Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 53,

The Usual Words of Wisdom

I hope that you and yours are safe and healthy during these unprecedented, turbulent, difficult days. 

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 52 Newsletters (and other Wheatley data and arcana) at http://www.wheatleyalumni.org/  Also thanks to Keith is our handy-dandy, super-duper search feature, prominently displayed on our home page:  type in a word or phrase and, voila, you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material.  Amazing!

Meanwhile, if you are completely uninterested in Wheatley matters, please ask me to remove you from my distribution list.

I edit all submissions, even material in quotes, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof.  I am a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and I do not censor ideas, which often are not the same as mine (although I do filter out the occasional personal attack, if it goes beyond mere disagreement or criticism).  Particularly given the current political climate, with its deep divides, please remember that in publishing material I am not taking sides or advocating for or against any thing or any one, I am only distributing what people send me.  I do not have a fact-checking department, and I do not vouch for the accuracy of what people tell me, although occasionally I correct, or refuse to publish, errors or clear falsehoods that I notice.

Please let me know if you will permit me to publish your email address, snail-mail address, and/or telephone number, along with anything you send me, or just standing alone.  If you do not indicate either way, I’ll assume that you are “opting out” (i.e., that you do not want me to publish any of your contact information).  Scores of alumni email addresses can be found on the Wheatley Public Directory, http://wheatleyalumni.org/PublicDirectory.htm

I welcome any and all text and photos relevant to The Wheatley School and the people who taught and/or studied there.

Public Service Announcements

Carvel Kept us Afloat (pun intended)

Writes Bill Kirchick 1969 – “Hi Art – As an addendum to Ken Gallard's comments on working at Carvel, my brother, Howard, as well as Phil Kane and Seth Bardo (all 1967) and I also worked there.

Writes Howard Kirchick (1967) – “Hey Art, Johnny Kotcher was the first Wheatleyite to work there, followed by me, then Phil Kane and Seth Bardo joined us, followed by my brother Bill.”

An Open Letter to Hacker Sandra Hublot (Viewer Discretion Advised)

Writes Ken Martin (1960) – “My darling Sandra, I’m so glad you reached out to me.  I smell kismet.  And I will take you up on your offer but must modify from meeting for coffee in Charlotte to what shall I call it (?), a rendezvous-illicit type-in St Simons, GA, specifically, the King and Prince Resort.  Wear something, uhhmm, provocative-tight, short, black minidress, spiked high heels, clinging sweater like the little girls in high school used to tease us with in The Wheatley School.  And douse yourself in cheap perfume and gobs of very red lipstick.  Hopefully you will be chewing three or four sticks of gum.  A total sophisticated look by my very high standards.  And we will have a swell time. 

BTW, the encounter, money-wise, must be Dutch.  Delay that.  No, not Dutch - your treat.  Totally.  Let us set the day for this coming Friday.  There are two significant angles for that momentous day: One, it happens to be a Friday the 13th, and I for one have always been one to tempt and challenge fate; and two, more, importantly, especially for the financial relationship, it is actually also Sadie Hawkins Day (really-Google it boys).  We used to have Sadie Hawkins dances in TWS.  I never was asked by any of those hot little Wildcats.  Not one.  Never!  I plan, though, to get even.  Real even.  But getting back to our Sadie Hawkins date - I am a tad short of cash these days.  Eleven different women, eleven different alimony payments.  So hopefully you can see your way through.  I mean ecstasy is well worth it.  Finally, I’m enclosing a recent (last week) selfie.  Sandra, oh, can I call you Sandy?  You can call me Kenny if that is a turn on for you.

Love, love, love,

Kenny

Paul “Bick” Keister Replies to the “Hublot Hack”

Writes Bick – “Gentlemen, I am disappointed to report that Sandra did not contact me!  I have been in a funk ever since I first heard of this.  I imagine ‘she’ is actually one of us.  If that is not the case, she must have frequented Jones Beach in the summers and was impressed with you guys back in the day.  I could never go in the summers at Wheatley for two reasons, take your pick:

1. I worked every summer on our family farm for spending money.

2. My body is not beach material.

Cheers,

Paul/Bick”

Administration and Faculty

Rick Simon – Principal 1995-2008 – We Are (Were?) Number One!

Rick wrote the following when asked, “What year did US News & World Report rank Wheatley # 1 in the Country?”:  “It was the March 30, 1998 issue of Newsweek that listed Wheatley #1 with Millburn, NJ #2 and Jericho Senior #3.  There is a back story to how we made the list.  Newsweek was using a list from a book by Jay Mathews entitled ‘Class Struggle’ that included a Challenge Index in the Appendix that ranked schools based on the number of AP tests given divided by the number of seniors in the graduating class.  The book came out in 1998 and Newsday ran an article listing all the Long Island schools on the list of 230 schools; Wheatley was not on the list. I then called the author of the book and gave him our data.  He acknowledged he had missed us since we had a graduating class just under 100 students and he ignored schools with fewer than 100 seniors.  I sent him our data and he contacted Newsweek in time to adjust the list from the book to include us.  We got a lot of calls and I remember getting a congratulatory letter from then-Senator Hillary Clinton.  Our 15 seconds of fame.  All the best. Rick”

Graduates

1958 – Wheatley’s Earliest Class Has its Latest Successful Virtual Reunion

Writes Steve Nelson (1958) – “The Wheatley Class of 1958 held a Zoom reunion, a “reZoomion,” on Sunday, November 15, 2020, originally to have been an in-person gathering.  We were, and still are, very close as a class, and we have held regular reunions at five-year intervals. But at our 60^th reunion on Long Island in 2018, we decided that because of our advancing age, we didn’t want to wait five more years to get together again. So when classmate Bruce Richardson offered to host a reunion dinner at his Colorado home in the fall of 2020, we jumped at the idea: a 62^nd-year reunion, with the theme, “Older in Boulder.”

The pandemic made that impossible, of course, but a committee was formed – Ed Brown, Howard Cohen, Steve Nelson and Bruce – to organize a virtual reunion on Zoom, encouraged by reading in the Alumni Newsletter about two other Wheatley classes that had done it.  Howard (with technical Zoom support from his son Andrew) hosted the event, which 25 ‘58ers attended (out of possibly 63 surviving classmates), a few of whom we hadn’t seen in many years.  Howard created an amazing slide show to open the event, with images from our Wheatley days, as well as North Side and Willets Road Schools, followed by a memorial to the 24 classmates whom we know we have lost.

Class Valedictorian Steve gave some brief remarks, noting how in 1958 we could never have imagined a future like we’re living in now.  Then most of the participants each gave 2-3 minute presentations about their lives since Wheatley.  It was fascinating to hear about some wonderful things our classmates have accomplished and experienced, which we might not have learned about while casually chatting over food and drinks at an in-person reunion.  Following that we had informal conversations among old friends.  Many of us were still online when the session finally came to a close after four hours of Zooming. In the words of a hit song from the ‘50s, ‘Oh, What A Night’!” 

1960 – Donald H. Beckwith – Master Novelist of Murder and Mayhem

Writes Don – “Hi, Art!  This is the first time, IN ALL THESE YEARS, I have reached out to you and my fellow Wheatley Wildcats.  I am Donald H. Beckwith, Wheatley Class of 1960, currently living in Denver, Colorado.  I am married, for the second time, have two grown sons and four grandchildren, plus four step-grandchildren.  I am a Vietnam-era veteran (USAF,) having served in Washington, D.C., and Seoul, South Korea.  My careers have been in broadcast journalism, NYC special events production and catering, and, in recent years, novelist.

Please, if you'll kindly take a moment, check out my three art crime suspense detective novels - forgery, theft, abduction, murder & mayhem, plus a taste of romance, more than a bit about art, as well as some delicious dining experiences.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=d.h.+beckwith&rh=n%3A154606011&ref=nb_sb_noss

I hope you will enjoy them.

Don Beckwith

dhbeckwith@yahoo.com

Appearing as Donald Beckwith on FB.

720-217-6430

1960 – Paul Hennessy – Setting the Record Straight

Writes Paul – “Amigos, I got a big kick out of Martino’s (Ken Martin’s) fever-dream lust letter to ‘Sandy,’ all of it obviously delusional because ‘Sandy’ was mainly hot for me, but give it the old Marine Corps try anyhow, Col. Martin.”

1960 - John “Monk” Moncure – A Great Ride

Writes Monk – “To all my 1960 Classmates—it was such a GREAT RIDE —and Wheatley gave us such a great education.  I was proud to be part of the first class to go all 4 years—I was well prepared by my Wheatley teachers and am really grateful for my Wheatley education (not to mention social experience).”

Monk continues – “Here’s a photo of a Bowdoin Squash player, her parents and the other coaches at the squash nationals—I’ve been doing that for 20 years—so much fun to coach.”

More Monk – “Paul Hennessy and I are proud of our military service—but mine was hardly rigorous - 1.5 years of partying in Memphis followed by 1.5 years happily serving as the Staff Judge Advocate at the Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine, eating lobster with my new bride and watching the ocean.  Nothing like Martino’s service-with his combat medals, etc.—-now, that’s why we celebrate Veterans Day.

PS—I actually have ‘been in combat’ -while sailing as a 3rd Mate along the Viet Nam coast and up the river to Saigon—even wore a helmet—only exposure was to sappers who tried to blow up ships—but I was on a reefer ship bringing in food and the Cong knew it-and got 1/2–The ship behind us, carrying munitions, was blown out of water.  Sorry to tell old tales-it is Vets Day—and lots of sea stories—but, from amongst us, mostly thanks and admiration for Martino’s service.”

1962 – Susan Fox Lehman – Remembering Brother Stewart (1964)

Writes Susan – “Hi my friends of The Wheatley School.  I am Susan (Fox) Lehman Class of 1962.  I want to thank those of you who responded to my brother Larry’s (1966) letter about our brother Stewart, who passed away on October 18th.  I remember the many friends of both brothers who spent time at our house on Shelter Lane.  We so enjoyed our education with such influential teachers.  Those who knew Stewart always were aware that they were spending time with a brilliant, fun loving, and dependable person.  My husband, Steve, and I enjoyed many trips with Stew and Myra (also deceased), and Larry and Sue.  We called them our “6ers!”  People couldn’t believe we were related because we laughed so much when we were together.  Stew went out of his way for everyone .  I wish you all good health!!   Susan”

1962 – Karen Strumpfler Tucker – The Four Quadrants

Writes Karen – “Hi Art,  After reading probably all of the previous 52 Wheatley Alumni Newsletters, I’ve noticed that the Class of 1962 appears to be abysmally absent from them.  Where are my classmates??  Before chickening out, here’s my story.  I’ve had a few “firsts” in my life, always interesting.

I can divide my life into 4 quadrants pretty easily (totaling not quite 80 years). 

Obviously, my first quadrant consisted of growing up and being a student.  Pretty much the same for everyone else I know.  The difference is that I was a member of the Class of 1962, the first class to go through all 6 years at The Wheatley School.  We were not the first graduating class, but we were the guinea pigs for Wheatley.  I remember 7^th grade in particular.  The school opened a week late because construction was not complete.  When we finally got to start at Wheatley, there was no Senior class; there was no cafeteria; there were no locker rooms for gym class (we changed in a classroom with the blinds drawn); we used the auxiliary gym as a gym; there was no swimming pool; we had to walk outside (rain, snow and sleet) to get to the library where we could eat lunch (brought from home of course).  That was also the year that Wheatley did not know that virtually no one would go to school on the first two days of Rosh Hashanah – I was one of the few who did.  The 2 or 3 of us who showed up to Science Class got to clean the aquariums; I thought that was pretty cool, but my dad didn’t appreciate it.  I’m not sure what year the gym and locker rooms finally opened, but when they did, there were no individual showers in the girls’ locker rooms.  It was one big open space with a lot of shower heads around.  We ran around like chickens with our heads cut off.  It didn’t take long before they fixed that.  I was in every advanced class Wheatley had (no choice, they just put me there), so the initial plans of Wheatley having two wings, one for Junior High and one for Senior High, didn’t work for those of us in those advanced classes.  We were constantly running from one corridor to the other and the gym was never anywhere near any of my classes.  I think I was always late to gym class.  Survived and graduated.

After graduation, I attended a summer class at Miss Porter’s School at the Garden City Hotel to learn shorthand and typing in preparation for going to college in September of 1962.  Lots of things happened that year.  I learned to love shorthand and typing (it was like learning a foreign language), and I began classes at the NY State University at Stony Brook!  I was in yet another unique situation.  New school, buildings not finished, no one knew anything or anyone.  Great fun!  Unfortunately, all the driving back and forth from Old Westbury to Stony Brook resulted in my having a serious automobile accident.  I was turning into my driveway when a Railway Express truck back-ended my 1959 Chevrolet (aka tank) and put me in the hospital for 10 days.  I missed too much school, so I was forced to withdraw just before the end of my first semester.  Not knowing what else to do, I got a job.  Great job!  I was a clerk at New York Telephone Company.  Wow.  I hated every minute of it, so the first chance I got I found a new job.  That two months at Miss Porter’s School came to the rescue, and I became a legal secretary trainee at a law firm on Long Island.  I was so happy.  I think I made $50.00 a week and I had another car - a 1957 Chevy.  I also decided it might be a good idea to go back to school, and I started part-time evenings at Nassau Community College, transitioning into full time to get my associate degree a long, long time later.  Pretty much the first 20 years of my life.  Oh, I got married and divorced too.  It was NOT a good match; first divorce in my family --  oh, the shame.

In my second quadrant,  I married again, became a mother, was a legal secretary, a college student, and had the “American dream” – the husband, two kids, two cars, a house, a dog and a job.  The cat came later.  Three actually.  At that time, not too many women were working – I was one of the earlier ones who decided that being a full-time parent was not my thing.  Being married was also not my thing, so got another divorce.  Despite that, I finished that associate degree (AAS in Secretarial Science, getting the maximum numbers of CLEP credits they offered due to my extensive legal training); enrolled in Kean College, taking 42 credits in my Senior Year, while holding down an almost-full-time job.  I got my BA in Mathematics from Kean (now Kean University) in New Jersey – oh I forgot, we moved from Long Island to New Jersey somewhere along the way – just in time for my 20^th-year reunion at The Wheatley School.  When I attained my degree, in 1982, you may remember, there was yet another recession in our country, and I couldn’t get a job utilizing my degree.  However, those legal secretarial skills came in handy, and I went back to the legal field for a short time, and I was able to buy my own house, all by myself. 

Third quadrant starts about here.  Good ol’ Ma Bell came back into my life, and I was hired as a computer programmer.  After six weeks of the most intensive training I’ve ever had (it was a new program at AT&T – the classes were murder), I was set loose on the world of AT&T.  Another wow.  I worked for AT&T for 20 years.  Married again (I never gave up hope); became a stepmother; got Lyme Disease (I have always been a pioneer – had it for 5 years before they finally diagnosed it); became a grandmother six times;  became Mayor of Washington Borough, NJ; moved to Florida; became involved in the Daughters of the American Revolution; served as Regent of a local chapter of DAR; retired at 54; and the World Trade Center was attacked.  My world came crashing down.  My son was killed at WTC1.  He worked for Canter Fitzgerald, and no one at work there that day survived.  Somehow, I survived this tragic loss, and my life moved on.

Fourth quadrant, where I am now.  It’s been more than twenty years since I retired and I have never been busier.  As you get older, I think you are supposed to get better at losing things.  I haven’t.  Lost my best friend, her husband 4 months later; my husband got cancer; I got cancer; my mother passed due to Alzheimer’s; my husband passed after 6 long years.  Good things happened too.  I survived my bout with cancer and am cancer-free today.  Before my late husband passed, we had many opportunities to travel, and we took advantage of all of them.  Today, my dad is 101, almost 102 years old, lives by himself quite well;  I moved into a one bedroom condo in Margate, FL, one building away from my dad and another building away from my brother Bob (Class of 1965); our other brother, Doug (Class of 1969), lives across the state.  My hair is mostly gray now, but I still have hair!  I am involved in the American Sewing Guild, currently Secretary of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter; continued with my love of sewing, first discovered at The Wheatley School with Mrs. Saxon.  I have made many good friends through my sewing habit (it’s addictive, not a hobby); own several top of the line sewing and embroidery machines (my one-bedroom condo is mostly a sewing studio), and I attend as many sewing classes and demos as I can!  Today, they are mostly on ZOOM, but I am still learning.  And I love my life.

Looking forward to the rest of this quadrant, and the next. 

Regards to all from sunny South Florida”

1963 – Charles Metzler - Deceased

Writes brother Steven Metzler (1969) – “My brother Charlie Metzler, Class of 1965, passed away suddenly June 2020 in Melbourne FL.  My older brother will be sorely missed.  He was the glass half full to my half empty.  Mr. Lawson’s football player in the glory days of Wheatley Football teams. “

1963 – Barbara von Philp O’Brien – Deceased

Brother Robert, 1965, pre-deceased her.  Brother Thomas, 1968, survives her.

Writes classmate Jeffrey Jacobs – “Barbara von Philp was my closest and most dearly held friend.  We had an uncommon relationship that brought us close after many years, and we each held our own differing opinions for sure, yet we always respected each other’s right to our opinions.  That was one of just a thousand things about her that made her the object of my affection throughout my life, from the time I first saw her on the first day of 9^th grade on September 6^th of 1959 when she walked into the homeroom I was assigned to, in her blue blazer, plaid skirt, bobby sox and saddle shoes, with her larger-than-life smile and those brilliant blue eyes that wouldn’t be hidden by her glasses.

It was mere happenstance that I had seen her at all that day, but doing so was a saving grace for me.  My parents had moved the family over the summer of 1959 while my brother Everett (1961) and I were at camp, but kept it as a surprise.  Needless to say, we meet this reality with considerable trepidation and not a little anxiety, over having everything in our lives unwittingly transformed, including the loss of our friends and childhood treasures that we cherished but that got displaced (forever) in the move. 

So by the time I arrived for the first day of school I was pretty well convinced that this was a horrific idea that will certainly end in disaster.  Imagine my shock when all that changed the moment I saw Barbara walk into that classroom and I allowed myself to consider for the first time, ‘well, this may not be all that bad after all.’   From that point on, she became the (very welcomed) distraction of a lifetime for me, as we became very close over the last 15 years - I shall miss her and all of the things we shared, in ways that truly defy my description.”

1964 – Ellen Solow Holzman – North Side in the Nineteen-Fifties

Writes Ellen – “Dear Art, I’ve been amusing myself lately by doing a writing project I’m calling, ‘It’s 2020.  I’d Rather Live in the Past.’  I haven’t tried to do any fancy writing, just putting memories on the page, but I thought those of your readers who went to North Side might enjoy some of what I’ve written about my memories of it.  

I had the same teacher in kindergarten and first grade, but she got married over the summer, so her name changed.  I remember her as Miss Penny and Mrs. Nichols, but I think the former was a joke, as her name was actually Miss Lawrence. 

In second grade I had Mrs. Ross, a motherly woman who made us all giant, decorated cookies for every holiday.  A big project in her class was the creation of a bulletin board featuring our portraits of our fathers and their jobs.  I made my father in a brown suit, carrying a briefcase, and described him as a ‘businessman.’  That was wrong, since at the time he was Assistant to the Publisher of The Nation, and very much not a business man, but since he went off to work every day wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, that was my conclusion.  

Third grade was Miss Fiorenza.  I thought she was beautiful, with dark curly hair and red lipstick.  She wanted to put on a minstrel show for the play each grade produced, and have us wear black face.  When I excitedly told my mother about it, she marched up to school and put a stop to the black face.  I never did realize why Miss Fiorenza didn’t seem to like me. 

But I got along great with my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Ellen Butler, a spare freckled woman with a great sense of humor who told us stories about growing up in the country in Arizona.  The snow was so icy that she could walk on top of it.  “Close the corral before the horse gets out,” she’d tell any boy whose fly was open.  She looked at the class picture, with her standing in the corner, her arms folded, looking somewhat grim, and said, ‘There I am, old Battleax Butler!’  My friend in class that year was Bebe Blackburn, and Mrs. Butler always chose us to go get the screen when she showed films.  Bebe and I formed the ‘I Hate Liver’ club, with me as president and her as vice president.  We even drew membership cards.  There were no other members.  The play that year was ‘The Emperor's New Clothes.’  When I gave Mrs. Butler a book for Christmas she joked, ‘I’m surprised this got out of your house without being read!’

I don’t remember the name of my fifth-grade teacher (Mrs. Knox?), though I did feel that she played favorites, and I was not one of them.  However, it was a strange year.  Partway into the year, my brother Peter and I were walking to school when a friend of mine came by in a car with her father.  ‘Where are you going?’ she asked.  ‘To school!’ I replied, as though she was nuts.  ‘Didn’t you hear?  The school burned down last night!’  I wasn’t inclined to believe her, but her father confirmed the story, so Peter and I returned home.  They said it was caused by ‘spontaneous combustion.’  Not everything had burned, but enough that several grades were relocated to Wheatley, the just-finished high school.  They were able to keep the littlest ones at North Side, as the new wing was unaffected.  As I recall, we only missed a few days of school before we were relocated, and by the next fall we were back at North Side. 

I loved my sixth-grade teacher, Mr. Foerschner, and not just because I thought he was handsome—and the first male teacher I’d ever had.  He had something new in his classroom, a reading program we could do on our own, progressing through the levels at our own speed.  I did really well, and felt proud of myself.  That year, I began to have crushes on boys in my class.

The school district ran a program called “summer rec,” a low-key day camp for local kids, staffed by a few teachers and high school students.  We did crafts, like making pot holders and lanyards, and played games, like dodge ball.

I was a Polio Pioneer.  Our entire school participated, and we had a special one-day festival, during which we all got the shot and also a toy and free time to play with it.  I think everyone got the same thing, something we called a Chinese yo-yo, which consisted of a long streamer attached to a string, which one circled about one’s head.  It seemed a bit perverse to give children with aching arms a toy which required vigorous arm movements.

Sometimes we had assemblies in the big auditorium.  I don’t remember most of them, but at one, the principal, Mr. Wathey, led us all in the singing of “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” and “Bingo.” 

One more aspect of elementary school I should mention.  The gym, which was partly underground, was designated an air raid shelter, with black and yellow triangles, a symbol that was practically ubiquitous then and can still sometimes be seen, and we had air raid drills.  If an atomic bomb was going to be dropped, we would all file down in orderly lines, with our class, to the gym, where we would sit on the floor and put our heads on our knees.  When we graduated to seventh grade, at Wheatley, the drills continued for another year or two, but this time, when the bell sounded, we would file into the hallway and sit on the floor with our heads on our knees.  At some point, I saw on television an animated short film about the results of an atomic bomb.  It was terrifying, with people literally melting, and gave me nightmares. 

That’s it for now.  I’d love to see other people’s memories of those years.  And those who were in Miss Fiorenza’s class with me can thank my mom that they do not have the embarrassment of wearing black face in their past!

1965 – Robert Halper – Author of a Tale of “Miscalculation, Foolishness, Deceit, Hubris, and Wanton Behavior”

Writes Bob – “From 2016 thru 2019, I wrote a blog entitled The Rest of the Story, a collection of personal anecdotes.  I have just completed my first piece of fiction, Roy Bloom, Bit Player, a sixteen-part serialization.  A story of miscalculation, foolishness, deceit, hubris, and wanton behavior, a new chapter will post every Sunday morning beginning November 29.  A link is provided via FB, LinkedIn, Twitter, and my private email list.  I would like to add your address to that list.  Have no fear; unsubscribing is easy, and your contact information will not be shared.  To be included, please email me directly at rph3547@gmail.com.  Each new chapter will post every Sunday morning at roberthalper.com beginning 11/29. Here’s hoping you enjoy the story.”

1966 – Robert Eastman- We Are Everywhere

Writes Robert – “Dear Art, At some point I will send a bio, and hopefully it will be prior to someone sending in my obituary! We ‘Wheatleyites’ pop up all over, and I have run into alumni in the strangest places, both foreign and domestic.  The amazing part is that when it happens that I come across a fellow graduate, whether I knew them in high school or not, whether they graduated 5 years before or 40 years after I did…  there is an immediate bond.  It’s almost like finding a member of your family that you never met!

1967 – Arthur Brown – Big Beautiful Beard

Writes Arthur – “My wife Pearl and I have been together for 44 years.”

 1967 – Arthur Engoron – Hope Springs Eternal

https://www.connect.media/city-council-takes-two-bridges-plan-to-states-highest-court/

1969 – “The Inner Circle”

Writes Gerry Gersh:  “A few years ago in NYC the Inner Circle had a rare dinner and drinks together.  From L to R that’s me, David Kelvin, Steve Lansky, and Frank Samberg.”

1969 – David Kelvin – Gerry Gersh Remembers

Writes Gerry to David’s Son Bill -  “Hi Bill.  I’m so sorry for your loss.  Dad was so special.  Frank Samberg, Dad, and I  were inseparable.  Steve to a lesser degree in High School, but Dad and Steve went to California and graduated high school together there as you know...   Dad had a signature laugh.  God he loved to laugh!!!  Long black hair, black leather jacket, black T shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, ALWAYS!  There were the infamous all-night parties at my house or Frank’s, with his three older brothers showing us ‘the ways of the 60’s’.  Dad got pretty good playing pool at my house. And when we went over to Dad’s, the Stones and Dylan were always playing in very low light.  Dad was so bright, liked a good argument, funny.   Actually, of the three of us, hard to say who laughed loudest, but that’s a testament to the love that was there.  But I can hear Dad’s laugh right now.  Easy to recall.  When he came to NYC a few years ago for that special dinner the four of had, I could hardly recognize Dad.  Short hair, much heavier in his face.  Actually, YOU, your FB pic looks JUST LIKE DAD (!) and laughing too!   But after a few minutes together, it ALL came back and the four of us laughing at the memories again.  Dad and I occasionally had brief FB chats, but they were nice.  Told him I never dreamed he’d get into sports as much as he did. For my part, I was called ‘the hippie jock’ once at a high school reunion.  So I hope you like, love the pic of the four of us I sent you.  It says it all.  Can see Dad smiling, taking in the special moment.  And so sweet Bill, it was very hard on the three of us, but you and your sister the most.  We send you our deep love and support.   Thank you for reaching out. I will share this with Frank & Steve right now. Love, ♥️Gerry”

1969 – William Kirchick – Elected President

Nutter Partner William Kirchick Elected President of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils

11.11.2020 | Press Release

William D. Kirchick, a partner in Nutter’s Private Client Department, was elected President of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC). NAEPC is a national organization of professional estate planners and 275 affiliated local estate planning councils dedicated to excellence in estate planning by serving estate planning councils and their 29,000 credentialed members, delivering exceptional resources and unsurpassed education, and recognizing those members within who hold the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation and Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) certification.

Kirchick was elected at NAEPC’s virtual annual meeting on November 10, 2020.  He will assume this role on January 1, 2021. Kirchick is currently serving as president-elect of NAEPC.  A dedicated member of the organization, he has served on the board since 2010 and has also held the roles of treasurer and secretary. Additionally, Kirchick has co-chaired the Accredited Estate Planner® Designation Committee.

Kirchick advises owners of closely held businesses, corporate executives, self-employed professionals, and families with inherited wealth in all aspects of estates, trusts, and business succession planning. He has extensive experience in the areas of estate planning and taxation, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax-planning, as well as probate and trust administration. A sought-after speaker, he lectures on a wide variety of estate and business planning topics for numerous local estate planning councils in Massachusetts.

https://www.nutter.com/trending-newsroom-news-william-kirchick-elected-president-naepc

1970 – Cool Car, Cool Cats

Writes Richard Lowenthal – “That’s Greg Fitzpatrick at top; Paul Seeth in knit hat; Bob Bush in hunter’s hat; Steve Shukow in goggles; and me at the wheel.  I can’t remember who took the photograph…did Diane Arbus visit?  The car is long gone, but I still have the running shoes that you can see hanging from the rear view mirror.”

1972 - Richard “Rick” Frishman – Then and Now

Writes Rick – “Arthur: In 1971 I started delivering chicken from Chicken Delight in Williston Park.  Then got all my friends to join me.  My first job.  It paid for my first car ... an American Motors Gremlin.  No power steering - but it got me to Ithaca College (with classmate Donnis Gomes) just fine.  At Ithaca I was an “RA” with a fellow named Bob Iger (from the south shore), who went on to become the Chairperson of Disney.

After running a PR firm in NY for 35 years - I am retired and living in Boynton Beach, FL, where I play tennis every day.

We spend summers in Quogue, on LI.  My 19th book just came out Oct 27th. ‘ Guerrilla Publicity.’

The link is below

https://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Publicity-Hundreds-Sure-Fire-Tactics/dp/1642799297/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=rick+frishman&sprefix=rick+fri&sr=8-3

Stay safe

Rickfrishman1@gmail.com”

1972 – Linda Kaufman Schroeder – Retired and Relaxed in Southern California

Writes Linda – “Hi Arthur, I am still living in Southern California after 44 years and continue to enjoy the temperate weather, beaches, wineries, and hiking in beautiful mountains.  I enjoy the relaxed West Coast pace and have made wonderful friends here.  The Community Center that I worked at for 20+ years has been closed since April due to Covid restrictions.  I then felt this to be a good time in my life to retire; and all those who predicted that I’d be bored were incorrect.  I am spending much time with my 3rd grandchild, precious Cecilia , who is 1-year-old.  I continue to play/love pickleball.  Am reading books again.  My partner and I enjoy our hikes and very much miss our Pantages Theater outings (again due to Covid).  He and I have been together for 20 years and have great fun traveling on the West Coast (Central Coast, Northern Ca., Oregon, Washington).  It is terrific reading updates, esp. from the Class of ‘72.  Anyone live in southern Cali?  Arthur, I wish you and all that are reading this a beautiful holiday season spent with family and friends!  There is certainly much to be thankful for!!

1973 – Nina Venezia Kotarra – Deceased

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/8849043/NINA-VENEZIA-KOTARRA

1975 - Eric Asimov – New York Times Wine Critic

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/dining/drinks/review-wines-thanksgiving.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/dining/drinks/wine-grapes.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

1976 – Michele Finger Young – A Cincinnati Enquirer “Woman of the Year”

Michele with her husband Greg and their children Amanda, Zach, Jake, Josh, and Chase

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/11/08/2020-enquirer-woman-year-michele-young/6038397002/

Writes Art – “Michele’s story, set forth in the linked article and a video accessible therein, is highly inspiring and heartily recommended.”

1992 – Nicole Krauss – Desperately Seeking Nicole

Writes Art – “Does anyone have contact information for Nicole, a wildly successful author, or her siblings, Jourdan, 1990, and/or Danielle, 2001?”

2009 Amanda Hartman – New Old Pooch Friend

Living in Hound Dog Heaven

Fan Mail and a Few Miscellaneous E-Mail Addresses and Comments

1995-2008 (Rick Simon, Principal) – “Hi Art. Your newsletters are great.”

1958 (Cynthia Messing Frank) – “1958 - first class!!  Thanks, Art, for all you do to keep Wheatley alive.  I love reading the articles and newsy stuff.”

1960 (Donald Beckwith) – “Thanks for all the work you are doing to keep us informed and in touch.”

1960 (Paul Hennessy) -  “The latest alumni Newsletter is excellent.”

1961 (Camille Napoli Cannizzo) – “Art.....you should have a ⭐️ STAR named in your honor in the night sky!!!  Thank you for all you do to keep the Wheatley Spirit alive!”

1961 (Eugene Razzetti) – “Thank you and the gang for another great newsletter.”

1962 (William “Bill” Cerillo) –  “Keep up the great work with the Newsletter.”  WACERILLO@AOL.COM; 415-567-5235; 1735 Steiner, San Francisco, CA 94115.

1962 (John Cilmi) – JOHNCILMI@ME.COM.

1962 (Susan Fox Lehman) – “Arthur,  Thanks for all of your efforts to put this together.”  SUMMERTIMELEH@GMAIL.COM.

1962 (Lois Kass Kleinberg) – “Thank you for your newsletter.  I look forward to every issue.”

1964 (Barbara Rosenbaum Carey) – “Thanks for keeping us updated on Wheatley happenings.”

1964 (Ellen Solow Holzman) – “Thanks for doing the newsletter!  I always enjoy reading it.”

1964 (John F. Sullivan) – “Art - Many thanks for what you do.”  (M) 913 219 3123; (E) cassiecaity@sbcglobal.net

1964 (Davida Tunis Philips) – “Thanks again for keeping us all in the loop.” 

1965 (Robert Halper) – “Thanks for the newsletter.  It grew on me slowly, but now I look forward to each issue.”

1966 (Robert Eastman) – “Thank you for the amazing job you do keeping us informed about all things Wheatley.”

1966 (Rick Jalonack) – “Art, every time I read the newsletter, I always see names of people I remember.  I remember them fondly.  The names always bring back good memories.  The newsletter keeps the memories of Wheatley alive and well.  GR8 work.”

1967 (Arthur Brown) – “Thank you for all your work in keeping all of us informed.”

1967 (Michael Cave) – “Arthur, Great issue as usual.  Thanks for keeping those wonderful years alive.”

1967 (Jill Simon Forte) – “Thanks for another good Newsletter.”

1967 (Scott Frishman) – ““Art, thanks for a wonderful newsletter.  We have all been spoiled by your efforts and are always waiting for the next one to arrive.”

1967 (Joseph Tartaglia) – “Thank You, Art, for keeping us up-to-date on not only the Class of 1967 but all that’s happened since then!”

1967 (John Warde) – “Art, Great job as always.  Your efforts are very much appreciated.  Paula Panzeca Foresto (1969) has not aged.  Very beautiful woman, as seen on Facebook.”

1968 (Tom Glaser) - Hi Art, Thank you so much for keeping all of us Wheatley alums connected.  Of course, the best one for me was Issue # 41, ‘The Letter.’  That will always mean so much to me.  And thank you to everyone, who had so many incredibly beautiful things to say.  Also a big Thank You to everyone who shared so many wonderful experiences about my amazing brother George.”

1968 (Bill Shechtman) – “”Keep up the great work.”

1970 (Joseph “Rocky” Elterman) – “I just read your excellent Newsletter.”

1970 (Richard “Rick” Lowenthal) – “It’s truly heroic what you do for the Wheatley clan; it is appreciated.”

1971 (Nancy Grindlinger Stone) – “Thanks so much!”

1972 (Jill Gaines Sieden) – “Thanks for all you do – you are AMAZING!!”

1970 (Nina Galerstein) – 302-228-5949 – NINAGALERSTEIN1@GMAIL.COM

1972 (Richard “Rick” Frishman) – “Great newsletter, as usual.”

1972 (Linda Kaufman Schroeder) – “It has been so enjoyable to read your monthly Wheatley newsletter with updates on the school’s various alumni.  Thank you SO VERY MUCH for taking the time and energy to coordinate the writings of Wheatleyites’ memories from each graduating year .😎”

1973 (Gail Gimbel Steiger) – “Great newsletter; and of course Ronald McDonald is unmistakable, LOL”

1973 (Denise Paine Radow) – “Thank you so much for keeping me connected to the Wheatley community.”

1974 (Marsha Sesskin) – “Thank you so much for keeping this going.  I look forward to seeing this in my in box:)”

1976 (Michele Finger Young) – “It is so nice that you have kept our community together.”

1976 (Edward Han) – “Thanks for this.”

1976 (Michael Jaff) – “Thank you for continuing to do this.”

1979 (David Greenapple) – “Amazing how much work you do!  Thank you so much!”

1983 (Carol Antonino Rosenbusch)  “The Wheatley newsletter is such a blessing to us all.  I hope you realize how much we appreciate the time and energy that you put into it.  You have brought joy into our hearts.”

1983 (Claudia Reinhardt Johnson) – “Great Alumni Newsletter this month.  Thank you for putting it all together.”

1985 (Shawn Polonet) – “Please update my email address, as I don’t want to miss future newsletters.  Thanks for all the work you do to put them together.”

Closing:

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 53.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.

Arthur Fredericks Engoron The Wheatley School Class of 1967 WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG 646-872-4833