The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 131.

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 131.

According to Substack, in the first 24 hours after publication, Newsletter # 130 was viewed 3,138 times, was “liked” 2! times, and received five comments. In all, 4,699 email addresses received Newsletter # 130. Last month, the Newsletter was accessed a total of 13,500 times.

All underlined text is a link-to-a-link (or, occasionally, an email address). Clicking anywhere on underlined text, and then clicking on the link that pops up, will get you to your on-line destination (or 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 130 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 frequently; it (usually) works!

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.

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

District and ‘Hood History

Writes Rhoda Kalkin Schneider (1961) - “We had one Black girl in our class.  She was the daughter of a live-in maid. I do not recall her name; perhaps someone else in our class remembers.  Needless to say, she felt extremely uncomfortable, and she transferred to Roslyn High School using someone's address in that district.”

Writes Jonathan Silver (1965) - “Arthur, some lawyers and some non-lawyers among Wheatley alumni will recall that in 1948 the United States Supreme Court, in Shelley v Kraemer, 334 U S. 1 (1948), ruled that racial restriction re-sale covenants in the deeds of private, family homes were unconstitutional. Like all Supreme Court decisions, that one was not universally followed, but the decision might be the reason why our Country Club home deeds contained no such restriction. I also remember my father telling me, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, that he had been told that there had been one Black family, original owner, of an RCC house  (dim recollection, I believe next door to ours, so, perhaps, 22 or 24 Locust Lane), but that ‘they had been made to feel uncomfortable, and left.’ I don't know whether it was true, but my father seemed to know, from residents prior to us, and it wouldn't surprise anyone, would it?”

Faculty Appreciation

Writes William Arnold (Faculty) - Hi, The spring I was at Wheatley I was invited to bring two Driver Education graduates to a safety event on a Saturday morning sponsored by Ford Motor Company. I invited a 1967 graduate who must have changed her mind five times in three days, telling me Friday afternoon that she wasn't going to go. When I left school I almost took the forms she'd filled out, but I thought, “People need to learn to stick with a decision," and I left the forms at school. As the event got underway she came running up and said, "I'm here."

Arthur Brown (1967) had come to spectate and Steve McGarry (1967) was entered. He did very well on the driving portion despite having been out late Friday night. I wanted to show what a farce that event was. Sadly, most things having to do with the ‘drive to survive mentality’ are of very limited value at best. I told both Steve and Arthur that anyone who sticks to a decision is much more likely to do well in life.

Steve actually was set to transfer from Nassau Community to a four-year drafting program when I saw him in 1969. Arthur did well at a two-year school in GA and went four years in a business program. He ended up tutoring others in reading and math. Once he got away from the pressure of trying to live up to his brother Edward (1958) and parents he blossomed. I saw him in Atlanta in 1978 where he was working in sales for a radio station and doing very well.”

Writes William David Rutenberg (1964) - “Hi Art: I, too, have fond memories of Mr. Rosenstein and his ability to bring chemistry to life.  Two indelible memories.

1) ‘LEO’ and ‘GER’ - ‘LEO’ is ‘loss of electron, oxidation’; ‘GER’ is ‘gain of electron, reduction.’ This served me well throughout my career in medical science.

2) Mr. Rosenstein was teaching us about urinalysis. We were asked to bring in a urine specimen.  John Angliss brought in a yellow liquid in a test tube. Paraphrasing Hamlet (and a special thanks to Mrs. Auerbach, for giving me my life long love of Shakespeare) John, questioned whether it is nobler to drink, or not to drink, held up that test tube, and sang to Rosey:

‘Drink with me to days gone by

To the life that’s going to be

Here's to you and here's to me’

and he drank it. Ugh! Needless to say, Mr. Rosenstein was aghast.  With a great big smile, John toasted him with a test tube of ginger ale. It was a memorable moment. And that’s what memories are made of.”

Graduates

1964 - Jay Roth, Bill Rutenberg, Brian Stone - Appreciation - Writes Bill Rutenberg

To classmate Brian Stone: your piece in the Wheatley Newsletter # 129

WHEATLEY NEWSLETTER # 129

was so poignant and eloquently written, I could not agree with you more. So proud to call you a friend. Memories are made of this.

To classmate Jay Roth: My brother, my friend since third grade, I couldn’t have asked for more than the friendship, discussions, games and time we have shared together and with our families. Memories are made of this.

Yes, dear friends and schoolmates, we each remember how much Wheatley means to us and guided us ‘through the night with the light from above.’ Joy to the world and peace on earth in 2024 and to ‘infinity and beyond.’ Veritatem quaerite, Bill Rutenberg, 1964

P.S. Remember when you found out there was no ‘permanent record.’ 😁”

1966 - Diana Noble Rubinger Olmert - Home Economics

Writes Diana - Hi Art, My husband thought that I had lost my mind when I started to cry from laughter after reading Janet Kurman’s post about her Home Economics adventures. Try explaining washing a chicken in Home Economics to an Israeli.….Thanks for the laughter.”

1967 - Arthur Engoron - Party Time