The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 165

Featuring Football, Food, Mr. Bentley, The Grateful Dead, JFK, and Shawn Swift (2000)

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 165.

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 its first 24 hours of existence, Newsletter # 164 was viewed 2,864 times and was liked 4 times. In all, 4,724 email addresses received Newsletter # 164.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 164 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

The Wheatley Alumni Public Directory

The Wheatley Alumni Public Directory (formerly known as “The Wheatley Public Directory”) is an easy way for people to obtain your email address. Now, whether you do or do not want that to be the case is up to you. But keep in mind that in its multi-year existence, I am not aware of a single instance of anyone abusing it. On the other hand, in its multi-year existence, I am not aware of a single instance of anyone actually using it. Be that as it may, here it is.

The Wheatley Alumni Public Directory

The Sports Section

Wheatley Football Game - 1966 - One

Wheatley Football Game - 1966 - Two

Paul Stanton (1970) writes- “Here is Wheatley School Football during the 1966-1967 School Year. My sister Merrill (1967) was the Head Cheerleader. Sorry about the 8mm quality. That's all I have. Maybe someone can put names to some of the jersey numbers. Click on Video to enlarge.

‘Hood (Culinary) History

Matt Sanzone (1959) Writes - “After all the Newsletters referencing Rudy’s potato salad, I hope that at least one alum will snoop around looking for the original recipe. On Seinfeld, even Elaine acquired the ‘Soup Nazi’s’ recipes!”

Judith Oppenheim Darrah (1972) writes - “I remember the coleslaw from the Parkway Deli on Willis Avenue. It was always the best coleslaw I ever had. They closed/sold out in the mid 1990’s. I was so sad. I used to stock up whenever I visited my parents. The best news - I knew what their secret ingredient was! They added celery seeds. It made all the difference.”

Charlie Nash (1973, graduated in 1972) writes - “Andels, on Roslyn Road near the Northern State Parkway (now permanently closed), had the best cornbread!!!”

Alma Mater

Arthur Brown (1967) writes - “Never change our Alma Mater. Dr. Wills (“Doc”) was a dear friend and helped me through a bad time at school. I was a stammerer and was teased and bullied. Doc would have me in the choir room and would put me to work. I joined the choir and stood next to Laurie Schiller (1968). We have stayed in touch and he is a great friend. Thanks to Doc.”

The Administration

Josh Wilner (1965) writes - “Hi Art, Stories about Colin Bentley by my classmates Roger ‘Roddy’ Nierenberg and Roger Morris lead me to recall two of my own in which, ever genial and stern, he played a role – with an assist from my classmate, neighbor and good friend, (Norman Resnicow 1965). 

Story 1: It’s the fall of 1964 – so not that long after the Pledge of Allegiance brouhaha - and Norman and I are standing next to the Christmas tree outside the auditorium, debating whether this was a violation of the separation of church and state. Overhearing us, Mr. Bentley suggested we discuss the question with Mr. Wathey and brought us to his office. As best I recall, Mr. Wathey listened to us with a smile and said very little.:)

Story 2: This one’s more complicated. It’s May of ’65, so the tail-end of my senior year. I take the bus to school, but before going into the building I decide to skip out for the day and head out the main gate to slip away along the woods on the other side of Bacon Road, where I’m pleasantly surprised to come upon a pheasant. With no clear idea at all of how to enjoy my freedom, I walk over to Old Westbury Gardens, drift around the outer grounds there for a while, and then somehow find my way to Christopher Morley Park.

From there I walk home to Bengeyfield Drive, arriving around 3 o’clock or so, with my mother just back from her work at the Roslyn Nursery School. I tell her I’d played hooky. She makes it clear she isn’t going to write me an excuse. I assure her I wasn’t expecting one.

Next day my homeroom teacher – my cousin, Louise Kurshan (1968), thinks it may have been Evelyn Tegnell– calls the roll and asks me for my absence note. I explain that I was playing hooky, and I don’t have one, but she persists, ‘Can’t your mother write you one?’

Next stop, Mr. Bentley’s office, where he explains the penalty will be a day’s suspension, to be served the next day. Only problem being, unbeknownst to him, I was supposed to help Norman inflate helium balloons for Balloon Day, a charitable event that we both had played some role in organizing. I tell Norman I won’t be able to help out because of being suspended, but he, far bolder than I, explains the problem to Mr. Bentley, who postpones my suspension until the day after Balloon Day.

In jazz this is known as a ‘three-peat.’

Cheers,

Josh”

Lee Nagel (1966) writes - “I also remember Mr. Bentley as the dour supervisor of behavior at Wheatley in the 60’s.  He is also a prominent figure in one of the most painful moments of my life, which is still a very sharp memory.  On the afternoon of 11/22/1963, a public address announcement that the president of the United States had been shot interrupted class.  This seemed strange, but I think the day went on, and after a while we proceeded to the auditorium for a lecture by a policeman on the danger of drugs.  It was the first time I had seen a marijuana cigarette and had heard about heroin.  All completely foreign to me.  Then, mid-lecture, Mr. Bentley walked to the center of the stage and announced that the President was dead, and we would all be leaving school early. We hustled out to the bus circle and were sent home.  I don’t think I understood the gravity of the situation until my father got back from work soon after I had arrived.  I remember that it was the first time I had ever seen my father cry. A very dark day.”

Glen Greenbaum (1966) writes - “Does anyone remember Colin Bentley searching Jones Beach - West End Two - the day of our senior prom to see who was cutting class to get a tan? He was in his suit and tie patrolling the beach while just my eyes and nose were hovering above the waves.”

Ken Gallard (1968) - “Hi Art…Glad to see Colin Bentley getting some air-time in recent newsletters.  I will recount an episode with him from the spring of 1968.

It was my senior year, and a number of my classmates and I were just hanging out in the Senior High Social Space. That particular year, due to some construction, the SHSP was in a classroom at the north end, near the gym, of the 100 Corridor, the corridor just to your left as you came through the main entrance of the building, the corridor with the Senior High classrooms.

To best comply with the common phrase, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground,” several of us got hold of a roll of toilet paper and put it to good use.  Such began the infamous episode of ‘Mummy Man,’ presented by the Class of ’68.  I was appointed to be the mummy.  My classmate accomplices definitely included the late Steve Cohen and may have included George Gettinger, Bill Evans,  Jerry Lieberman, David Pinter and/or others; difficult to remember.  Maybe they will publicly confess.

When the work was completed, I was wrapped from head-to-toe in toilet paper with my eyes covered, my arms stuck to my sides, and limited mobility in my legs.  The latter lent itself well to the staggering of a B-movie monster.  We waited for the bell to ring to indicate it was time for classes to change.  As Wheatley’s Senior High students poured out of classrooms to head to their next one, my devil-mates and I launched our comic procession down the 100 Corridor, towards the main entrance.  Needless to say, it instigated some comic mayhem enroute.  A short distance down the hallway, one of my escorts gasped, “OH SH*T. BONGARZONE!!”  That’s when my ‘buddies’ abandoned me to my fate.  Mummy Man was now on his own and in the grasp of the somewhat less than humorous Mr. Bongarzone (who was also my homeroom teacher—I’m sure he didn’t realize it was me—not that that would have made any difference).  He advised me, sternly, “…keep your hands where they are.”  A ways down the hall, as the goofy commotion continued around us, Mr. Bongarzone handed me off to the even less humorous Colin Bentley.  From there, Mr. Bentley escorted me to the office with the intent of turning me over to our beloved Principal, Walter Wathey.  I figured at this point all my goofing around at school had finally caught up with me (…just trying to have some fun…), and now I was in trouble big time.  Mr. Bentley sat me down in a chair across from Mr. Wathey’s desk and then retreated and closed the door behind him; at which point it was just Mr. Wathey and me.  The next thing I know, Mr. Wathey breaks out into hysterical laughter, and I realized I was off the hook.  While Mr. Bongarzone and Mr. Bentley, at times, didn’t see the humor in adolescent behavior, Mr. Wathey was a realist and knew benign, non-malicious behavior when he saw it.  That was the end of the episode, and I never even served a day of detention for it (though I did for some other infractions).  Can’t say I remember Mr. Bentley ever smiling.  I guess his stern countenance allowed Mr. Wathey a freer hand in how ultimately to deal with issues that would arise.  Basically, a sensible and successful pairing.

I hope the other accomplices I had that day will now step forward and admit their guilt!

Thanks!

Ken

The Graduates

1966 - Amy Gruskin Gerstein - Writes Henry Pullman (1967) - “Art, Amy Gruskin's tale of taking the family Corvette loaded with Wildcats out to HoJos was most enjoyable. Quite likely my sister, Jane Pullman (1966), was in the car that evening, along with Gale Greenberg (1966) and others. I wouldn't doubt that several Wildcats occasionally took a family car out for a spin, perhaps with interesting results as well.

As a fellow Locust Lane resident, I think that Amy will remember that her mom (Pearl) and mine (Muriel) renewed their friendship in South Florida after retiring there (per legislative fiat, as we know - when New Yorkers hit 65, they are required to move to Florida).”

1966 - Ned Lagin - Grateful Dead Keyboardist

Art Engoron (1967) writes - I don’t know what is more amazing, that Ned Lagin played keyboards with the Grateful Dead for five years, or that, to date, the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter (apparently) has not reported on this. A non-Wheatley friend who is a “Deadhead” asked a non-Wheatley friend who is even more of a “Deadhead” about Ned’s association with the Dead, and the latter sent along the following:

Ned Lagin, along with Dead bassist Phil Lesh, is the originator of the Seastones performances during the Wall of Sound tours in 1974. These began at the Miami Jai-Alai space on or about 6/23/74. They continued through the summer, onto Europe - I can’t believe that they hauled that monster system across the Atlantic! - and finished at Winterland in October. I believe that Ned connected with the band when he was a student at MIT and the Dead played there on 5/6/70, in the wake of the Kent State massacre.”

He played at the first of the four 1975 shows and at the amazing Kezar Stadium show on 3/23/75:

https://archive.org/details/gd1975-03-23.sbd.miller.110126.flac16

You can also enjoy the “Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast” episodes!

Mr. Lagin is featured on this season’s episodes on Unbroken Chain.

Continues Art Engoron - I believe that the three guys playing fretted instruments up front, with microphones, are, L-R, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, and that the drummer on the left is Bill Kreutzmann (someone please correct me if I am wrong).

Ned’s amazing life and careers are set forth at length on his Wikipedia page:

Ned Lagin Wikipedia page

My friend may have summed up Ned best: “Sounds like an interesting guy, probably not interested in fame or fortune, just doing his thing.”

1967 - Amy Pastarnack Hughes and Two of Her Children Visit Scott Geery in Montauk, New York

Rebecca, Matthew, and Amy Pastarnack Hughes (1967) with Scott Geery (1967)

Amy and Scott

Scott, Amy, Matthew Rebecca

Wait a minute……that looks like Art Engoron (1967) with Amy!

1967 - Carl Wirth - “Art, I have enjoyed all the early history of Wheatley...we arrived there as little seventh graders in the fall of 1961. I was wondering if others recall the darkest day at Wheatley, NOVEMBER 22, 1963, when our class was in Ninth Grade.

We were just returning to our homerooms from an assembly discussion of the new Junior High G.O. (General Organization; the student government) constitution when rumors that President Kennedy had been shot circulated through the halls. As we sat in homeroom, over the intercom we were informed that the rumors were true. We then listened to sober classical music until a grave voice announced that the President was dead. I remember my homeroom teacher, Evelyn Tegnell, sobbing. That opened a flood of tears from the girls and a few of the boys. The administration then had us report to the bus circle for buses to take us home early.

Two other things stand out. The rumor that Johnson had also been shot (false) and Eisenhower had another heart attack (also false), and some asshole singing ‘Ding Dong the President's dead,’ imitating the classic ‘The Witch is Dead’ song from the Wizard of Oz. Starting a decade later, and every year after that for 35+ years , as a social studies teacher, I told this story to my students. They always went away wanting to hear their parents’ stories. I wonder if others recall better than me that sad day at Wheatley.”

1990 - Mike Luba - “My grandparents lived in Great Neck, and 3 generations of Luba had an HVAC shop on Northern Blvd, Sy Luba Heating and Air Conditioning.  I paid my way thru college crawling around people's attics covered in fiberglass.  Good times!”

2000 - Shawn Swift - Amazing Life

Jessa Swift (1999), Shawn’s twin sister, writes - “Overcoming a brain tumor in high school, Shawn went on to become the Athlete of the Year and the Student Orator at Graduation.  Shawn has always been a part of service above self.  A ‘first responder’ to 9/11, Shawn then pursued a military career, which was put on hold to take care of our terminally ill mother and our much younger brother, Zachary (2010) for years.  After our mother's losing battle with cancer, Shawn rose to the occasion by adopting Zach while working nights on a New York City ambulance to put himself through graduate school at NYU.  

After our younger brother finished college, Shawn became third-generation military when he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. Shawn's military service was littered with traumatic events that would cause most others to give up, like when he was deployed overseas and lost his father unexpectedly to cancer without the opportunity to say goodbye.  

After Shawn's final deployment, he returned to Long Island with Ashley, the love of his life. They intended for Hudson, their son, to be born and raised in the area in which Shawn grew up.  It was their dream to have a simple life and raise a family.  In January 2024, I  truly believed Shawn's trauma was done, and he would go on to have a storybook ending. Their family of three was in good health, and they were planning to have their second child soon. 

Unfortunately, that was not to be the case. At the end of January, Shawn’s young, beautiful wife, Ashley, mother to his two-year-old pride and joy, was killed in a motor vehicle accident. Ashley lived to make others happy and was known as the best gift-giver and hostess. She was a bright shining star that was taken away much too soon. Shawn is devastated by her loss, both for him and his son, who misses her every day.  He has lost not only his wife but his best friend and his soul mate, and, by Shawn's own words, the best mother and wife he could have asked for. 

Shawn's family was in the middle of settling back into the great Wheatley Community when this tragedy occured.  To honor Ashley's memory, and to help support her two-year, nine-month old son, Shawn's Wheatley friends have created a memorial page. 

Ashley Swift Memorial Page

The Wheatley community has an opportunity to rally some meaningful support behind a person who has honored and protected the country, the local communities, and Wheatley for thirty years. 

Sincerely, 

Jessa Swift”

Shawn Swift’s Year 2000 Wheatley Graduation Speech - “A Swift Awakening”

“Good Afternoon. I've spent the last few weeks thinking about my Wheatley experience. I, like the rest of you, wonder where the time has gone. For me, today represents the culmination of years of endurance, years of strenuous emotional and physical exercise. In short, it represents the culmination of the good times and the bad, the funny times and the outright sad times, the countless friendships, the amazing teachers, and the phenomenal experiences that we now own, and will forever link us through life.

On a personal level, today represents a lot more. In November of 1998, after months of suffering from unspecific neurological symptoms, I received the startling news that a tumor was putting pressure on my eyes, skull, and brain and needed to be removed immediately. How does a 17-year-old kid handle that? To whom does he turn?

For days, hundreds of scary images ceaselessly invaded my thoughts. I was convinced that I would never have the chance to graduate, let alone stand before you today and speak. I feared this for two reasons. First, my academic record was suffering along with my body and mind. Second, the doctors made no guarantees about recovery, let alone making it through the surgery alive. They were not worried about school, about wrestling, about friends, about permanent scarring, about being normal.…..they were worried about me not living and about permanent results like blindness.

The surgery, while traumatic, saved my life in more ways than one. Looking back to life before the operation, I was alive, but not really living. Without much motivation, I was coasting through life.

Enduring the operation and its aftermath taught me many things. Here are the top five I’ve learned about confronting adversity:

5.        Everyone assumes that because they woke up today, they’re gonna wake up tomorrow.

4.         A faithful friend is the medicine of life. If you find one, don't let go.

3.        Keep your face to the sunshine, and you can't see the shadows.

2.         Fall seven times, stand up eight.

1.        Wheatley is a great place... .take advantage of all it has to offer.

So, when asked the question, ‘What is the most valuable message this speech should convey?’, my answer is simply this: ‘Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.’ When tough situations overwhelm our senses, it's all too easy to give up. There was a period during my high school career when I was unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In many ways, I took for granted what life had to offer, and I took for granted all that Wheatley had to offer. So, I finally asked myself the question that few of us want to consider. ‘Do I live life to the fullest?’ Most of us don't. I didn't. Not until reality stared me in the face.

Whether you're going away to college, staying home, or entering the workforce, I know that each of you will confront head on the challenges that life throws in your path. In typical Wheatley fashion, aim for the stars.

I have been on an amazing ride these last few years, a bit bumpier than normal. But I am a much better person for it. The teachers and friends who have surrounded us over the last several years have, in their own ways, molded each of us into a winner!

I leave you with the following quote: "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but few that will catch your heart. Pursue those."

Congratulations to all of us on our well-deserved graduation from The Wheatley School, and thank you for the opportunity to speak today.”

Shawn Swift Photos:

Shawn, Hudson, and Ashley

Fan Mail

1966 (Robert Eastman) - “Hi Arthur, I love reading the Newsletter every month. Every time I notice the name of an old friend, it brings back memories. Thanks so much. ROBERT@ROBERTEASTMAN.COM”

1967 (Arthur Brown) - “Dear Art, As always, you did a great job. Have a terrific summer.”

1967 (Henry Pullman) - “Keep up the good work.”

1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “Thanks for another fun read.”

1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - ❤️

1968 (Nancy Lagin) - “Always great to read the Newsletter. Many thanks, Art!❤️”

1972 (Suellyn Karben) - ❤️

1978 (Bradley Feuer) - Thanks, Art, for all that you do.”

1978 (Tami Smith) - ❤️

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 165.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.

Art

Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967

WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM

ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM

WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG

646-872-4833