The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 231
Class of 1997 Reunion; Wheatley History; The Wildcat Reunion Band; Three 1967 Grads; Greg Fitzpatrick's Travels; Joel Harris (1972) and the Pesner Sisters (1994, 1996); and a Macabre Horror Convention
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 231,
The Wheatley School Class of 1997: 30th-Year Reunion SAVE THE DATE
Let’s party like it’s 1997!
We are excited to announce that plans are underway for our 30th-year high school reunion.
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2027
Location: Louie’s, 395 Main Street, Port Washington
Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information on how to RSVP and join in the celebration. Help us spread the word!
Tricia Morente Bolender & Renee Lockhart MacManus
Wheatley History
1958 - Steve Nelson - “As I remember it, many of us in the Class of 1958 liked the idea of black-and-gold as the school colors. We thought the team uniforms would look really cool. This was way too radical for the school administration, so they chose red-and-white instead. I don’t recall a vote on the colors, but if there was one, it was simply to ratify what the administration had already decided.
Come to think of it, how could there have been a vote among the students? Choosing the school colors happened long before the school was open, to allow time to order uniforms and such. Perhaps students at Willets Road could have voted, I wouldn’t know, but that would have left our class out. I do know they asked our opinion, if not our vote, and disregarded our suggestion.”
Beth “Betty” Davidson (1959) - “I agree with Matt Sanzone (1959)! I remember voting on the school colors and school mascot. “The Wheatley Wildcats” sounded great! Beth (Betty) Davidson - 954-729-3632
Attention ALL WHEATLEY Alumni!
You are cordially invited to The Wildcat Reunion Band‘s very first public appearance, in the cafeteria of The Wheatley School.
The date is Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 3:00pm. Admission is FREE and light refreshments will be provided compliments of the Class of 1975. This event will also feature the first ever Wheatley-aoke, where select Wheatley-ites will perform with the band. The playlist will be available, if you decide to join the band, either singing or instrumentally. (BYO music and/or words)
Come for an afternoon of some of your favorite songs from your teen years. Bring family and friends, and bring your dancin’ shoes! Enter from the doors near the bus circle.
Contact Toni (Buckner) LaPietra (1975) with questions: musicboxstudios@verizon.net.
Graduates
1967 - Robert Hecht, Scott Frishman, and Peter Kaplan - Friends for Life
L-R - Robert Hecht, Scott Frishman, Peter Kaplan, Bar Frites, Roslyn, NY, Saturday, July 19, 2025. The group was visiting Robert Hecht’s 103-year-old mom, then heading to Cape Cod.
1970 - Greg Fitzpatrick - “Holla from Spain! I hope that this note finds you healthy and happy. Gosh, my last report from the road was a month ago. Since then, I have managed to cover a lot of territory. From Norway across to Sweden to visit a Nordic council Friend in Sundsvall. I made my way to Gothenburg, Sweden to take an overnight ferry to Keil, Germany, then through Lubeck to see a gate built in the 1400s. Then on to see some castles before connecting with a former exchange student that lived with our family. I traveled over the GroBklocker pass in Austria, then onto the Dolomites and the famed Stelvio Pass. With all of these kilometers, it was time for an oil change, and the photo below is of my gal mechanic that provided the maintenance.
I am writing you from Laspaules, Spain, traveling along the famed N260 Pyrenees National Road.
Greg Continues - I feel that up until now, all I have done in my emails is say where I have been …… but nothing about my experience on a personal level. Granted, I’ve set some riding goals, but the part of my journey that I’ll carry with me is the one-on-one daily interactions with the locals. I’ve been made welcome throughout my journey, from the markets to the repair shops I’ve visited. It all starts with how you approach each individual.
The Italians and the Spaniards (including the Andorrans) have a happier countenance. That’s not to say the Danes, Swedes, Nords are not happy, but they carry a more serious outward appearance.
I did not anticipate the large amount of English that is spoken. The food has been fresh and flavorful throughout my travels. Lastly, the Swiss make Norwegian pricing for goods seem like a bargain.
Arrivederci”
1972, 1994, 1996 - Joel Harris, Alyson Pesner-Krouse, Karyn Pesner - Small World
L-R - Joel Harris (1972), Alyson Pesner-Krouse (1994), and Karyn Pesner (1996)
Joel Writes - While photographing the Pat LaFontaine Golf outing, where he was inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame, I sat with two of my fellow Wheatley graduates. Very small world and even smaller Long Island.”
1989 - Patrick Kennedy - The Long Island Convention of Horror (“LICH”) is a new macabre marketplace I’m hosting in Melville on Route 110 this November 30th, and is the kickstarter campaign for the collection of horror tales I’m shepherding to publication.
Here’s a link to the campaign for that book: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sharkqueen/se-ransdells-curiouser-and-curiouser-tales-from-beyond
I hope everyone had fun at the alumni luncheon!
Patrick “PK” Kennedy
bellmojo@gmail.com
(516) 946 8246
Creative Consultant
Event Organizer Long Island Convention of Horror
Fan Mail - Miscellaneous
1960 (Joanne Festa) - “Many thanks to Art for keeping the Newsletter current. Because I graduated in 1960, many of classmates are now deceased. Happy Holidays to all.”
1965 (Sally Jablon and Louise Kampa Triano) - “Hi Art. We are reading your report of our 60th-year reunion, and we love it. According to Louise, nobody else’s opinion matters. Thanks for joining us, for your good wishes, and for everything that you do. We love you.”
1967 (Robert Hecht) - “Keep up the great work.”
1969 (Halayne Ehrenberg) - “Thanks for organizing the Wheatley Alumni Luncheon and putting out the Newsletter.”
1997 (Tricia Morente Bolender) - “Thank you for your work putting out the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter!!”
Fan Mail - Wheatley Alumni Luncheon
1963 (Marcia Mayer) - “Art did a superb job organizing this and making it happen!”
1966 (Diana Noble Rubinger) - “Wonderful...maybe next year this Class of 1966 young lady will join you!”
1966 (Suzanne Stone) - “Great pics...looks like a wonderful time...happy that my class of 1966 had such a good turnout...so sorry to have missed the luncheon! Congrats, Art! Hope to see you all next year!”
1966 (Karen Wattel Arenson) - “Hi from Iceland. Sorry that I couldn’t join you this year, but congratulations to the Class of 1966! And many thanks to Arthur.”
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “I love the photos. Hi Amy, Hi Hughy, Hi Arthur 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💙☮️ and anyone else that remembers me 😉🤣.”
1968 (Sheli Nan Hershcopf) - “Great pics of our talented alumni!”
1970 (Jane Madison) - “Looks like a great turnout. Nice work putting it together, Art.”
2021 (Aarushi Jain). - “I am grateful to you for organizing the Luncheon and for everything you do for the alumni community.”
Wildcat by Marriage - “Although I didn’t attend Wheatley, I love reading the Newsletter!! Great job, Art! My late husband, Michael Tafreshi (1982), loved Wheatley ❤️🏈”
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.
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The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 230 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 New Yorker type 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 # 231. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833