Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 73.
The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 72 Newsletters (and 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 you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material.
Meanwhile, if you are completely uninterested in Wheatley matters, please ask me to remove you from our distribution list.
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.
Unless you indicate otherwise, I will assume that you have given me permission to publish anything you send me; but please indicate whether or not I can publish your contact information (otherwise I will assume not). Scores of alumni email addresses can be found on
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.
Note - Anything underlined is a link, or a link-to-a-link, and anything not is not, because Substack will not let you underline anything OTHER THAN a link.
The Peer Program - And other Assemblies and Events
Writes Rhoda Kalkin Schneider (1961)- “Does anyone recall when Grace Kelly's brother, John, Jr., addressed us in an assembly program about soccer scholarships to college, and someone let my Airedale Terrier into the school, and Terry marched around in the auditorium looking for me, and our principal stopped the presentation, laughing at the incident? I can’t remember if it was Norman Boyan or Walter Wathey.”
Writes Arthur H. Brown - “I just want to add to our history. First, Josh White preformed at Wheatley in 1964. Then, in 1966 Judy Collins was there. After Wheatley I attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, and after graduating in 1972 I went into radio. I met Josh and Judy again and worked with them with their concerts in Atlanta. So the circle really does go round.
Good Question - Good Answer
Rick Ardito, 1981, asked: “Why are Wheatley yearbooks called ‘Aurora’”?
Michael R. Moret, 1963, answered: This is Michael R. Moret, M.D. Class of 1963. Retired physician. Professor Emeritus Cedars Sinai Medical Center. I was the editor of the 1963. Aurora. It was basically a new new venture. We needed a new name. ‘Aurora’ is derived from the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, who travelled from east to west announcing the coming of the sun. Ancient Greek poets often mentioning dawns play of colors across the otherwise dark sky ( e.g., "rosy-fingered dawn"). We thought this a good name for young students beginning their journey in life.
Writes Art Engoron (1967) - “Wheatley’s annual yearbook has been called ‘Aurora’ since the very first iteration, 1958.
Elsie Bodnar was the Faculty Advisor. Santi Porcino was the Faculty Business Manager. Judith Berman (1958) (deceased) was the Editor-in-Chief.
Three Generations of Wheatley Wildcats
L-R - Art Engoron (1967), Anushka Shorewala (2022), and Alex Tisch (1989) in front of Tre Sorelle Restaurant, 61 Reade Street, New York City, NY, July 1, 2022
Graduates
1958 - Steve Nelson - Letter to the Editor
The New York Times recently published a letter Steve wrote about the United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Steve Nelson's Letter in the New York Times about Dobbs v Jackson (Roe v Wade)
Then as Now
Writes George Dreier (1967) - I recognize the familiar shoulder tilt of Dave Cornfield; but I didn’t realize that it went all the way back to first grade! (Note - David is in the third row, second from left, wearing a white shirt, with a sloping right shoulder.)
1967 - Art Engoron - In the News
1967 - Mitch Stephens - Triathlete
That’s Mitch in the middle, having come in first in his age group — in a return to the old country — Town of North Hempstead/Bar Beach triathlon, June 19, 2020.
1970 - Deborah Silverman Sloyer and Joanie Shacter - High Class Party
L-R - Debbie Silverman Sloyer (1970), college friend, and Joanie Shacter (1970) - Circa 1994
1976 - Adam Rosen and Eugene DePasquale - Winners
Writes Adam - “I wonder if anyone has a list of all the George Glaser Memorial Award winners. I know that my senior year (1976) Eugene DePasquale won it. I won the award for most varsity points.”
Fan Mail
1958 (Jeffrey Philipson) - ❤️
1960 (Carl Stewart) - “Glad that you are keeping up the good work with the newsletter. Always a good read.”
1961 (Carol Jalonack Blum) - “I'm always pleased when I see the newsletter in my inbox. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. I think most of us enjoy reading about our fellow Wheatleyites.”
1963 (Michael R. Moret) - “I always enjoy the Wheatley Newsletter.”
1966 (Allan Silver) - “Art, thank you for another wonderful edition of the Newsletter.”
1967 (Arthur H. Brown) - “Many thanks for all your work.”
1967 (Janet Epstein) - “Thanks for keeping up with class news and our connections.”
1967 (Richard Mark Friedman) - “Good issue, as always.”
1967 (Fred Hanft) - ❤️
1969 (Carol Pistocchi Strouss) ❤️
1970 (George Nierenberg) - ❤️
1973 (Maury Rogoff) - “Thank you for being so communicative to Wheatleyites.”
1974 (Bob Berta) - “A good Newsletter. Keep up the good work.”
1974 (James Elefonte) - ❤️
1976 (Adam Rosen) - “Art - Thanks for all your work on the newsletter.”
1977 (Linda Watnick) - “Not only do my brothers (Donald, 1979, and Kenny, 1983, Watnick) and I enjoy your newsletter, but our mother Ellen, who is 93, does too!”
1979 (Sharon Lazar) - “You do an amazing job keeping Wheatley alums united. Thanks for all you are doing for Wheatley!”
1981 (Stephen Bertalli) - ❤️
1988 (Amy Levine) - “I receive the Newsletter you kindly send out.”
Closing
That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 73. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, 1967
WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM
ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM
646-872-4833
As an alumna of the class of '72
I'm gratefull to all who make these newsletters happen and to all who contribute giving each addition the rich depth of content, emotion and comraderie ...