The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newletter No. 193
Art Engoron
March 2, 2025
Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association (“TWSAA”) Newsletter # 193.
LA Aftermath - Environmentalism Debate
Ken Gallard (1968) Writes - “I have read with interest in some of the recent Newsletters the back-and-forth discussion as relates to fossil fuels vs. renewables/alternate energy. While good, and valid, points were present in many of the comments, one could be left with the impression that renewables/alternate energy would not exist without public funding support, and that the fossil fuel industry manages to be successful because of its own self-sustaining efforts. Nothing could be further from the truth. In much of the country--and indeed with off-shore drilling areas--those resources are found on public lands (public assets). Hence the the bidding and permitting process that is involved with those pursuing those forms of energy. Not to be overlooked is the tax code, which has many favorable breaks made specifically for fossil fuel industries. Case in point would be the "oil depletion allowance," which allows energy companies to depreciate the value of the assets they are recovering and selling to put them in a more comfortable tax liability situation. This part of the tax code has been on the books for decades and, I believe, also benefits those in the coal industry. The fossil fuel industry is just as dependent on public sources of financial support as any other type of energy production. Here in Taos County, NM, our entire service area of the state is 100% daytime solar energy; it can be done. And our electric bills are quite low, too. We are fortunate, indeed.”
Shelley ‘Sheli Nan’ Hershcopf’s NYC Concert
Shelley “Sheli Nan” Hershcopf (1968) Writes - Hi All, I sincerely hope you will join me March 10th in NYC for the premiere of my new string orchestra composition - FLASH FORWARD. This is an important piece for me, and I would appreciate having some Wheatley support, as well as seeing friends and family! It is at 122 W 69th Street in Christ and St. Stephens beautiful Church, which has great acoustics.
Please come and introduce yourselves, This event starts at 7pm and is free!!!!
Many of my published and performed pieces are on Youtube, Facetime, Instagram, and my website Shelinan.com
Sincerely,
Sheli Nan
Composer Performer Teacher Author
1982 Yearbook Wanted
A 1982 graduate would like to purchase a 1982 Wheatley yearbook. Price subject to negotiation. Contact me if interested. ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM
Appreciating The Wheatley School
James Juczak (1976) Writes - “I remember thinking that high school teachers commonly had advanced degrees, like Drs. Baron and Belasco, etc. I remember thinking that most high schools had programs like SWS (School Within a School). Significant economic diversity within the student body...everything from kids who got a Porsche for their 16th birthday to kids from ‘The Projects.’ Foreign exchange programs. Three different Foreign languages taught. My class had only approximately 160 students. I never realized how 'special' Wheatley was until I taught in several schools.”
Faculty - A Dissenting Voice
David Hechler (1968) Writes - “I am amazed that people have heaped praise in your pages on Mr. Ouchi. Wasn’t learning the rules and parts of speech over all those years enough? He decided it would be better for us to ditch that language (which the rest of the country used and uses) and replace the parts of speech with “X,” “Y,” and “Z” words (along with whatever else he stirred into that alphabet soup).
From 1974 to 1982, I taught high school and junior high English in California. Good thing I learned grammar from teachers who used that boring old vocabulary before The Ouchi Revolution arrived.”
Graduates
Another School of Higher Education - Grinnell College
Eugene “Gene” Razzetti (1961) Writes - “The subject of Grinnell College came up. In my time, there was an excellent English teacher there named Herbert Huebsch (pronounced "Hipsh"). I had him for my sophomore year. He attended Grinnell and then went to Harvard for his Master's. Quiet, dignified, understated, and with a great depth of literary knowledge, he was definitely one of my favorites. Best to all, Gene."
David Hechler (1968) Writes - “Hey, Art, I graduated from Grinnell College in 1972. Grinnell was a great experience for me. It wasn’t as far away from New York geographically as other places, but in almost every other respect it was as far away as you could get. And that was part of what I was looking for. I’m surprised that I ever returned to New York, but I’m happy about how it all turned out.”
Graduates
1960 - Ken Martin - “Recently, Cheryle and I visited the Zimmermans (Charles 1960) in St. Simons to take in again the Oyster Roast for our 3rd go-round. It is an amazing charity event that raises money to preserve open space on the island. Great feed! We arrived on Friday and stayed at the Hotel Simone. The first photo below shows the hotel dining room. The last time we were there we had breakfast with the Moncures (John 1960) and Kooles (Linda Beattie 1960). I also could not help but feel the ghost of Dixie (George Howell 1960) sitting there in his humble and unassuming way, eating his oatmeal. I was able to find six hours of practice at the Pinball Emporium, brushing up on my techniques for a rematch with Peter Koole (AKA The Evil Empire). I don’t take whipping mildly, and I will seek revenge in a pinball baseball game.
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There were approximately 6 of these impressive pits where the oysters were steamed and heated up.
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The venue is this beautiful park inundated with massive live oak trees with Spanish moss hanging from their limbs. Only a thousand tickets are sold, and contributors sit at tables where they not only gorge on oysters but delicious samples of food - mostly low country fare - provided by local restaurants.
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R-L - Charlie, Mary Ellen, daughter Janet, and Janet’s BF Carl. BTW, when Janet was a young lady growing up on Long Island, she was elected as Ms. Pulaski and rode in a convertible limousine up 5th Avenue in NYC in the Pulaski Day Parade. She still has the looks! Cheryle and I see her once a year, as she heads a conference for our inland waterway district - she is a heavy in that organization and was appointed to her position by the Governor.
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Wildcat warriors (Ken and Charlie) with their groupies. Incidentally, Charlie and I caucused about our next mini-reunion in Port Jefferson. Just to tease you a tad - it includes going to a biker bar….
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When Cheryle and I returned from Charlie’s, we met my cousin, former Wheatley math teacher Earl Ewing, who will be spending a month with us. Last night, we attempted to get Into the Guiness Book of Records. You ask why? This is the first selfie taken of three people over 80 years of age! Or so I think. BTW, it was the first selfie I ever took myself - true story.
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So Cats - I hope all is well with you and yours.
Remember to lend a hand and leave a smile.
VQ
Ken
Raymond Roller (1960) Writes - “I enjoyed seeing these pictures. We went to an oyster roast this past weekend with our shag club in North Myrtle Beach. Give our regards to all our fellow Wildcats.”
Marguerite Shotter Realmuto (1960) Writes - “Great pictures of two great couples. Best wishes and lots of fun to you all. Margot”
1961 - The Bengeyfield Band
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The guitarist in the black hoody with a pipe is David Berkowitz (1961). The guy in the gray jacket playing the harmonica is Peter Nelson (1961). The young guy on guitar is Josh Wilner (1965). The guy in the white jacket playing the banjo is Bob Kramer (1961). The guy in the black sweater playing the washtub bass is Richard Amster (1961). The guy in the reddish shirt with the fiddle is Peter Wolf (1960). The singer is Nancy Kurshan (1961).
Peter Nelson (1961) Writes - “I enjoyed seeing Nancy Kurshan’s (1961) photos. I remember that day vividly. Also around that time, David Berkowitz (1961), Richard Amster (1961), Bob Kramer (1961) and I went to see Dylan when he first played at Gerdes Folk City in 1961. At his start in NYC, Dylan was mainly a Woody Guthrie imitator, and he was not very good that night. He seemed agitated and not focused, and I wrote him off as either drunk or drugged. Of course, when he started playing and recording his own creations, I changed my mind. I haven’t seen A Complete Unknown yet, but I certainly intend to. I was at Columbia University during the period 1961-65 and spent much of my time in those coffee houses in the West Village listening to Dylan, Dave van Ronk, Muddy Waters, Phil Ochs, Richie Havens, Fred Neil, etc. The film is set in a place and at a time when I was there, soaking up all that creative energy.”
Jack Wolf (1967) Writes - “I loved seeing the photos submitted by Nancy Kurshan (1961) of the young folk singers, including my brother, Peter F. Wolf (1960), gathered on Bengeyfield Drive in East Williston. Peter is alive and well and still strumming guitar and playing the piano in his condo in Riverdale, New York, overlooking the Hudson River. Being six years younger, I idolized Peter and tagged along with him whenever I was allowed to. I remember having 'Sings' up in our renovated attic with my brother on his homemade washboard bass and people singing Woody Guthrie and such and talking about existentialism. Peter was giving guitar lessons to various Wheatleyites — Alan Orling (1966) and Haywood “Woody” Mann (1970) come to mind — but also taking lessons from the famous Reverend Gary Davis Jr., who was known as one of the great country blues and rag guitarists. He was from Durham, NC, and later moved to Harlem and became a preacher. Peter took me to Gary Davis's church on a Sunday in Harlem, and everyone was handed a tambourine on entry. There was a good four hours of gospel groups and, of course, Davis on the guitar, with his signature blues rag style. It was great.
Peter went on to the University of Wisconsin and teamed up with various folk musicians and cut a record with Tracy Nelson, who later went on to form Mother Earth, a semi-famous blues group that was centered in Nashville. At the time of her first album, sales were likely limited to family members of the band, and the story was told, and I'd have to check with Peter for accuracy, that for the guitar and piano work on the album, he received $50, and they spelled his name wrong (‘Wolfe’). Speaking of names, the other story about Peter is that he shares the name ‘Peter Wolf,’ with the famous lead vocalist of the J. Geils Band, and he occasionally gets requests for high-paying performances. He was tempted, but he never did that caper. Nonetheless, he is faced with the fact that you always get that guy, not the famous Wheatleyite, when you Google ‘Peter Wolf.’
In later life, Peter joined a songwriting class/social group that put together a self-made CD, ‘Walking on Home To You,’ that did not make the Billboard top 100, or top 100,000, but sits in my library, with the seminal tune ‘Life is Not a Potato.’”
1967 - Dominick Foresto - Trip to Washington
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Paula Panzeca Foresto (1969) Writes - I came across this photo recently and thought fellow alumni might enjoy a walk down Memory Lane. My future husband, Dom, can be seen kneeling in the 2nd row, 3rd person from the left (dark jacket, big smile). Mr. Goldwasser, who ran Peak Tours, is in the top row, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and tie, just to the right of the two women toward the center.
Left to Right:
Front Row - ???, ???, ???, Vicki Schwartz (1967) (?), ???, ???, ???, ???, Abbe Levine (1967), ???, ???, ???, Helen Sparks (1967) (?)
Middle Row - Gilbert Katz (1967), George Dreier (1967) (?), Dominick Foresto (1967), Robert Hecht (1967), ???, Debbie Friedman (1967) (?), ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, Tom Glaser (1968), Phil Mariani (1967) (?), Jay Peiser (1966) (?)
Back Row - Marshall Jablon (1967), ???, Bobby Scandurra (1967) (?), Doug Martin (1967), Paul Nissenfeld (1967) (?), Paul Tankersley (1967) (?), ???, ???, Peggy Meisel (faculty) (?), Joseph Goldwasser (faculty), Richard Schwarz (1967) (?), Lee Fein (1967), Dennis Pensa (1967) (?), ???, Charles Bell (1967), Manny Casamassima (1967)
Key - “(?)” means uncertain. “???” means unknown.
Please help me identify the others, and I will publish again next newsletter!
1969 - Michael Lorenzo - Deceased
May 23,1951 to Feb 12, 2025
David Rissmeyer (1967/68) Writes - “I’ve never contributed to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter until today, but I’ve read just about all of them. What caused me to contribute today is the sad news of Mike Lorenzo’s passing. Mike’s sister Freda was my first love, and Mike was my friend by association. Mike (along with my Wheatley driver ed teacher) turned me on to psychedelic music, so I owe his soul a great debt. It was good to learn some about Mike, and I thank those who sent tributes. If possible, I’d love to hear about Freda, who did not attend Wheatley. If anyone knows how to reach her, please enable this, by passing her contact information, or any other information, on to Art, who will inform me. Thanks so much, Dave Rissmeyer (1967 & 68).”
Paula Panzeca Foresto (1969) Writes - “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Lorenzo, Class of 1969. He was one of my first friends at North Side Elementary School. Years later, he, Bobby Orgel, and their band provided the entertainment at my Sweet Sixteen. Gone too soon. RIP Michael❤️
1971 - Paul Rosenfeld - “Hi Art, It’s your uptown Bengeyfield Drive (#139) neighbor. I just saw Nancy Kurshan’s photo of her front yard. I lived across the street to the right, and that’s my house!
In March, 2024, I retired after working 43 years in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Most of my career was spent prosecuting homicides. I appeared numerous times in front of Judge Barbara Newman (1958), another Wheatley graduate (and apparent Table Tennis champ). On 9/11, I was in the middle of a trial in her courtroom! I live in Purchase, NY with my wife of 41 years, Jamie. I am the only Sockey player not to have missed a game since 1971. We now play at North Side, still getting together every Saturday after Thanksgiving!”
1969 - Larry Nitzky - Deceased - Remembered and Appreciated
1973 - Todd Glickman - “Hi Art, Like many in our class, the time has come for my so-called ‘retirement.’ I’ve enjoyed four careers since graduating Wheatley and MIT: Marketing manager for a private weather information company for 15 years; Assistant Executive Director for the American Meteorological Society for seven years; 25 years as Director of Corporate Relations at MIT; and as many of your readers know, I enjoyed 45 years as a part-time meteorologist for WCBS Newsradio-880 in NYC overlaid on top of the other three careers (until corporate greed took the station off-air last August). So, as of March 1st, I’ll be ‘retired,’ though with plenty to do. I’ve accepted a pro-bono appointment as corporate Secretary of the American Meteorological Society – that will include a modest amount of travel; continued volunteering for the NY Transit Museum as a docent on their nostalgia subway rides; serving as Chief Rail and Motorbus Instructor at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine; and serving on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Market Street Railway in San Francisco. My partner, Danny, still has his Thai restaurant in Foxborough, MA, and when I have nothing else to do, I help him as cashier (don’t ask me to cook or wait!). It’s been an amazing journey, thanks to my Wheatley background – of all the amazing teachers, I always think about our late friend Les Runestad, who got me interested in Earth Science, which led to everything meteorology.”
1976 - James Juczak - "Attached is an article I wrote several years ago on the Psychology of Energy Change. I used it with high school and college students when I was teaching. It has been the base for lectures I've given at Mother Earth News Fairs and other similar events.
James Juczak - Psychology of Energy Change
2001 - Brian Mullins - “Hey, Art, I’m a long-time reader, first time caller. Udhay Krishnan (2001) and I both graduated from Wheatley in 2001 and from MIT in 2005. Somewhat coincidentally, we ended up as roommates in our freshman year, much to his chagrin. He wrote most of the funnier things in the 2001 yearbook. I noticed that the previous Newsletter mentioned a James Mullins (1980). I have no idea whether we are related, but there's an outside chance we are, and if so, I apologize to him. I started law school but lasted only a few years before going into the fintech world. Udhay chose the more noble path - he became a doctor ;).”
Fan Mail
1960 (Linda Beattie Koole) - “Wonderful Newsletter, Art!!! Thanks for all you do.”
1960 (Joanne Festa) - “Thanks, Art. Each Newsletter is full of news about friends and The Wheatley School. We're living in Broomfield, CO., a WONDERFUL community.”
1962 (Karen Strumpfler Tucker) - “Interesting and informative, as usual.”
1963 (Marcia Friedman Mayer) “Art, you are an inspiration to us all!”
1963 (Donna Kenton) - “Hi, Art, OK, so Seth Poppel (Mepham High School, Bellmore, 1961) and his wife Danine own 18,000 yearbooks? Do they have a wonderful newsletter? No comparison! Thank you, Art!”
1965 (Louise Kampa Triano) - “Thank you, once again, for some special stories and poetry.”
1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “Art, Thank you, once again, for the great read and memories. Don't stop!”
1966 (Richard Jalonack) - “U R the best.”
1967 (Leslie Gail Metzger Mantello) - “Thank you so much for pursuing this, Art.”
1967/68 (David Rissmeyer) - “Way to go, Art.”
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “The latest Newsletter had interesting items, as usual. So you have all the yearbooks? Wow! I enjoyed seeing the old photos of Nancy Kurshan’s gang’s band. Old photos always bring me back to remember my years on Stirrup Lane (Beth Lubell 1967; Mitchell Ditkoff 1965; Ritchie Harvey (1966); Fern Katz (1967); Amy Pastarnack (1967); Leslie Freier … all my friends 😊.”
1968 (Rebeccca Consolo Freer) - “I enjoy hearing about the journeys and life of Wheatley alumni. Thank you, Art and Keith.”
1969 (Gary Metzger) - “I much appreciate all you do to support all the alumni. You are the cohesion that ties us all together.”
1969 (Maddy Nathanson) - “Thanks for the great link to our pasts…..keep them coming.”
1972 (Jeffrey Kargman) - “I brag to friends about what you have produced.”
1974 (Bob Berta) - “Thanks, as always.”
1974 (Bill “Buzz” Bosshart) - “With continuing gratitude to you, Art.”
1976 (Mary Costello Willis) - “Thank you so much for these wonderful Newsletters.”
1976 (James Juczak) - “Hi Art; Thank you for all of your work on behalf of Wheatley alumni.”
1977 (Linda Watnick Lebowitz) - “Thanks for keeping this newsletter alive and well!”
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.
In the first 24 or so hours after publication, Wheatley Alumni Newsletter # 192 was viewed 3,151 times and was liked 13 times, and was commented on three times. In all, 4,724 email addresses received Newsletter # 191. For all of January, The Newsletter was accessed approximately 11,400 times.
The Usual Words of Wisdom
Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 192 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 # 193. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967