The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 188

More From and About Los Angeles, More Reunions, More Personal Stories

Welcome to the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 188,

REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES - 1/25

Barbara Noble (1968) Writes - “Here’s the other side of the story…

I do love LA. But like any other big city in our country, we have long had tragedies before this current one. Our homeless, our mentally ill, our housing crisis, the cost of living. It really doesn’t matter where you are. It is visible and heartbreaking.

There is a man who vigorously plays an imaginary piano every day on Wilshire Blvd.
People sleeping on the street during the daytime hours is common. Men and women. People yelling at God and whatever, smashing things as they go. Twice, I came face to face with a rapist. Both times my instincts saved me, miraculously.

The rampant narcissism. The cutthroat, desperate. Friends stealing from friends. The all-mighty dollar and the corruption that brings. People working two jobs who still can’t keep their families safe.

The evacuations near me have finally ended this morning (1/13/25), but the winds are supposed to start up again as fiercely as last week. The scammers, the looters, the robbers, the price gougers, are all out in full force.

A few weeks ago, I saw something remarkable. A man was sleeping on the sidewalk as I was walking toward a market. For some reason, that is a familiar sight on that block. There is a parking lot for the UCLA hospital there, so it must seem safe. A woman pulled up her car, double parked and got out with a blanket. A really nice blanket. She carefully placed it over the man so as not to wake him up. As I got close and she got back into her car, I gave her two thumbs up and she returned the gesture. I’ll leave you with that.

To all those who responded to my first essay, thank you. And to Art, thank you for your thoughtful encouragement and for taking the time to read and edit my essays (Oh, the commas, the commas!!!). As Oscar Wilde wrote, ‘I spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out.’ At least I’m in good company.

And the fires are still burning.”

Glen Greenbaum (1966) Writes - Hi, Art, Apparently I live a few blocks away from Barbara Noble (1968) in Santa Monica. Many of her memories are similar to mine. Her comments were spot on, and not one of the people I know in Pacific Palisades still has a home. It looks like Hiroshima with only chimneys standing. I had to evacuate, as my home was in the warning zone. Better safe than sorry. However, as matters turned out, my house was two miles from the closest fire. We are LA strong.

Responses

Elizabeth Zoob (1965) Writes - “I was deeply moved and saddened to read Barbara Noble’s report from LA. The scale of the destruction is unimaginable and beyond tragic. I can’t begin to wrap my mind around the scale of devastation. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this.”

Bette Spiro (1966) Writes - “Thank you, Barbara Noble (1968), for sharing your story at this unimaginable moment in such a personal way. Thinking of you all out there. We ❤️ LA, too. Bette Spiro”

Jill Simon Forte (1967) Writes - “Barbara Noble’s letter was heart wrenching. I have relatives in the area, BUT fortunately for them, the wind has taken the fire away from their homes (for now). I can’t imagine what a terrible hardship it will be for the everyday man woman and child that are not ‘Stars.’ Barbara puts in perspective that some things that were lost can never be replaced. I hope that the devastation will soon end.”

Hilary “Lori” Wallach Marshak (1968) Writes - “Barbara, I didn't know that you are such an excellent writer! What a story, and so beautifully told. Thank you so much.”

Billy Diamond (1969) Writes - “Barbara Noble’s essay about LA is fabulous.”

Jane Madison (1970) Writes - “Thank you, Barbara Noble (1968), for your wonderful essay on Los Angeles communities. I have no doubt that they will rebuild, but what it will look like is not known. I didn't know much about LA until reading your account.”

Class of 1975 50th-Year Reunion

Wheatley Class of 1975 & Friends

50th-Year Reunion Weekend

October 10-12, 2025

For details contact:

Wheatleyclassof1975@gmail.com

The Wheatley School Alumni Public Directory Is Alive and Well

The. Wheatley Alumni Directory

Wheatley’s Wikipedia Entry (just for fun)

Wheatley's Wikipedia Write-up

Graduates

1963 - Christopher “Kit” Ryan - “Art, I graduated from Wheatley in 1963 and went to a very small school in Glen Cove called ‘Webb Institute.’ The school was so small that the guidance counselor at Wheatley had never heard of it, and we lived only 10 miles from there! My MIT connection came in graduate school - I got a Masters in Naval Architecture there in 1969, then spent the whole rest of my 44 year career doing naval ship design, both in and out of the government. My last project was on the USS Zumwalt design, sometimes called the Stealth Destroyer - 3 large ships - which entered the fleet in just the last few years. It's been a fascinating career all told. As we say, ‘Engineers just want to have fun.’

At work, I happened to meet Andy Summers (1967), who I didn't know in high school. He and his wife Estee are good friends of ours. He certainly knows you, and we do mention your name when we get together.

I fondly remember the days at Wheatley like they happened yesterday (well not quite). At least I can remember something as I turn 80 next month!

Best regards,

Kit Ryan

1967 and 1973 - Charlie Nash (1973/72) Writes - “My mother, Leonore Nash, was very close friends with Lillian Stephens, the mother of Mitchell (1967) and Beth (1972) Stephens. I know that my mother cherished that relationship. I am so glad that Mitchell is doing so very well.”

Wheatley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dana Olson (1975) Writes - “Greetings. I read your list of MIT grads and immediately thought of Kurt Wiesenfeld (1975). Kurt graduated from MIT in 1979. He went on to Cal Berkeley, where he got his Ph.D. He has taught for many years at Georgia Tech. Here is his wikipedia entry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Wiesenfeld

Editor’s Note - Here are the Wheatley/MIT alumni of whom the Newsletter staff is currently aware (additions welcome):

UPDATED!!!

Corwin, John 1964

Lagin, Ned 1966

Wattel Arenson, Karen 1966

Kram, Kathy 1968

Whitehead, Roy 1970 (Deceased)

Fidelman, Miles 1971

Rothman, Greg 1971

Glickman, Todd 1973

Hack Katz, Jan 1975

Wiesenfeld, Kurt 1975

Smith, Douglas 1977

Valicenti, Richard 1977

Chin David, 1979

Fiorino, Anthony 1985

Ueno, Kohta 1988

Yang, Chen 2000

Jia, Xiaoman 2002

1968 - Golden Oldie Photo from Barbara Noble’s Ninth Birthday Party in 1959

L-R - Barbara Noble, Dana Hutchins (Willets Road), Patti Garin, Nancy Lagin and Lois Hegyi Goldstein.

Submitted by Lois Hegyi Goldstein

1973 - Bonnie Greenberg To Receive Guild of Music Supervisors’ Legacy Award

Bonnie Greenberg's Guild of Music Supervisors’ Legacy Award

1975 - Susan Rotholz - “Dear Arthur, In September, I played a concert at Vassar for the composer Jonathan Chenette, who was retiring. The ensemble had a few rehearsals before the concert, and I met the people in the ensemble, who are mostly professors at Vassar like me; but there were some musicians who were not. One of the latter was the cellist, and when I asked him his name, he just said “Jacob.”

At the concert itself, I looked at the program, and I saw that his name was Jacob Nordlinger. That made me think of Jimmy Nordlinger (1970), a Wheatley classmate and friend of my brother David Rotholz (1970). As the name “Nordlinger” is uncommon, I asked him if there was a “Jimmy” in his family. He replied that Jimmy is his father! I thought it was incredible that I ended up playing a concert with the next generation of my brother’s friend. I find it awesome that one of David‘s high school buddies has a son who became a professional musician, and he and I ended up playing on the same stage.”

That’s me on the left.

Me and Jacob

Everybody

1976 - Ted Lipsky - I was deeply touched by what Catherine Pries Voisinet (1987) wrote about her sister Elizabeth Pries (1984), and I wish to send condolences.

The story reminded me of the battle that my mother, Corinne, fought against her cancer, from her diagnosis in 1987 until April 1, 1989, when she passed at the age of 63. She never stopped fighting or living until the last few weeks, when it had overtaken her. I will never forget how we, her children, assembled at her home, our family home on Locust Lane, and held a party to celebrate several of her grandchildren’s birthdays, just days before she would pass. Sadly, many weeks later her mother, our beloved grandmother Rose, would also pass in her sleep, at the age of 89. These two incredibly strong, generous, and selfless women were two of the best people I have ever known. They were great teachers and role models for all of us, just like our father Bill was until he passed in 1981. I always said that if I could have half the character they had, I would be 10 times better than anyone else. To this day, so many years later, I still believe that.

1978 - Daniel Paisner - “Arthur - You were kind enough to alert readers of your wonderful Newsletter to two recent podcast interviews I conducted with Wheatley alums…... I'm now reaching out to alert you and your readers to a third Wildcat-on-Wildcat podchat... the latest episode of my podcast "AS TOLD TO: The Ghostwriting Podcast" features a conversation with former Random House copy chief Benjamin Dreyer (1975), a proud Wheatley graduate and author of the New York Times best-seller "Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style"... Benjamin's book is terrific - it should be required reading in the hallowed halls of our alma mater...

The podcast, now in its fourth season, features conversations with writers and other creatives on what it means to write and create in collaboration... I reached out to Benjamin because there's something distinctly collaborative about the work of a good copy editor, and we found room in our conversation to discuss some of his early influences as a discerning reader, and the rules of grammar/punctuation instilled in him (and, in me!) by Wheatley's own Mrs. Tegnell...

"AS TOLD TO" is a production of the Writer's Bone Podcast Network... the podcast was recently highlighted in a New York Times article on ghostwriting, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and on C-SPAN...

Benjamin joins "Wicked" screenwriter/dramatist Winnie Holzman, creator of the short-lived, much-loved television series "My So-Called Life," and prolific YA writer Todd Strasser, who's also penned a number of novelizations of hit movies like "Home Alone" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," on my ever-growing list of Wheatley-ish guests...

Hoping to hear from other graduates who might have something to add to the conversation...

Here's a link to our conversation with Benjamin Dreyer (1975):

Conversation with Benjamin Dreyer

Here's a link to our conversation with Winifred “Winnie” Holzman (1972):

Conversation with Winnie Holzman

Here's a link to our conversation with Todd Strasser (1968):

Conversation with Todd Strasser

Class of 1984 40th-Year Reunion Photo - Attendees Identified

All Rows Left-to-Right (some clothing color and other identifying information in parentheses)

Bottom Row - Danny O’Mahoney (green), Dominic Conte (white), Gina Potenza (black), Victoria Four (white), Barrie Bakst (black)

Second Row - Andy Mosca (green), Gia Brown (black), Lorena Litardo (white), Beth Silverstein (white), Roseanne Young, Carol Cutinella (eyes closed), Amy Chin (glasses), Chrissie Kolar (green)

Third Row - Robert Zahn (glasses), Andrew Wexler (glasses), Joseph Zappa (glasses), Dominique Sichenzia (wide-eyed), Suzanne Tafreshi, Pam Tobin (blonde-ish), Lisa Buchman (black), Debbie Kolar (black), Vinny Esposito (black), Stephen Defranco (white), Jeff Schneider (blue)

Top Row - Greg Goldstein (glasses), Steve Jones (arms raised), Tanya Friis

1992 - Nicole Krauss - Author

Nicole Krauss - Google Information

Nicole Krauss - Wikipedia Entry

[[[Editor’s Note - I would appreciate receiving, from anyone out there, contact information for Jourdan (1990), Nicole (1992) and/or Danielle (2001) Krauss.]]]

Fan Mail

1963 (Kit Ryan) - “Thank you and Keith for the outstanding job (and endless hours) you both put into the Newsletter. It is much appreciated by all. And thanks, also, for being a good editor, as well as taking care of the Wheatley alumni website!”

1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “Thanks Art.. another great read.”

1966 (Glen Greenbaum) - “Hi Art, Keep up the good work.”

1966 (Bette Spiro) - “Thank you so much, Art, for creating this forum where we can connect, especially on a night like this - with California on our minds.”

1967 (Scott Frishman) - “Art, Another great read. I especially enjoyed Mitch’s essay on Bob Dylan. And I just saw rhe movie “A Complete Unknown,” which is great.”

1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - “Great as always, Art.”

1968 (Barbara Noble) - “Thanks for connecting me to Wheatley all these years later.”

1968 - (Hilary “Lori” Wallach Marshak) - “Arthur and Keith - thank you.”

1969 (Billy Diamond) - “I love the extraordinary work that you do to keep the Wheatley Community alive and in touch. Thanks for all that you do.”

1973/72 (Charlie Nash) - “As always, I enjoyed reading the most current issue of The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter! Thank you for all that you do!”

1975 (Stephen DeMilta) - “Great job, Arthur, thank you so much for the continued effort.”

1975 (Susan Rotholz) - “Hi Art, I love the Wheatley Newsletter and that you devote your time to it for all of us. We appreciate it and you!”

1975 (Robert Vincze) - “Thanks for all you do for the school.”

1976 (Mary Costello Willis) - “Thank you so much for these wonderful Newsletters.”

2009 (Amanda Hartman Ryan) - “I love the latest issue, Art - thank you!!”

Brought to You By……

L-R - Keith Aufhauser (1963), Art Engoron (1967)

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 # 187 was viewed 2,959 times, was liked 13 times, and was commented on four times. In all, 4,725 email addresses received Newsletter # 187.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 187 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 # 188. 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