The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 249
California Reality; a 1958 Passing; a 1964 Shout-Out; a 1967 Move; a 1971 Football Hero; a World of Dogs
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 249.
The Best Invitation of 2026
UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR RSVP AND SPREADING THE WORD ON THE MARCH 21 AND 22, 2026 WHEATLEY ALL-CLASSES EVENT IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Richard “Rich” Weissman (1972) Writes -- “About 50 people have replied “yes” or “maybe” to the event. All classes are invited. Everyone is welcome to join us, including spouses/partners/family/friends. Feel free to include those with whom you are travelling or visiting. And, please pass this onto all those you know from Wheatley – feel free to use this as an email blast for your class lists.
Please RSVP by emailing me at rweissman@hotmail.com, noting if you are a “definite yes” or a “maybe,” and how many including yourself will/might be attending. Also note whether you and the others will/might be attending the dinner and the lunch or the dinner only. Thank you!
~ INVITATION ~
Join Us for a Wheatley Gathering on the Weekend of March 21 and 22, 2026 in Palm Springs, California for All Wheatley Classes – Everyone is Invited!
We are inviting all Wheatley classes to come to the lovely city of Palm Springs, California (two hours east of Los Angeles) for a weekend party at my home, hosted and paid for by my husband, J.D. Horn, and me. It’s going to be a fun gathering in our wonderful resort city. Spouses/partners/companions/family/friends are all invited as well.
We’ll start Saturday evening March 21, 2026 with a catered buffet dinner party with champagne and wine, live music and entertainment, beginning at 5:00 pm. The next day, Sunday, March 22, 2026 we’ll have a poolside party with a catered buffet lunch at 11:00 am going through the late afternoon. Attire will be very casual for both days.
We’re in the scenic Andreas Hills neighborhood in Palm Springs on Avenida Sevilla (just south of downtown). Our house was designed for large entertaining and can handle sizable events both indoors and outdoors by the pool with functions ranging from 50 to 350+ people (to see some photos of a few of the many events we’ve hosted, you can go to my website and look at my charitable page at www.richweissman.com).
Of course, everyone needs to provide their own air travel, ground travel, and accommodations. There are many places to stay at all price points in the city, and getting around Palm Springs with Lyft/Uber is easy. It’s a small city, and the airport (PSP) is downtown. Our house is only eight minutes from downtown. Email me if you need information on places to stay or have questions about Palm Springs.
Please RSVP by emailing me at rweissman@hotmail.com, noting if you are a “definite yes” or a “maybe,” and how many including yourself will/might be attending. Also note if you and the others will/might be attending the dinner and the lunch or the dinner only.
And please share this invitation with others from Wheatley so that everyone knows that they are invited.
With love,
Richard (Rich) Weissman
Class of 1972 (but graduated in 1971 and not in the 1972 yearbook)
Attended North Side grades 1-6, and then Junior and Senior High at Wheatley
Email: rweissman@hotmail.com
Cell: 503.250.4545
Website: www.richweissman.com
Residences:
Palm Springs, CA (Andreas Hills)
San Francisco, CA (Nob Hill)
Black Butte Ranch, OR (Cascade Mountains, Central Oregon)”
Graduates
1958 - Richard Benfield - Deceased
Richard Ernest Benfield, born October 25, 1940, in Granville, New York, passed away on December 29, 2025, after a life defined by dedication, intellect, and quiet perseverance. He was the son of Ernest and Edith Benfield, whose values shaped his strong sense of purpose and integrity.
Richard spent 42 years with The Record newspaper in New Jersey, where he served as editorial editor. Throughout his long and respected career, he was known for his thoughtful judgment, sharp editorial eye, and deep commitment to responsible journalism. His work helped inform and shape public discourse for generations of readers.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Jane, Peggy, and Pam, each of whom shared important chapters of his life. Richard is survived by his son, Rodd (Shelly); his daughter, Wendy; and his treasured granddaughter, Ashley, who brought him immense pride and joy.
An avid outdoorsman, Richard was a lifelong bicyclist, runner, and cross-country skier. His passion for sports reflected his disciplined nature and love of the natural world. Richard Ernest Benfield will be remembered for his professional integrity, his devotion to family, and a life lived with steady purpose and quiet strength.
A memorial service will be planned at a later date. Details to follow.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations the
Alzheimer’s Association
in Richard’s name.
https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/roddbenfield/in-honor-of-richard-benfield
1964 - “Happy New Year to the Class of 1964🥳.” - Natalie Cobb Wentworth
1967 - Art Engoron - On 1/1/26, I aged-out of being a judge, but in a few weeks I will begin working as a mediator. The prior week, I moved my residence from Manhasset to Great Neck, NY.
1971 - Bruce Artim - Wildcat Football Hero
Sister Melanie Artim (1974) Writes - “I'd like to claim bragging rights for Craig Artim's (1969) remarkable three touchdowns against some team, and I think Wheatley won, and no one could believe it. The football historians will be able to fill in the details. Happy 2026 to all.”
The WildCAT Pets Gallery
Steve Rushmore (1963) Writes - These are our doggies. Both are rescues. The white one is Gucci - a Coton de Tulear; the brown one is Chanel - a mix of several breeds- lab, bull-dog, and pit bull - the sweetest dog I have ever had. We named them Gucci and Chanel so they will never feel like second-class doggies. Lastly, if you haven’t rescued a dog, you are missing the most satisfying experience in the world.
Steve Rushmore, CHA, MAI
Founder- HVS & Creator of the “Hotel Valuation Methodology”
Steve’s Online Course- “How to Negotiate a Hotel Management Contract
www.hotelmanagementcontracts.com
Molly, Art Engoron’s (1967) 10-year-old, ruby, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (a few years ago).
Wayne Peiser’s (1971) Opie; Doxie; Rascal and; Martin.
Malcolm, Ilona Willick Guzman’s (1974) 185-pound (and not an ounce of fat) Harlequin Great Dane. “Malcolm’s been gone for 12 years now. I had him as a baby from 2002 until 2013. A real attention-getter, he was nearly twice my size; we were quite the sight. People took pictures of him wherever we went. Brakes screeched as we walked down the street so that people could check what on earth they just passed. He would plop his butt down on anyone’s lap if they were sitting on the couch. He will always be my favorite dog ever.”
Fan Mail
1962 (Karen Strumpfler Tucker) - “I love the pet photos!”
1963 (Stephen Shikes) - ❤️
1964 (Natalie Cobb Wentworth) - ❤️
1964 (Richard Ilsley) - ❤️
1964 (John Sullivan) - “Thanks, Art, for your selfless dedication to all things Wheatley. I have seen your role as editor & publisher grow each year, not only in quality of content but in publishing on a much more frequent basis than the earlier distributions. I hope that you get a lot of thanks from the recipients of this quality product.”
1966 (Suzanne Stone) - ❤️ “Thanks for keeping the adorable pet gallery.”
1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - ❤️ Great job as always Art! Thank you. I love the dogs
1969 (Ronni Lee Seltzer) - “Thank you for all you do to keep Wheatley alumni connected. Wishing you a New Year filled with health, happiness, and peace.”
1974 (Melanie Artim) - ❤️
1976 (Lawrence Copeland) - ❤️
1976 (Marjorie Glantz) - ❤️
???? (“Amy”) - I love the pet gallery. Happy New Year🍸
???? (“Jon”) - ❤️
???? (“Dogmother”) - ❤️
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.
The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 248 Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletters (and much other Wheatley data and arcana) at our website:
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 style 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, performed, and/or studied there. Art Engoron, Class of 1967
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 249. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967
646-872-4833
Same here Art,Congrats on this New Chapter🤗
I’m looking for susan Starace (Ahee?) currently living in CA.