THE WHEATLEY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER # 76

Aug 9

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 76.
I am sorry, and ashamed, to say that my computer crashed (I spilled water on it and foolishly just kept computing……terrible idea) without my having backed up data since April 2020 (can I blame Covid?). Please send me any changes in contact information, whereabouts, employment, social status, etc. that have occurred since then. If in doubt, just send. Also, if you, or, more likely someone you know, has died, please remind me.
On a brighter note, a graduate has suggested that I more aggressively solicit photos for publication. Old, new, doesn’t matter, just send them to me, using some conventional format, such as JPEG (“.jpg”). - Art Engoron, 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.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 75 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

Class of 1972 - 50th-year Reunion - September 17, 2022

Writes the Committee - “50 years! Reunion on Saturday September 17 at 5:00 pm for cocktails/6:00 - 9:00 pm for dinner at Revel Restaurant and Bar (835 Franklin Avenue, Garden City). For those who want more time together: Friday September 16 casual get-together at Garden City Hotel bar at 7:00 - 9:00 pm (45 Seventh Street, Garden City), and Sunday September 18 brunch at Majestic Diner at 10:30 am (498 Old Country Road, Westbury). Contact Seth Michael Katz at liv2skiforever@gmail.com to rsvp and for details. Come join us.”

Poetry Reading on Zoom with Jill Wattel Stockinger (1969)

“Anything is Beautiful If You Say It is”

August 18, 2022 - 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (PDT) (Pacific Daylight Time) on Zoom
Join a group of 16 poets who have spent July and August together reading, writing, and sharing poetry online. We’ve read poetry from Gilgamesh to Gluck, from Tu Fu to Paul Laurence Dunbar. Poets have written in many forms and styles, drawing inspiration from 3,000-year old Egyptian coffin texts, ancient Chinese and Japanese forms, and English poetry since Chaucer. Please join us. Here’s the Zoom link, list of readers, and an approximate schedule:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89481796295
Link to Poetry Reading
2:00 Zoom logins and introduction by Bob Stanley
2:10 Jill Stockinger………followed by Bob Smith, Connie Johnstone, Zack Schlesinger, Mary Eichbauer, Melinda Rivasplata, Lesley Cummings, Susan Dlugach, Dick Troy, Rick Rayburn, Curt Nelson, Benay Bernstein, Joyce Hsiao, Jim Knowles, Sandra

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)."

TWSAA WELCOMES WHEATLEY’S NEW PRINCIPAL JOSEPH M. WIENER

Graduates

1958 - Charles E. Schmid - Deceased

Charles E. Schmid, 81, of Bainbridge Island, WA, passed away on April 30, 2022. Born A great friend, citizen activist, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and husband, he Charles is survived by his wife, Linda Schmid; son Andrew Schmid and his wife Lihai Writes Robert Holley (1958) - We were kind of friends. He was an Writes Ken Martin (1960) - I remember a quiet, reflexive And may you all enjoy the day, stay strong, and pray for peace.
Writes John Moncure (1960)- “Folks—I was lucky enough to make In the next row was the huge red headed senior who played defensive tackle, I He and Perlin used to go at it all day in practices—(Mr. Lawson used to love to get Charlie used to sort of comfort me—sort of “There, there—-they I used to have a crush on Susan Schmid—she was very attractive—but she This from Maine, where it is 85 degrees but feels like 105 with the high humidity. We were all very lucky to have The Wheatley School. Monk”
Writes Paul Hennessy (1960) - “Charlie Schmid's blog was "It's a mere moment in a man's life 1960 - Jay Cummings - Patriot
Writes Jay - “I am a conservative American patriot who learned all about the 1961 - Class Reunion
Writes Jeanne Messing Sommer - “The Class of 1961 enjoyed a 60th-year reunion via There were 39 classmates who joined us, including 2 from England, 1 from Germany, We spent almost 3 1/2 hours sharing, laughing and reminiscing. A slide show was We are all looking forward to celebrating our 61st-year reunion in person in October 1961 - Timothy Jerome - Man of the Theater - “One Lucky Fellow&rdqu on October 30, 1940, to Edson and Agatha Schmid of East Williston, NY, Charles graduated from Cornell University, earned a Master’s in Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and went on to receive a PhD in Acoustics at the University of Washington. He and his family moved to Bainbridge Island in 1970. From 1990-2013 he was the Executive Director of the Acoustical Society of America. Charles was a dedicated environmentalist and mountain climber. He was awarded the 2020 Washington Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for Environmentalism for his decades of service, from starting the first Bainbridge Island recycling center to helping to establish Home Rule, Pritchard Park and the Waterfront Trail.
is greatly missed. Charles’s spirit lives on in all those who have been lucky enough to call him friend or family; his commitment to the environment has left a lasting, positive impact on the world.
Wang-Schmid; daughter Jenny Schmid and her daughter Sineenart.
early techie - a ham radio operator - and I spent a weekend with his family at their place on Fire Island. What I remember most, though, which I learned only later, was that being the center on the football team, Charlie worked closely with quarterback Steve Perlin. Coach Jack (“Cat”) assigned Charlie to keep Steve calm, fending off anti-Semitic remarks.
individual. He did well in life. May he Rest In Peace and his family and friends be comforted by his memories.
the football team our sophomore year—the team that was undefeated and won the championship—though I think I did not play any time in any games. However, my locker was next to Charlie’s—-and I believe Steve Perlin was in our row as well. It was like being between Godzilla and King Kong. I did not say a peep all year—everyone knew that Charlie was an honors student—and Perlin was a great football player, and I was about one foot shorter and 60-70 pounds lighter than either of them.
believe—Mike Stapleton (1958), who also wrestled heavy-weight.
them going in “Bulls in the ring”) and then they would “talk” in the locker room—-I tried to change as quickly as possible to get out of the way of those 2 bulls—-Charlie played the role of peacemaker—-since he was the center, a hell of a lot smarter and more grounded than either of them.
won’t go after you—-“. Charlie had the respect of all the bulls—since he was “The Center”—and a team leader.
wouldn’t give me the time of day—I think she died from cancer.
We have to close up the house because we don’t have any air conditioning—the weather is supposed to break tomorrow, I hope.
insightful and well-written, which showed what an intelligent and reflective guy he was. His retrospective searching for his own identity and those of his Wheatley classmates reminded me of a comment attributed to famed Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully, who died last week at age 94.
between the All-Star game and the Old-timer's game," he said, referring to the baseball greats whose heroics he reported on to the rapt attention of us Long Island Brooklyn Dodgers fans of the late 50's (before they escaped to LA.🤑). One additional question, raised by Art Engoron (who skillfully and faithfully edits the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter): Does anyone know the causes of death for Charlie and his sister Susan Schmid?
greatness of America in the doo-wop patriotic 50’s. The New York Post often publishes my political pieces.”
zoom on October 16, 2021. The committee had a great time planning this, and it was a wonderful afternoon.
and 1 from Australia. The biggest challenge was to find a time that worked for anyone in any place in the world! It was a special treat to see our AFS friend, Ayako Yasuda, whom most of us hadn’t seen in 60 years.
prepared with photos from Willets Road, Northside, Wheatley, our high school yearbook, and many reunions since graduation. These were accompanied by music from the ‘50’s and 60’s. It was very nostalgic. A copy of the slide show was put online for everyone to have, including those classmates who weren’t able to join us.
2022!
o;

L-R - Nancy Horowitz; Barton Freedman; Richard Corben; Susan Brandt (wearing plaid skirt); John Cilmi; Virginia Burgdorf (in white shirt) Ronald Essel; Janet Gohlke; Marcia Yoder (partially obscured); Tim Jerome (wearing glasses); Edward Gold (kneeling); Michael Horowitz (wearing plaid shirt); Barbara von Philp; Allyn Mills; Bari Mittenthal
Writes Tim - “Hi Wheatley-ites, I always enjoy reading what folks write about their lives in the Wheatley Newsletter, so I thought I’d give it a try. Here are just a few things about myself, my life, my career that clearly evolved from my days as a Wheatley student. In the picture above - taken senior year (1961) = you see me tearing my hair out, having just fallen into the pool that - as it turns out - I would be swimming in for the next 60 years. As a senior, thanks primarily to Mr. Storm and Ms. Bodnar and to my music teachers, Dr. Wills and Mr. Signorelli, I found myself shedding a life-long aspiration of becoming an electrical engineer and taking over my dad’s business, and falling deeply into the joys and challenges of acting, directing and - since there was none - organizing The Wheatley Dramatics Club.
It took my entire freshman year at Cornell to firm up the decision. Typically, I’d race out of math class, where my mind had been going over lines and, just as the bell rang, grabbing my books and racing across to the rehearsal room, hoping I wasn’t too late. It was all pretty confusing, but I finally came to my senses, and after a wonderful summer theatre experience in that pretty upstate town, I transferred across the street to Ithaca College and majored in music (voice). Then on to Manhattan School of Music (for a masters - and to avoid the draft) and then - pretty quickly into “the business”. And now…looking back at eighteen Broadway shows, eleven films, dozens of Off-Broadway and Regional productions, plus a rather unique 501-c-3 theatrical service organization that I started 40 years ago and that keeps me busy when I’m off-stage, I have no regrets... none … even though, sometimes - plenty of times - I find myself feeling exactly how I look in that picture - tearing my hair out. All things considered, I guess, I am one lucky fellow, thanks in no small part to my high school experiences at Wheatley.”
1961 and 1963 - Rhoda (Kalkin) Schneider and Jeff Jacobs Respond to the Essay by Jim Paley (1964) in Newsletter # 75.
Write Rhoda and Jeff - “We feel that politics should not be in an alumni newsletter. However, since Jim’s essay was published, here is our response:
After reading this article, which is clearly a politically slanted Liberal article, we are embarrassed to think that a mature adult in this day and age cannot recognize & fully appreciate the freedom and liberties we had as children growing up years ago.  And to address issues of this country’s rights or wrongs from a perspective of post WWII only, without considering its former history, would hardly be either balanced or provide proper cultural perspective.  When we were children we lived in a time that our parents protected us from certain dangers while opening up to us the world of freedom, education and an opportunity for unlimited success. Yet there was always a finger being pointed no matter what your race or religion.  Did we not learn from witnessing the error of singling out individuals based upon religious preferences or personal characteristics over which they have no control?  Perhaps we were given too much protection so that many of us never came to appreciate how fortunate we were because we never experienced how bad it was for people in the rest of the "non-free" world.  My religious heritage has shown me and my spouse what hidden prejudice really is, and what it can do.  We had to prove ourselves and make clear to our peers who we were. There were decent whites, blacks, Asians, etc., and we accepted them as our peers. And we learned there would always be exceptions. But we, as Americans, were offered the opportunity to strive for the best.
Unfortunately, in recent decades we have come to accept that there are those who, due to their particular situation, simply expect to be granted things without exercising any initiative or effort that would result in a better life. There have always been people who have experienced discrimination, whether it be for skin color, religion or sexual preferences.  These people have every right to be accepted into an open in society, but is there not a limit to what should be expected from that society? For example, members of the gay community are unquestionably entitled to the same protections against discrimination we all enjoy.  But they don’t have the right to impose their preferences on the rest of us, but only to be accepted for who they are. Children are born either male or female genetically and our job as parents should be to nourish them through their adolescence and teach them to make wise decisions as adults, having the opportunity once they reach a certain level of maturity to determine their own path.  Our educational institutions have no right to appropriate that responsibility or interfere with a parent’s rights in this regard. Does the author consider it a victory that children of elementary school age should be subjected to the kind of sexual education that is clearly age inappropriate and serves to steal their innocence, even if they have some ability to put that information in context?   What some people characterize as “advances,” others do not necessarily regard as such.  And to suggest that the country would be a better place if they would just ‘go away’ is to fail to understand our form of government and how it served to make this country one that has been the envy of the world, the one that every person from every impoverished nation wants to come to because of its views and basic human rights guarantees and protections.
Let us not blame the ills of this country on one president; history will clarify where that responsibility lies. And the characterization of someone like Ralph Nader as a “Villain” because he sought office and thereby affected the outcome is sadly typical of the lack of understanding of how our government works.   The ability of a 3rd party candidate to run for office illustrates the beauty and equity of our system of governance.
The way we see it, we had a country that prospered and was respected in the post WWII years. But today progressives, no matter how much education they’ve had, do not seem to factor in and apply any ‘common sense’ rules or recognize what has happened over the course of the last 50 years with the expansion of government control over the rights of the individual in this country. Women’s quest for equality is being diminished. Children’s gender is being questioned. Criminals enjoy broader rights then law abiding citizens, and no matter what your economic status is, you are being hurt by policies that seem to defy logic. We are embarrassed to witness the disgraceful actions of our representatives in the House of Representatives and the Senate. And our federal government has become a self-indulgent fraternity of astonishing proportion.  Our government agencies have become weaponized in an effort to defeat those of a differing opinion at any and all costs.  The ‘ends justifies the means’ and forget about the design by the founders to have opposing parties negotiate to reach agreement on policy or none shall be rendered.  And where the issue of gerrymandering is mentioned, is the author not aware that the gerrymandering by Democrats in states like California have guaranteed that no voice of conservatism shall be heard or legislation passed that serves a conservative interest – ever, due to the gerrymandering of districts in that state?
As soon as our past president Donald Trump mentioned the words “draining the swamp,” it became clear that he would be targeted; but who envisioned the scope of the assault. The Obama administration threw open the door for undoing the underpinnings of the government as we knew it but accomplished little more than create a cesspool for criminal activity in and out of government.  When Obama famously stated “he could have been my son,” that should have been a warning, as it was no joke, but with the blindfolded media as the PR arm of the administration, there would be no objectivity exercised. Just as when Melania Trump was completely ignored while Michelle Obama was put on a pedestal, where was the media whose traditional role used to be holding the politicians feet to the fire?
The author complains that the Democratic Party, once again, cannot unite around a single set of values that are in the best interests of the country. A most interesting statement that may reveal the writer’s conviction that only Democrats know what is in the best interest of the country, but certainly misses the point that their values are constantly changing, which is why they can’t agree on them while consistently rejecting the fixed values established in the Constitution.   Have we learned nothing from the history we have witnessed under the control of tyrants?  Wake up, liberals, because as anyone of the Jewish faith can tell you, what happened in Germany, where Hitler promised the German people the world, under his view of how that world should be, can happen anywhere that people leave their lives to be run by big government.
In our country now, the media is focused on cultural issues and clichés like black is beautiful, which is about as far away from being inclusive as you can get. It was common for post WWII Jews to grow up thinking that president Roosevelt was the Jewish savior because that’s what the media wanted us to believe, regardless of the real policy motives. And today we have politicians and lawmakers such as  Chuck Schumer, Jerry Nadler, Adam Schiff and Biden himself, all of whom have made it abundantly clear that they would prefer to see the entire population suffer than to implement effective policies that would in any way bestow a scintilla of credibility to the opposing party.
The author refers to the dark day of June 24th due to the overturning of Roe vs Wade.  However, the Roe vs Wade decision was not “constitutional” in the first place, which is why it was overturned – not because of any Justices’ personal opinion about abortion, but because it was the worst kind of “bad law” that results when any court goes through contortions to justify its verdict for what’s popular at the time. There is no constitutional guarantee to an abortion, it is up to the states to deal with issues that are not specifically addressed in the constitution – the Supreme Court does not make law! Abortion, although a broad-based issue, is not one of the "guaranteed rights” (and certainly does not consider any rights of the child), but is a matter for the states, which may reflect the attitudes and opinions of their respective constituencies, which is how the rights of ALL of the citizenry are guaranteed. This is an example of one party wanting to impose its will on the whole country.
Finally, the author says that 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.  I suppose there’s no need to point out the political affiliations of this congress, but suffice it to say that even progressives need campaign money, right?  However, I would like to point a few relevant facts: If gun control really worked, cities like NY, Chicago and LA would be a paradise to live in.  Democrats are so quick to blame the gun for the crime, but nobody blamed the rifle when JFK was killed.  And as far as raising the age to 21 for ownership, 11 teens die each day due to texting while driving.  So should we raise the age for cell phone ownership to 21 as well? This doesn’t even begin to address the hypocrisy of Democrats who insist upon vigorous background checks for gun ownership, but refuse to impose the same standard when it comes to immigration, voter I.D., or candidates running for office, not to mention the reality that the 2nd amendment makes more women equal than the entire feminist movement! There was a time when we all knew what a man and a woman was, and when a body is identified there remains only two choices.
So let me end by offering this one last question: Can’t you answer truthfully and confidently the question of what is a woman or a man? Do you really want your future generations to be unicorns? Wake up and smell the roses.  Despite its lapses in policy, the US has established itself as the greatest country in the world. Sure, some issues need to be resolved for us to progress … but progress is not a man calling himself a woman or vice-versa, nor is it progress to grant an unbridled right for a woman to take the life of her unborn child right up to the point of delivery.  To us that is runaway liberal progressivism at its worst.  Rhoda (Kalkin) Schneider, Class of 1961, & Jeff Jacobs, Class of 1963
1961 - Rhoda Kalkin Schneider

In 1958, in 9th grade, Rhoda was the youngest person to attend Wheatley’s Senior Prom.
1962 - Ronni Buchalter Lux - Deceased
Writes Jeanne Messing Sommer (1961) - “It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you that Ronni Buchalter Lux (Class of 1962 ) passed away in late June after a long illness. She was a loving and wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. Ronni was always kind, sensitive and caring. She will be greatly missed.”
1965 - Malcolm Dobrow - Pleasant Memories
Writes Mal - “I enjoyed seeing the photo of my first grade class at Willets Road circa 1953. Sadly several people are no longer with us. I looked like a dork with a bow tie, but the photo brought back pleasant memories.”
1967 - Jack Wolf - More on Mets Banners
Writes Jack - “I thought we won a Banner Day with, ‘Is Ed Kranepool over the hill?’ I believe he was approximately 18-years-old at the time.”
Writes Art Engoron (1967) - “Newsday wrote that one up, but it was never entered in a Banner Day. As noted in Newsletter # 75, the banner that won the 1964 Banner Day Contest at Shea Stadium was, "Extremism In Defense of the Mets Is No Vice" -- penned, like the Kranepool banner, by Ben Ross, (1967), who, however, wasn't able to take it to Shea with us that day.
Writes Mitch Stephens (1967) - “The Newsday sports columnist who wrote about us was Stan Isaacs -- a delightful writer. Ben Ross’s Ed Kranepool line was probably the most quoted banner I've ever seen: noted just about every time Kranepool was written about. And he was a Met for a long time: 18 seasons.
I think I came up with the gently ironic, ‘Will Success Spoil Rod Kanehl.’ He lasted only three years in the majors, all with the Mets, but he did hit the first grand slam in Mets history, on July 6, 1962 at the Polo Grounds.
Writes Dan Silver (1967) - “The Ed Kranepool banner was subversively ironic. It was directed at least as much at the Mets' front office PR campaign about how this talented high school 1st baseman, signed in 1962 as a 17-year old teen, would boost the Mets from being a butt-of-the-jokes expansion team to an exciting, serious MLB franchise. "To fulfill their promise of an early call-up, and perhaps boost attendance as well, the Mets summoned the wunderkind to the big leagues in September.” The precision of the 1964 Banner Day Grand Prize Winner — ‘Extremism In Defense Of The METS Is No Vice’—has etched Ben Ross forever in Mets history as Grand Prize Banner Meme Maestro.
Of course, I like to think that the extra-large curtain liner I brought to the project proved an excellent vehicle to maximize our 1964 Banner Day winner's visibility. For Wheatleyites either too young to know much about that year's presidential campaign; or old enough, but whose devotion to the 1960s' & '70s' counter-culture customs has perhaps muddled their memories, the GOP's nominee, Barry Goldwater, pronounced a slogan that would prove to be the first step in his party's unrelenting slide from a respectably right-of-center party—that even sensible Mike Abraham (1967) could enthusiastically support—to an extreme right-wing cult dedicated to its insurrectionist leader's resolute march towards fascism. (And to its most extreme, unbalanced members possibly misinterpreting Ben's piquant parody in the light of today's more ominous, disinformative rhetoric, and more twisted, disinformed miscomprehensions: viz., Pittsburgh, El Paso, Highland Park.)
With that slogan, in that campaign, Goldwater signaled a radical embrace of reactionary right-wing extremists whom theretofore the Republicans—at least publicly—had rejected: ‘Extremism in Defense of Liberty is no Vice.’”
1967 - Art Engoron - In the News
The New York Times
Raw Story
The Daily Mail
1969 - Marynn Wechter - Long Gone, but not Forgotten
Writes Jill Wattel Stockinger (1969) - “It is my understanding that Marynn had just won a major award for being one of the 20 best up-and-coming young filmmakers in New York. She was going out to celebrate with friends. The driver was drunk. They got into a motor vehicle accident and she died. I believe it was 1970.
What a terrible waste, with the word meant as Shakespeare employs the word in his plays, with the garden being a metaphor for life, where "Ripeness is all." Marynn had not achieved ripeness yet. She had so much to offer.”
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).
1973 - Edward B. Ryder IV - Appreciates Debra Copeland (1974)
Writes Ed - “It was uplifting to read the ‘Reader's Digest’ version of Debra Copeland's autobiography. It's clear from her writing that she "never left home without it"... that being the ability to well-turn a phrase into a great read. As for the retirement comment, unless G-d has other plans, I'm not going to stop working anytime soon.

Joyce and I have continued, for the last 30+ years, to summer on weekends at our place in the lower Catskills; between Monticello and Ellenville. No, Art, there is no dirty dancing and there is definitely no Kellerman's.”
1976 - Paul Giarmo Responds to Jim Paley (1964)
Writes Paul - “Hey Art, I am tired of reading yet another '60's refugee patting himself on the back about all the so-called ‘progress’ made by liberals during that tumultuous decade. I refer to James Paley's stridently partisan piece, in which he attacks Republicans, conservatives and anyone who disagrees with his ‘woke’ ideology and the ‘cancel culture.’
Mr. Paley's revisionist history lecture ignores several factual truths: (1) his liberal Democratic Party escalated our involvement in the Vietnam War; (2) a Republican president, namely one Richard Milhous Nixon, ended it; (3) our current "president," Joe Biden, as well as several of his Democratic colleagues, including Ted Kennedy, savaged Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 1991, (and literally ran Robert Bork out of Washington four years before that, in 1987). I would ask Mr. Paley, ‘How is that any different from what he derisively refers to as “red-baiting” during the Joseph McCarthy era?’
As for the Japanese internment during World War II, I would ask Mr. Paley if he is aware of the fact that German-Americans as well as Italian-Americans were also rounded up and placed in internment camps during the war? I'm guessing with his selective outrage that he is not aware of that equally repugnant outrage. The camp that held Italian-Americans was in Montana, and I believe it was called ‘Bella Vista.’
Mr. Paley's essay would have you believe that there was nothing but darkness and evil in America before the 1960's, and that his liberal generation brought light and hope to the nation. I’m so tired of the revisionist history. The way his generation dodged the draft, disrespected our returning war veterans, and attacked our nation's institutions and ridiculed those of us who continued to believe in those institutions, is sickening.
I believe that Mr. Paley accuses Republicans of Gerrymandering election districts, yet if he was current in his knowledge of such matters he would also condemn the recent Democratic party attempts to gerrymander districts and unfairly influence elections and voter rights in New York state. Again, I draw your attention to Mr. Paley's selective outrage. The judge hearing the case rejected the Democratic party plan, stating that it would unfairly benefit the party and handicap the opposition, but Mr. Paley doesn't mention any of this in his tirade against Republicans. He mischaracterizes the party as backward and uninformed, while his own party continues to allow illegal aliens ( not undocumented immigrants) to enter the country, force us to pay $5 a gallon for gas, and endure a 9.1% rate of inflation, the highest in over 40 years.
Now I didn't want to write this, and frankly I feel it has no place in an alumni newsletter and on an alumni website. But if Mr. Paley is going to write a diatribe against the right, then I think it only fair that someone return the favor against the radical leftists. You know, just to balance out the playing field.
Respectfully, Paul Giarmo, '76 Wildcat.
1980 - Bob Koenig - Unearths Treasure Trove of Wheatley Humor

1982 - 40th-Year Reunion
Writes Class Correspondent Maria Reyher Meredith - “The 40th-year reunion of the Class of 1982 will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at the Strathmore- Vanderbilt Country Club. Contact Maria Reyher Meredith at mariarmeredith@gmail.com for more information.”

Fan Mail

1961 (Tim Jerome) - “Thank you for all the wonderful stories of kids from our days at Wheatley. What a great project!!”
1961 (Jeanne Messing Sommer) - “You always do such a wonderful job of sharing news with everyone.”
1962 (Lois Kass Kleinberg) - ❤️
1962 (Nancy Newman) - “Thank you again for continuing to keep us connected!”
1964 (Steven Morris) - ❤️
1964 (James Paley) - “You did a great job, Art! Thank you!”
1965 (Malcolm Dobrow) - “I thank you.”
1965 (Louise Kampa Triano) - ❤️
1966 (Sue Sand) - ❤️
1966 (Karen Wattel Arenson) - ❤️
1967 (Scott Frishman) - “Great Newsletter, as usual.”
1967 (Martha Moretti Shane) - ❤️
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - This was a fantastic newsletter! I always enjoy receiving them in my email. This one had so much I could relate to (1967). Thanks so much. ❤️
1967 (Barbara Smith Stanisic) - ❤️
1967 (Merrill Stanton) - “I appreciate all the effort you have put into the newsletters throughout many, many years.”
1970 (Maria Giordano Gittleman) - ❤️
1973 (Maury Rogoff) - “Thank you for helping Wildcats communicate with each other.”
1974 (Joyce Comito Friedman) - ❤️
1974 (Kathryn Zotterman Tripi) - ❤️
1976 (Tom Behan) - ❤️
1978 (Honorah Preston Gimpel) - ❤️
1978 (Amy Ross Goldberg) - “Thank you for keeping the Wheatley newsletter going. I am a regular reader from beginning to end and enjoy keeping up with the news.”
1982 (Maria Reyher Meredith) - “Another great edition. Thank you.”

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 76. 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