The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 86

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 86.

According to Substack, in its first 2 hours Newsletter # 85, which had 4,653 subscribers (all free), was viewed 4,129 times and was “liked” 25 times.

All underlined text is a link-to-a-link (or, rarely, an email address). Clicking anywhere on the underlined text, and then on the link that pops up, will get you to your on-line destination.

Editors’ Note - From Day One readers have observed that most “news” in this Newsletter comes from alumni who graduated in the 1960s and 1970s and thereabouts. There are several hypotheses for this phenomenon, including that older graduates have more leisure time; younger graduates have more social media outlets; I graduated in 1967, and I still have many personal contacts; and, most generally, a change in the zeitgeist from Baby Boomers to Generation X to Millennials to Generation Z.

I assure you that this skewing is NOT institutional bias; I publish EVERYTHING I receive (excepting only occasional fakes and vicious ad hominem attacks).

I recently spoke at length to Robert Gadamowitz, who’s been teaching math at Wheatley for some 25 years. He would like to see more input from 1990s-and-beyond graduates, as would I. So, graduates from those years, please send me your stories; and everyone else, please send me your suggestions. - Art Engoron

Introducing Wheatley’s New Principal, Joseph Wiener

Joseph Wiener is proud to join the East Williston Community as the new Principal of The Wheatley School. Joseph grew up on the south shore of Long Island and graduated from Massapequa High School. He then earned a bachelor's degree  in biology, with a major in literature as well, from Tufts University. Immediately after college he moved back to Long Island and accepted a position as a science teacher at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens. He taught biology and general science at Cardozo for 3 years, then accepted a position teaching biology and Earth science at Jericho High School. While teaching at Jericho, he pursued his master's degree in literacy at  LIU-Post.  After graduating from that program, he continued his graduate studies  at Touro College, attaining a second master's degree in educational leadership.  

Joseph began his administrative career as an Assistant Principal at Jericho Middle School, spending 11 years in that role. He then accepted positions as Middle School Principal in Lynbrook and Chappaqua, New York.  As the proud Principal of The Wheatley School, Joseph is excited to work with students, staff, families, and the community to maintain the excellent educational experience that is the tradition in East Williston and at The Wheatley School.

Introducing a Former Wheatley Principal: Dr. Clayton L. Akin.

Writes Art Engoron (1967) - “Clayton Akin was Wheatley’s ‘Senior High Principal’ for some or all of school year 1959-1960. The following link is to an obituary from 2003 (one of the longest I’ve ever read, in a lifetime of reading obituaries). Clayton Akin Obituary. To say that he had “a distinguished career in academia” is to put it mildly. The obituary mentions his brief tenure at Wheatley; that the staff of his educational consulting firm, EDUCATE, Inc. included Howard Storm (a former Wheatley teacher); that he was an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist (‘Christian Scientists,’ whose motto is ‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons’); and that his daughter, Linda Akin Kaye, ‘lives’ in Georgia……and therein lies a tale.

I think that I remember Linda from 1959, when we were both in Fifth Grade. I seem to recall that she was in Betty O’Connor’s class, in a corner room near North Side’s Northeast Stairway. I doubt that I ever spoke to Linda, but my classmate Scott Geery did.

Writes Scott Geery (1967) - “Back in the day Linda Akin lived on Andrews Road, along the eastern edge of the North Side property, between Hillside Ave. and Downing St. I visited her there one day and met her folks briefly. Shortly thereafter we went in different directions, and I never knew what became of her. Thanks for the ride in the wayback machine, Artie.”

So I am putting out an APB (all points bulletin) - Does anybody have any contact or other information for or about Linda Akin Kaye, who apparently now lives in Asheville, NC?

Another Response to The Passing of Walter Wesley (“Wes”) Wathey, Wheatley Principal 1961-1979

Writes Ellen Barnett (1974) - “Mr. Wathey was always very good to me.”

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 85 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, mirabile dictu, 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 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.

Graduates

1961 - Richard Corben - Remembered by Classmate Gene Razzetti - “Richard Corben was the ‘Quiet Genius’ of the Class of 1961. Friendly, but distant. Peter Calderon summed him up perfectly.”

1961 - Gene Razzetti - His Family’s House Was Sold to the Parents of Roger (1969) and Gail (1973) Gimbel - “My family moved from an apartment in Flushing, Queens, to 11 Clover Lane, Roslyn Heights, and we were among the first ‘settlers.’ That means (1) we were among the first to plant the trees which took over the neighborhood; (2) we tack-hammered the first brass numbers on the front doors; and (3) we domesticated the ‘Wild Cadillac.’ My grandfather built a barbecue in the back yard, which was not easy in those days. We finished the attic and made it a playroom.

Hardly a day went by that we didn't see ‘Old Man Levitt’ driving around like a Patroon. Then came the knife-sharpener and the Good Humor man.

In 1956 the Gimbels purchased the house. When the elder Mr. Gimbel referred to himself not as a ‘printer’ but as a ‘lithographer,’ you could have heard a pin drop. I'm surprised nobody said: "You go to your church, and I'll go to mine.

My parents had a Cadillac. The Gimbels had, I think, a Duesenberg.  Cool car, whatever it was.

My family threw a welcoming party for the Gimbels. It looked like an out-take from ‘Ozzie and Harriet.’ After Roslyn Heights my family moved to Red Ground Road in Old Westbury, and we lived there until 1966.

I saw what happened to the Roslyn Country Club when I was there for my class’s 61st-year reunion in October. Too bad about that.

Writes Gail - “I do not recall any BBQ.  I very much remember the attic, as it always scared me. I probably have the documentation on when the attic crawl space was converted to a bedroom for Roger and a photography studio/darkroom for my dad, as photography was one of his hobby’s.

My family had multiple Caddy’s and Lincoln’s, and dad always picked high colors that weren’t even generally available and had to be signed off on with the dealer upon ordering. Sometimes the purple body and Duesenberg white-walled tires looked a bit… pimpish! 

The enormous $2.5m and up homes have taken away most of the beautiful trees; the landscape is quite different now

The RCC is non-existent as a community pool club. Someplace in my old paperwork I have the original brochure with my parents and I at the baby pool! 

Great memories of a very great neighborhood.”

Susan Obrant - 1964 - “My 'Epiphany of Paradox,’ a 25-foot painting, just came down after a two-month exhibition at West Connecticut State University. I was invited to exhibit when the Curator found a large enough wall and designed the exhibition around my work.

This link will take you to a 12 minute talk I gave about it:

Susan Obrant's twelve-minute talk about 'Epiphany'"

1964 - Ellen Solow Holzman - A note on the fate of the radio office:  When I joined the Wheatley English Department faculty in the fall of 1989, I learned about that office. It had been turned into a second book room for the English Department (which always needed more shelf space) after students were caught in there in flagrante delicto, possibly more than once. It was kept locked, and only English teachers had the key!  However, during my time at Wheatley, we had for a while our own TV station, run by a technology teacher, and homerooms tuned in to the announcements every morning.”

1965 - Jeffrey Orling - “Reading the newsletters is such a hoot!  My memory has way too many cobwebs to be reliable...but the missives bring back memories that I thought were lost.  Too bad there are so few photos of those days.

Roger (“Roddy”) Nierenberg lived down the street, on the corner of Shelter and Snapdragon (my family lived on Shelter Lane)  Roger became an accomplished musician, and I had the pleasure of seeing him conduct in Lincoln Center.  His younger brother George did a film about tap dancing: George Nierenberg Wikipedia Entry

I wonder how many Wheatleyites I can recall from the “S Section” and "County Club":

Roger Morris

The Eastmans

The Nierenbergs

The Jeromes

The Messings (Robert, Charles, and Kenneth)

The Glasers (George and Tom)

The Bagdons

The Witkins

The Solows

Peter Altchuler

David Golub

The Zoob Twins

Joe Sciortino (I ran into him in Florence!)

The Alperts

Dickie Strauss

I have (a few times) on my way back home driven through the old neighborhood.  Nothing is recognizable (of course).  Too bad.  I moved to NYC after college (I think my classmate Andrea Levine also attended Carnegie Mellon University), first in Park Slope, then the Upper West Side, and finally the loft on 10th street.  Those were the days!  I rode my bike all over town.  I lived in a loft at 32 East 10th Street for about 20 years.  Sure there are changes, but THAT street is still quite recognizable.  All that time I have no memories of running into anyone from Wheatley... except my brother Alan (1966) and Gail Wittkin, who lived in The Village.  I was seeing Andy Halper for a while when he was living in Brooklyn Heights.”

1965 - Jonathon Silver - Reflecting on a National Tragedy and a Classmate

Writes Jon - “As his sister (SuZanne Zenker Gilbride, 1974) wrote, a national tragedy took place around the corner from the home of my classmate, Steven Zenker, in Florida four-plus years ago: on February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old with a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle murdered 17 people and injured 17 others at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida. Steve and I were friends at Wheatley; it is remarkable that a kind, gentle, good, boy/young man I knew so long ago should live so close to a national tragedy, a senseless, school multiple-murder, at that; at the school that his children attended and from which they graduated; a school with which he must be as familiar as our parents were of Wheatley. It must hurt him as much as such a killing at Wheatley tomorrow would gore each of us.”

1967 - Seth Bardo Remembers Bobby Silverstein - “Bobby represented our best selves. Kind, thoughtful, and inclusive, he served as a model for the rest of us as we navigated a challenging period in our lives. Because he valued everyone, he was admired by us. Humble in the best sense, he did not need to draw attention to himself; to be in his presence, one felt a connection to a larger more benevolent universe.  Bobby’s chosen field of employment, to be an advocate for the disabled, makes perfect sense. He lived to serve others in many capacities, most importantly, family: husband, father, grandfather, grandson, brother.  In this dark time of uncertainty Bobby’s guiding light will be sorely missed.”

1967 - Scott Frishman Remembers Bobby Silverstein - “The accolades for Bobby Silverstein are quite something. Seems amazing that he accomplished so much.
The photographs of him in the Newsletters look exactly as I remember him from when we graduated.”

1967 - Henry Pullman Remembers Bobby Silverstein - “He was a great guy.  I’m sorry we didn’t stay closer.  I knew his wife Lynn (albeit not too well) from Cornell and Woodcrest (the golf club we belonged to, as did Richard Friedman’s and Toby Cohn’s families).

1972 - Richard Weissman - Lauded by Edward B Ryder (1973) - “Weissman is a wise man, and so, too, is his partner, J.D.  Their advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community is something to be applauded and lauded.  The fact that ‘Aunt Maxie’ and the Speaker from Pacific Palisades were present at their recent event just adds an additional level of glorious luster to a gathering of good citizens.”

1973 - Early Reunion Planning

The Class of 1973 50th-Year Reunion will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Hendrick’s Tavern in Roslyn, NY, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. If you are interested in helping and/or attending please email Nancy Dreyer at nancy@koffmandreyer.com or Bonnie Greenberg at bonnie.greenberg@mac.com.

1973 - Gail Gimbel - Old Photograph of Kids in the Neighborhood

Writes Gail - “Here’s an old photograph taken on the driveway of my house, 11 Clover Lane, Roslyn Heights. ‘The Gang’ is standing on a make-believe boat!”

Amy Hershcopf (Levine) (1972) is at the bottom left.

Older sister Shelley Hershcopf (1968) is standing behind her

Gail Gimbel (1973) is in the front middle, in the white jacket

Robert Siegelman (1972) is just behind and to Gail’s right.

Roger Gimbel (1969) , wearing a hat, is right behind Robert

Peter Siegelman (1969) is in the back row, middle, with light-colored hair.

The tall guy, back-right, also likely of Clover Lane, is presently unknown - please help.

1972, Joel Harris, and 1973, Ed Ryder

L-R - Joel and Ed - “When you're at the Nassau County Club in Glen Cove for the North Shore Kiwanis' annual Holiday Party on 14 December 2022, and you and your NYC Special Ed and UFT teacher wife Joyce Manley-Ryder are with good friends; including a guy you've known since 9th-grade math class at the Wheatley School, it’s Kiwanis “Governor” Joel Harris of Mineola. Joel lives in Mineola and assumed the office of Governor of the New York Kiwanis District on 1 October 2022; he will hold that position until midnight of September 30, 2023. He is also a past president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce; a member of Chabad of Mineola, headed by Rabbi Anchel Perl; and has been long-married to Helene, whom he met at Hofstra back when Malcolm Wilson was the Governor of the State of New York.”

1973 - Mindy Silverstein Levy - “I recently published a book, ‘Birth Days, about my work and my life. I am a home birth midwife and psychotherapist and work a lot with post-trauma in the peripartum period. My book is about the meeting point between trauma and birth.”

1974 - Ellen Barnett Diana - “It’s ALWAYS great to see people I remember fondly, as I only attended public school for four years. I loved seeing Gail Gimbel (1973), who looks absolutely the same; & Glenn Monk (1972) and Elyse Rame Beyer (1974); and my sister from another mister, my best buddy, SuZanne Zenker, of whom I couldn’t be more proud!!! Happy Healthy New Year to Everyone in 2023!”

1974 - Laurie Cohen - Financial Reporter - “In March 2008, soon after the Murdoch buyout, I left my Wall Street Journal reporting job. I've been working for hedge funds ever since. I needed to make money to send my kid to Riverdale Country School and Bucknell University. He's now engaged to be married to a fellow Bucknellian and works for a financial public relations firm.”

1974 - Clifford Struhl - “Covid taught me one thing: time to cut back at work and get even more active. My bees in Syosset provided over 2,300 pounds of honey, some donated to a local food bank. Off to Vermont every few weeks to carve marble. Getting ready to hike Mount Kilimanjaro. Life is good. Still in touch with Wheatley 1974 buddies George Kuntz, Scot Feld and Buzz Bosshart.”

1974 - SuZanne Zenker Gilbride - Writes Patrice Maller (1975) - “SuZanne Zenker Gilbride, Your quilts are stunning in a way that gets me thinking about how ‘Art Washes From The Soul The Dust of Everyday Life’ (author unknown). Thank you for using your talents gently to allow us to linger on difficult subjects. I'm sure your art promotes healing and peace.”

1989 - Peter Sultan - Ranked a Top Orthopedic Surgeon in New York

Writes Peconic Bay Medical Center - “Dr. Peter Sultan, an orthopedic surgeon at PBMC, has made the list of top hip and knee replacement surgeons in the state, being ranked within the top five physicians treating osteoarthritis in New York.

Dr. Sultan and PBMC’s expertly skilled orthopedic doctors and arthritis specialists offer comprehensive treatment options and rehabilitation services to address joint pain and arthritis. To address joint pain as a result of osteoarthritis, Dr. Sultan offers revolutionary orthopedic services that include breakthrough medications and exercise approaches, teamed with the region’s top physical therapists.”

Peter calls himself “A Proud Wheatley Alumnus from 1989.” He adds: “Wheatley was the foundation that built my career. The best teachers anywhere.” He graduated from Harvard College and Cornell Medical School.

Fan Mail

Faculty - Karen Bartscherer - “Art and Keith, I feel sure that every person who reads these missives enjoys them, and as a current one is done, we immediately look forward to the arrival of the next one. It’s such an ongoing gift of connection to a shared past and to each other. Thanks for the dedication and effort you both put forth to keep this going for all of us.👍❤️”

Faculty (Bob Brandt) - “I look forward to each edition of the excellent Wheatley Alumni Newsletter. They fill a void created by time and absence. You and Keith are heroes in my book. Thank you both for touching so many lives and giving them a voice. Best to all for the religious and secular holidays.”

Faculty (Stephen Ehre) - ❤️

Faculty (Georgette Macrina) - ❤️

1958 (Geraldine Boyce) - ❤️

1958 (Steve Nelson) - ❤️

1961 (Gene Razzetti) - “Art, thanks to you and Keith for another great newsletter.”

1962 (Richard Glassman) - ❤️

1963 (Keith Aufhauser) - ❤️

1963 (Marcia Friedman Mayer) - “Thank you, Art and Keith, for giving us all this community and triggering so many memories with each monthly edition.”

1964 (Vivi Cilmi Kunz) - “Hi Art, Thanks again for your latest update. I always enjoy seeing  and reading about how our classmates have impacted each other and our world.  It was also great to see how the Iannotti guys are still alive and kicking.” I have many lively memories of our encounters with fun together!”

1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “ Thanks again, Art, for your work as the Wheatley archivist.”

1967 (Seth Bardo) - “Thank you for continuing this wonderful service to all Wheatley graduates.”

1967 (Richard Mark Friedman) - “Hi Art, Today I received Newsletter # 85. Throughout the day I have meetings with attorneys, plus preparation for tonight's executive meeting and annual board meeting (as President and Treasurer of a 250-unit condo association).  And yet, I felt compelled to read the entire newsletter upon receiving it!  I hope that says more about you than it does about my being a procrastinator.”

1967 (Scott Frishman) - “Hey Art, You are just incredible, my friend. I think the Newsletters keep getting better and better, but I am prejudiced. Thanks as always.”

1967 (Susan Miller Penn) - “Thanks for the newsletters.”

1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “Thanks as always for keeping us up on Wheatley 😊. I loved the photos on the printed Wheatley Wildcat 😉, yeah we were all young back then 😊😊”

1968 (Kevin Angliss) - ❤️

1969 (Carol Pistocchi Strouss) - ❤️

1970 (Cathy Gerson) - ❤️

1970 (Jonathan Gold) - ❤️

1970 (Candice Maller Sherman) - ❤️

1970 (Wendy Strickman Hoffman) - ❤️

1972 (Donnis Gomes) - ❤️

1973 (Gail Gimbel) - “Art, thanks for sharing.”

1973 (Mindy Silverstein Levy) - “Thank you for doing this.”

1974 (Donna Baldassin Light) - ❤️

1974 (Ellen Barnett Diana) - “Thanks ❤️”

1974 (Laurie Cohen) - “I love the Wheatley newsletters and look forward to reading them.”

1974 (Ann DeMilta) - ❤️

1974 (James Elefonte) - ❤️

1975 (Patrice Maller) - “Always so much fun to hear what Wheatley Alums are up to. We certainly are an interesting and diverse group.”

1976 (Robin Firetog Glanzberg) - ❤️

1976 (Jennifer Karp Colbert) - ❤️

1977 (Wendy Wise) - ❤️

1979 (William Behan) - “Thanks, Art. Happy Holidays.”❤️

1979 (Wayne Cutler) - “Art – Thanks for your consistency and diligence in keeping the Wheatley Alum alive!”

1979 (Mary Hopkins Burke) - “Art & Keith, Thank you for another awesome newsletter. I especially enjoyed SuZanne Zenker Gilbride's quilts. What a talent?!”

1979 (Wendy McClure) - “Yowdza Lollapalooza! Your Newsletters pack a punch! Thank you and webmaster Keith for your hard work in keeping amazing Wheatleyites connected! Happy Holy Days to All! 💗”

1979 (Janeann Preston) - ❤️

1993 (Claudia Reinhardt Johnson) - ❤️

1990 - Dana Lieber Moriarty - ❤️

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 86.  Please send us your autobiography before someone else sends us your obituary.

Art

Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967

WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM

ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM

WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG

646-872-4833