Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 62!

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 61 Newsletters (and other Wheatley data and arcana) at http://www.wheatleyalumni.org/  Also thanks to Keith is our handy-dandy, super-duper search engine, 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 our distribution list.

I edit all submissions, even material in quotes, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof.  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. 

Unless you indicate otherwise, I will assume that you have given me permission to publish anything you send me; but please indicate whether or not I can publish your contact information (otherwise I will assume not).  Scores of alumni email addresses can be found on the Wheatley Public Directory, http://wheatleyalumni.org/PublicDirectory.htm

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

The 1960s Pledge of Allegiance Brouhaha (Continued)

Writes John Corwin (1964) – “Hi Art, I, too, had refused to say the pledge.  The system, as I recall it, was that your home room teacher would report you to the head of the department in which he or she worked; since Mr. McCormick was a math teacher, I was reported to the Math Department Chair, John Devlin.  Mr. Devlin threatened to withdraw the letter of recommendation he had written on my behalf to MIT, advising them that my patriotism was in question.  My mother called the president of the Board of Education to protest this threat.  I don’t know if Mr. Devlin took the threatened action, but I was admitted to MIT and spent my college years there.

Does anyone know whether or not Wheatley students still pledge allegiance?

The 2021 Graduation Speech Brouhaha (Continued)

The “Graduation Speech Brouhaha” has not subsided, at least not in my inbox.  Immediately below are two links to media coverage of the event and its aftermath and absolutely everything I have received on the subject, in rough class-year order.  I have not censored or filtered anything (other than to remove some ad hominem attacks); so, if strong, acerbic opinions might anger you, please skip over this material, or at least get angry at the author, not me.

https://www.facebook.com/shahar.azani/posts/10159268934844034

Student reportedly booed by parents during graduation speech

1965 – Malcolm F. McNeill (againatexan@yahoo.com) – “To my classmate Peter Altschuler:  ‘A first-rate, well written defense of Huda Ayaz's views!  Glad to see you haven't lost your wit!”

1967 – Writes Jill Simon Forte – “I was not surprised at the haters of that lovely, intelligent girl.”

1970 – Paul Stanton – “I applaud Robert Abramowitz’s comments criticizing Huda.”

1974 – Bill Meyn – “I listened to the graduation speech and found it innocuous.   The offending line was a plea to educate yourself about the situations of Palestinians and Uighurs.  To some listeners the speaker also implied the innocence of both parties.  There are certainly many Palestinians and Uighurs who are innocent, while there are also certainly some bad actors.  Life is complicated.  This is what I took away from that line in the speech:  educate yourself.”

The Passing of Legendary Wheatley Teacher Robert J. (“Bullet Bob”) Bernstein

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsday/name/robert-bernstein-obituary?pid=198759404

The School Within a School

Here’s a great article featuring Wheatley - https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/08/nyregion/alternative-schools-adapt.html

Writes Steve Ehre (Faculty) – “The SWS was meant to be a democratic school with a strong commitment to community building.  It was hoped that by staying within the campus walls, it would have an impact on other parts of the teaching-learning process.”

Writes Daniel Engoron (1973; brother) - “It still exists and is thriving to this day.  Yes, I was in it and my kids were too!”

Staff

Kathi McElroy – Guidance Counselor - Deceased

Reportedly had been sick for some time.

Graduates

1958 – Classic Classroom Photo

Writes Edward Brown (1958) - If I may offer a few comments about this photo.  First, it was the 7^th grade class at Willets Road under Joe Goldwasser, who is on the far right of the back row.  The eighth-grade class ahead of us was the class that had to stay at Mineola for all four years of high school.  The feeling was that having spent three years there, it would have been too socially disruptive to move them to the brand new Wheatley School for only one year.  The class shown in the photo did indeed move back to Wheatley after spending just two years, 9^th and 10^th, at Mineola, and then we moved to Wheatley for 11^th and 12^th grades.  Thus, we became “the First Class” and the lead class of the brand new Wheatley for two years.  And as I have noted in the past, it was a truly superb class.  Aside from establishing all the class “customs” – mottos, colors, nicknames, names of the paper and the yearbook, etc., etc., it triumphed in both academic and athletic achievements, and the individual members of this class, by and large, went on to become extremely skilled, talented, and highly successful adults in a wide variety of professions.  Indeed, we set the high standards for which Wheatley has, from time to time, been named as the “Number One Public High School in the Nation”, and which level of performance it maintains to this day.

But as proud as I am looking at this picture, I am also very sad.  We have had a number of class reunions over the years (40^th, 50^th, 55^th, 57^th, 60^th), each one getting somewhat smaller than the previous one.  I look at all those fine people in the picture that I knew and see how many of them are no longer here.  Yes, very sad, but that, after all, is life.

Just for the record, I am still, obviously, ‘here.’  That’s me, back row, fifth from the left, in the plaid shirt.  Go Wildcats!!!”

Writes Diane Sharrock Moretti (1971) – “My brother, Glenn Sharrock, is the tallest student standing at the back of the room, between the two boys wearing white shirts.  He was born in 1940, so these students are all approximately age 80.” 

1959 – Matthew Sanzone, Nan Bauer-Maglin, Stu Sanderson, Virginia “Ginger” Nichols Lohmann

Writes Matt - Great to learn of Nan Bauer-Maglin’s book.  I will pre-order.  Congrats, Nan.  Also, good to hear form Stu Sanderson.  I did get in touch with Ginger Nichols Lohmann, we two St. Aidans’ survivors.  Love to hear from my classmates: msanz1@roadrunner.com

1960 + 1967 – Two guys in Wheatley T-Shirts – Art Engoron (1967) (L) and Ken Martin (1960) (R)

Writes Art – “Ken Martin and his wife Cheryle are great friends of mine.  I am indebted to them for their gracious hospitality and  enduring friendship.”

1961 – John Buonocore – Deceased

(Details and photo to be included in next Newsletter.  Submissions welcome)

1965 – Correspondence Between Classmates Malcolm McNeill and Peter Altschuler

Writes Malcolm – “Peter – Keep up the good fight, and never relent.  And let’s not forget Veritatem Quaerite (“seek the truth”). 

You really threw me with your reference to Gilgamesh.  I had to do some research before responding, and I discovered (with the help of Wikipedia) a fascinating story pre-dating even Moses, and suggesting, indeed compelling, the finding that the Jews were not the earliest inhabitants of Palestine.  I guess I knew that intuitively, but now I know it factually.  A whole civilization, a whole culture, existed in Mesopotamia and the Levant before the pharaohs.  How cool is that?!!  So, thank you for the insight, and please pardon my ignorance.  My knowledge of world history is in serious disrepair.

Writes Peter – “The good news is that Mr. Wathey is still around.  We could ask him!”

Citing the school motto is an ideal approach. When an organization doesn’t live up to its brand, it’s a sign of weakness and decline. It disrupts people’s faith and makes them wonder if the brand/organization can still be trusted.

You and I were ’60s kids. Our parents were altruists. They supported civil rights (as long as it was in the South; we weren’t exactly a model of racial diversity), and they voted for candidates who believed in the greatest good for the greatest number.  Until Nixon, at least.

Of course, the likelihood is that the people who live in the area today are vastly different from our parents.  Ours were accustomed to sacrifice, having lived through WW II and the Depression, and they had a sense of neighborly cooperation that may not exist anymore.  I’m guessing. 

Yet, seeing the excess and extravagance on some of those Levitt-developed lots, the old Roslyn Country Club community could be Bel-Air or Brentwood or Beverly Hills — the places I’ve been most familiar with for the past 42 years.  More ostentation than heart.  More stuff and less substance. 

That’s a superficial viewpoint, I admit. But if someone drove me blindfolded to Parkway Drive, hid the street signs, took off the blinder, and asked me where I was, I couldn’t tell them.  We had standard model homes, drove DeSotos and Chevys, and played in the street.  That ain’t the neighborhood I saw when I was last there … which was a while ago.

As for good old Gilgamesh, he’s more mythic than actual.  But he does represent the existence of a civilization that, old as it was, may still be somewhat younger than the Chinese and Indian societies. (There are, arguably, older written works from India.) And there are citations from ancient writing that suggest that Jesus’s “gap years” were spent in India.  Hard to confirm without the microfilm from the Temple Mount Times and the Pontius Pilate Post.

Don’t feel bad for not knowing about Gilgamesh. My performance website is named for a mythical king of England who was the subject of the first blank verse, English language, dramatic tragedy — “Gorboduc” — and even drama majors I’ve known draw a blank.  My knowledge, I assure you, is arcane (and mostly useless).”

1967 – Mini Reunion in CA – Lorraine Eisner, Lee Fein, Robert Hecht, Merrill Stanton

Seated (L-R) – Sharon Barros (Fein), Barry Fitelson, Lorraine Eisner Fitelson, Merrill Stanton

Standing (L-R) – Lee Fein, Kathy Hecht, Robert Hecht

Writes Merrill - “Recently, Lee Fein & his wife Sharon Barros, Lorraine Eisner & her husband Barry Fitelson, and Robert Hecht & his wife Kathy Hecht came out to Laguna Woods, CA, where I live for a great reunion dinner!!  We had a ball 👍  All the best Merrill xx”

“Writes Robert – “We all had a great time at our mini reunion.  Kathy and I sold our house in Princeton Junction and are building a new one in Las Vegas by Red Rock Canyon.  We did this to be closer to our kids who are both in CA.  Daughter in LA, son in San Jose.”

1967 – Another Mini Reunion – Frishman, Galan, Hare Kaplan,

Standing (L-R) – Peter Kaplan, Scott Frishman, Kenny Hare, Steve Galan

Seated (L-R) – Bunny Kaplan, Linda Frishman, Thea Hare, Melanie Galan

1967 – Art Engoron – Last Day of 2021 Summer Internships

1967 – Man in the News

https://popcrush.com/johnny-depp-wins-motion-against-amber-heard-aclu/

1967 – Patti Polansky and Stevie Fliegel – Foto Booth Fun

Writes Patti (who is on the right) – “Hey Art, I have attached a photo booth photograph of Stevie Fliegel and me from around 1965.  Not the best picture of either of us, but it is a fun memory.”

1967 - Mary Ann Young Winiger -  With Sister in the Old ‘Hood and On the Move

(L-R) – Mary Ann Young Winiger (1967) and sister Chicca D’Agostino (1961) (Henrietta “Henni” Young at Wheatley) - 8/15/2021

Richard Winiger and Mary Ann Young Winiger

Writes Mary Ann – “Hi Art, The first photo is of my sister and me at Hildebrandt’s on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park.  It was fun to be there and reminisce the wonderful and delicious memories from our youth.

What’s been happening in my life?  My husband and I sold our home in Sedona, AZ and packed everything we wanted to “keep” into 5 big suitcases and moved to Europe.  Put most of that in storage and took 2 smaller suitcases and have been traveling the last 6 months with no plans to settle anywhere in the foreseeable future.  Although to many, it has seemed crazy during these times to travel, it has been perfect for us.  I’ve added a photo from the pyramids in Cairo – we were pretty much the only people there with our guide.  I learned so much about myself and my life during lockdown and Covid.  The biggest lessons were how little I really needed and to trust myself because there was so much conflicting information, and I didn’t want to be controlled by fear.  I wear a mask and got vaccinated because that felt right for me.   With my warmest wishes, Mary Ann Young (Winiger)

1968 – Gary Matthesen – 1967 Physical Fitness Team Mini-Reunion

Writes Art Engoron – “Bobby Scandurra is up in Massachusetts.  Dick Olney is out in San Francisco.  Mike McGrane is up and out in Michigan.  Mike Stedman is in Heaven.  So, Gary Matthesen and I recently had our own mini-reunion over Portuguese food in Mineola.  Gary is a man of many talents and stories, and the latter were on full display that night.  The ultra-violet light in the wine-cabinet behind us added a surreal glow to the photo.

(L-R) – Art Engoron, 1967, and Gary Matthesen, 1968

1968 and 1970 - Gary Matthesen and Paul Seeth - Correspondence

Writes Paul – “The book, ‘The Lost Boys of Montauk,’ was very sad indeed.   

I was Class of 1970 (same as Mike and Walter).  We all lived within a few blocks of each other.  I’m retired and currently living in Oakland.  I have two wonderful daughters, both of whom live nearby.

My family still has a summer house in Laurel, NY [North Fork of Long Island]. Just spent a month there and now down in FL checking in on my 93 year old dad. 

Writes Gary – “Walter Vogt is a familiar name to me, maybe Boy Scouts or something.  Mike Stedman’s dad was a saint in the eyes of all in my church.   

Mike Stedman’s boat, “Wind Blown,” bothered me.  The weight of that line spool on top of the cabin makes it top heavy.  Adding length to the stern changes the center of effort where the boat would not track as well if hit by waves off to an angle on the stern.  That boat was a disaster waiting to happen.  Wife Mary was right, not the right boat for him.

Well, thanks again for letting us all know about the book, “The Lost Boys of Montauk.”  My open water scuba dive was in that crumby little Laurel Lake.  Pretty on top, full of debris below.  Be well, Paul, stay healthy.  Thanks for helping me heal.

And thanks for writing in the Wheatley Newsletter about the book on our lost friends from the "Windblown".  I immediately ordered a copy.  I suppose by now you read the two pieces Art put in this month, that I originally wrote as a thank you to you, but I did not have your email address.  Better it ended up in the newsletter for all to share.  There were so many details of Mikes life that I was not aware of, most were very heartbreaking.  We overlapped in church and the Wheatley Physical Fitness Teams of ‘66, ‘67, ‘68 for me, and waiting "outside" somewhere off Long Beach.  I lost track of him when I went off to college in the fall of '68.

I was two years older than Mike, which gave me the opportunity to surf with Jeb Stuart, Bruce DePasquale, Tony Crescenzi, and others.  I had the car and license, they helped me pay for gas and tolls.  Symbiotic relationship, as we all loved surfing.  Depo's father was friends from Korea with a Mr. Hannon, who sold me a "Brute" model surf board that would flex when you rode the nose...never really had the skill to use it to its full potential, but I loved bragging about my radical design..

Some years back I sailed my boat out to Three Mile Harbor, near Montauk.  Got dock space; turned out Ed Kranpool, first baseman for the '69 Mets, was on his huge ass trawler next to me.  I just nodded recognition to him; I’m sure he didn’t need any fans all over him in retirement.  Wife and I went out for dinner, she asked if we should look up Bruce “Depo” DePasquale.  I had heard from a neighbor, Eric Weigel (1971), that Eric went into the Shagwan Bar early one Sunday to buy a bottle for later that day.  Sitting at the bar was Bruce.  So I’m thinking, clearly the guy has a drinking problem, although I preferred to remember him as the "cute" one all the girls liked, tough wrestler and overall nice guy.  Wife persisted, so we went to Shagwan, where the manager said he was bartending at Ruschmeyer’s.  I thought, “Oh great, pushing drinks at a crumby gin mill.  Well, we show up there, and who is behind the bar, Bruce! But no, he grew into a replica of his father, Gene!  It was amazing, he was tall and lanky!  So glad we had time to B.S. old times, before we lost him, too.  Also, Ruschmeyers was no gin mill, he married into the family that owned a sprawling restaurant like the Milleridge Inn in Jericho on 106/107.

My family used to spend summers in Jamesport; I loved it there.  My dad bought property in Southold in 1964 on the water. Damn near moved out there myself as a job was available in ELIH, overlooking Stirling Harbor, where I would have kept my boat.  But my wife had family in Mineola.”

1970 - Michael Stedman – Team Member

(L-R) – Stewardess, Art Engoron (1967), Gary Matthesen (1968), Dick Olney (1967), Mike Stedman (1970), Robert Scandurra (1967), Michael McGrane (1967), Richard Strauss (1965) (manager), Irwin August (coach)

1970 – Paul Stanton – At 13, with Sister Merrill (1967) (at 16)

Writes Paul – “When we were young.”

L-R John Prince, Bruce Optner, Paul Stanton, Frank Engoron, Jimmy Nordlinger, George Nierenberg (all 1970).

Standing (L-R) – John Prince, Janet Oppenheim, Wendy Strickman, George Nierenberg, Frank Engoron, Abby Frank, John Gold, Cameron Kaine, Jack Riefberg, Nancy Reuben, Jane Roeder, Bruce Optner, Stephanie Polansky, Robert Abramowitz

Seated (L-R) – Andy Goetz, Cindy Horowitz, David Rotholtz, Andrea Chock, Paul Stanton, Allison Walsh, Robert Gladstone, Susan Weiss, Jimmy Nordlinger

(The lawsuit for photographic malpractice was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum…LOL)

Writers Paul – “I have had my own business for over 30 years.  Here’s a link to my brand new website - https://www.standard-direct.us/

I design & manufacturer industrial equipment and ship worldwide.  Most of my business is with the Aerospace industry, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Raytheon, GM Defense, etc.  Also, machine shops and the food industry.  PS, I designed the whole website and produced all images myself. 

1970 – Cathy Gerson - Help Wanted; Help Needed

Writes Cathy – “I have never been in a situation like this, where I needed to ask for help.  There is so much damage around us, it will take 4 months to get help.  We are doing everything ourselves with friends.  We need to put a waterproof barrier around our house.  The water never reaches the windows, so this waterproof system would go up to our windows. The state is coming in and will deal with the creek.  We will have to pay for this waterproofing.  It will prevent us from flooding again.  The cost estimate between that and our bridge repair is approx. $20,000.  People could buy my work, or commission me to do a mural of their favorite car, plane, train….  I can send mugs to people who donate more than $100.  I have no idea how to do go fund me.  Our high school was special!  Can you help me?  c”  CATHY@CATHYGERSON.COM; WWW.CATHYGERSON.COM; Mobile: 774 249 0044. House: 828 626 3900.  Checks can be sent to 121 Stoney Fork Road, Barnardsville, NC 28709.

Before

After

Also - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wRtwXMBl7s7dFJ8OmkThbSSjt8Yz_rZu/view?usp=sharing

1970 – Frank Tillman – Alive and Kicking

Writes Frank – “I'm still alive and kicking in Syracuse NY.  Double vaccinated.  Classmate Susan Blumberg keeps me up to date.”

1972 – Judith Oppenheim Darrah – Stedman and the Stuarts

Writes Judith – “Reading in the last newsletter of Jeb Stuart’s passing and the release of the book about Mike Stedman’s death left me in tears.  I ordered the book immediately.  Back in 1968-9, Mike and I had several ‘brief encounters’ when he visited me from Kenya.  I still have a beautiful dashiki and a Masai beaded bracelet from him.  Learning of his 1984 death left a hole in my heart that although mostly gone, still remains.  I started reading the book and finally understood how we cut school and could go to Mr. Ewing’s house to be alone. Thumbing through the pictures the tears flowed, and then I came upon the picture of Mike with Bart and Jeb Stuart on a dock (below).  I cried so hard now that they are all gone.  Bart was in my grade and was a good friend of mine.  I last saw him at Bar Beach with many other members of our class.  It was during the school’s huge reunion weekend.

The book is wonderful.  Mike’s 3 boys are grown men now and grandchild Georgia is a surfer.  How proud he would have been?!

(L-R) – Mike Stedman (1970), Bartley (“Bart”) Stuart (1972), and John (“Jeb”) Stuart (1969)

1974 – Cathy Gould Rath – Author

SEE AUTHOR EVENT

If you can't come to my event, but bought the book and hopefully enjoyed it, I would be so grateful

if you could post a REVIEW in one or all of these sites below!

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Since the book was launched in late Jan 2021, I've been 'live' at seven book clubs! Whether in person, or ZOOM/Facetime, it's a win-win.

Buy the book from me, or at your local bookstore, AMAZON, Barnes and Noble. The e-book is also available.

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1975+1974 – Group Photo

Writes Steve Nathan (1975) – “Immediately above is a photograph from our recent annual reunion of friends, mostly Class of '75, with a couple of guys from '74.  Most of the past 12+ annual reunions of this group were held in the Hamptons, but this gathering, the weekend of July 31, was at Larry Ensor's home in PA.  From left to right: Michael Sadowsky, Jon Mason, David Zazula ('74), Andy Orshan, Jeff Karasyk, Mitch Rieders, Steve Nathan, Rick Weissman ('74), Andy Schwartz, Fred Weiss (college friend), Larry Ensor, Jon Abby.  Unable to attend this year due to schedule conflicts were Mark Harvey, Steve Hirsch and Steven Starr.”

1975 – Jeffrey Karasyk – With Friends in NYC

Writes Jeff – “My first time back in NYC since I moved to Bonita Springs, Florida I was able to spend time with some childhood friends.”
Seated (L-R) - Mark Lubin, Jon Kirwin
Standing (L-R) - Chuck Berlin, Jeff Karasyk, Shelly Steinmetz”

1975 – Steven Starr – One Adventure After Another

Writes Steven – “I graduated Class of ’75, and life’s been quite an adventure ever since. 

I was an occasional student, and my GPA was subterranean.  Mostly, my classmates and I chased music, I’d make a few bucks as a janitor at the Roslyn Marina, a stock boy at Bohacks, or a busboy at the Roslyn Cafe, then jump on the LIRR with Larry Ensor, Steven Nathan, Michael Sadowsky, John Mason, Andy Orshan, Jenny Monk, a bunch of others, for shows in the city.  Lots of late shows at the Academy of Music, which got us back to homeroom the next day in the nick of time.  In my senior year, my student advisor suggested I become a mechanic.  

Furious, I jumped in my car for Hempstead, to beg WLIR-FM to let me sweep the floors. They said “yes.”  It was like being the batboy for the Yankees —  those DJ’s and that music was our Facebook in those days — and that began a wild ride through radio, record labels, concert promotion, the talent business, then TV and film production, and a bunch of tech startups.  

These days, I’m a climate activist.  So, I thought, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of MTV tonight, I’d share a story about how I got my stripes at the William Morris Agency.

So it's May, 1981, a few months before MTV goes live.  Gale Sparrow, Bob Pittman, and Carolyn Baker come up to William Morris to pitch John Lacke's  8-minute demo from Warner/Qube called "Music Television.”  As I'm the rock n' roll kid in the TV Department, I take the meeting. 

My brain explodes. 

A few days later, I'm in my boss's office, I spot a Umatic 1-inch labeled "Rock for Kampuchea."  Leon tells me our producer clients,  Thorn-EMI, just produced this major Cambodian Relief concert in England.  But Betty Bitterman at HBO and Stu Smiley at Showtime already passed -- they had the only checkbooks for this kind of thing in those days.   Thorn-EMI's making noises about leaving WMA, and this is one of the reasons. 

I grab the tape, jump into the screening room, throw it on.  I'm blown away.  The Clash.  Elvis Costello.  The Pretenders.  Queen.  The Specials.  McCartney.  The Who.  Just effing INCREDIBLE.  I call Pittman, tell him to get ready to be amazed, and messenger over the tape.  A few hours later he calls me back. "OK, so how much?"  

I bolt back to Leon, he tells me to ask for 50k, multiple runs.  I call Pittman back and say 70k, multiple runs.  "Done!"  He loves it so much he wants it up on the satellite the night they launch.  Whoa.  I tell Leon we’re closed at 70k.  He's thrilled, he has me send a company-wide memo on the deal. 

So, Fred Milstein from our film department reads the memo.  He tells me to expect a call from these two brothers who’d just released "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball.”  The phone rings, this gruff voice says, "Steven, my name's Harvey Weinstein, my brother Bob and I want to take MTV’s 70K and four-wall Rock For Kampuchea in four theaters -- NY, LA, Chicago, and SF.  Whaddya think?" 

Oh, hell yeah.

Leon's amazed, "You're pulling a rabbit out of a hat, kid, now go get it done."  So I meet Harvey and Bob at their parent's apartment -- Mira and Max’s apartment -- and we close the deal.  

Miramax opens the film in July.  MTV chops up Kampuchea into bits, runs the live McCartney track the night they launch, then peppers the schedule with the rest.  And every time I see one, I’m grinning. 

I earned my agent stripes on Kampuchea, and WMA kept repping Thorne-EMI.  I ran around NYC with Nina, Martha, Alan, and the rest of the MTV VJ’s those early years, all of us wild-eyed rock n’ roll kids.  I sold MTV “The Tube” w/Jools Holland out of London (an amazing live music series), repped Fab Five Freddy for a while, then left WMA to co-create/co-produce 26 episodes of “MTV’s The State” in the 90’s.  

There’s more, for another time.  But nothing, nothing was ever sweeter than seeing Rock For Kampuchea hit MTV on that very first night.  I GOT my MTV.”

1978 – Joanna Faber and Julie King – Co-Authors

The book is available now.

1980 – Andrew Pessin – Serial Author Comes out with Another Book

Dear Friends, I am delighted to announce that my newest novel, Nevergreen, is now available! https://andrewpessin.com/nevergreen/?

Awesome initial responses:

• Comparisons to Vonnegut, Kafka, Orwell, Pynchon, and Kesey!
• Words like “hilarious,” “fantabulous,” “intelligent,” “witty,” “sharp,” “compelling,” and “devastating,” not to mention the delightful phrase, “the great campus novel of our generation”!
• One astute reader notes that “it will make your sides heave with hilarity while your heart weeps over the horror” that is today’s campus scene, then demands that you “Read this book NOW, and JOIN THE RESISTANCE"!

Fan Mail

Faculty (Karen Bartscherer) – “Hi Art.  With so much going on in our country, it’s great that this newsletter provides a platform where Wheatley alumni are sharing varied and intelligent views about a number of issues now making headlines and dominating the talk shows—not to mention livening up plenty of local newspapers and familiar Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  At the same time, the tone here is respectful and predominantly nostalgic—with a delightful mix of photos and anecdotes that keep the newsletter an all-around winning publication!  The contributions keep coming, I think, because each edition provokes new memories and nudges others to supply a fresh batch of great stories and amazing photos.  I also enjoy reading about current accomplishments and projects—so many remarkable and intriguing people have a Wheatley education as a common factor!  I know you hear this over and over from so many of your readers, Art, but the time, effort, and thoughtfulness that you and Keith devote is evident with each issue, and I join all of your readers in thanking you once again.”

1959 (Matthew Sanzone) – “Thanks for another fine edition.”

1964 (John Corwin) – “”Kudos to you for your continued devotion to spreading alumni news!”

1967 (Robert Hecht) – “Thank you for all you do to keep us together.”

1967 (Patti Polansky) – “I love the newsletters.  So great to read about Wheatley old and new.”

1967 (George Short) – “Thanks for all you do to keep publishing this newsletter.  I don’t want to miss any issues.”

1967 (Jill Simon Forte) – “Thanks again for all the work that is put into the Newsletter.”

1968 (Gary Matthesen) – “ Thank you for including my heartfelt story on Mike Stedman.  I see I’m not the only alum who purchased the book, The Lost Boys of Montauk, about him and his boat.”

1970 (Frank Tillman) – “Thanks for the newsletter.”

1972 (Mitch Markay) – “Hi Art.  You wouldn’t know it because I haven’t peeped at all, but I'm a very appreciative reader of your fantastic newsletters.  Thanks for ALL you do!

1972 (Judith Oppenheim Darrah) – TRUCENT@GMAIL.COM

1975 (Jeffrey Karasyk) – “Thanks for everything you do to publish the Wheatley Alumni Newsletter.  It’s always a pleasure to read, particularly about the people from the old neighborhood.”

1975 (Steve Nathan) – “Thanks for the great job with these newsletters; it's always enjoyable reading the latest updates throughout the Wheatley community!”

1975 (Steven Starr) – “I always look forward to these Newsletters.”

1976 (Daniel Kessler) “ Thanks for sharing the ongoing Newsletter.  It's great!”

1978 (John Mulrooney) – “Thank you for your hard work in this labor of love on behalf of all of us.”

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 62.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.

Art

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