded necklaces in a class at the independent facility in which my husband and I live. After five months during the heart of COVID in hospitals and rehab and no family seeing me, I finally went home. I am so grateful and very active walking with a walker. I have told my story to several groups to make them aware. I would love to talk to anyone if they want to hear my story or if they need help. JAS0564@YAHOO.COM, 561-215-7212

Writes Rhoda Kalkin Schneider - “So sorry to read about Nancy Horowitz. I know I could never be that brave!”

1964 - John Corwin - “Hi Art, Thanks so much for the history of the Country Club. The photos and texts were outstanding. As I spent some of my childhood in two of those houses -- 33 Parkway Drive from 1950-1953 and 29 Parkway Drive from 1957-1964 -- I got a big kick out of the whole story! All the best, JWC”

1964 - Michael Liebert - Deceased - Details to Follow. Submissions Welcome

1967 - Bonnie Glassman Crohn - Remembered

Writes Richard Glassman (1962) - “Thinking of my sister Bonnie Glassman Crohn on her birthday, 4/20. She is dearly missed!”

1972 - Messrs. Entine, Saunderson, Hoffman, Litzky, and Asquith

Writes Jeff Asquith - “RIP Steve Litzky! So many great times and wonderful thoughts. So sad to lose Steve after losing our classmate Julien Hoffman in 2012. In 2011 Steve, Julien, Buddy, Eric and I (all 1972) met in Las Vegas and had the time of our lives!

L-R - Eric Entine, Richard “Buddy” Saunderson, Julien Hoffman, Steve Litzky, and Jeff Asquith - Las Vegas, 2011

1974 - David Zazula - Levitt Houses on Pebble and Clover Lanes

Writes David - “Art, I really enjoyed the article on the Levitt homes & the history of the area. Very interesting. The blueprints took me back to our house on Clover Lane, and helped me understand the beauty of the layout and its simplicity. I must admit, I'm not sure I ever fully appreciated that aspect of it as a child. I also enjoyed hearing from Joanne Glaser. Her brother Jon was in my class and was a good friend, as well as a gifted athlete. I always enjoy hearing someone talk about his or her fond memories of Pebble Lane, as Clover Lane & Pebble were kind of sister streets.

1975 - Alan Peterson - Creepy Creative Retirement

Writes Alan - “What do you do when retirement starts driving you up the wall after only a few weeks? Try something crazy for a change of pace!

When I retired and left Washington DC for historic Williamsburg VA in 2022, it did not take long for tedium and boredom to set in. I was revulsed by the idea of daily pickleball games at the rec center and certainly did not want a conventional ho-hum part-time job or volunteer gig to stay busy.

As it turns out, I live just two miles from the well-known Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park. Folks my age usually get cashier or food service ‘retiree’ jobs there, but I wanted something different. During autumn, the park presents ‘Howl-o-Scream,’ an award-winning zombie and spook-show with live performers. It sounded interesting and fun so, on a whim, I sent in an application to join the Creep Troupe.

After an audition and a trip to makeup and wardrobe, I emerged as comically ghoulish ‘Uncle Seymour (the guy whose funeral my rotten kids blew off to go to a Doctor Who convention)’ and found a place in the ‘Howl-o-Scream 2022’ ensemble.

The one-month nightly gig was exhausting and anything but conventional, as I had to keep up with improv performers easily one-third my age. Somehow, we all made it to Halloween night (our swan song performance), collected our paychecks and signing bonuses, and promised to stay in touch.

We must have done okay, as we all received emails asking if we would come back for 2023. I’m not sure I have the energy or the endurance for another go-round, but I can honestly say I am not bored anymore.

Got any good retirement battle stories of your own? Contact me at alanpdarsen@gmail.com and share.”

(photos: Alan Peterson '75, before and after his transformation into the comically creepy "Uncle Seymour" at Busch Gardens Williamsburg)

Alan Peterson as Himself

Alan Peterson as the comically creepy "Uncle Seymour.”

1977 and 1980 - Michael Vecchione and Carol Wolfe Weissman - Golfers

Writes Carol (CSWOLFE@MAC.COM) - I met up with Michael Vecchione (1977) (MVECCHIONE@VECCHIONELAW.COM) in Florida. Didn't know each other in high school but met for the first time in Florida and realized we are from the same home town! Small World! Had a nice round of golf for cinco de mayo w our spouses Larry Wolfe and Kerry Vecchione.

1981 - 42nd-Year Reunion

Writes Alan Littman - “The Class of 1981 had a wonderful gathering at Hendricks in Roslyn. It was at the old George Washington Manor, near U.S. Blues. I'm not on social media, so it was a little hard for me to recognize classmates after 42 years. It was a little like playing ‘Where's Waldo?’ but more fun. There was a lot of laughing and great chemistry in the room. Pretty cool for that long an absence.”

Top Row (L-R) - Mike Schrier; Bobby Freier; Stephen Gross; Rob Walzer; Marc Feinstein; Ricky Ardito; John Ardito

Middle Row (L-R) - 1st person was a crasher from another year, name unknown; Lori Rogers; Marie DeRosa; Tracey Winn; Paul Schnell; Alyssa Black; Dave Berg; Alan Littman; Marc Feinstein; Phil Courtney; Joy Greenberg; Jeff Roberts; Joe Light; Bob Heney; Alan Wolpert

Bottom Row (L-R) - Lori Zaino; Kathy Kayton; Amy Meyer; Tara Lanzetta; Emily Haft; Lynda Goldfarb

2010 and 2014 - Alex and Dani Estis - Following in Their Father’s Footsteps.

Two Wheatley Attorneys, Two Wheatley Judges

L-R - Alex Estis (2010), Alex Tisch (1989), Dani Estis (2014), Art Engoron (1967)

The New York County Lawyers Association Civil Court Practice Section Annual Dinner at The View, Battery Park, Manhattan, May 9, 2023

Fan Mail

Faculty - Robert Brandt - ❤️

1958 (Steve Nelson) - “Keep ‘em coming, Art! I don’t know how you manage to do it.”

1959 (Tracey Lanthier) - “Another great Newsletter. Thanks”

1959 (Stuart Sanderson) - ❤️

1962 (Richard Glassman) - ❤️

1963 (Keith Aufhauser) - ❤️

1963 (Donna Harmelin) - ❤️

1964 (Natalie Cobb) - ❤️

1964 (John Corwin) - “The website is fabulous.”

1964 (Davida Tunis Philips) - “Arthur, thanks for all the work you do to keep Wheatley alums in the know!” ❤️

1964 (Wendy Wolf) - “Thank you, Artie! I am amazed that you find the time to send out all these newsletters.”

1965 (Clifford Montgomery) - ❤️

1965 (Leslie Rakoff Cohen ) - “Thanks for the great Newsletter.”

1966 (Frederick Hammond) - ❤️

1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - ❤️💋☮️

1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - ❤️

1968 (Lois Hegyi Goldstein) - “I love reading the newsletters. Keep them coming!!” ❤️

1968 (Janis Klotz Smith) - “I love the Wheatley connection.”

1968 (Charles Polevich) - ❤️

1969 (Maddy Nathanson) - ❤️

1969 (Paula Panzeca Foresto) - ❤️

1969 (Ronni Seltzer) - ❤️

1970 (Joel Parker) - “Thanks for the memories, Art.”

1970 (Mitch Shapiro) - "Art…another great Newsletter. I would love to hear more stories from graduates of later years. I’m sure they have some great memories of Wheatley and growing up in the area!”

1973 (Edward B. “Woody” Ryder IV) - “Well done.”

1974 (David Caine) - ❤️

1974 (David Zazula) - “Thank you for all you do. It is very much appreciated.”

1975 (Jean Pangarliotas) - ❤️

1975 (Wendy Zacharkow) - ❤️

1976 (Robin Hegyi Sisskind) - ❤️

1977 (Maryann Donnelly) - ❤️

1977 (Peter Fitzpatrick) - ❤️

1979 (Amy Gould) - ❤️

1979 (Gwendolyn (“Wendy”) McClure) - “Thanks, Art! Sending Love and Gratitude to you and Keith Aufhauser!”