Aug 1

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 75.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 74 Newsletters (and other Wheatley data and arcana) at
Wheatley School Alumni Association Website
Also, thanks to Keith is our search engine, prominently displayed on our home page: type in a word or phrase and you’ll find every place it exists in all previous Newsletters and other on-site material.
I edit all submissions, even material in quotes, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof. I do not vouch for the accuracy of what people tell me.
We welcome any and all text and photos relevant to The Wheatley School, 11 Bacon Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, and the people who administered, taught and/or studied there. Art Engoron, Class of 1967

Note - Anything underlined is a link-to-a-link or an email address, and anything not is not, because Substack will not let you underline anything else.

Performing Artist Takemi Ueno (1983)

"Takemi Ueno, Class of 1983 will perform with the Litha Symphony Orchestra on Sat., August 27, at 8 PM, at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 296 Ninth Ave. at 28th St. (it's air-conditioned!). The program consists of Sibelius' Spring Song, Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite, Respighi's Pines of Rome, and the Spring movement from Max Richter's 'The Four Seasons Recomposed.' Tickets will be available at the orchestra's website (https://www.lithasymphony.org/2022ttseasons.html)."
The Hildebrandt’s Saga Continues - Good News from Alison Kent Bermant (1966) and Corinne Zebrowski Kaufman (1967)

Hildebrandt's ice cream in Williston Park sold

A scoop of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles is one of the bestsellers at Hildebrandt's in Williston Park. Credit: Bruce Gilbert

By Erica Marcus erica.marcus@newsday.com Updated July 8, 2022 8:06 pm
Stop holding your breath: Hildebrandt’s is not closing — at least not any time soon.
"We're going to be open for another 35 years," Spencer Singer, one the iconic Williston Park ice cream parlor's new owners, told a visibly relieved customer who'd been coming in for more than three decades.
In the summer of 2020, the Long Island ice cream world was rocked by the news that, according to Hildebrandt’s longtime manager, Tom Bauman, a prospective new landlord was, planning to “gut the store, put in a coffee shop and maybe sell ice cream — but not our ice cream.” The outcry was swift. The last two years have seen much writing of letters, signing of petitions and, especially, desperate social media posts bemoaning the closing of the shop, which opened on Hillside Avenue in the 1920s. The story — and the posts — went wider than Long Island; Hildebrandt’s vintage facade is famous among neon-sign aficionados across the nation.
Deliverance came via Singer and Randy Sarf, friends since their Great Neck childhoods, themselves customers with decades of Hildebrandt’s sundaes under their belts. Sarf, who owns a financial services firm, had been considering the purchase for a while and, in May, he suggested to Singer that the two go into business together. Singer, who has worked in fashion and nightlife (among other sectors) had been consulting since the beginning of the pandemic; he plans to be the day-to-day manager.
Singer and Sarf said they negotiated a 10-year lease with the new landlord and secured assurances from the existing crew, including Bauman and owner Bryan Acosta, that they will stay on for at least a year.
The new owners said they have no intention of tinkering with Hildebrandt’s success. “We understand what makes this place special,” Singer said. “We only want to update the equipment, fix what needs to be fixed, spruce up the interior, bring it back to fighting weight.”
The future might bring a new air-conditioning system, tables outside, a new window on the side of the building, restoration of some of the original architectural details. But for now, the two men have their hands full learning the business and accepting the thanks of grateful ice cream fans.
Hildebrandt's is at 84 Hillside Ave., Williston Park, 516-741-0608, hildebrandtsrestaurant.com.
By Erica Marcuserica.marcus@newsday.com Erica_Marcus
Erica Marcus, a passionate but skeptical omnivore, has been reporting and opining on the Long Island food scene since 1998.

Farewells to Principal Sean Feeney

Writes Matthew Sanzone (1959) - Wow! A blockbuster. Wheatley’s loss is Port Washington’s gain. Good luck, Sean. Port is a great community. Be kind to the Weber crew.
Writes Gene Razzetti (1961) = “My best wishes go to Dr. Sean Feeney in his new position. I was looking forward to seeing and working with him again as the Class of 1961 prepares for our October Reunion. He was the ‘Second Coming of Mr. Wathey.’ A great principal, leader, and friend for the students and their families. Wheatley has been in very good hands. Best, Gene"

THE WHEATLEY “AURORA” - More from the 1960 Editor

Writes Renee Gershen Nadel - “I seem to remember a discussion and perhaps a vote on the name of the 1958 yearbook. ‘Aurora,’ as you know, means dawn or dawning, so it seemed fitting for high school grads to be at the dawning (aurora) of their adult lives, careers and even personalities. Appropriate right??
My year, 1960, we decided to deviate from the school colors, red and white, in order to STAND OUT. I hope we did.
The team worked so hard on it, and all before computers, with the help of Miss Bodnar (who thought of the name, or was it Nan Bauer, my predecessor) and Mr. Arcenaux, the printer rep. We lived with deadlines and spent every day after school until at least 5 pm. until our book was "put to bed." We had a great art and literary staff as well as photographers and business folk, and everyone participated and enjoyed the treats that Ms. Bodnar provided.
It was a simple and yet very wonderful time of life.

Parents

Writes Robin Halpern (1970) - “Thanks to Jim Schaus, Jr. for sharing something about his father and his beautiful artwork. It’s nice to have that visual memory of the East Williston train station.”
Writes Ellen Barnett Diana (1974) - “To Jim Schaus, Jr., thanks for sharing your Dad’s beautiful artwork. He made his own frames, which looked like weathered wood & driftwood; his work was incredible. I haven’t seen a frame with a water scene EVER; maybe they should Trademark it, and I’m not even joking. 🙃 I absolutely adored him & your whole family - Many Blessings to Everyone xoxoxo
Writes Philip Christensen (1962) - “I so enjoyed the post from Jim Schaus, Jr. with the paintings by his father, James Schaus: three scenes from my adolescence, most especially the frequently illustrated East Williston station, alas, no more! Hanging over my desk is another view of the Roslyn Duck Pond, by another East Williston artist, Cyril Lewis, a dear friend of the family who served as Honorary Vice President of the American Watercolor Society (AWS). I thought Wheatley alums, and Jim especially, would enjoy this.

Graduates

1960 - Ken Martin - Hanging Out with an Unsavory Character

Writes Art Engoron (1967) - “Ken and I have become good buddies 1964 - Jesse Samberg’s Essay - Maddy Nathanson (1969) Responds Writes Maddy Nathanson Flavell (1969)- “Hey Jesse 1964 - James Paley - Thoughtful Essayist
Writes Jim - “After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, I spent last So, I pass along these musings to you and to all of your readers, knowing that many Best regards,
Jim
[Editor’s Note - I deleted some passages for personal reasons. In light of the historic Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I have been Perhaps the biggest ignominy that took place in our country in World War II was the In foreign affairs, we were witnessing the CIA's nefarious intervention in other Perhaps we had become too complacent in thinking that we were making huge progress Rumbling beneath the surface, however, was an undercurrent of people whose values were I choose only to go back to the 2000 election, although one could easily make a case All the while, Republican legislators, thanks to gerrymandering, were putting the The Democratic Party, once again, cannot unite around a single set of values that I am afraid that it will be up to the next generation to fight these injustices as June 24 was a very dark day in American history; let us hope that our children and 1967 - Ben Ross, Art Engoron, Dan Silver and Mitch Stephens - Banner Writes Art Engoron - In the summer of 1964, at the Republican We decided that the TV would rotate. Dan Silver got it first, and it didn’t work The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY declined to accept the banner, and Writes Peter Siegel, 1966 - “Recently I [mentioned to a friend Ben Ross has provided contemporaneous evidence of the whole schmear: through the Alumni Association……and due to various shared interests and experiences. That’s us on the portico of 60 Centre Street in Manhattan (he’s wearing the jacket; I’m wearing the tie).”

Samberg, as I listen to Jimi Hendrix playing the national anthem on NPR this morning (July 4) I want to say how I enjoyed and was pained reading your comments about our generation, The good the bad, and now the ugly.
weekend thinking about putting down some of my feelings in writing and composed the brief essay below. Jesse Samberg's piece in Issue #74 motivated me to send this along, first because Jesse and I were close friends in high school and all these years later we clearly think very much alike and have strong feelings about what is (and has been) happening in the political sphere. (Thank you, Jesse, for your thoughts, impressions, and reminiscences…)
Wheatley alums will not agree with me. But what else is new? I raised eyebrows in high school over the pledge of allegiance and air raid drills, so no one should really be surprised. Anyone who wishes to make comments should feel free to contact me at jpaley@optonline.net. I have not changed anything significant since I wrote this more than a week ago, so things may no longer be timely, but I would say in reference to Jesse's opening statement about a Tale of Two Cities, that we are truly living the reality of a tale of two countries.
And I am not endorsing Jim’s views.]
giving a lot of thought to where we have come from, how we got here, and where we go from here. I could go back centuries with historical analyses, but I think I will start with World War II and just highlight a number of the events that mark our history that are notable transgressions of the values that most, if not all of us, hold dear. Please pardon any glaring omissions, as these are just the first things that come to mind; I have no intention of making this a long, drawn-out essay.
internment of Japanese people simply because of their Japanese heritage. These internment camps were shameful and wrong. Not that many years later, we endured the McCarthy era, where red-baiting became a norm in this country and ruined the lives of many. It was destructive and represented the very worst in our country at the time. This was all either running concurrently with or preceding racial discrimination, hateful attacks on African-American citizens, a church bombing that killed four young girls and injured 15-20 other people in Birmingham, Alabama, and the murder of three civil rights workers who were found buried in an earthen dam in Philadelphia, Mississippi in 1964.
countries, which resulted in the overthrow of democratically elected governments in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Chile, with the murder of Salvatore Allende and the resulting military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Also taking place around this time was the war in Vietnam, with its tragic loss of Vietnamese and American lives, and the false pretenses under which the war was carried out. The vast majority of Americans supported that war, at least in the beginning, and were swayed by the ill-conceived, so-called “domino theory” and the fear of Communist takeovers throughout the world.
and that events like these were no longer taking place. We knew that racism was still present, but perhaps it was becoming more subtle; that overt racial discrimination was becoming scarcer, and we looked to the progress that we had made on so many fronts to make society a better place. After all, we elected our first African-American president in 2008 and won major victories in many areas concerning environmental issues, religious tolerance, gay rights, and the LGBTQ+ movement. Gay marriage was actually legal!
vastly different from ours and who were threatened by all of the advances we had made in social and environmental justice, religious freedom, separation of church and state, and abortion rights. These individuals were never going away, and through perseverance and the disarray of progressive forces, we became too lax and disorganized in our pursuit of a better society. The question is, how did we get here and who is to blame?
for going back many years prior to that. The first villain I have identified is Ralph Nader, who, by his candidacy for president, single-handedly made it possible for George W. Bush to become president (due to the votes that were siphoned off from Al Gore, giving Bush both Florida and New Hampshire). Those of us who argued vehemently against Nader’s candidacy cited the Supreme Court as the leading negative outcome of a Bush presidency, but that fell on deaf ears among Nader’s arrogant, naïve, and self-righteous supporters. Bush’s appointments to the Supreme Court started the ball rolling towards a court that was no longer interpreting the constitution, but was becoming a political entity that was foisting personal, political agendas on the American people. Despite all the progress that occurred during the Obama presidency, it turned out to be a tragic mistake that Joe Biden chose not to run for president in 2016 and that Hillary Clinton became the nominee. Clinton ran a disastrous campaign and took for granted her “breaking of the glass ceiling” by becoming the first woman elected president in the United States. She allowed private email servers and Benghazi to overwhelm her candidacy, and she was so sure that she could not be beaten by the candidate who was running against her that she did not take an aggressive and proactive stance in running her campaign.
wheels in motion to win local elections and install Republican-controlled legislatures that would have the power to determine things that many of us never even thought about, as we go about our day-to-day business. Who cares what takes place in red states? Sure, they have awful senators, but that’s to be expected, and it doesn't affect us all that much. The Republican controlled Senate under Mitch McConnell refused to allow debate on President Obama’s nominee for Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. What a disgrace, especially since his successor rammed through Amy Coney Barrett in a matter of weeks, as opposed to Obama’s nominee almost nine months before the end of his term.
are in the best interests of the country. They are so fragmented that they allow Republicans to take advantage of situations where a unified party could have prevailed. Now we have a Supreme Court where many of the rights that we have come to accept are going to be challenged, resulting in setbacks in civil liberties, racial justice, gay and transgender rights, and environmental issues, some of which may seem unfathomable. We no longer have a Supreme Court that is in touch with the Constitution, at least in the 21st Century. The gun legislation that was just passed is totally watered down; Congress is unwilling to ban assault weapons in the hands of private citizens or even raise the age to purchase them to 21. And, by striking down New York's restrictions on carrying guns, the Supreme Court has taken us backward rather than forward in a time where United States leads the world exponentially in gun violence. The new justices on the Supreme Court and Samuel Alito misled the public on their views about Roe v. Wade, and those senators who fell for Brett Kavanaugh's lies are responsible, in part, for how we got here. So now that we have a politically-based Supreme Court and the inevitable erosion of individual liberties, we drift closer to a model of leadership that we see in Hungary under Viktor Orbán.
passionately as we did in the 1960s and 1970s. There will be moves to outlaw abortion nationwide, and conservative values are held dear by tens of millions of Americans. It is my hope that the next generation will come to recognize the setbacks that we have experienced (or are about to have foisted upon us), and that they will exercise a passion and commitment to justice, equal rights, the dangers posed by climate change, and all of the many things that are threatening our democracy and the well-being and reputation of our country.
our children's children can pick up the pieces and persevere with the passion that existed when we were younger to make this country live up to its true potential and once again become a pillar of the free world.
Day Winners
National Convention, Barry Goldwater, paraphrasing Cicero, famously said: “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice [and] moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Benjy Ross turned that into, “Extremism in defense of the Mets is no vice”; Dan Silver and Mitch Stephens painted it on a large shower curtain liner; I tagged along (Benjy was unavailable that day); and the banner won first prize, a General Electric (I think) portable black + White television set (retail value $100) from Macy’s.
(maybe it was some sort of display model). Someone called The Mets and was told, “Oh, you’re supposed to receive three,” and we did. How do you divide three sets amongst four guys? I decided I was more interested in money than television (a personality trait that has persisted to this day), and the other guys all got sets and paid me $25 each (after Benjy and I had a deep philosophical discussion about whether an unplanned “Banner Day Television Set” was worth more, less, or the same as a regular television set).
its current whereabouts are unknown, at best; rumor has it that somebody’s mother forced her son to discard it.
that a judge in a high profile case] was a high school acquaintance of mine who’s greatest claim to fame prior to now was winning the Mets Banner Day contest at the then recently opened Shea stadium in 1964. He asked, somewhat incredulously, “He did that banner?”, and I said, “you’ve heard of that banner?”, and he said yes, that it was famous. Now I was incredulous and told him they brought home a portable TV set. He correctly responded that made sense, because they probably couldn’t have brought home a non-portable set.”

1967 - Art Engoron - In the News
The New York Times
The Daily Beast
Law & Crime
CNN Newscast Video
Johnny Depp Versus the ACLU
1967 - Richard Friedman - Daughter Samara Acts the Good Samaritan

Samara Friedman, age 46, at the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter, Alexa, last October. Somehow, nobody was infected with Covid.
Richard’s daughter, Samara Friedman, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The linked article she wrote describes how she aided, and possibly saved the life of, a passenger in distress on a transatlantic flight, and has some excellent advice for passengers and airlines.
A nut allergy nightmare at 35,000 feet
1968 - Todd Strasser - Author of Prescient Book About School Shootings
Todd Strasser Interview
Wikipedia Entry about Todd's Book
Relatedly, Todd would like people to contribute to Everytown for Gun Safety.
Everytown for Gun Safety
1968 - Lois Weissberg - Deceased
Writes Susan Shapiro (1969) - “I am sorry to write with sad news. Lois (Weissberg) O'Neill (1968) passed away on July 17, 2022. I did not know her during our Wheatley years, but I we met some years later, at an event of the NYC Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Lois was the President at the time.
Unfortunately, after submitting her retirement to Adelphi University, where she was an Electronic Resources librarian, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It’s so sad, she was unable to enjoy retirement and pursue her interests.
She is survived by her sister, Martha Weissberg (1965). She is predeceased by her husband, Jay Baum, who died of COVID. Lois and Jay are missed by their family and friends.
1970 - David Packer - Looking Backward and Looking Forward
Writes David - “Its a little scary to have more to look back on than to look forward to. But there were two stories in the previous issue that particularly grabbed my attention. James Schaus' paintings are really lovely and evoke persistent memories of the Roslyn Duck Pond and the EW train station. Seems like yesterday, even for someone that never returned to Long Island after leaving for college. I barely remember Dana Seman and never thought that cancer would be so much a part of my life (who does?). But my stage 4 colon cancer was surgically removed, and I am doing well. I am very sorry that Dana did not have a better outcome. Evolution did not design us to live much past 60, so Class of 70 enjoy life while you can!
1972 - 50th-Year Reunion - Saturday, September 17, 5:00 PM, Revel, 835 Franklin Ave., Garden City, NY - Contact Seth Katz at LIV2SKIFOREVER@GMAIL.COM
Writes Art Engoron - Seth, Richard Weissman, Mary Vachris, Gail Russo Biggs, Susie Spielberger Porter and others too numerous to mention have been working hard organizing what promises to be a fun event. I, myself, plan to attend the cocktail hour (but don’t let that dissuade you).
1972 - Seth Katz and Henry Noble - Upstate Buddies

Writes Seth - “I was up in Lake George all week and drove up to Ft. Ticonderoga to see fellow classmate Henry Noble at his lake house.”
1974 - Individual Reports - Collected by TWSAA Class Correspondent Debra Copeland
Annie Clarke Gerrity - “After living in the Berkshires for 35 years I retired to Cape Cod 7 years ago. It’s a dream come true to live by the water. I have a tiny studio where I sculpt and create. Three of my figurative sculptures have been in recent shows at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Being active is important to me so I play plenty of tennis, pickleball, joined hiker chicks, and enjoy ocean kayaking. My four grandchildren are the light of my life. I am extremely grateful for the abundance of good fortune I’ve had in life. Best wishes to the class of ‘74.”
Cheryl Davidson - “I am working at Northwell Health and was just asked to start an Alumni program for them. Happily married for 40 years and have a married son and married daughter. My daughter had her second child a month ago, and while I can’t believe I am old enough to be a grandma, there is nothing better!!
Cathy Gould Rath - “From SUNY Binghamton, transferred to UCSB…such breathtaking scenery for anyone, but particularly so for NY-ers! After graduation, moved up to SF and dabbled in photo school for a while, then started a Master’s program at SFSU…but a year in, I got sidetracked in a life altering way, and didn’t earn that degree for another 25 years. Like “Jeannie” the protagonist in my book, I spent some time as an organizer working in left wing political movements in NY, and then returned to California where I’ve lived for the last 40 years.
Got married, had a daughter who is a singer/songwriter in LA (her band: East of June, check it out), and got divorced. I’ve worked with non-profit organizations (domestic violence prevention, tobacco/drugs/alcohol reduction programs, healthy teen behavior), and with companies - Schwab and Wells Fargo as Org effectiveness Director, and finally, at my current post as an adjunct professor in public health at SFSU for the past 12 years. Been a writing coach/tutor for junior and high school students since 2016, and helped several debut writers start and finish their books.
And yes, onto my book - the inspiration for it was a way to heal from consecutive losses from 2001-2002 - a friend on Flight 93, my college boyfriend, and my awesome grandmother. It took 15 years, squeezing the process in between a busy life, with too many neglected years, then recharged with re-writes after re-writes until I finally had the courage to send the story out into the world.
You might have scrolled down to our class section in recent newsletters and saw me promoting my East Coast book tour. Four events in all: one in Ossining NY, one in Chestnut Hill in Philly, one in Port Washington, and the last venue at Barnes and Noble in Carle Place (soooo close to our alma mater). I was hoping to see some more of you who still live on Long Island and/or in the Westchester area - so maybe when my next book comes out (yes, I’m working on it now), we’ll meet again.
BIG shout out to my sister, Amy Gould,;Susan Cafaro Deluca; Jane Cafaro Tausch,; Mrs. Cafaro(!); Donna Bloom Cave; Linda Izzo and Jeanne Pangarliotas - for coming, getting a book, and being such inspirational faces in the audience. It was SO wonderful to see you all again. BUT wait...Recognize her?
Mrs. Reyes, our Spanish (and French) teacher! Dios Mio! - yes, (at 88 years old), she read the newsletter and SHOWED up! Maybe if she really enjoys the book, she’ll want to translate it into Spanish, she’s definitely got the energy for it. A highlight of the trip for sure. If you don’t already have a copy, it’s available at any local independent bookstore, or Amazon, B&N, etc, and as an e-book too. Next project is doing an audible version - looking for a woman with many voices in her. Until next time, xo.”
Cliff Struhl - “Been having a banner year. Expecting 1,500 lbs. of honey from my 14-home hives so time to brew more mead and make lots of candles plus hand cream, yikes. A second career, ha ha, that I never expected. “
Rachel Friis Stettler - “I recently retired, with my husband David, to Portland, ME and Southern Vermont, after a long career in academia and heading independent schools in New York and in Boston. We travel often, as COVID rates allow, hike and bike in Europe, and spend some time in Medellin, Colombia, where one of my sons and his spouse live. I play cello in an orchestra and string quartet and other chamber music groups throughout the year.”
Cathy Michaelson Lieblich - “I have lived in Orlando for 28 years, and I'm retiring on August 31st after 42 years in the field of aging (I obtained my masters degree from The University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration in 1980). My husband, Mark, and I became grandparents on 9/25/21 and have been enjoying our grandson. He and his parents live 12 minutes away from us by car. I'm looking forward to having more time to spend with him when I retire. I'll also be serving on two Boards and doing some political volunteering. Mark plans to retire on November 1st and we already have some great trips on our calendars.”
Rick Lowell - “My post-Wheatley life story in brief: I moved to York, Pennsylvania and completed high school there. Went to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. Became a nuclear submarine officer after attending nuclear power school in Orlando, nuclear prototype training in upstate NY, and submarine school in Groton, CT. My first duty station was on USS Patrick Henry out of Pearl Harbor, HI. Eventually changed home ports to Bangor, WA. Resigned my commission in 1983 and started law school in Boulder, CO. Did my last year of law school at University of Washington in Seattle – having promised my wife I’d return to her ‘home town.’ Spent the next 30 years practicing law in Western Washington – starting my own law firm (Magnuson Lowell, P.S.) in Redmond, WA. Had three kids along the way (all now in their 30’s) – who, to date, have blessed me with 4 grandkids (including identical twin granddaughters). My wife passed away in 2015 after a long illness. But later, I met a fabulous woman in the Seattle area who, coincidentally, also grew up in Roslyn (having graduated from Roslyn HS)!! I [semi]-retired from my law practice – having sold the practice to my lawyer-son, and moved from the Seattle suburbs to Bellingham, WA – just 25 minutes south of the Canadian border. Now, I’m living life, traveling the world, and generally enjoying the fruits of my labors. Life is good!
Ilona Willick–Guzman - “I have been living in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area for most of the past 43 years. I love it here. I never realized how much of a desert rat I was. I was fortunate enough to retire at age 55, which has given me more time to hike, bike, travel and, in the past few years, play pickleball, to which I am addicted. It was fun to find out Steve Ehre lives out here too, so we got together for lunch one day.
I had an awesome career as a research analyst, first doing marketing research and then doing research and planning for the police. What a blast?!
Given my love of animals, for my travels, I have gravitated toward destinations where I can see them in the wild. My trip to Africa in 2012 was the trip of a lifetime. Not only did we spend ample time on safari, but we also had opportunities to learn about the people and their culture.
Then, while volunteering at the Phoenix Zoo for 2 years, I fell in love with the orangutans, since I spent a good bit of time at their exhibit. They are so highly endangered that I was moved to go and see them in their natural habitat of Borneo. So in 2015, I took a trip to Indonesia, seeing several islands, including Bali, Java, Komodo Island, Sumatra (where I visited with endangered Sumatran elephants) and, of course, Borneo, where I thankfully got to see lots of orangutans, as well as what was going on in their endangered environment of forests being burnt down. So sad. I just love those creatures. Interestingly, there were no roads there, so we travelled up and down the river on a small boat called a “klotak.” And just like in “The African Queen,” there were crocodiles and leeches in the river – very dramatic!
In 2019 I went on a more humanitarian trip to Belize, where we helped out in an elementary school on the border of Guatemala and learned a lot about their culture. This was with an arm of the Peace Corps. With 7 different cultures living there it was interesting to see how they all get along. All see themselves as Belizean, yet celebrate their own cultures. I came back thinking they have a lot to teach us here, in this country.
I worked on an Ancestry project for my family, which was an incredible experience. Between all the records that are out there and my mother’s copious notes, complete with names and years, I was able to put together quite a bit and distribute it to my family. I did go to Sarasota, FL to visit with my oldest cousin to pick his brain for what he remembered about pieces I was missing. So as long as I was in Florida, I drove up to see one of my oldest and bestest friends, classmate Cathy Michaelson, in Orlando, and then drove down the east coast to visit my brother, my friend who went with me to Indonesia, and some other Wheatlyites, which was just fantastic.
Anyone for a reunion in Arizona?!?!
Debra Copeland - “I am still working (since everyone who can be so, is announcing his or her retirement).
Rewind: I suppose I always knew that I was headed towards Manhattan after graduation. Once there it was “Night of a hundred full time jobs and projects”.
I worked for Showtime. Was the book correspondent on a public access program - reviewer / author interviewer. It was live T.V., ended at 1 A.M. Exhausting, but stimulating and we had emerging and successful guests from T.V., Radio, Film, Cabaret. One time, classmate Carol Leifer came in support of our guest, Jay Leno.
Freelance, I produced an “AIDS” documentary for Japanese T.V. Discussions with a playwright became the content for an off off-Broadway show: “Fever of Unknown Origin”. Volunteered for the neonatal Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center, wrote for “Hamptons Magazine” under a male pseudonym, read for “In-Touch” cable radio for the print impaired. Did a stint in Houston, TX so I could get on-air experience at their PBS station. Chaired, served on committees for social-service organizations. Lots of fundraising events and black-tie affairs. The 80s were a blast; life was a joyful marathon.
The 90s: Landed a corporate job. Very different from the creative world I had been ensconced in. Boom, life kicked me in the butt, and I developed an illness. After that, I had to strain to keep my head above water for nearly two decades.
The company trained me in the skills of negotiation, professional coaching, analytical tools; completed Harvard Leadership. I still felt like a fish out of water, but I’ve always maintained education is never wasted, so I marched on.
I have traveled to the main capitals of Europe, Israel, Jordan. In South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Peru, I learned to appreciate traveling off-the-beaten path and see the countries’ underdeveloped areas, along with the indigenous people.
Still trying to figure out my Chapter Two. Meanwhile, what fills my cup?! Family, chocolate, friends, my five nieces and nephews, art, travel, swimming ½ mile in an Olympic size pool. As stated to friends, I have a collective love and joy for my Wheatley community. Feel free to reach out.
1977 - Lance Manning - Remembered by Classmate Steven Camp
Writes Steven - “Today I offered the Funeral Mass for my high school classmate Lance
Manning, The Wheatley School '77. Fifteen years ago he suffered a severe stroke. It
almost took his life. Over those past 15 years he fought back, worked hard and
never gave up. His attitude was always positive. Lance was unique and eclectic in
his own right. In these past 15 years he taught us all about dealing with life when
it's unfair and difficult. He gave us a real life lesson about living and not dying,
teaching us to never give up. I will always remember going past his house on East
Williston Ave and listening to him playing his drums at all hours. Heaven is a little bit
noisier now; our lives are little bit quieter. His impact will always be with us. Rest In
Peace, Lance, and may God grant you Eternal Rest.”
1978 - Jeff Glickman - Inducted into Who’s Who in the World
Honored for Contributions to the Field of Artificial Intelligence
1980 - Bob Koenig - Unearths Treasure Trove of Wheatley Humor

1980 - Andrew Pessin - Notices Wheatley Elixir

Writes Andy - “This booze might go well at the next reunion.”

Fan Mail

1959 (Tracey Lanthier) - ❤️
1960 (Renee Gershen Nadel) -“Keep up the good work.”
1962 (Nancy Newman) - “Art, Thanks for your dedication to sharing news about our former Wheatley classmates. The newsletter is always fun to read.”
1964 (Diane Nissenfeld Moore) - “Thank you for all of your work.”
1964 (James Paley) - “It was great to get two Alumni Association newsletters back-to-back. I always enjoy reading them.”
1965 (Steve Amerikaner) - “I so enjoy reading the newsletters.”
1965 (Louise Kampa Triano) - “Art, this was (another) sensational newsletter.”
1965 (Jane Wild Carrel) - “Hi Art, I enjoy all the newsletters, especially the one that showcases my cousin, Mitch Stephens (1967), winning first place in a triathlon event! I do not want to miss receiving the newsletters. Thank you.”
1967 (Lee Fein) - “I appreciate all the effort you have put into the newsletters throughout many, many years.”
1967 (Merrill Stanton) - “Thanks, Art, for the great newsletters!”
1970 (Robin Halpern) - “Art, thank you for the time and effort you lend to enrich our lives with past memories as well as present connections.”
1970 (Amy Jacoby Budish) - ❤️
1970 (Kenneth Levien) - ❤️
1972 (Debra Soffer Beilin) - ❤️
1972 (Susan Spielberger Porter) - “I've been following your newsletter and thank you for keeping everyone in the loop! You are amazing to take on this job.”
1973 (James Pangarliotas) - ❤️
1974 (Ellen Barnett Diana) - Thanks, Art & (1974 Class Correspondent) Debra Copeland for ALL the work you put into these newsletters - Much Appreciated! 💗
1974 (James Elefonte) - ❤️
1974 (Elyse Rame) - “Thank you again for all your work on these newsletters and your labor of love in keeping us all informed. Your efforts are so very appreciated.”
1977 (Karen Alt Roos) - ❤️
1981 (Marie DeRosa Grieco) - ❤️

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 75. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.
Art
Arthur Fredericks Engoron, 1967
WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM
ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM
WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG
646-872-4833

THE WHEATLEY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER # 75