Welcome to the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 179,
Class of 1974 50th-Year Reunion - 10/19
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Class of 1975 50th-Year Reunion Plans
The Class of 1975 is planning a 50th-year reunion for the late summer or fall of 2025. Contact Robert Vincze at vinczelaw@att.net, cell phone: 303-204-8207, if you are interested in serving on the reunion committee or have a great idea to share.”
Class of 2004 20th-Year Reunion - 10/26
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Wheatley Class of 2004 20th-Year Reunion Registration (click and click again)
‘Hood (Sort of) Event
Robert Wechter (1975) Writes - “Good morning, Art. I recently ran across this announcement for an event sponsored by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. I guess they have been monitoring the Wheatley Newsletter! Here's the url and a brief description of the event. Maybe it will be of interest to alumni. Appreciatively, Robert Wechter
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/keyword%20Motor%20parkway
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Bike the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
at Holy Cow Playground (in Kissena Corridor Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Bike the Long Island Motor Parkway with the Urban Park Rangers and cycle back
in time to learn about the historic use of this now-repurposed trail. Bring
your own bike!
Category: Urban Park Rangers, Bicycling Free!
‘Hood History
Bob Holley (1958) - Writes - “Hi Art, I’ve been enjoying the various stories about Wheatley grads' adventures on the Old Motor Parkway (“OMP”), so I’ll throw in my ancient memories (I turned 84 on September 6 🥳) .
I arrived in East Williston in June 1948, and by that fall I had made a few friends (and occasional enemies) like Bruce Richardson (1958), Don McCallister (1958), and Jack Holian. Don’s house was on the corner of Robbins and Orchard Drives. Robbins Drive, the northern end of which ran east-west, was the northern-most street in East Williston. The only thing north of it was a deeply wooded area that surrounded the quite accessible old pavement of the OMP, which stretched west to Roslyn Road and east to a southward bend that once ran into the grounds of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club—all in all approximately a third of a mile of old roadway. North of that section of the OMP was a huge potato field — part of Rushmore Farms… about 40+ acres. This was later the site for part of William Levitt’s Roslyn Country Club housing development).
Needless to say, that sort of a rustic layout was a paradise to a bunch of eight- or ten-year-olds with vivid imaginations -- a rural playground with very few rules. I can’t put an exact time frame on our OMP adventures, but I remember being at Don’s house and hearing General Douglas McArthur’s farewell speech, which was in April 1951.
I don’t think that our original group ever ventured beyond where the OMP roadway surface ended at Roslyn Road – t think the old bridge over that N-S thoroughfare had been removed years earlier.
At a later time, however, some new friends and I did venture west, and we came upon an old toll station just west of Roslyn Road; there was an old house there, unoccupied but furnished, where, we surmised, the toll master had lived.
In about 1953-54, my best friend Mike Ganci and I decided to follow the OMP as far west as we could. We set out on bicycles and progressed well into Williston Park, where we suddenly encountered a large excavated area, maybe a quarter of a mile wide, that had gobbled up the OMP roadway. After some exploration, however, we
picked it up on the other side of the hole,’ and we followed the accessible old roadway all the way to a point near Lake Success, where we could see the Sperry Gyroscope plant off to our right. It was late in the afternoon, so we headed back; I think we covered about six miles.
At one time, the Old Motor Parkway and Wheatley Hills Golf Club co-existed, and the roadway roughly bisected the golfing grounds heading north-south. I assume that at one time there were bridges or tunnels to permit golfing access to all the holes, but I have no memory of the OMP being evident on the golf course. The OMP picked up on the south side of Hillside Avenue just east of Titus Way. Following the OMP remnant roadway south of Hillside Avenue seemed pretty tedious to us, so we never attempted to follow the Parkway south and then east – I suppose that if we had had an old map, we might have tried harder; it was readily accessible in places, generally eastbound, all the way—25+ miles out to Lake Ronkonkoma.” Article about Michael Ganci's Murder
Nancy Kurshan (1961) Writes - “Art, I lived on Bengeyfield Drive, not too far from
the Old Motor Parkway, which ran behind the houses of some of my High Street
neighbors — the Berkans and the Mittenthals. I wasn’t much of a rule-breaker
back then, but the OMP felt like a wild, deliciously illicit place to get
away from the eyes and ears of adults.
A much more manicured and very beautiful place was Old Westbury Gardens. I
did bicycle to and through there, I think with webmaster
Keith Aufhauser (1963) and probably others. Jeanne
Messing, Joan Mahoney, Paula Ross and I (all 1961) used to
ice skate on a pond somewhere in Old Westbury. As I recall, no adults were
supervising us. I wonder if kids are still allowed to do what we did?
I feel very lucky to have had such friends and such a childhood.”
Robert Halper (1965) Writes - “Seems like everyone has an Old Motor Parkway story. Not surprising. It was a great place for a little adventure in an otherwise staid suburban community. I agree with Dan Wolf (1971) that the sum of all the stories reminds me of ‘Stand By Me.’ I’m still waiting for someone to own up to finding a body.”
Rick Jalonack (1966) Writes - “I was approximately 10 or 11 years old when the Long Island Expressway was being built. The route was exactly where my house was, on Potters Lane in Roslyn, so my family moved to Old Westbury. When the LIE then went through Old Westbury, it was below grade, and entrances, exits, and lighting of any sort were strictly prohibited. These little items were NOT by accident. Shows you the influence wealth and power had.”
Ken Gallard (1968) Writes - “Say Art……It has been interesting to read in recent newsletters many folks' memories of the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway. Frankly, this is the first I've heard of it--from you folks. While you guys were out exploring the parkway, I was probably busy watching ‘The Three Stooges,’ ‘Abbott & Costello,’ ‘Soupy Sales,’ or working at Carvel. So I was surprised recently when reading an article in a publication from The Trust for Public Land that talked about the Vanderbilt. I'm a frequent contributor to the efforts of The Trust for Public Land to connect under-served populations with open space, parks, and trails. A recent TTPL publication outlined how the Vanderbilt is to be incorporated into a biking, hiking and birding trail system from one end of Long Island to the other. It will ultimately connect into the state-wide Empire State Trail. A fascinating turn of events that carries extra significance after reading all the memories of our alumni. Thanks! Ken”
Roger Gimbel (1969) Writes - “As an answer to the Old Motor Parkway ‘Gang” question. There was a group of us who participated in that off-the-beaten-track location: Myself, ‘Snarky,’ Alan Shanes, Peter Siegeleman, and a group of ‘Hitters’ who used the location for Colt Forty-Five beer and some other non sanctioned activities. My girlfriend at the time, Linda Goldstein (1970), lived real close to the entrance. Let's say I have great memories. My Wheatley band, "Five of a Kind," had some fun in our off-the-track locations! I really miss those times!!!”
Joel Parker (1970) Writes - “In reply to John Cilmi (1962), commenting that ‘Roselle St., (was) the best hell in our neck of the woods’: Living on Pembrook Drive, I fondly remember sledding down ‘Suicide Hill’ at the Wheatley Hills Golf Club, off of Hillside Avenue. The Hill was a nearly vertical drop-down of approximately 35 feet. Sheer terror and pure enjoyment for the whole day.”
Howard Davidson (1972) Writes - “In or around 1967 classmate Paul Celella and I rode into Queens on the remains of the Old Motor Parkway.”
Charlie Nash (1973/1972) Writes - “At least one of your youngest brothers, Gerry (Engoron, 1973), spent time with me and other compatriots on the Old Motor Parkway during our youth. It certainly seemed bigger to us back in those days. I even remember when Valentine’s Farm on the north side of the OMP was developed into a subdivision where Jimmy Pangarliotis (1973) lived. Those were the days!”
Bill Meyn (1974) Writes - “The stretch of empty power line lots that was the Old Motor Parkway holds a storehouse of memories. It was ‘shortcut’ territory. You could get to King Kullen through the power line lot and climb up the concrete retaining wall to the parking lot. It was the first leg of the shortcut to the Mineola Pool. You could follow the power line lot all the way to Westbury Avenue with a short crossing of Jericho Tpke as the only ‘dangerous’ bit. I remember showing my mother the shortcut when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. I don't know what she really thought of cutting through all the back yards between Jericho Turnpike and Westbury Avenue, but you avoided walking along busy streets! She was very good-humored about it, and ultimately approved. The other direction was not really much of a short cut. You could cut through the power line lot and get to Hillside Avenue near the Wheatley Hills Golf Club. Or you could cut through a backyard and get to Charles Street - until the people who owned that corner lot on Charles Street put a giant honking guard Goose in their backyard! The lot adjacent to Betty Lane was a great place to hunt and gather butterflies, lightning bugs and grasshoppers (until you discovered that a grasshopper ejects a foul smelling liquid as a defense mechanism). It also provided grounds for some mischief, A small boy will eventually decide it could be pretty cool to climb up the high power line steel support tower. Fortunately, by the time you were physically able to climb higher than the first level, you were smart enough not to do so. I remember that for a few winters, the sump at the foot of Roselle Hill was opened up when it was iced over, and used for ice skating. I don't know if this was truly an authorized use or if some neighborhood parents just did it. The big sump drain pipe at the bottom of the sump was pretty spooky. Were it not for the parents present, some small boys might have done some dangerous exploring. A good childhood friend of mine found some discarded Playboy magazines. We had no idea what we were looking at, but we decided to bury them under a power line near Hillside and look at them later. The worms had their way by the time we thought to dig them up again! As for that giant sleigh riding mecca known as Roselle Hill, I recall racing my bicycle down it as fast as I could. My house at 24 Shortridge Drive was in the direct flight path. I would jump off my bike at the last second and let it crash into the big blue spruce tree that was in front of our house. It was the first place for sleigh riding when the snow was good enough. (A better sleigh ride was at the Country Club when they allowed it). Roselle Hill was the first place I tried to use my brand new skateboard. In 1970 a skateboard was a plank of wood with old metal skate wheels on the bottom. It was also the last place I used my skate board, as it was a very rough ride with a concussion waiting at the end. The foot of Roselle Hill was also a school bus stop, with a small ice patch in the gutter during the winter months, suitable for a very short ice slide. See the scene from a Muppet Christmas Carol for an example. Many years later, I revisited the old neighborhood with my wife, my sister and some friends. I was shocked to see that the fabled Roselle Hill is about as steep as the average driveway. I suppose the tricks of memory can make things seem bigger or smaller than they really were. The Old Motor Parkway did not go away. It became a storehouse of memories for all of us.”
Michael Baltzer (1980) Writes - “Hi Art, Growing up on Croyden Court, I spent a lot of time on the Old Motor Parkway and the trestle over the Long Island Rail Road tracks. I always wondered who adorned the trestle with ‘Wheatley 76.’
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Thanks to the Newsletter, now I know that it was Paul Giarmo (1976) and his compatriots. This photo hangs in a bathroom at ‘The Willistons,’ a/k/a ‘TR's.’”
Alma Mater
Adam Goldstein (1980) Writes - “The Wheatley Alma Mater says, ‘For endless years the same.’ I know that because I saw it in the 1980 Graduation Program posted recently by my Class Prez, Jeff Mester. I doubt I noticed it that day. It was hot, and I must have partied hard the night before, because it felt like noon to me (it was 6pm!). So why not heed those words? Why change what needs no change? ‘Wheatley High’ is a lot less stuffy and pretentious than ‘The Wheatley School,’ in my opinion.
Faculty
Judith Oppenheim Darrah (1972) Writes - “I was so happy that sharing my memories of Mrs. Gunderson sparked so many others to share. She had a deep and long-lasting effect on who I am. I am thrilled to read how much other students loved and appreciated her. She was a gift.”
Stephen Bertalli (1981) Writes - “I love reading about the many inspiring teachers in the school district, many of whom I also had. They made a lasting impression on our lives!”
Graduates
1964 - Jane Berger Putnam - “Every year I see classmate Michelle Sklaire Jacobson in Florida or in Potomac, Maryland. I’ve actually been able to find and make contact with my other best friend from school, classmate Marlyn Rame Dorkin, who lives in Maui. I met Mikie and Marlyn the day I moved from Locust Valley to Roslyn Heights after 4th grade.
I live in Potomac Maryland, a DC suburb. It’s amazing how many people I have met that are somehow related to members of the Wheatley Class of 1964.”
1965 - Bob Strumpfler - “Passing through Old Westbury on my way to a friend's home brought back a lot of memories!”
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1967 - Cynthia Shapiro Chadderdon - “Well hello! Life is good…filled with gigs, jams and friends. Classmate Stevie Fliegel Nolan and I reconnected thru music, and she recently moved closer to me. We’ve become good friends and jammed at her house yesterday.
Last year I became a grandma! In June Wren turned one-year-old, and next week she and my daughter and her husband, who live in SF, are coming East. We rented a beautiful house in Cape May to vacation and to celebrate my 75th.
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L-R - Stephanie “Stevie” Fliegel Nolan, Cynthia
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A Year Ago: Front Row - Cynthia’s Granddaughter
Back Row - L-R - Son-in-Law, Daughter, Cynthia, Cynthia’s Partner Ed
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Cynthia’s Granddaughter this August
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Cynthia is on the far left
1967 - Jill Simon Forte - “The letter about the Varsity Review from a 1971 graduate reminded me that that was the beginning of my life with Bob (Forte, 1965). I sat in the front row with, if I remember correctly, classmate Jo-Ann Dembo. I watched and listened to Bob’s band, and I was dancing in my seat, loving the guy who looked to me like George Harrison. That led me to follow him in the halls for the next week or so, telling him how great he was 🤣. Fifty-five years later, the Varsity Review is my favorite memory.”
1968 - Asoka Bandarage - “Dear Friends, Please find below a link to a video of my recent book event in Washington DC. Of course, feel free to share. Thank you for your support. Asoka
New Book: https://www.degruyter.com/document/isbn/9783111203454/html?lang=en
1968 - Stephen Saletan (graduated in 1967) - “I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my book, To the Midnight Sun, available on Amazon and other online booksellers starting September 25. It tells the story of my Russian grandmother’s life as a young revolutionary in tsarist Russia at the turn of the last century, her arrest, imprisonment, and escape to America, and the lifelong connection she kept to the culture and family she left behind. I heard the stories growing up when she came to visit every weekend on Arbor Lane, and in 1963 she took me with her to the amazing city of Leningrad – now St. Petersburg – to meet my Russian relatives. In the 1990s, I learned Russian and returned to Russia to research the saga’s missing pieces. The book is an adventure story, a story of legacy and history, and a story about the people in our life who help make us who we are. Plus, there are some cool memories of life in the Roslyn Country Club back in the early days! Please check it out, I think you will enjoy it.”
1969 - Boys Junior Varsity Basketball Team - Coached by Mr. Joseph McCormack.
Art Engoron Writes - Several people corrected errors (some mine, some not) in the identifications. I think what’s written below is (finally) correct.
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Front Row - Michael Janowitz (# 34) (1969), Richard Kornblath (# 21) (1969), Billy Diamond (# 25) (1969), Johnny Rutenberg (# 32) (1969), Rob Rosenthal (# 10) (1969), Eddie Curland (# 52) (1969), Kenny Shainess (# 35) (1969)
Back Row - Gary Hill (# 13) (1969), Doug Terris (1970), Robert Spero (1970), Steven Rosengarten (1970), Kirk Moritz (# 50) (1969), Jimmy Franzino (1969), Bob Bush (1970), Mike Rasmussen (1969) (# 33), Paul Seeth (# 11) (1970)
Kirk Moritz (1969) Writes - “Thanks to Mike Janowitz (1969) for his half-court steal and pass for my breakaway left hand lay up for the only points of my erstwhile basketball career!”
1969 - Gregory Stern - Deceased.
Barry Lipsky (1970) Writes - Dear Art, Greg Stern (1969) passed away from Covid shortly after his 72 birthday.
I knew Greg when we were at Willets Road, long before Wheatley. We became great friends and did many things together. I can remember him lugging his cello to the bus stop, and in those days the cello was much bigger than he was. We would spend many summer afternoons at the Roslyn Country Club playing paddle ball with other classmates.
Greg became like a family member, as my parents and younger brothers were so fond of him. We took Greg to many NY Giants games and many a Friday night we would go to the Sheridan Bowling Alleys and wait until league play was over and then bowl.
Art, I guess you never truly realize how you drift apart through the years.
When my brother David Lipsky (1974) passed, Greg emailed me quite a few times. He was living in SC at the time. Greg was a great friend of my brother Jack Lipsky (1969) and me. He was more like a welcome family member than a friend.
Greg taught me how to play bridge, and I will always remember his most famous response when we would ask him to play cards or go to the club. It was simply: ‘If I am there, I am there, If I am not, I am not.’
I pray that Greg is at peace and that he will know he touched many people in so many ways.
Kindest Regards, Barry Lipsky”
1970 - Steven Rosengarten - Deceased
Jane Roeder (1970) Writes - “Steve Rosengarten (1970) passed away on August 31, 2024. Many of us affectionately called Steve ‘Git.’ I don’t recall how he got that name, but I do remember watching him play basketball when I was a cheerleader in 1967-1968. We also rode the same bus to and from Willets Road and Wheatley. In later years, I got to see Steve a few times when he and Barry Lipsky (1970) attended sportswear conventions here in Long Beach, California.
I’m sure that anyone who attended our 50th-year reunion on Zoom in 2020 will remember how poignantly Steve’s wife, Nadine Flexer, assisted Steve in joining the event. Nadine, we’re all sending lots of love to you and your family. The Class of 1970 will always remember Steve fondly. ❤ Jane”
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Steven Rosengarten On-line Obituary
1978 - Julie King - “Hi Art, I can clear up Jerry Mintz's confusion about the title of the book that Joanna Faber (1978) and I wrote. Our book is a sequel to a book co-authored by Joanna's mother, Adele Faber, and Elaine Mazlish (who is the mother of our classmate John Mazlish and his two sisters, Liz and Kathy). Their book is titled How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. It was first published in 1980 and is still popular today.
Joanna and I were leading workshops based on her mother's books for parents of little kids, and they kept asking for more stories and more examples for just the youngest kids. I first called Adele to suggest I had her next book, but she told me I should write it with Joanna. It took a bit of arm-twisting, but eventually I convinced Joanna, and we published our first book in 2017, titled How To Talk So LITTLE Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7. We received lots of emails from readers all over the world with stories from their own families, and with more questions... so we turned those into a second book, How To Talk When Kids Won't Listen: Whining, Fighting, Meltdowns, Defiance, and Other Challenges of Childhood, which came out in 2021.
Julie King (1978)
Jerry Mintz (1961) Wrote - “About Joanna Faber's (1968) book, why is it that I thought the second part of the title was ‘and how to Listen so Kids Will Talk!’?”
Julie King, Parent
Educator
415-843-1567
www.julieking.org
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Co-author with Joanna Faber of:
How To Talk So LITTLE Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2 - 7.
#1 Best Seller in the U.S. and Canada
How To Talk When Kids Won't Listen: Whining, Fighting, Meltdowns, Defiance, and other Challenges of Childhood. Available HERE.
HOW TO TALK: Parenting Tips in Your Pocket, our companion app, is available for iOS and Android. Try it free. ($3.99 to own forever)
Fan Mail
1963 (Marcia Friedman Mayer) - ❤️
1963 (Donna Harmelin Rivkin) - “Art, Another great Newsletter! Thank you!!! ❤️”
1965 (Bob Halper) - “Art, good choice of a Chuck Berry song to quote from in the opening of the Newsletter.”
1965 (Bob Strumpfler) - “You do an amazing job with the Newsletter - thank you so much.”
1966 (Diana Noble Rubinger) - “I suggest compiling your fabulous Newsletters into a book. I am sure it would be a best seller! Thank you, Art”
1967 (Scott Geery) - “Thanks!”
1967 (Cynthia Shapiro Chadderdon) - “Thank you for all you do to keep the Wheatley community connected!”
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “Another fun read down Memory Lane.”
1972 (Jeff Kargman) - “Art, I love seeing items about people that I knew, or still know, and I was so happy to see in the Newsletter what I had written about Mrs. Gunderson. Thanks so much. Jeff”
1972 (Judith Oppenheim Darrah) - “My sincerest thanks to Art for keeping us all in contact and sharing memories.”
1975 (Robert Wechter) - “Thanks again for your great, and frequent, Newsletters.”
1980 (Adam Goldstein) - “Thanks for all you do, Art.”
The Official Notices
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The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 178 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 # 179. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967