Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 95.

According to Substack, in the first 24 hours after publication Newsletter # 94 was viewed 3,036 times, was “liked” eight times, and received three comments (all positive). A few more people (two?) opted out because of the political content. Personally, I think they are “cutting off their nose to spite their face.”

All underlined text is a link-to-a-link (or, rarely, an email address). Clicking anywhere on underlined text, and then on the link that pops up, will get you to your on-line destination.

Two Concerts by One Wildcat

Takemi Ueno '83 will perform with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra on Fri., Feb. 10, at 8 PM, at Symphony Space (Broadway & W. 95^th St.). The program consists of Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Elgar's Cello Concerto, and Sibelius' Second Symphony. Tickets are $23 for students and seniors. They are normally $30 for everyone else; however, you can get them for $25 until 3 PM on the day of the concert at Advance Ticket Sales – New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (nasorch.org)

Peter Howard (1970)] and Takemi Ueno (1983) will perform in a free concert with the Doctors' Orchestra on Thursday, March 9, at 7:30 PM, at the High School for the Fashion Industries, 225 W. 24^th St., between Seventh and Eighth Aves. The program consists of Gershwin's "An American in Paris," Ravel's Bolero, and Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.

The Usual Words of Wisdom

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 94 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, mirabile dictu, 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

‘Hood History - My Father’s Place

The Incredible Story of Roslyn’s Own, My Father's Place

Submitted by Corinne Zebrowski Kaufman (1967)

L-R - Andy Kaufman, Michael “Eppy” Epstein, Corinne Zebrowski Kaufman (1967)

Eppy is the impresario extraordinaire of the former and current “My Father’s Place.”

The Mackay Horse Statues History

Writes Corinne Zebrowski Kaufman (1967) - “There’s one Mackay Horse Statue in Gerry Park and another, I believe, at Roslyn High School. John Mackay was a poor Irish immigrant who discovered the Comstock Silver ode in Nevada, the largest ever, I
believe. Harbor Hill is now Country Estates. The horses which graced the estate were dumped after the depression.”

The Mackay Horse Statues History

Administrators and Faculty

Writes Gene Razzetti (1961) - Art, you can't talk about ‘Hall of Fame’ coaches without mentioning our fabulous Head Coach, Mr. Fred Brightman. Mr. Brightman was the Gold Standard. You won't find too much written about him, because he always stayed in the background. I repeat my longstanding belief that Wheatley's two front entrances should each have a statue - one of Mr. Wathey and one of Mr. Brightman. Best to all, Gene.”

Graduates

1965 - Jeffrey Orling - Aging and Its Discontents

Writes Jeffrey - “Art, Your newsletters, enjoyable as they are to read, evoke mixed emotions.  It is a thrill to have my memory challenged as I try to recall my old classmates and friends from Wheatley.  But also I feel delinquent and guilty for allowing those friendships to fade.  This may not be uncommon for old folks as their lives become more and more focused on their family, their health, and making the best of the lessening time they have left (to complain ;-).  For sure I have been guilty of not keeping up with old friends.  Going to college was going to a new place and leaving the old behind.  But why?.….not necessary.  So while I feel guilty for isolating myself, in a sense I am aware that my old friends are guilty of the same.  Same can be said of college friends.  I seem to have lost my (best) friends from the various periods of my life…..moved away.….passed away…..common experience gone away.  I suppose people seem to move on for any number of reasons.  But I will say that Elsie and I don't have a social life except for family (hers, as mine are all dead) events.

One thing I am acutely aware of when I ‘remember’ is how physically different and somewhat challenged I am now compared to the past.  I am an old man!  My mind is not as old as my body for sure, and that too is a cruelty we all live with as our bodies age.  Who ever expected that simply walking up stairs would be a challenge!  I am the last Orling.….they're all gone and none lived as long.  But I always say.….you can't and won't get better from the conditions associated with being old.  All systems are in decline and at best you can slow down their decline.

I was a passionate sailor for over 3 decades, and now I have to sell my boat because I just don't have the energy to care for her.….nor the passion to sail as I once did.  Same for architecture. I did architecture all my life since graduating college.  These days I may ‘sign and seal’  (oversee) some drawings for colleagues who are not licensed.  I don't even know if I would take on a new project. It's a minimum two-year commitment.  Elsie is an enormous help in my life.  Hard to imagine life without her.

It's sad to read about the passing of my classmates. My health is fine, aside from the arthritis which plagues my knees and other joints.

I often think.….all my life I looked forward to ‘something’….. going to the ballet, opera or a trip to Europe.….a week on the boat and so on.  Without something to look forward to we are just living our life one day at a time, like a branch of wood floating down a stream.  Yes, I do have appointments... physical therapy! hahahaha

Remember... the unexamined life is not worth living.”

1967 - Scott Frishman = “A few nights ago I had dinner with Steve Galan, Peter Kaplan, and Kenny Hare and their wives.”

1967 - Ben Ross - “Classmate Jack Wolf is wrong about how the Clarabell Club dues were spent. The dues were a nickel. They were spent at Hildebrandt's, not at the candy store. The prices at Hildebrandt's were 25 cents for an ice cream soda or a milk shake and 30 cents for a sundae, or maybe 5 cents higher than that. Either my memory isn't clear, or they were raised so both sets of numbers are correct.

Writes Art Engoron (1967) - “Respectfully, Jack and Benjy are both wrong. The dues, which I think were 25 cents a week, were all spent in one day at a pizza parlor on Hillside Avenue in Williston Park (slices cost less than a dollar) and a miniature golf course on Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park (ditto). I remember that day like it was yesterday.”

Writes Ben Ross (1967) - “Yes, I remember the miniature golf outing, but we took several trips, and AT LEAST one was to Hildebrandt’s.”

1968 - John Mok - “It was so good to hear from Hugh Gershon ('66) in Newsletter # 94, please forward my best regards to him.  Mark Gershon (1968) and I were very close friends in Junior High, and I spent many enjoyable days and evenings at the Gershon residence.  Mrs. Gershon would constantly feed me something, as she was convinced that I was too skinny, and it was thanks to her that I acquired a life-long craving for cream cheese and nova on a toasted bagel.  Cindy Gershon (1967) always greeted me fondly and I was truly grateful that Hugh would punch Mark in the arm instead of me whenever our paths crossed. Cheers, John”

1974 - Elyse Rame Beyer - “I just returned from a wonderful trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague with my classmate Debra Copeland.  We had so much fun and have become wonderful travel buddies. Debbie is always ready for an adventure.”

Debra Copeland

L-R - Elyse Rame Beyer and Debra Copeland

Elyse Rame Beyer

1987 - Lorraine Mantovi - Deceased

In 2019 Lorraine died in Florida at age 50.

Lorraine Mantovi Obituary

1990 - Joseph “Joe” Mantovi - Deceased.

In 2022 Joe died suddenly in Florida at age 51.

Joe Mantovi Obituary

Wheatley Today

Facebook Page of the Wildcat Athletic Association

Writes Bernadette McCrave Quinn (1983) - “If anyone would like to nominate a potential Hall of Fame inductee, I have the forms for that!” BGMCQUINN@GMAIL.COM

The Wheatley School Alumni Association Forum/Soapbox

Writes James Turco (1960) - “The letter to the editor by Hugh Gershon (1966) was well-said and easy for all to understand!”

Writes Rhoda Kalkin Schneider (1961): I am not mincing my words. I write what I feel. My classmates must think I am nuts, but I feel at this stage of my life I must say it like I think it is. 

Are  more crimes  committed by white people or black people? 

We all know that black police officers killed Tyre Nichols, who was stopped in Memphis, supposedly for reckless driving.

Was this killing by white supremacists?

Did looting a ‘game shop’ help this situation? 

Black Lives Matter protesters destroyed a privately owned game from an innocent business owner. How did stealing an Xbox help this killing? 

These officers should be convicted and spend their lives in prison. But signs in favor of socialism & liberalism being displayed by protesters……how does that help? The left wants these situations of anarchy to usher in a Marxist society!

As far as the China balloon goes, China has sent other spy balloons, but they were never reported until someone (unknown) saw it and reported it to the media.  Why did Biden and his administration allow this to happen?  Was it because he and his son have money invested in China?

While I am on the subject of China, China owns 191,000 acres of land in six states:  Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oklahoma (in 2019 this land was worth $1.9 billion).  There has been an expansion of Chinese ownership of farmland in the United States.  Why has this been allowed?”

Writes Keith Aufhauser (1963) -

“Art's "Soap Box Corner" counterbalances our bromidic "safe zones." Let the section resound with the voices of: 

Republicans and Democrats, Atheists and the Pious, Vegetarians and  Flesh-Eaters, Pacifists and Militarists, Hobbesians and Lockeans, Materialists and Idealists, the Salaried and Self-employed, Russophiles and Ukraino-philes, Libertarians and Disciplinarians, Bayesians and Frequentists, Genders of every type, and the Youthful and the Aged

who each elaborate their creeds and quarrels to their individual and mutual satisfaction.”

Writes Jim Paley (1964) - “Hi Art, I support your new format and believe strongly in keeping the Forum/Soapbox Section in the newsletter. The 1960s was a decade when many of us came to a heightened level of political consciousness above and beyond what we learned from our parents, and Wheatley provided us with a forum to express ourselves openly and honestly. It was a time when many of us questioned authority and questioned many of the values that were assumed to be norms in our society. I am forever grateful for having had that experience all those many years ago. The Forum/Soapbox Section provides us with an opportunity to express our views on various issues, just like when we were students in high school. While it is great to learn of the activities of our classmates and what people have been up to, values that are expressed by our former classmates and that they wish to share with other Wildcats should have a forum where they can be expressed. I am sorry that you lost subscribers to the Alumni Association Newsletter, but you have made the Newsletter all the more valuable to many of your readers by including this section.

Now on to some reflections on a few of the comments in the most recent issue:

Jay Cummings’s (1960) quote from Martin Luther King Jr. was beautiful. It's too bad that he had to preface it with such a ridiculous comment.

If Rhoda Kalkin Schneider (1961) had stopped with the first four paragraphs she wrote, I’m sure that virtually everyone would have agreed with the sentiments expressed in these paragraphs. However, the drivel she espoused in the last two paragraphs make it hard to accept what she had written earlier, as these comments are totally nonsensical.

And, finally, hooray for Jill Simon (1967), whom I have probably never met, but who also obviously shares a passion for independent thinking and solid reasoning.”

Writes Rick Jalonack (1966) - “To all the Wheatley grads that have commented on or in the opinion (political) section, while you’re thinking and commenting, please remember to ‘stop and smell the roses.’”

Writes Scott Frishman (1967) - “I think moving the political discourse to the back of the newsletter makes sense. However, although I understand your believing in free speech and discourse, I don’t care for it in a newsletter…..and my brother Rick (1972) agrees. I don’t like to have political discussions with my friends who have diametric views. It is like arguing religion, you can’t win!!”

Writes Ruth Resnicow (1975) - “Hi Arthur, As I understand it, the original intent of The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter was to learn news of former Wildcats and catch up on their personal achievements.  I find the political bickering offensive and feel it shouldn't be here, as it belies that mission.

It doesn't solve the problem to put the Forum/Soapbox towards the end, it simply doesn't belong here, and diminishes the enjoyment one has of the rest of the newsletter.

I understand your wanting to have a forum where everyone can voice his or her opinions unedited. Perhaps to that end, you could start a separate site for the Forum/Soapbox and let alumni thrash out their political differences there.

Otherwise, I look forward to every edition and appreciate the work that goes into its production.”

PS: I'm not hiding my head in the sand; I'm well aware of how many people don't share my political leanings (I live in the south and come across them regularly -- even my cat-sitter is full-on MAGA). 

Don't get me wrong -- I'm all for healthy political debate and airing one's opinions. I know I can ignore the bickering. And although I didn't write the mission statement, I don't think your original goal of "fostering communications" was about politics, as that's something that started relatively recently, and I think you're shoe-horning it into that category. Rather, I believe it was meant to encourage alums to reach out to one another within our community. But that's just me.

I simply feel that political argument doesn't belong in an alumni newsletter. 

So yes, I'm opting out. 

(As an aside, when I receive my alumni magazine from Washington University, it includes lists of alumni and staff achievements, deaths, and articles pertaining to events and accomplishments germane to the university. No editorial content, just the facts. And I enjoy it tremendously. To me, this is what alumni publications are for.)

PS: Alumni from the 1960s seem to think of themselves as special, having lived through the political mayhem of that era. One of them wrote about the ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were plenty of us in the 1970s who skipped that part, too, leading to a sort of cacophony at the end. We also had student strikes and walk-outs, despite threats from the administration.”

Fan Mail

Faculty (Stephen Ehre) - “Thanks for all you do.” ❤️

1959 (Tracey Lanthier) - “I enjoy reading the Newsletter. Thanks for a job well-done.”

1964 (Jane Berger Putnam) - ❤️

1964 (Gene Grindlinger) - “Thank you for your ‘labor of love’; it is outstanding.”❤️

1965 (Jeffrey Orling) - “YIKES... the Newsletter is amazing.  I enjoy reading about all the people from Wheatley that I forgot long ago. Thanks.”

1965 (Richard Strauss) - “Thanks for including a link to Tom Glaser’s Holocaust talk video in the Newsletter.”

1967 (Scott Frishman) - “Great Newsletter, as usual.”

1968 (Lois Hegyi Goldstein) - ❤️

1968 (John Mok) - “Your Newsletters bring back great memories, thanks for producing them.”

1969 (Ronni Seltzer) - ❤️

1970 (Mitch Shapiro) - “The last newsletter was interesting in its own way.”

1973 (Guy Furfari) - “I enjoy reading the Newsletter very much. Thank you for taking the time to be so involved.”

1974 (Melanie Artim) - “Thank you for the Newsletter.”

1974 (Elyse Rame Beyer) - “Thank you for all your hard work and all you do for us. It’s amazing. I don’t envy the  position you have been put in by many of the recent posts, and I appreciate your diplomacy in handling many of them.”

1976 (Ted Lipsky) - “Art, Thank you for the Newsletters.” ❤️

1977 (Peter Fitzpatrick) - ❤️

1979 (Mary Hopkins Burke) - “It just keeps getting better. Please don't ever remove me from this list!”

1988 (David Mahaffey) - ❤️

1996 (James Lohmann) - ❤️

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 95.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends us your obituary.

Art

Arthur Fredericks Engoron, Class of 1967

WHEATLEYALUMNI@AOL.COM

ARTENGORON@GMAIL.COM

WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG