Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 56:

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 55 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 (such as your name) 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 obvious errors or refuse to publish blatant falsehoods.  I consider “Newsletter-worthy” anyone being quoted or featured in what I’ll call “traditional media,” no matter what they are saying or for what they stand.

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 Announcement

An amazing website, submitted by Ruth Rennert, 1962:  http://radio.garden/visit/new-york-ny/9Yi25umJ

Faculty

Phyllis Johnson Satter – Years at Wheatley

Writes my former French professor – “So interesting to dip into the past.  My first job, 1963-66, teaching about Monsieur Thibault, to grades 7-11!  Age 23-26.  Then off to live in England for two years with Norman Guthrie, the exchange teacher from England.  Just passed my 80th birthday. Truly grateful for my years at Wheatley.”

William Stevenson – Remembered by Rick Jalonack (1966)

Writes Rick – “Coach Stevenson gave me the nickname ‘Jersey Joe,’ for Jersey Joe Walcott (real name, “Arnold Raymond Cream”), a professional prize fighter.  I remember Bill fondly, I even ran into him at Nassau Community College.  Great guy.  I miss him muchly.”

Graduates

1960 – Paul Hennessy – Wheatley History in Words and Images

Writes Paul – “Hi Art,  Here are several long-promised items.  First is a letter from Principal Norman J. Boyan and Assistant Principal Walter W. Wathey to the first-ever Wheatley Tennis Team:

Next is a November 1956 Newsday photo of the team, including '58 senior stalwarts Captain Charlie Schapiro, Bob Schnipper, and Julian Hennefeld,  who were also major contributors on Wheatley's championship basketball team.  Big Bob Schnipper, at 6'3", 210+ lbs. ,was "recruited" (aka dragooned) by Jack Davis to depart the tennis team the next year and become a starting tackle on the undefeated '58 football team.

Next is a photo of Wheatley and Chaminade guys at John Moncure's wedding in 1970.  He and his bride, Nancy, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020.  L-R Robert (“Bob”) Merritt (Chaminade), Paul Hennessy (1960), Michael Harvey (1961), John “Monk” Moncure (1960), Patrick (“Pat”) Higgins (Chaminade), Walter (“Walt”) Brunner (1961)

Here are some old wildcat football alums, L-R  Dixie Howell, Ken Martin, Monk Moncure, Gary “Zeke” Zebrowski (quarterbacking), Paul Hennessy, and Charlie Zimmerman, at a reunion in 2016 at a North Fork vineyard:

And here’s me in 1966 in my First Lieutenant’s uniform with my platoon in Mannheim, Germany.  I’m in the front row with an officer’s black stripe on my pants and a smile that’s even wider.

Finally, here are my reflections on lifelong lessons learned from being on Wheatley’s Tennis, Football, and Wrestling Teams:

Reading the Tennis Team letter from Wheatley’s “Founding Fathers” reminded me of the values they shared with the fortunate students of the new school.  The final sentence read: “We hope in the future you will be able to accept your triumphs--and your losses--with the same good grace and gentlemanly conduct you demonstrated this year.’  Those words, delivered 65 years ago --sadly after the recent passing of pioneer Principal Norman Boyan—certainly resonate today.  Character is fate, as the Greek philosophers taught.

Wheatley Wildcats of my era and beyond had unusual opportunities to learn from strong role models--teachers, administrators, and coaches-- leaders whose professional purpose in life was to foster leadership capabilities in their charges.  I'm grateful to have been on three Wildcat teams with distinctly different cultures and will recall a few flashbacks from back in the day that shaped my worldview.

Tennis - The  new Wheatley School was well-prepared to have excellent teams, mainly due to top-level instruction at the Roslyn Country Club.  The team won the Division title in its first year, when I joined as a freshman, after getting injured practicing with very large football players who'd go undefeated in their first varsity season.

I was also "out of my league" on the tennis team as the ONLY East Williston representative on the Roslyn Heights-dominated squad.  It was an interesting cross-cultural experience and, needless to say, I was the frequent subject of ribbing as the innocent "goy" among much more sophisticated, worldly and skilled teammates. 

I finally earned some grudging respect in a year-end match against Garden City, our toughest rival, when coach Joe Goldwasser strategically slotted me--never before a singles player--against their 2nd seed, a tall basketball star named "Duke" Douglas.  My role was clearly sacrificial, intended to spread our team's talent to win other matches.  (A small advantage I had was having lived in Garden City until 7th grade, so I knew my opponent's rep as a power player who could be erratic when his temper took over.)

Somehow I held my own,  consistently retrieving enough shots to annoy my foot-taller rival to the point where he began throwing his racket in frustration (much to my delight.). He won 6-4, 6-3, but it was a fairly competitive match that earned credibility for coach Joe's tactic (and first-ever ‘attaboys’ from my rather surprised teammates)

Garden City won the team match, but the best was yet to come next year with Larry Nagler's arrival.  Perhaps Wheatley's outstanding all-time athlete, Nagler made history at UCLA in 1960 as the NCAA singles and doubles champion and the only player ever to win three Pac10 singles titles.

Led by Nagler, Wheatley won the state tennis championship and UCLA won NCAA team titles in 1960 and 1961.  He played as doubles partner with the legendary Arthur Ashe and later was Ashe's attorney.  Also a basketball star at Wheatley, Nagler--at 5'8"--went on to have a unique UCLA athletic career, playing for iconic hoops coach John Wooden's teams in 1958 and '59. 

Looking back, I'd have learned more about a sport I still play actively if I re-enlisted on the tennis team with the great Nagler, but since all my close friends were football players, I joined them the next three years. reveling in the excitement of an undefeated 1958 team, followed by two more winning seasons.

Football - At 135 pounds soaking wet, my role as captain and quarterback on undefeated JV teams was a great experience. largely due to charismatic coaches Jack ‘Cat’ Davis and  ‘Wild Bill’ Lawson, who created a culture that was a lifetime influence for many of their players.

Current discussion of football's value and legacy - especially its potential for brain damage - merits serious consideration; but, for me and others who played, the sport was excellent training in "small unit leadership" that affected many future endeavors -- in the military, politics, work groups, and even raising families.  My version of the British dictum about battles won on the playing fields of Eton and Harrow was applying what was learned on Wheatley fields to being an army officer (see photo with my platoon in Germany circa 1966) and creating communications teams at four universities and Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

One example of how this worked was instilling the "Chinese Bandit" spirit (borrowed from LSU's national champs) in JV players when we scrimmaged against the varsity.  It was the fierce pride of smaller guys ganging up to challenge the first-stringers and challenging them to be better.

Coaches Davis and Lawson delighted in the competition and encouraged it in many ways, including a much-quoted sign placed prominently on their locker room office window that said: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, BUT the size of the fight in the dog."  They were words to live by for me and many classes of players who were shaped more than we realized by those mentors.

Coach Davis also played ‘head games’ with opposing coaches.  In the newspaper interviews, he would plug players into positions they never played (e.g. Stu Flome as a contender for starting right end; Dixie Howell somewhere in the backfield; Pete Blank competing with Matt Sanzone at right tackle; etc.).  As Wheatley Football Historian Paul Giarmo (1976) also noted, ‘Cat’ was a master at creating fake news, way before the term achieved its current notoriety.  It was a game—within a game— the L.I. coaches played in the press, before competing on the field.  Davis is quoted in one story saying he won’t know who’s in his starting line-up until the day before the first game, and then goes on to describe competition for almost EVERY position, naming team members who NEVER played a varsity game in their entire careers.

The photo below is the 1984 Hennessy Touch Football Team--with me and my dad Tom Hennessy (referee) center of photo - for a game played at  Boston College against my wife's family team (Casey) before my wedding (final score a still-debated tie, best for marital peace).  You might recognize some WS alumni players (front, L-R) Ken Martin '60; my dad; me; Bob Merritt, Chaminade '60; Monk '60.  The two guys in the back are not WS alums, Jack O'Connor and Dick Johnson.  The football theme never died.

Wrestling – Charismatic and ruggedly handsome, Coach Bill Stevenson, was a strong-enough grappler himself to practice against our Long Island champion heavyweights, Matt Sanzone and Mike Stapleton.  Stevenson was not only a fine coach, he also had a lively sense of humor and--as his wife Alma noted in the last alumni newsletter--enjoyed giving nicknames to team members. 

Mine was "thumbs" during my three years on the team, with the coach's commentary on my dogged riding style that I had "the strongest thumbs on Long Island."  It was mostly a comment on my stubbornness when I'd found a tactic that usually allowed me to win, but wasn't experimental enough to add more moves to my match routine.

This must have frustrated the coach, but his response was more humorous than corrective.  When I last saw him, at Wheatley's 50th celebration, his greeting--instead of a conventional handshake--was to playfully thumb-wrestle with me to test my much discussed thumbs.

Too many laughs and memories to recount on that team---the tall tales we told new wrestlers about their dreaded next opponents; heavyweight ‘Baby Huey,’ Walt Brunner driving our bus drivers wacko en route to matches by singing "Mack the Knife" at max volume, and--believe it or not--conducting synchronized song fests among our musically untalented teammates.

In all, such memories of  camaraderie, laughter, and youthful joy--absurdly care-free compared to what the current generation is now experiencing.  My hope for today's youth is that they'll soon recover their lives back to normalcy and have rich experiences that will nostalgically warm them in later years where my classmates now dwell.

 As the first class to complete four years at Wheatley, our 1960 crew was notably spirited and bonded.  The beat continues, as we've held semi-annual reunions for the last few decades, usually organized by classmate Ken Martin, a retired Marine colonel with a special talent and motivation for reviving esprit de corps.  We've lost several notable classmates-- including our much loved class president Jack Langlois, who became a respected China scholar--but the memories are warm, the teamwork still cohesive, and the friendships endure.

In these divided political times, we don't all agree on the state of the world, but our differences spark lively discussions as we try to plan a gathering to celebrate still being in touch six decades after we graduated from that unique new school on Bacon Road.   

‘Facts Matter,’ and we'll try once again to apply our best teammate skills to live up to Wheatley’s motto, ‘Veritatem Quaerite’  (‘Seek the Truth").

BTW – Here’s a photo of more recent vintage, taken at Wheatley’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration in 2006:

L-R - Paul Hennessy, '60; Gary Zebrowski, '60; John Moncure, '60; and Matt Sanzone, '59. 

Best regards, stay well,  Paul Hennessy '60,  Newton, MA

Writes Art Engoron (1967) – Every Wheatley class is special, but the Class of 1960 may be the most special, or at least the most cohesive, ever, with their frequent get-togethers hither and yon.  Charlie Zimmerman coached my little league team, and years ago Ken Martin and I kindled a friendship that still burns bright.  Wheatley was never known as a sports powerhouse, but Paul Hennessy’s reflections on his three teams and other aspects of Wheatley are about as “Wildcat” as you can get.

1961 – Merry Orling – Deceased

Writes brother Jeff Orling (1965) – “Merry died last evening at midnight.  Her journey has ended.  We all knew her as a remarkable person... kind, generous, compassionate, passionate about things which meant a lot to her... human rights, animal rights, politics, veganism, peace, art history and literature.  As a teen Merry read all the books in our local library in Roslyn and was a frequent visitor to the libraries in Bronxville and Mount Vernon recently.  Merry was a brilliant student.  She skipped two grades in high school, graduated near the top of her class, and was accepted at Barnard College at 16 years old.  She spent her first year in college in her own apartment in the West Village and then took a leave to study in Florence Italy.  She taught herself Italian on the Leonardo Da Vinci as she crossed the ocean.  Merry made her way to Firenze, got an apartment, and found work with an Italian writer translating a book for him into English. 

Merry loved Italy so much that she made it her home and became an Italian citizen and identified as an Italian.  Her first job in Italy was teaching English at the Berlitz school in Florence.  Then she began a freelance business doing technical translations for engineers.  Finally, in her last job Merry became an English Language professor at the University of Florence. I had the pleasure of sitting in on one of her classes.  Her students loved her!

Merry had enormous energy walking all over Florence and NYC.  She loved to ride her bicycle in Florence when the center of the city was closed to traffic.  Her passion for animals led her to become involved in the animal rights movement.  She started an Italian animal rights / Vegan group called Vivere Vegan and had several shelter dogs and cats... Dickens, Tom, Sparrow. Slim.  Merry had a companion animal with her throughout her life.

Merry met the love of her life one day while drying her hair in the warm sun in Piazza Santa Croce.  Gianni and Merry married and lived together at Piazza Mentana 4.  They traveled through Europe, to the States, and spent time with me and my family several times... including a trip to Jefferson's home, Monticello, in Virginia.  Gianni died too young from a heart attack in November 2006.  Merry never recovered from his death and sunk into a lasting depression and wanted to leave Italy... which she did.  Merry moved in with us in Mount Vernon and then into her own apartment one block away.  She was well-known and liked by all the local shopkeepers and traveled frequently by Metro North to NYC to meet her friends or have a vegan meal.  Then one day in 2016 on her way to the Metro North station Merry fell and broke her hip.  Not long after this, in 2017 Merry was diagnosed with dementia and moved from her apartment to a series of assisted living facilities.

The old Merry we knew was slowly fading away and left this plane last night but will be forever in our thoughts.  Thank you Merry!

This final paragraph from James Joyce's The Dead comes to mind on this snowy day in NY.

Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland.  It was falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, further westwards, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves.  It was falling too upon every part of the lonely churchyard where Michael Furey lay buried.  It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns.  His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

Merry and Jeffrey at an Animal Rights conference in D.C., approx. early 1990s.

Jeffrey’s wife Elsa, Merry, and her husband Gianni in Florence, probably in the 1990s

Jeffrey with Merry’s oldest grandchildren

1965 – Barry Gordon – Nuclear Reactor Safety

Writes Barry – “Hi Art, Over the years I have worked with Morgan, Lewis and Bockius on environmental issues involving nuclear plant life extensions for the now-closed Oyster Creek in Forked River, New Jersey and the now-closed Indian Point 2 and soon to be closed Indian Point 3 in Buchanan, New York.  Although I was successful in defending the plant operators, Exelon and Entergy, respectively, before the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards and Atomic Safety Licensing Board, other factors contributed to their premature retirements.  What amused me about working for Morgan Lewis was their location at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, which is right across the street from 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, the address of the Trump International Hotel.

1967 – Lawrence Edward Baum – Daniel H. Silver Sums Him Up in a Word Collage

Writes Dan – “Arthur, Thank you very much for sending the sad news of Larry Baum's passing, a genuine loss I share with our classmates.   That recollections of Larry from so many of our Wheatley classmates—whether good friends or casual acquaintances—echo each other so closely, testifies to both the truth of those recollections as well as to the breadth of impact of Larry's magnetic & singular personality—from whom love seemed needing to overflow.  And because I cannot improve upon the words of our classmates, who in commemoration & celebration express my own true memories & feelings about Larry, I take the liberty of sampling just a few for a collage: "Big laugh, big smile, big, hearty personality; warm, outgoing & entertaining; bright, full-of-life; a dynamic member of our class; a good, funny, intelligent & unique person; May his memory be a blessing.  Amen.”

1967 – Lawrence Edward Baum – Lawrence Stephen Weiss Puts Larry in Context

Writes Larry – “Dear Arthur, Thank you for contacting me directly with the sad news of Larry's passing.  Newsletter # 55 contained such meaningful responses that it moved me to add to the so-well-deserved appreciation of Larry.

As you well know, Larry was central to a group of us who grew up in East Williston, played and worked together at North Side, and Wheatley and maintained close friendships throughout our Wheatley years despite the various changes that those years brought to all of us.

A subgroup of us also went to Hebrew School together at Temple Beth Sholom through the bar mitzvah process--a generally bizarre experience that Larry's energy and mischievous humor made tolerable and even occasionally enjoyable despite the best efforts of the teachers involved.  Larry was also the sparkplug for many formal and informal athletic activities that brought the neighborhood together.

As Jack Wolf mentioned, Larry was also part of a small group of piano students in which I was included who studied with an amazing jazz teacher who was literally from another planet for the relatively brief but most valued time before he unexpectedly left our solar system.

Through all of this and more, Larry was always a source of positive energy, wisdom, humor, humanity, and encouragement in our journeys at Wheatley and beyond.  He was truly a great soul--a joyful, energetic, always-questioning mahatma.”

1967 – Art Engoron – In the News (the Daily News):

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-homeless-hotels-covid-ruling-20210127-qexqlb5i5fdj3fpl3kzli3ypga-story.html

And another time (in the New York Times):

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/nyregion/trump-fraud-investigation.html?searchResultPosition=1

And a humorous, irreverent take:

https://abovethelaw.com/2021/02/judge-offers-trump-lawyers-free-lesson-on-how-privilege-works/

1967 – Merrill Stanton – Happy Birthday – Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here

Writes Merrill – “Hi Art, This photo is of a birthday party, circa 7^th grade, that I had at my house.  Pictured starting at the bottom row left is Laury Monk, Ann Liebowitz (left Wheatley), Lorraine Eisner, Cydney Gershon, Laurie Nemiroff (in the middle), Steven Rosenthal, Barbara Gelberg, Bob Bordiga.  Next row: Ilene Kornblath, Merrill Stanton, Top Row: Susan Schnelwar, George Krauss, Jimmy Seaton, Peter Kaplan, Gilbert Dick, Stephen Kornfeld, Brian Feldman, Shep Messing, Dick Olney … and the little kid is my brother Paul Stanton!

1967 – Shirley Vogl – Remembering Sister Virginia

Writes Shirley – “My sister Ginny would have been in on the 1962 zoom reunion with such joy.  Her  bright beautiful light left us on August 14, 2003. 

I miss her every day.  Sadly, we are in the season of our lives where so many are leaving us.  Take care and stay well!!  Shirley Vogl, Nashville, TN”

Photo Quiz From Newsletter # 55

Nobody guessed which two guys are brothers (I think only one person tried).  The guy right-front (a lawyer) and the guy far-left, with the light-colored shirt (a doctor), are brothers.

1969 + 1973 – Roger + Gail Gimbel – A New Book on Printing

Gimbel & Associates, the well-known printing industry management consulting firm, has published a new eBook. “A Printer’s Perspective & Guide to Digital Printing and Variable Data" answers the business and operational questions printing professionals ask as they transition to a business model where digital printing plays a more important, and perhaps dominant, role.

The downloadable eBook discusses the advantages of digital printing — in particular how this technology allows printers to produce data-driven, personalized materials that greatly improve the performance of marketing communications.  The book includes an overview of variable data printing, a glossary of terms, and a special “Printers Perspective” section that addresses the questions on the minds of print industry executives. This 50-plus page resource is available to print professionals at no charge.

President Roger P. Gimbel says the aim of the eBook is to explore how to realize the dream of true one-to-one direct marketing through individualization.  Mr. Gimbel has included video commentary on the eBook, available at the download request page.

This latest eBook is just one of the resources Gimbel & Associates makes available to print company owners and others in the printing industry. See the Gimbel library for more details.

Gimbel & Associates is an international management consulting firm working to ignite business growth through digital technologies.  As an independent company, they offer clients customized consulting services to achieve their sales and marketing goals. With an extensive background in print services, print production, digital, marketing communications, database management, training, and direct marketing, Gimbel & Associates helps their clients accomplish their growth and efficiency goals.

1974 – Cathy Gould Rath – Published Novelist!

Writes Cathy – First, a HUGE round of applause to Art for keeping us all connected with these wonderful newsletters.  Art consistently encourages us to share our ups, maybe downs, but not wait until it’s too late, and in that spirit, I’ve got some exciting news to announce.  I have published my first novel!

This has been a long journey—maybe not as far back as the early 1970s, but the seeds were definitely planted on Bacon Road, and not surprisingly, became the era in which my story occurs.  In that “way back” high school time machine, if school assignments didn’t mandate reading books (and not the Trig or Chemistry kind – please), many of us read novels for fun, out of boredom, or what else was there to do on a stormy afternoon, during a blizzard, or on a hot summer day with the Jones Beach breezes cooling us down.

Reading novels was also part of our family’s DNA – my mom loved romance, historical forays, and family sagas; my sister Amy (Class of 1979) to this day reads at least two books a week of all varieties, and our sister Laurie (Class of 1973)  has kept up the fast pace, dividing her genres between literary fiction and a Michael Connelly mystery. And me, well, I’ve stayed up with the family reading commitment with a wide range of novels on my nightstand (and audible versions during hikes) since my Wildcat times.

L-R - Laurie, Amy, Carrie (mother), Cathy

Going from avid reader to writer was the obvious next leap.  I believe we all have a book in us, and if time and craft permitted, several waiting to break free.  After a year of consecutive losses: on 9/11, when I lost a dear friend on Flight 93; a former college boyfriend who died at 46 of colon cancer; and then the passing of my awesome grandmother, who made it to 91, I started my book, initially to heal, until a compelling story emerged (see website for book synopsis). I did enjoy the journey, despite all the changes, revisions, and darlings I had to kill, all the way up to finding an agent.  Then the fun stopped.  It proved too hard to get a publisher, so my pandemic decision last August was to self-publish, and I’m glad I did.

So, fellow Wheatleyites, please take a chance on a first time author by buying a copy of RIPPLE EFFECT.  You can email me through my website: cathyrathwritingcoach  – all the details are there.

My local bookstore is helping the cause – hope it will start a trend in independent bookstores everywhere!

Thank you for your support, and please spread the word!

1975 - Kendall Hearn Brautigam - Deceased

Writes brother Doug (Class of 1967) – “So sad to share that our youngest brother Kendall Brautigam unexpectedly passed away in his sleep last month from an apparent heart attack. Below are more details to share with his classmates and friends. Some may remember the Brautigam family had four Wheatley graduates: Betsy (1965), Douglas (1967), Steven (1971) and Kendall (1975).”

Obituary

Kendall H. Brautigam passed away unexpectedly on January 19, 2021 at his home in Riverhead, NY. He is survived by his two brothers, Steven, of NY, and Douglas, of NJ, and his sister, Betsy, of GA. Other family members include 3 nieces and 2 nephews, 2 great-nephews and a great niece. Kendall was 63 years old.

Kendall was born on August 16th, 1957 in Mineola, NY to Robert W. Brautigam and Elizabeth (Hearn) Brautigam. He grew up in East Williston, NY and spent his summers in New Suffolk NY.  He went to The Wheatley School in Old Westbury, NY and then to The University of Hartford, CT.  After college Kendall moved to San Francisco, CA and worked in the family business with his sister. Twenty years later he moved back to NY, where he worked in the food service industry and then for a local bank.

Kendall shared his love of boating and entertaining with friends and family alike.  Many a holiday was celebrated, with his extended family and many friends, over one of his special meals. 

1982 – Jeffrey Zaremsky – Wildcat Wordsmith

Writes Jeff – “My latest book, Depressed People of the Bible, Freedom from a Cave of Depression to the Light of Life, has just hit the book stores.  Many people from the Bible experienced depression just as many people today do.  Some of them successfully and wisely handled the depression, others did not.  We can learn lessons from their experiences, both good and bad, to help us avoid the pitfalls and be victorious over depression and regain our lives.  The book is available at Books-a-million, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and at www.Jewishheritage.net.  I have also written a book titled Jewish Discoveries (available at those same locations), and I am the rabbi for the Beth-El Shalom congregations in St. Petersburg and New Port Richey Florida.

Photo Quiz – Who are these six siblings, three of whom graduated from Wheatley?

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

Faculty (Stephen Ehre) – “Art: Many thanks for keeping this endeavor going.  I always look forward to it.  Steve Ehre.”

Faculty (Phyllis Johnson Satter) – “Great job on this amazing newsletter, Art.  Great hair!” 

1958 (Jeffrey R. Fischman) – “I enjoy the newsletters.”

1960 (Paul Hennessy) – “The Newsletter is excellent.  As a former journalist, I greatly admire your thoroughness, commitment to accuracy, and dedication to communicating in a worthy cause (Wheatley alumni connections and spirit of community).”

1961 (Joan Bressman Hoffman) – JHOFFMAN43@YAHOO.COM

1961 (Deborah Kerstein Brosowsky) – “Thanks, Art, Another great edition.”

1963 (Barbara Gottesman Miller) – “Hi Art, Love all your Newsletters.  Enjoy reading the biographies even when I don’t remember the people, most of whom graduated way after me, but I know their names or their siblings.  Thanks for all the great stories.”

1962 (Alice Dickey) - Hi Art, First and foremost, thank you so much for your hard work on the newsletters.  I am not in touch with Wheatleyites but enjoy reading about them and their memories.  I don't know Barbara Frankfort Patrick at all, but want her to know I thoroughly enjoyed reading her lengthy article.  My life has been pretty good, though as you can see, I wasn't good at picking marriage partners and am now happily single.  I am proud that I am 76, I play and teach duplicate bridge, and I am Co-president of AAUW (American Association of University Women) - Northern Ocean County Branch, NJ.  Recently I began an Anti-racism Study Group for my branch, and we have enjoyed and learned from the videos of Jeffery Robinson, your fellow ACLU lawyer.  Appreciatively, Alice Dickey, then Wendel, then Knapp, now Tarlach

1962 (Ruth Rennert) – “Thank you, Art!  We greatly appreciate everything you have done for our class and all the other classes at Wheatley!  You are the best!”

1966 (Barry Newborn) – “Thanks Art for your tremendous work in providing fond memories each month; one of these days I will provide information on my life’s adventures.  After moving from Roslyn Heights to Boston, and graduating from U Mass., I ended up in Altoona, Pa. and still reside there.  Remember those great soccer teams with Shep Messing at goal.  Those were the days!!!  My Best, Barry Newborn”

1966 (Suzanne Stone) – “👋👋

P.S. Love how you keep me in purple!

😘

1967 (Daniel Silver) – “Thanx for your superhuman efforts re: TWSAA.”

1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) – “Thank you so much for all your updates and another great newsletter.”

1967 (Shirley Vogl) – “Thank you Art for all you do to keep us connected!”

1969 (Jack Lipsky) – “Art: Great job as usual, love the newsletters and stories.  Thanks for keeping us up to date.  Remember running track with Coach Bill Lawson and always seeing the back of Paul Ingrassia far ahead of me, and hearing from Glen Greenbaum, a former babysitter.  Point of interest, wonder if my street in Harbor Hills, Great Neck is the only one with 3 Wheatley Graduates within 6 houses of each other.  Classes of 1969, 1977 and 2002.  Have a Happy and Healthy New Year, glad that 2020 is over.”

1970 (Arlene Krauss-Mandell) – “Thank you for your work on the Wheatley Alumni Newsletter.  I loved the photo of my brother, David, Class of 1967, at Larry Baum’s Bar Mitzvah.”

1973 (Richard Miner) – “Thank you…I enjoy reading your stuff.”

1975 (Toni Buckner LaPietra) – “Thanks again for the great Newsletters.”  MUSICBOXSTUDIOS@VERIZON.NET   

1982 (Jeff Zaremsky) – “I can’t thank you enough for you consistent great work with the newsletter.  I am sure it is a lot of work.  I enjoy reading it.  It is good you keep us connected this way.”

1982 (Jeff Zuckerberg) – “Great work with the Wheatley Newsletter.”

2004 (Mark B. Steiger) – “Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Management Agency, Corporate Headquarters, 400 Garden City Plaza, Suite 405, Garden City, NY 11530, Main: (877)570-5540 | Direct: (347) 988-5325, Mark@WorkforceManagementAgency.com”

Closing:

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 56.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.

Art

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