The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 127
Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 127.
According to Substack, in the first 24 hours after publication, Newsletter # 126 was viewed 3,339 times, was “liked” 26 times, and received seven comments. In all, 4,694 email addresses received Newsletter # 126.
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 126 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
Writes Donna Kenton - “I was saddened to read my classmate Michael Sullivan’s post. I was also confused, because one of the things I loved about our neighborhood in East Williston (me on Titus Way, the Sullivans behind us on Andrews Road), was that it was a mixed neighborhood - in terms of religion anyway. We missed seeing Michael at our 60th-year reunion a couple of weeks ago. Donna” 😊
Writes Diana Noble Rubinger Olmert (1966) - “The prior issue (# 126) contained interesting comments from Michael Sullivan. My husband often asks if I ever experienced anti-semitism growing up. I always answer ‘no,’ but I do remember a few stories..........My parents moved into their Shepherd Lane home in 1950. At that time, the “S Section” was religiously mixed. Temple Sinai was built in 1948. When Beth Shalom was built in 1951, many of the non-Jewish neighbors moved out. Luckily for us, one of our non-Jewish neighbors remained, almost as long as my parents did.”
Writes Ken Gallard (1968) - “Hi, Art, I just finished reading Newsletter # 126 and found Michael Sullivan's experience about searching for a house in the EWSD very interesting. But in many ways I'm not surprised. There have been other discussions in the Newsletters during recent years about Jews not being allowed to join the Wheatley Hills Golf Club. Indeed, on days when it would snow, there were times I would take either a sled or my skis over to the hills on the golf course for some thrills. Nevertheless, I was always "looking over my shoulder," sure that someone from the Golf Club would come collar me and toss me out. Silly, I'm sure. But the sensitivities and heightened awareness were very real for a young kid. That said, it is my recollection--and PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong--but it was my impression that deeds for properties in the Roslyn Country Club forbade selling (or re-selling) homes to people of color. If that was, indeed, the case, prejudice existed in many forms within our seemingly benign community. So much for the halcyon days of the 1950s --they didn't really exist if you look at many of the details. It would be great to hear from those who probably know more than I do about those RCC deeds to find out whether or not my memory is correct.”
Administration & Faculty Appreciation
Writes Jeffrey Orling (1965) - “I don't have a frame of reference to compare Wheatley to another school. But it surely was a rich experience, and we were blessed with an incredible faculty.”
Writes Nancy Newman Elghanayan (1966) - “Like Ken Gallard, I thought Stewart Doig was an exceptional teacher. His zeal for the subject of history was contagious, his teaching style was engaging and animated without being egotistical, and he was extremely open-minded and kind. In addition, he wasn’t afraid to use historical events to key into ‘hot’ contemporary subjects and, as a result, he deepened our understanding of moral issues and choices. Sixty-plus years after sitting in his social studies class, his lessons still resonate.”
Writes Pam Panzarino Hyde - “Hi Art, In the most recent newsletter my good friend David Berwald mentioned a funny thing about Mr Rosenstein. Here's what I remember. I had chemistry, I think it was the same class as David's, first period of the day. We were in the classroom that was directly indented into the quad (lots of windows). Students would bring Mr Rosenstein mallomars (he said he loved them); they would be left on his desk. He'd come in, make a big deal of the gift, and then go ahead and eat some, and that would eat up (yes, a joke) lecture time! Win-win.”
Appreciation by Former Faculty Member
Writes Jeanne Bouza Rose - “Thank you for putting the info in about my exhibition on Orkney, Scotland. As a retired teacher from Northside, the bonds made with young children often just get absorbed into the adult. But one of the students from my first class in the district, in 1985-86, read the piece. She delightfully filled me in on her life and it brought memories and tears to my eyes.
I know from doing a stint at college radio that there is a “proportion” to judge one’s effect on a large population. Her single response probably means a number of other former students also read and remembered me. Just not everyone takes the time to reach out.”
Graduates
1963 and 1965 - Roy Nierenberg and Larry Rosenthal walk along San Francisco Bay
L-R - Larry Rosenthal (1965), Roy Nierenberg (1963)
1965 - Jeff Orling - “Every one of your emails brings me back in time more than a half century ago to a very different reality. The Vietnam war was very much a part of our reality. I had decided not to serve, as I oppose war, but fortunately I wasn't called up, or I would have gone to Canada.
If each reader could share an anecdote, that would be great ... anything really that they still remember. But at 77 memories are fading. My entire family has passed.”
Jeffrey Orling in 2018
1970 - Writes Jill Ostrower Trovillion - “Hi Art, Having read Jeff Blumenfeld's comments about the 1964 ‘graduation’ photo from the Willets Road School, I would like to say that the onus for any misspelled names belongs solely to me. When I received the photo back in 1964, I wrote everybody's name on the frame so I would never forget who each person was. Any misspelled names were the results of a 12-year-old's inexperience!”
1971 - Kathy Schilling Colletta - Medical Director in Boca Raton
1972 - Joel Harris - The Guvna’
Writes Eddie Ryder (1973) - “Good to see the comment of Governor Joel Harris, a friend from Eugene Taslitz (Wheatley Math Teacher) days. In 2022-23 Joel served as Governor of the NY District of Kiwanis, and as of Thursday last, he still remembers the section of the Talmud which he read in Hebrew at his Bar Mitzvah during the Johnson Administration. A mensch then. A mensch over a half century later.”
1976 - Catherine Golia - “Hello, Art! I lost my mother in 1973, when she was 38 and I was 14. My dear friend Richard Biancavilla (1975), from our school district, made it easy for me to belong! He called me ‘Red’ and has a great personality. I thank you always, Richard! Steven Kircher (1976) was also very nice to me. I had a very good high school experience! I am in Facebook, if anyone wants to say hello!”
1977 - Robin Guadalupi - “I loved your last statement in Newsletter # 126. I actually thought the same as I was reading all the “Remembered” comments. Before anyone gets to the point of accolades after “leaving” us, let’s praise all those still with us for all that they gave us in learning and support during our years at Wheatley. My thanks go out to Gerry Friedberg Pagliaro and dear Aaron Kuriloff. I do remember going to his class late for 3rd period, that he would say to me as I was walking in, “What, are you high again?” Not bragging about that, and not sure whether it improved my drawing and painting or not, but as a kid I laughed that he would ask me that. Anyway, a shout out to both of my favorite Art teachers. And, as for six degrees of separation, during my younger years in a different school district, my art was encouraged by an earlier Wheatley graduate who later became a teacher. Shelley Levine from East Williston.”
1979 - Scott Schnell and Ian Solomon - Partnership
Writes Ian - “My friend and classmate Scott Schnell and I partnered to create a technology-enabled home care delivery system for frail and high-risk Medicaid patients. Our organization, MedZed, now cares for very vulnerable people - providing medical and social services in the home - in 9 states. It is the most emotionally rewarding activity of my career.”
1983 - 40th-Year Reunion - Group Photo
1990 - Writes Peter Sultan (1989) - “Wow, great picture of the good friends from the Class of 1990 (my sister Lorna Sultan's class).
L-R - Ian Solomon, Mike Luba, Adam Zipper, Adam Weinschel and Rob Pohly.
Fan Mail
1960 (Joanne Festa) - “I appreciate each Newsletter. Thank you.”
1960 (Alice Horowitz Lanier) - ❤️
1961 (Michael Jablon) - “Super, super as always!”
1962 (Lois Kass Kleinberg) - ❤️
1963 (Donna Harmelin Rivkin) - “Dear Art, I appreciate all that you do for the Wheatley alumni. Your newsletter informs us and brings us all together for a brief moment. Reading it is like reliving my youth. Thank you! Donna Rivkin ‘63 ❤️🎶”
1964 (Sydell Horowitz Weiner) - “Thank you for doing this, Art.”
1964 (Richard Ilsley) - ❤️
1965 (Richard Cohen) - “Art, Thanks as always for the Newsletter. Best wishes from Toronto.”
1965 (Jeff Orling) - “Thanks Art, Well done and very much appreciated. Looking forward to your next one.”
1966 (Glen Greenbaum) - “Hi Art, Thank you for taking the time to publish the Newsletters.”
1966 (Claude Levy) - ❤️
1966 (Nancy Newman Elghanayan) - “Thank you and Keith for putting together the increasingly vibrant and informative newsletter. It’s so much fun to read!” ❤️
1966 (Diana Noble Rubinger Olmert) - “Reading the Wheatley Newsletters is such a pleasure!”
1967 (Scott Frishman) - “Great Newsletter, as usual. I love the photograph of our classmate Mitch Stephens and you.”
1967 (Daniel Quaranto) - ❤️
1968 (Randy Danto) - “Thanks for maintaining our Newsletter.”
1968 (Wendy Woods) - “Art, Thank you so much for publishing the Newsletters and keeping us connected over the years. We may have taken various paths along the way from our years as Wildcats, but it is interesting to reconnect and reminisce.” ❤️
1970 (Lyn Goldsmith) - ❤️
1972 (Suellyn Karben) - ❤️
1972 (Larry Shiller) - “Thanks, Art! You’re a treasure.”
1972 (Patty Juris Brenner) - “Thank you for doing this.”
1972 (Marc Starr) - ❤️
1973 (Richard Fusey) - “The alumni Website is a pleasure to visit.”
1973 (Denise Paine) - “Dear Art, What a pleasure to stay connected to Wheatley via this Newsletter. Thanks for finding the time to produce it.”
1974 (Laurie Cohen) - “I’m amazed that you find the time to put out this Wheatley Newsletter.”
1974 (Laura Herbst) - “Thank you for another interesting Newsletter. I look forward to the next one.” ❤️
1976 (James Juczak) - ❤️
1977 (Peter Fitzpatrick) - ❤️
1979 (Neil Solomon) - “Thanks for keeping the newsletter going. We all enjoy it and appreciate all the work you put into it.”
1980 (Rochelle Schorr) - “Thanks for the Newsletters.”
1980 (Thomas Valicenti) - ❤️
1981 (Marie DeRosa Grieco) - ❤️
1983 (Bernadette McCrave Quinn) - “At our 40th-Year Reunion last night we all talked about how we love reading the Wheatley Alumni Newsletter.”
1983 (Takemi Ueno) - “Thanks for all you do for the Wheatley Alumni Association!”
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 127. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
Thank you, Art, for your wonderful newsletters. I especially like reading about the faculty. I also remember Mr. Levin, an exceptional history teacher. I remember in 11th grade he had the class reenact the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Some of us represented the large states while others represented the small states. I also remember Mr. Rosenstein’s chemistry class. He would say “hush puppies,” when he wanted quiet.
And just a note to confirm Jeff Orling’s statement that the original deeds to RCC homes contained a clause prohibiting the sale or resale of those houses to Black people. I read that when I sold my parents’ house on Carriage Lane in 1994. By then, however, I think the Supreme Court had ruled such clauses were unconstitutional.
thank you for this, Art! Happy Thanksgiving!