The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 215
Classic Photos From Then and Now and the Usual Updates
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 215.
Wheatley Alumni NYC Luncheons Redux
Save the date - Friday, October 3, 2025 - More Later
Wheatley Wildcat Will Play in "River Rhythms" Concert (Even Though “Cats” Supposedly Don't Like Water)
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 7 pm, Takemi Ueno (Class of 1983) will perform with the Litha Symphony Orchestra at the Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street., at West End Avenue in Manhattan. The program consists of Grofe's "Mississippi Suite," Lyadov's "The Enchanted Lake," Smetana's "The Moldau," and Schumann's "Rhenish" Symphony. Tickets at the orchestra's website (https://www.lithasymphony.org/2025riverrhythms.html) are $25.
Our journey begins inland, where rivers run through landscapes and legends alike. River Rhythms features music shaped by flowing waters—from the grandeur of the Mississippi to the folk-infused currents of the Vltava. Ferde Grofé’s Mississippi Suite opens the concert with rich American imagery, followed by Anatoly Lyadov’s shimmering tone poem The Enchanted Lake, conducted by assistant conductor Eric Shen.
Bedrich Smetana’s beloved Vltava (also known as The Moldau) takes center stage under the baton of guest conductor, Derek Weagle, painting the journey of the Czech river from its source to Prague. We close with Robert Schumann’s bold and buoyant “Rhenish” Symphony, a portrait of the mighty Rhine in five vivid movements. It’s a program full of flow, rhythm, and emotional depth—rivers of music that will sweep you away.
GROFÉ Mississippi Suite
LYADOV The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62
Eric Shen, assistant conductor
SMETANA Má Vlast: Vltava ("The Moldau")
Derek Weagle, guest conductor
SCHUMANN Symphony No.3, Op.97 "Rhenish"
Class of 1988 40th-Year Reunion
Soraya Mosleh-Brooks (1988) Writes - The Wheatley School Class of 1988 40th-Year Reunion planning has begun. Initial planners David Mahaffey, Soraya Mosleh-Brooks, and Maya Sabot have rounded up three of our four Senior Class officers: Co-President David Polonet; Co-President Amy Levine; and Secretary Amy Warman Kates (we are still trying to locate Treasurer Clare Burns). We have already held a few reunion planning meetings.
We want to hear from you! Please complete the form below.
We are looking for your updated contact info, reunion ideas, and possible venues. You are welcome to participate in Zoom reunion calls and reunion planning. The NYC metro area will likely be the location.
Form
About Me (Class of 1988 Graduate) Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-Vz8wfBo4eaiy5FllHAOLaX1mD5WVvDOxBdaUsiHGVtx56w/viewform?usp=sf_link
In addition, we have been using The Wheatley School - Class of 1988 Facebook page. If you’re not a fan of FB, feel free to contact us directly:
Communication/Outreach Committee: Dave Mahaffey at davidmahaffey@yahoo.com, or Amy Warman Kates at amykates@optonline.net
Venue/Travel Committee: David Polonet: dpolonet@gmail.com
Planning Committee: Amy Levine amy.lisa.levine@gmail.com, Soraya Mosleh-Brooks sorayabrooks@icloud.com, Maya Sabot maya311@gmail.com
We look forward to reconnecting with each of you 😊❤️
Kind regards, Soraya Mosleh-Brooks
Parents and Teachers
Leah Tchack, a Wheatley parent, grandparent, and the spouse of Ted Tchack (a Wheatley teacher and co-founder of the School Within a School) died on July 8 at the age of 90. Leah was the mother of five Wheatley graduates: Sara Weiss Danzi Engoron (’73), Dan Weiss (’75), Brian Reynolds (’76), Bill Reynolds (’80), and Matthew Reynolds (’81). She was also the grandparent to numerous Wheatley students. After meeting Ted when they served together on a Wheatley committee, Leah and Ted fell in love and were married in 1983.
Leah was the center of a large extended family with many children, step-children, in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dear friends. She lived a long and remarkable life fully on her terms, but always with her family at the center. Leah was brilliant, exceptionally well-read, clever, and always ready with an opinion. She had a lively and engaging sense of humor and was a superb listener. Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Leah settled on Long Island—eventually in East Williston to take advantage of the schools—where she raised her family and pursued her career as a professor at Nassau Community College and to run the office of the family business. After Ted retired from Wheatley in 1983 they moved to Monterey, MA, and Leah began a new career managing a commodities trading business and then working with the therapeutic community at Gould Farm. After Ted’s death in 1996, she returned to New York. Always good company, Leah had a gift of teaching something to everyone she encountered, and usually with wit and humor. She was a bright light all her life and will be deeply missed.
Graduates
1967 - The North Side School - Ms. Doxey - Kindergarten - 1955
First Row - L-R - Linda Furst, ???, Debbie Siraco, Linda Dimmler(?), Linda Caterino, Susan Adler
Second Row - ???, ??? Francis (“Frank”) Vedder, Llewellyn (sp?) (“Lew”) Bond, ???, Leslie Strachan, Kevin Reilly, ???(with legs crossed)
Third Row - John Stedman, Larry Baum(?), Kenneth Lang, Ronald Koch(?), Dennis Pensa(?), ???, Richard Friedman, Danny Quaranto, ???
Far Right, on the Counter - Art Engoron, Bruce McCallister (sp?), Ed Klumpp
1968 - Asoka Bandarage - Reflections on Cuba, BRICS, and Geopolitics
Asoka writes about world affairs. BRICS is comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and many other countries. She lived with Karen (1969), Lisa (1970), Peter (1971), and Barbara (1975) Berley during her year as a foreign exchange student at Wheatley.
1969 - Roger P. Gimbel, EDP (Electronic Document Professional), Author and President of Gimbel & Associates- has published another book, Dream Big, Act Now - The Blueprint for Personal and Professional Success. This motivational guide blends Roger’s proven “recipe for success” with wisdom from leaders in finance, education, religion, and business, offering readers a practical roadmap to achieve their dreams. The book is available on Amazon. All proceeds from Dream Big, Act Now will benefit the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) through the Herman L. Gimbel and Audrey M. Gimbel Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund, honoring Gimbel’s parents and their enduring legacy in the printing industry, directly supports students pursuing careers in graphic communications.
1969 and 1971 - Mark Goldberg and Dale Ilsley Goldberg - Fifty Blessed Years
Dale Writes - “On June 29, 1975, Mark Goldberg (Class of 1969) and I (Class of 1971) began our lifelong journey together. Fifty years, two sons, and five granddaughters later, we are still going strong, and we feel very blessed. Through joys and sorrows, good times and tough ones, Mark’s hand has always been there to hold mine. He is the best man I have ever known. I am thankful every day for our life together.”
L-R - Dale and Mark
1973 - Gail Gimbel - “I am inspired by how many Wheatley graduates have gone on to achieve success and make a meaningful impact in the world. Wheatley was a great school for all of us to graduate from, and the accomplishments of its alumni are a testament to its legacy.”
1973 - Robert Lewis - Question - “Hello All, A question I have had since my days at Wheatley: ‘What and who were the "59ers ?”’”
1974 - Bob Berta - “Hey Art and Keith---- I am always amazed by what my classmates and my schoolmates are doing! I will watch for more greatness from the Alumni....... Go Wildcats............../s/ Bob”
1974 - Bill Meyn - “Congratulations to all the people announcing their long marriages. I am reminded that the the first anniversary is paper, the 25th is silver, and the 50th is gold. My wife Mari and I celebrated our 35th anniversary, which I think is Advil.”
1975 - Desperately Seeking Wendy Cooper - Dear Fellow Wheatleyites, I am Dellamarie Marinello Moore of the Class of 1975. I have been trying for YEARS to re-establish contact with my old friend Wendy Cooper, also 1975. I last heard from her approximately 15 years ago; after that, my letters were returned as "not at this address." I have tried every telephone number, home address, and email address that the Internet offers, and I have thus 'met' some lovely people, but none of them is Wendy. If anyone is in contact with Wendy or her siblings, Nancy (1973) and Douglas (1977), please relay the message that Della would love to hear from her? She can contact me at dellamariemoore@yahoo.com. Thank you!
1976 - DBOYSH! - At a golf outing at Cherry Creek Golf Course in Riverhead, NY, on July 11, 2025.
L-R - Front row - Mike Cashin, Joe Potenza, Rick Volpe and Tom Lonegan.
L-R - Back row - Charlie Cassely, Tom Cochrane, Billy Oakley and Ed Biancavilla
L-R - All - Mike Cashin, Joe Potenza, Charlie Cassely, Rick Volpe, Tom Cochrane, Billy Oakley, Tom Lonegan, Ed Biancavilla
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 # 214 was viewed 5,002 times and was liked five times. In all, 4,770 email addresses received Newsletter # 214.
The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 214 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 # 215. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
Pictures were great. Keep posting them Art. So good to see a bit of our past