Wheatley Alumni Newsletter

Number 18: May 05, 2018

Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 18.

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (1963), you can regale yourself with the first seventeen newsletters (and other Wheatley data and arcana) at http://www.wheatleyalumni.org. Alternatively, if you are completely uninterested in Wheatley matters, please don't hesitate to ask me to remove you from my general distribution list.

The items below are set forth in the following order: school; administrators; faculty; parents; graduates (chronologically/alphabetically); miscellaneous; fan mail (which I always appreciate) (chronologically/alphabetically). Once again, I have allowed myself the liberty of light editing, without any indication thereof (even in quotes).

(I apologize in advance for errors in formatting (mainly size and spacing inconsistencies) and for any non-working hyperlinks. Writing initially in MS Word, then converting to .pdf, then compressing and filtering, then converting to e-mail text (all apparently necessary to allow e-mailing), has played havoc with the foregoing. Even when I e-mail to myself the line spacing in the outgoing e-mail appears different from the line spacing in the incoming e-mail! So please bear with me. The “final” version, sans errors, I hope, will be posted on the website eventually. Special thanks to Peter Altschuler, 1965, for last-minute technical assistance.)

School:

In the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Florida) massacre, somewhere I read (and cut and pasted) the following (which does not necessarily represent my personal point of view, but does not necessarily not represent my personal point of view):

Wheatley Wildcats roared in solidarity with tens of thousands of students across the nation. These young Americans acted because older Americans in public office have failed to act. It's way past time that the life blood of American students was judged more important and worthy of being safeguarded than the blood money of the NRA and their Quisling-like apologists. In addition to the school-wide gathering at 10 a.m. in honor of the Parkland victims, the school was celebrating the theme of “the power of one’s voice in a democratic society” throughout the day, said Principal Sean Feeney. In social studies classes, students will look up representatives on the federal, state and local level. Once discovering an issue that matters to them, students will write an email to a representative, Feeney said. “Wheatley voices will be heard, whatever the issue might be, and I think the lesson will be this is how one gets engaged civically.” The school will also register seniors to vote, he said.

Administrators:

Norman Boyan, Wheatley’s first principal, wrote me early this year as follows:

“Thanks so much for the warm invitation to the Alumni Association luncheon in February. As usual, time, distance, and age get in the way of desire. Priscilla and I regret so much that will be unable to join you and other Wildcats. We are somewhat able at 95 and 97 respectively, looking forward to our own 75th wedding anniversary in July. Also, our family welcomed our first great grandson in November. By now, we suspect that many Wheatley graduates may no longer even remember us, so let them know how much fun we had in getting Wheatley off the drawing board. Our best to you and all at the gathering. Warmest regards. Norm and Priscilla Boyan”

Subsequently, in response to a query of mine, he wrote the following:

“I cannot speak with any authority about who really inspired Wheatley. There are really two questions here. The first is who started the movement to establish a high school in the East Williston School district. The second is who came up with the name. As for the first, it must have been a member of the school board in East Williston, most likely around 1952 or 1953. My estimate stems from my memories of the two years I served as assistant principal of Mineola High School, 1952-1954. I recall that there was no secondary school in the East Williston School District at that time. During 1953-54 the opportunity arose for me to apply for the post of principal of a new high school right next door to Mineola. I did so and happily made the grade. So the decision to build a new school must have formally taken place at least a year or so prior to the initiation of the search for the principal. I also remember that when I came on board in 1954, a whole set of building plans was available, confirming the estimate that the decision to build must been made at least a year earlier, and more likely, even two. I never did learn who was/were the protagonist/s, but it clearly must have been the school board then in office. It is also possible that there may have been members of the community who really wanted their own school rather than depending on Mineola and Roslyn. My memory doesn’t serve me as well as it used to, but I do recall the names of several school board members when I first came on the scene, one or more of whom may have been prime movers: [The 1958 Aurora lists the following school board members: Edward Pierce, Alan Nordlinger (“Vice President”), Frederick Rehberger (“President”), Raymond Sprague (“Supervising Principal): Carly Rushmore; David Brody. As for the name “Wheatley,” the school board simply did not want to call the new school “East Williston Junior Senior High School” (who can blame them). I believe either Blanche Doremus or Carly Rushmore informed us that a family named “Wheatley” had lived near the property on which the school was being built. The board quickly settled on the name “The Wheatley School.” Some time ago I learned that the school was never considered in rankings of public schools until recently because referees thought it was a private school. I can still remember being addressed as “Headmaster” at meetings of Nassau County high school principals. Well, Art. There you are! I leave you with that old saw: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU MAY GET IT. Norm”

Well, as long as I am on the topic of Wheatley’s history, here’s what the very first Aurora, 1958, had to say on the subject:

“This first volume of the Aurora will long be remembered because it will signify the dawning of a new ray, The Wheatley School! Wheatley originated when the School Board was notified by the Mineola and Roslyn School districts that after June 1954 they would no longer be able to accommodate graduating eighth-graders. After much consideration of possibly merging with other districts the board announced its intention to build a Junior-Senior high school for our own district.

The School Board, over which Otto Vonderhorst presided, engaged the firm of Englehart, Englehart and Leggett as educational consultants. An advisory committee consisting of teachers and parents was formed to assist in the planning.

After the $225,000 bond issue for our sixty-acre site was approved, the firm of La Pierre, Letchfield and Partners was appointed as architects. There followed two more important resolutions. The first was the selection of Dr. Norman J. Boyan as Principal; and the second was placing before the voters the approval of a $2,775,000 bond issue. They voted “Yes!”

The only remaining problem was what to do with the group who would be ninth graders in September, 1955. This was soon solved by merging the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades of North Side and Willets Road into a Junior High division, housed at the Willets Road School. Those pupils from the district who were Mineola sophomores were brought back to Wheatley as Juniors.

Wheatley opened on September 17, 1956. As it happened, construction was not complete, and the school was immersed in sixty acres of mud that day; six-hundred-twenty pairs of shoes became very filthy. The doorways were mere frames with plastic sheets; there was no heat; and workers were continually underfoot, overhead, around and about. Students ate their lunches in the library, and the clocks were always wrong.

It is difficult to believe that we are only two years old, and we are already envied for our facilities and achievements. Those of us on teams and in clubs do not leave school until perhaps four or five o’clock every afternoon (even later for the Thespians and Aurora staff). But we love it. For, you see, Wheatley has been like a friend to us. As it has grown and progressed, so have we; and we will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

Faculty:

Phyllis Johnson Satter (Wheatley teacher of French) writes as follows:

"Go where?”

“To the backyard.” I pointed by nodding in that direction as I balanced our iced teas on a tray.

“You mean the garden?” asked Keith (Wheatley teacher of English), my new British boyfriend. I often needed to explain our American form of his language to him.

“We call it the yard here, Keith.” He shuddered. “Yard is an ugly word for such a lovely place.”

Slowly, I explained, “Keith, here it’s the space behind the house, where kids play, women hang out the washing, and we’ll have our drinks.” I tried to be a patient teacher. I never imagined part of our new relationship would find me teaching English to an Englishman.

He curled his lip in disgust. “In England, yards are paved with tarmac, with a few dustbins in a corner. Yard is too ugly.” I liked the way he wrinkled his nose. My mind strayed from the lesson.

Dustbins, tarmac, where to begin? Keith and I often lapsed into our version of the Revolutionary War over linguistic differences. Jello, jelly, and jam launched another skirmish. Brits eat jelly for dessert: here we put it on our toast. They’re happy to say jam when they’re spreading either jelly or preserves.

We had met in the fall of 1960 at Swarthmore College, Keith Johnson, 21, and I, 20, both Class of 1962, he an exchange student from England, I a junior. In our first encounter, words and language formed the heart of the matter. One Saturday night, my friend Isabelle Phillips Williams ’63 and I sat studying European history together in Commons, a cavernous, high-ceilinged social center in Parrish Hall. By day, the high uncurtained Georgian windows filled the space with light. At night, the glass turned ink-black, and the room sank deep in gloom, except where a few floor lamps with their always cockeyed shades dotted the floor with narrow pools of dim light. The almost-fog of our cigarette smoke drifted through those pools.

Izzie looked up from her book. Annoyed by the need to interrupt her reading, she demanded, “What does this word mean, obstreperous?” “What’s the context? Read me the sentence it’s in.”

Izzie read it, something about the conduct of British politicians in the House of Lords, debating hotly. Instead of supplying Izzie with another word, I began to act out the meaning, mouthing silent shouts, gesticulating, flinging my arms about my head. She stared blankly. Then we heard a disembodied voice from a far-off pool of light, “AWWWK-w’d.” Izzie and I exchanged uncomprehending glances. Again came the puzzling explanation from the voice far across the empty room: “AWWWK-w’d.” This time, as we made no answer, the owner of the voice stood up and sauntered all the way from his corner to ours, doling out a letter with each step, “A-W-K- W-A-R-D, awkward.” As he approached, I recognized the tall, nearly gaunt English exchange student. I had noticed him often, sitting alone in Commons, reading, smoking his pipe, or just observing.

“Awwk-werd, oh, we get it now,” we laughed, converting his beguiling musical enunciation into our own harsh Northeastern twang. But of course, though we now recognized the word, we three began to debate the meaning of ”awkward” and whether it meant the same as “obstreperous.” Keith explained, still in that appealing, mellow British accent that brought his mouth into ever more enticing shapes, the use of “awkward” to describe a difficult, noisy child, one who misbehaved, in fact, the way the Brits in the history book were misbehaving. This made some sense, but by then, we had launched into our first of many animated discussions about the differences between the English he was used to and “American,” as he called our tongue. So the word “obstreperous” and our debate over its meaning brought Keith and me together. If Izzie hadn’t asked her question, if we hadn’t been alone in the big room, or if other students had been between us, playing bridge and chatting noisily, Keith and I might never have spoken that night.

An hour later Keith smiled a shy smile, excused himself to return to his seat and pack his neglected books into his dark green cloth book bag like the ones we all carried in 1960. He pulled on his brown wool duffle coat and wound his long multicolored British college scarf round and round his neck. With a tentative backward look full into my eyes, he slipped into the night, the swinging doors flapping shut behind him.

In less than two years, the words we exchanged were “I do’s.”

“Fatuity,” “maundering,” “infelicitous,” words I didn’t know kept cropping up in the books I read in bed beside Keith over the years of our marriage. “What does this word mean, honey?” His own book resting temporarily on his chest, his eyes rolled toward the ceiling. I swear the definitions must have been printed there in ink visible only to him.

“Fatuity: something quite stupid or silly,” he said slowly, before turning back to his own novel. At first, I looked them up, but then saw I didn’t need to. He had become my teacher.

One day years later, shortly after Keith’s death, I ran across a word I didn’t know. Out of habit, I started to turn to him for his help. In that moment, I fresh-grieved my loss.

These days, a different husband asks me, “What does this word mean?” I look up and smile and think of Keith.

https://bulletin.swarthmore.edu/fall-2017-issue-i-volume-cxv/uncommon-language

Parent:

Andrew Balducci – Deceased (at 92). Andrew was the driving force behind the Balducci’s food empire. Among his survivors are Marta (1973) and Andrea (1975). Maria (“Ria”) (1971) and Dena (1980) predeceased him.

Graduates:

1967 – James (“Jimmy”) DeGroat – Deceased

“Town of Clinton - James L. DeGroat, 68, passed away unexpectedly on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2018 while visiting his best friend and former co-worker, Carlo Tartaglia, in Peabody, Massachusetts. Born in New York City on May 10, 1949, he was the son of the late Robert and Betty Ann Green DeGroat. Mr. DeGroat grew up in Mineola, Long Island and graduated in 1967 from Wheatley High School in [Old] Westbury.

Following High school, he proudly served in the United States Navy as a Sonar Tech on the USS Cohen during Vietnam. Jim was a Senior Product Support Engineer with Axcelis Technologies in Fishkill for 35 years until he retired in 2014. During his career he received a Master of Business Information Systems from the University of Phoenix.

Coincidently, his retirement coincided with the birth of his first grandchild, for whom he adamantly assumed the role of babysitter. Over the next 3 years, "Grand-Daddy Daycare" grew to 3 grandkids. These were his most cherished days.

Along with taking care of his grandchildren, Jim enjoyed traveling (especially with his wife) and was an avid Ham Radio operator, participating in various local clubs.

In April 1984 in St. Denis Church, Hopewell Junction, he married the former Diane Flynn. Mrs. DeGroat survives him, as do his son, Kyle DeGroat of Staatsburg; daughter, Caitlin Begley and husband, Rob, of Red Hook; three adored grandchildren, Ronan, Austin, and Mila; three brothers, Jeff DeGroat and wife, Ellen, of Tennessee, John DeGroat and wife, Lise, of NYC, and Jay DeGroat and wife, Jeannette, of Poughkeepsie; nieces and nephews, Kim, Joe, Maren, and Nathan DeGroat, and Shawn Farrell; and many beloved cousins.

He was creamated, and a Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 12th at Lyall Memorial Federated Church, 30 Maple Ave, Millbrook, NY. Rev. Thomas Fiet will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the DeGroat family respectfully requests memorial donations to Dutchess Outreach, Attn: Beverly Closs, Food Pantry, 29 North Hamilton St., Suite 220, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, or, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1100, Syracuse, NY 13201-1100.”

Published in the Poughkeepsie Journal on Mar. 25, 2018.

1967 – Helene Feiner

Hi all, I made the front page of my local newspaper at our local “march for your lives." Get your magnifiers out...I’m on the far right, 2nd row, wearing a green baseball cap, blue ski jacket. Let’s hope these kids will vote in a safer place in the coming years!!
Helene

1969 – Lynne Landsberg – Deceased

Dear Friends and Colleagues of Rabbi Lynne Landsberg,

Rabbi Lynne Landsberg lost her battle with cancer on Monday evening, Feb. 26, 2018. She was 66 years old. She is survived by her husband Dennis Ward, son Jesse Ward, brother Michael and his wife Lorrie Landsberg, brother Jonathan and his wife Gina Landsberg, and many nieces and nephews. Her funeral service was in Washington D.C. on March 1; she will be interred in Staunton, Virginia.

May her memory be for a blessing, Monica McGowan Personal Assistant to Rabbi Lynne Landsberg American Association of People with Disabilities, 2013 H. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006. https://www.aapd.com

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, 2027 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C. 20036. https://rac.org

Writes classmate Edward H. Curland - Truly sad. One of the most beautiful, accomplished persons I ever knew.

Writes classmate (and 1969 CC) Billy Kirchick – Lynne was a shining example of a kind and considerate classmate.

1970 - Kathy Mazlish – Deceased (passed away Feb 1, 2018).

1970 – Mark Vedder – Deceased.

“Dr. Mark Vedder, 65 of Manalapan passed away at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. He was born in Rockville Centre and raised in E. Williston, Long Island, before settling in Manalapan 30 years ago. Mark was a 1974 graduate from the Stevens Institute of Technology, majoring in Physics, Math and Electrical Engineering. In 1976 he received his Master’s in Physics and in 1980 his Doctorate in Atomic & Molecular physics from the University of Connecticut. Mark completed his post doctorate in 1981 from William & Mary College. He was then employed by the Department of Defense under Reagan’s Star Wars program. In 1987 he began his 30-year career at AT&T as a member of the technical staff for research & development. During this time, post 2001, Mark was sent to secure the White House communications. If asked what he did, Mark would tell you he’s the reason your cell phone works. His interests were Rock n’ Roll music, especially the Rolling Stones, playing electric guitar and being a Giant’s fanatic. Mark served for 8 years as Basketball Commissioner and coach for his son, Michael. He also coached both Laura and Michael in soccer. Mark worked hard and played hard.

He was predeceased by his parents, Frank & Dorothy Vedder, and brother Christopher. He is survived by his loving wife Catherine of 40 years; daughter Laura; son Michael; brothers John and Francis (“Frank”); Irish twin sister Dorothea; and many adoring nieces and nephews.

(some more info and a photo are available at http://weigandbrothers.com/tribute/details/1659/Mark-Vedder/obituary.html#tribute-start)

Attendees at his memorial service included: Joseph Sypien, Steve Rosen, Walter Vogt, Scott Smith, Drew Tressler, Fred Koch, Brian Lonegan, Robert Abramowitz, Doug Terris, Walter McKenna and Frank Faroulo.

1973 – Douglas Browning – Deceased

I am sad to inform everyone that our good friend DOUGLAS BROWNING has passed away Easter day, 2018. He was cremated on April 15 in the Tampa Florida area. Further information can be gotten from his daughter, Mellisa at 352-815-0611.

1974 – Elizabeth Bennett Zippelius –Deceased

Writes Class Correspondent Debra Copeland:

Hello All, Some of our classmates were devastated when notified by Beth's sister Patty that Beth was in the hospital and wasn't expected to make it. She passed away on March 8, 2018. Beth grew up in Mineola and was living in Bradley, IL at the time of her passing. A friend wrote: "She was tough as nails and always spoke her mind- something I greatly respect." She is survived by her husband Jeff, sister Patty and family, and her mom.

1980 – Adam Wasserman – Deceased

His sister, Laura Wasserman (1982), wrote as follows:
My brother, Adam Wasserman, passed away unexpectedly. He was a kind and gentle soul with a brilliant mind and a huge heart and a truly good person. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. He was an admirable and admiring sibling whom I loved dearly.

1981 – Gordon Anderson – Horrible loss.

Gordon Anderson lost his eldest daughter on March 9th to murder at Binghamton University.
https://nypost.com/2018/03/18/dad-of-slain-nursing-student-brings-mourners-to-tears/
[Editor’s note – I have no contact information for Howard, 1979, or Gordon, 1981, Anderson. Could someone provide me with an e-mail addresss or other contact information, or ask them to contact me directly? Thanks. Art]

1983 - William Kadish – Appreciation

Writing about Physical Eduction teacher and Football Coach Daniel Walsh – “He probably saved me from myself. Under-appreciated Coach Walsh stood by his players and patiently help young, dedicated men learn football. My own son is at Alabama and my daughter graduated from Georgia. We really enjoyed the National Championship. I hope Coach Walsh is well. Thank you for teaching me the game. Willy K

1987 – Robert Kachianos - Deceased

Lived on Long Island and leaves behind twin brother Andrew, also 1987.

Miscellaneous:

I have a female friend who is 60, lives in NYC, and would like to meet a guy. If you are at all interested, you’d probably like a lot more information. For that, please call me, in strictest confidence, at 646-872-4833. Art

Fanmail:

Staff (Wes Berkowitz, Guidance Counselor to the Stars) – Great Newsletter. Keep up the great work; much appreciated.

1960 (Joanne Festa) - Thank you for all you do.

1960 (Ken Martin) - Yet another fine effort on your part. Well done!

1961 (Richard Kopelman) – Nice job.

1962 (John Cilmi) - Thanks so much for the newsletter. I always enjoy catching up with the latest.

1962 (Lois H. Kass Kleinberg) - Thank you for the latest newsletter. I love the new format. Even figured out how to download it despite dire warnings that google couldn’t scan it for viruses. What’s a few viruses if you get to see all the wonderful photos of Wheatley people?

1964 (Elvira [“Vivi”] Cilmi Kunz) - Thanks, Arthur. You are so good to keep up with all this.

1965 (Glen Hammer) – Good work, Art.

1965 (Michelle Parker Ross) - Thank you for all your hard work. Newsletter 17 is very interesting; definitely fun to read about everybody in school. I knew Arlene Radovsky (Ford) very well; her mother and my mother were Brownie and Girl Scout leaders together, and we spent many an afternoon together. I have fond memories of her.

1965 (Robert Stern) – Thanks for keeping the Wheatley Experience alive!

1966 (Lorraine Gallard) - Thanks for the most recent edition of the newsletter, which, as usual, I enjoyed tremendously......and for all that you do for us.

1966 (Allan Silver) - I look forward to and enjoy the Wheatley Newsletters. Thank you for your good work.

1966 (Karen Wattel Arenson) - Thanks for the long newsletter. It occurred to me that you are a one-man alumni association.

1967 (Joe Sciortino) - Thanks Art, as always, for all that you do for us! I really enjoyed the newsletter’s pictures and news. Wow, what a legacy of talent and good works! Love to all!

1968 (Joan Edelstein) - Thank you, again, for a great newsletter.

1968 (Joane Filler-Varty) - Thanks again for your continued and dedicated energy in keeping all of us Wheatley Wildcats connected. It is so moving to read all the stories and see how much Wheatley and our experiences meant to so many of us. Many in the Class of ’68 are looking forward to a NYC reunion that will take place on 4 & 5 May. David Hechler and Arlene Rappaport Vezza were kind enough to organize our rag-tag class for this upcoming event.

1973 (Edward Ryder) – Thanks.

1974 (Elizabeth [“Liz”] Barnett Ackert) - I have been remiss in not thanking you for taking the time and effort to compile news of Wheatley alumni.

1974 (Susan Chan Beaver) - Thank you. I enjoy reading your letters even though I don’t know many of the people. Keep on writing!

1974 (LauRha [was “Laura”] Frankfort - Thank you, Art.

1975 (Toni Buckner LaPietra) – Thanks for all you do.

1976 (Carol Ann Dondiego) - Many thanks for the work that goes into the Wheatley School Alumni newsletters. It’s great to read up on the goings-on of those that attended Wheatley long before I did!

1977 (Tani Price Berman) - Thank you for the fascinating Wheatley updates. I graduated with the Class of 1977 and traveled to New York this past October for our 40th-Year Class Reunion, which was wonderful.

1982 (Patti Carroll) – Thank you for these newsletters.

In Closing:

That’s it for Newsletter 18. Please send me your bio before someone else sends me your obit.

Art Engoron, Wheatley 1967, 646-872-4833, WWW.WHEATLEYALUMNI.ORG