The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 126
Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 126.
According to Substack, in the first 24 hours after publication, Newsletter # 125 was viewed 3,175 times, was “liked” 32 times, and received four comments. In all, 4,682 email addresses received Issue # 125.
All underlined text is a link-to-a-link. Clicking anywhere on underlined text, and then 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 125 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, wow!, you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material. I use it all the time; it (usually) 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
‘Hood History
Notes Jonathan Silver (1965):
“Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in eastern Queens revamped with smoother roads for cyclists and joggers”
https://qns.com/2023/11/vanderbilt-motor-parkway-eastern-queens-revamped/
Writes Michael Sullivan (1963) - “During the summer of 1958 my family moved from Maine to Long Island. My father, Neil, had just been hired as the new Superintendent of the School District. This was a huge move for us, particularly from a cultural standpoint. I had lived in Springvale, a small village that was quite rural. With the move to Long Island, the first step was to find a house. We were required by the Board of Education to live within the District. This was difficult to do. The financial reality between rural Maine and Long Island made it difficult for us to find a home we could afford. As we were about to move in a member of the Board of Education informed my Dad that he was going to stop the mortgage process and we needed to start our house search over. The reason given was this section of town was a “Jewish section,” and we were not to live in a Jewish neighborhood. To this day, I don’t know if this was a form of real estate ‘red lining,’ a Board policy, or this Board member’s personal prejudice. I found the whole experience quite baffling. I wonder if anyone else had this type of experience?”
Writes Howard Kirchick (1967) - “The history of the Westbury Manor in Newsletter #125 was very interesting and brought back some fond memories. We had my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary there in the mid ‘60s.”
Administration & Faculty Appreciation
Writes Beth Davidson (1959) - “Oh, my God, Mr. Lineweaver was a hoot! I remember that he had a skeleton hanging in his closet. I have great memories of Wheatley.”
Writes Lois Kass Kleinberg (1962) - “Very sorry to read about Mr. Lineweaver’s passing. He was my biology teacher in 9th grade. He revered Dr. Linus Pauling. Today when I take my vitamin C pills I always remember him.”
Writes Ken Gallard (1968) - “Nice that folks have such strong memories of great teachers--of which Wheatley had plenty. But I must say that I'm surprised that I've never heard a word about Stewart Doig; the guy was a fabulous teacher (American history, international relations--according to our yearbook). A WW-II vet (if I remember correctly), he was a passionate communicator, and a very animated teacher; bringing the most mundane of subjects to life with relative ease. I've often thought of some of the musings he expressed as rhetorical questions, that were outside of the usual "social studies" that we sat in his class for. His personality was ‘animated,’ and he had a great sense of humor.”
Writes David Berwald (1970) - “Who can forget Mr. Rosenstein's famous call to his ‘chemis tree’ students, ‘Listen as these words of wisdom issue forth from my ruby reds into your pink and shell-like.’”
Graduates
1961 - Jerry Mintz - Progressive Educator
Writes Jerry (EducationRevolution.org) - “I recently returned from Nepal, where we hosted the 30th Anniversary International Democratic Education Conference (“IDEC”). It’s a little surprising to me that I’m still having such adventures.
The IDEC was at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram/Orphanage on the outskirts of Katmandu. Ramchandra, the founder of the Ashram, ran away from Nepal to India as a 12-year-old, educated himself there, and returned 20 years later to found the Ashram. I met him more than 20 years ago and have had a close relationship with people from the Ashram ever since. Nobody pays for the children. They grow almost all of their own food. The students are involved in everything, and they do it with a smile. Their graduates run one of their sites in the mountains for trekkers. They take care of over 200 orphans on two sites. Many of the students were very active in organizing and leading the IDEC. We had 500 people from 30 countries. We were pleasantly surprised that Nepal’s Minister of Education came to the IDEC.
Ramchandra has transformed the 2 1/2 acre school campus to a beautiful destination. I stayed in a new six-story hotel he built on the property. What were dirt paths are now beautifully paved with stones. They would be happy if you went there as a base for seeing the Himalayas. The hope is that this will support the orphanage. The most common comment about the Ashram from participants is ‘magical.’
I was a keynoter and did a presentation on “organic curriculum.” In my keynote I noted that I don’t believe in keynotes, that the talks of ‘experts’ was antithetical to our approach. Instead, I had a group of volunteer students brainstorm questions for which they were seeking answers. I called this a demonstration of ‘Organic Curriculum.’ We then voted on which to discuss first. Some were very profound, such as, ‘What happens after death?,’ and ‘Should children be able to decide their gender?’
I also led a fundraising auction that goes as seed money for the next IDEC, which will be in Taiwan, and I taught about 45 people table tennis while I was there.
Overall, it was a magical, wonderful, idea-filled IDEC, which will go down as one of the best ever.
Here’s a link to the story that I had in my weekly e newsletter:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-IDEC-Issue.html?soid=1112633572237&aid=gPEoGnZhFaU
1961 - Eugene Razzetti - "“Art: A highly respectful, grateful, and ongoing ‘Well Done’ to upper classman Ken Martin (1960) on his life's work - most recently with the Israeli Defense Forces. The lessons of Vietnam make priceless subject matter for the challenges of Gaza. Lives can be saved in the classrooms as well as in the streets.
Like Ken, I am proud to have trained military and security professionals most of my life, and I am ashamed by the appalling actions taken by soul-less, mindless, anti-Semitic, morons, acting to undo both Israel and the U.S. Best to all, Gene."
1964 - Michael Garin - World Traveler
Writes Michael - “Dear Art, Despite my earnest efforts to retire from full-time employment, I was pulled back into a project that brought me to both Abu Dhabi and Beijing last week. Having the opportunity to work around the world is a continual joy, and certainly one that I never take for granted. Warmest regards, Michael, ’64”
1967 - Old Friends
L-R - Art Engoron and Mitch Stephens
1968 (Richard Witters) - “Seeing a photograph of Eric Reuben and Andy Forstenzer in Issue # 125 was great. I used to play basketball with these guys during my one year at Wheatley. They haven’t changed much.”
1970 - Jeffrey Blumenfeld Remembers (and Corrects).
Writes Jeff - “Art, What a hoot to see our 1964 class photo in Newsletter #124. I lived on Parkway Drive and graduated from the Willets Road School. I would have attended Wheatley, but my family moved to Monticello, where my father bought a department store. I’m a 1970 graduate of Monticello High School. I am tickled to see this, even if my last name was misspelled. Jeff Blumenfeld, Boulder, Colorado, mobile 203 326 1200
1971 and 1975 - Laura and Diana Soll - Our Father, the Candidate
Writes Laura - “Fun fact: George Soll, father of my sister Diana (Class of 1975) and me (Class of 1971), ran as a Democrat for the Congressional seat that George Santos now holds. Several of our friends have reached out to us with memories of their parents helping in the campaign. Spoiler alert: dad lost.
He graduated from Columbia Law School (Notes Editor of the Law Review) and was active in the American Civil Liberties Union for several decades, including serving as staff counsel, an officer, and a member of the organization’s board.”
1972 - Joel Harris - “Good morning Art, Living in the same house since my Wheatley days certainly has its advantages. I meet people that I graduated with, as well as my son's ('01) classmates. Always an interesting experience.”
1972 - Patricia Juris - A Reunion in Many Ways
Writes Patty - “During my first Fall Kickoff meeting as a new volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in September 2016 I listened to the new President address a large audience. It soon occurred to me that I knew him from somewhere. After the meeting I looked for Dan Weiss from East Williston on LinkedIn, and there he was. So, I had this high school connection with the president of THE Met. I sent Dan a message and he answered that he remembered me. I was blown away. He invited me to come up to see his office and reminisce. I felt like a groupie getting to hang with a rock star. We talked for about an hour. He remembered me as a Wheatley cheerleader, and we knew many people in common. I was acquainted with his sister through my sister and other mutual friends.
Dan then told me that we were connected in another way, of which I was not aware. His sister, Sara Weiss, Wheatley Class of 1973, is married to my mother’s first cousin, Danny Engoron (1973). I had lost touch with that side of the family and this meeting at the museum led to a reunion with Sara and Danny. We talked about planning a wider family gathering. Covid happened. Then last summer Dan Weiss ‘75, his sister Sara ‘73, my cousin Danny ’73, my husband Jay Brenner, Jericho HS Class of ’72, and me, Patty Juris ’72, met at the Met! Dan Weiss welcomed us, and we meandered around the quiet galleries, after closing, for a couple of hours. Then we went to an Italian restaurant on the Eastside, a neighborhood spot Dan Weiss knew (see photo below).
I look forward to having a proper family reunion. Sometimes it takes years and a bit of luck to put things back together.
L-R - Jay Brenner (Jericho HS 1972), Sara Weiss Engoron (1973), Daniel Weiss (1975), Patricia Juris (1972), Daniel Engoron (1973)
1990 - What’s For Dinner?
L-R - Ian Solomon, Mike Luba, Adam Zipper, Adam Weinschel and Rob Pohly.
Wheatley 1990 graduates; friends for over 45 years; all big admirers of The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter.
The Wheatley School Alumni Association Forum/Soapbox
Writes Robin Freier Edwards (1972) - “Thanks to Ken Martin for his words about Israel, Zionism and the horrible situation that we as Jews are currently, once again, facing. I too stand with Israel and always will.”
Fan Mail
Faculty (Robert Brandt) - ❤️
Faculty (Robert Kaye) - ❤️
1961 (Camille Napoli Cannizzo) - ❤️
1962 (Martin Gettleman) - “Art, I always enjoy receiving the newsletter. Thank you so much.”
1962 (Janet Gohlke Dyer) - “You do a great job on the Newsletter.”
1963 (Mark D. Bond) - ❤️
1963 (Michael Sullivan) - “Thanks for all your hard work on the Newsletter.”
1964 (Susan Obrant) - “Thank you for all you do.”
1964 (Barbara Rosenbaum Carey) - “Thanks for all you do to keep Wheatley alums connected.”
1965 (Mitchell Ditkoff) - “I very much appreciate all the love and care you put into the Newsletter.”
1965 (Louise Kampa Triano) - “You inspire us with your passion for everything you do for us.”
1967 (Michael Abrahams) - “Art, thank you for doing the newsletter. It helps me connect to my past and to people I respect.”
1967 (Robert Hecht) - “Great Newsletters”
1968 (Rebecca Consolo Freer) - ❤️
1969 (Rhoda Garfinkel) - “Proud to be a WHEATLEY ALUMNA! Thank you for the Newsletter, which reminds me each month.”
1970 (Mindy Cohen) - “Hi Art! Newsletter # 125 arrived in my inbox at the same time that I was enjoying my morning coffee. Thank you for doing it all.”
1971 (Sharon Meyer Schwartz) - “I thoroughly enjoy reading the Newsletter.”
1971 (Laura Soll) - “Thanks for another great read, Art.”
1971 (Greg Susss) - “I continue to anticipate eagerly the Wheatley Newsletter - many thanks for your dedication.”
1972 (Joel Harris) - “Thank you for all you do to keep all alumni connected.”
1972 (Jackie Obrant Millstein) - “Arthur, thanks for tirelessly creating the newsletter. It’s always a welcome read.”
1973 (Sally Danto) - “I am grateful for the work that you do on the Newsletter.”
1973 (Vera Kaltinick Peterson) - ❤️
1975 (Robert Wechter) - “Thanks for the newsletters and for all you do for Wheatley alumni. When I check my emails each day, and I see there is a new Wheatley Newsletter, all the other junk in my in boxes, work, and other activities take a back seat, and I take my time reading the latest Wheatley news. Thank you again for your work. It's much appreciated.”
1977 (Peter Fitzpatrick) - ❤️
1981 (Robert Freier) - “Thank you for your continued work on the Newsletter, Art. Please know that we appreciate all you do.”
1986 (Eve Snitiker Robbins) - ❤️
1992 (Lisa Freiman) - ❤️
???? (Kathryn Zotterman Tripi) - “I enjoy reading this Newsletter.”
???? (Carol ????) - ❤️
???? (Pat H????) - ❤️
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 126. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
I always look forward to your newsletters . Keep doing what you do so well!
Super, super as always!