Dear Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 19.

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (1963), you can regale yourself with the first eighteen newsletters (and other Wheatley data and arcana) atwww.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;administrator;graduates (chronologically/alphabetically);fan mail(which I always appreciate) (chronologically/alphabetically).Once again, I have allowed myself the liberty of editing all submissions, for clarity and concision, without any indication thereof (even material in quotes).

The School:

Writes Ellen Solow Holzman (1964, and Wheatley Teacher from 1989 until retiring in 2012):

One little side note to add to the story of the building of Wheatley: my mother (Rita Solow) told me there was a controversy at the time over whether or not to build a swimming pool as part of the new school.The more conservative voters (mainly located in East Williston at that time) were quite vocal about the issue that the school was expensive enough as it was.Those who wanted a pool, but wanted even more for the bond issue to pass, decided to leave it out, figuring it could be added in the future. But it was not to be! You might also add that when the fire burnt down half of North Side, we fifth graders quickly found ourselves back in class in the 300 Corridor at Wheatley.

Administrator:

Norman Boyan: Wheatley's first principal!

For the record, I turned 96 years old on April 11.My wife is already 97. If we make it to July 10, we will have been married for 75 years

Graduates:

1958 Steve Nelson: Author

Steve Nelson was valedictorian of Wheatley's first graduating class. After his junior year at Cornell, he went to the Peruvian Andes to live among the descendants of the Incas. That was the beginning of a decade-long journey that took him to the California surf, an historic Harvard Law School courtroom, an Army draft induction center, the Summer of Love in Harvard Square, and the 60s music scene. Along the way he encountered Martin Luther King, B.B. King, Ted Kennedy, Eric Clapton, civil rights martyr Mickey Schwerner, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, Hillary Rodham, Lou Reed, Jimmy Page, Sandy Denny and Peter Wolf.

Steve just published a memoir entitled Gettin’ Home: An Odyssey Through The ‘60s.  It’s an unlikely but true tale of trials and tribulations, triumph and loss, sex and drugs, love and murder, and joy and sorrow, amid the turbulence of the times. You can read the first two chapters at www.gettinhome.com Although the book takes place in the 60s, Wheatley figures in the story.

1959 – Deborah (“Dee”) Anderson Webber – Community Helper

Art, you make me feel like a living antique!  I wish more of my classmates from 1959 would write in and say they are alive!  I was really happy to see Wheatley's response to the Parkland School disaster that happened down here in Florida!  It shows that the younger students in this nation are finally going to stand up against guns and gun rights and all the things that make horror happen!  Good for them!

We Had it All...So Many Have So Little...

Please, fellow Wheatley grads, consider "joining" our Florida registered non-profit, Brothers & Sisters Doing the Right Thing, and making a tremendous difference to the neediest kids near you.  We tutor kids, we take them on summer trips - we try to "keep" them in school, learning and hopefully graduating.  There is one, however, VERY easy thing to do and that is get them books of their own!   We're used to homes with books everywhere.....kids in need often have none.  Change that and do it this easy way....email churches and summer Bible Camps and summer camps or schools, when school begins again.......suggest that kids collect 'used' books and you will then deliver them to schools where kids don't have these of their own.  There are plenty of Title One schools where you can make such a connection and there are lots of Head Start Preschools where, also, books are needed.  You hold the reins......you can extend such programs by  suggesting to kids that they have 'sneaker drives' for needy youngsters......then wash and dry the sneakers and fit with new laces.  There are so many kids in our country who wear sneakers two sizes too small and would love 'new' sneakers that fit!  Books…..sneakers…..use your imagination and get busy.  There is so much need.......email me at webber.dee@gmail.com and I'll even tell you about Holiday Programs and how we deliver holiday stockings to needy kids! 

Dee Webber

1960 – Ken Martin, Charlie Zimmerman, and others:

Hello classmates,  You might enjoy hearing about and seeing some photos from the remarkable mini-reunion we had at the Zimmerman’s lovely venue on St. Simons Island, GA.  You had to experience it to understand it.  The camaraderie, the laughter, the conversations, the shared memories, and yes, the warmth and love were priceless. This was the fifth “mini” for many others and me, but I looked forward to it more than the other ones, probably due to the aging factor.  You know, that damn hour-glass and its shifting and diminishing sand.

Ed Pachtman uploaded the photos to his iCloud account: iCloud.com/sharedalbum/#B095nhQSTA1P7u

Most of us arrived on Friday afternoon on May’s first weekend.  Paul Mann flew in from Kentucky on Thursday.  On Friday, the ever-gracious hosts, Mary Ellen and Charlie Zimmerman, provided a dinner of ribs and gumbo to die for.  Gary Zebrowski gave all classmates in attendance wood plaques he made (woodworking is his hobby) commemorating the Class of ’60 and its visit to St. Simons.  He then provided magic markers so that we could all sign each other’s plaques, as if they were yearbook pages.

Lorraine Altenburg Rinaldi and her husband John dropped in to join us that night. They live in South Carolina less than two hours from the Zimmermans.

After dinner some people bunked at Charlie’s while others drove back to the King and Prince, an oceanfront resort that was essentially our headquarters.  The accommodations were lovely and the staff, for the most part, practiced southern charm and hospitality.  Oh yes, there was also a nice bar some of us frequented.

On Saturday morning we took a boat ride in the waters surrounding St. Simons. We enjoyed the subtle beauty of America’s “low country” and saw a lot of wildlife, all the time shooting the breeze with one another and enjoying each other’s company.

Next, we lunched at the marina restaurant.  The nineteen of us barged in but were quickly seated.  Good meal and a few daring souls ordered margaritas-it was, after all, Cinco de Mayo.

That afternoon some of us rode a trolley ride around the island, others participated in a tennis tournament put on by the feisty and indefatigable Paul Hennessy.

The class of the tournament were the doubles teams of the Pachtmans, Moncures, and Hennessys. For the third tournament in a row the Pachtman juggernaut won; they should be wearing pin stripes.  But it is not who won or lost, but how you played the game, and on that count the rinky dinks were permitted on the court as well, and Paul and Betsy Keister played Pete Koole (Linda Sue Beattie’s husband) and Ken Martin. It was a ferocious (hilarious???) match wherein more balls were missed than hit.  But the issue throughout the tournament was this: once again the intrepid Class of ’60 spirit was displayed by aging, yet ever-willing, Wildcats.  We’re from Wheatley and if you can’t hear us we’ll shout a little louder….

Saturday night we walked to a little gin mill/barbecue joint two blocks from the King and Prince.  We had a separate room where we ate, drank, and continued strengthening the bonds that brought us there in the first place.  I might add that a number of spouses attended the mini for the first time, and they were welcomed into the circle.

All in all, we had a memorable weekend, and many of us are still basking in the warmth we found and created there.  And we hope to gather again….

1961 – Jack Davidson – Appreciation of Mr. McCormack

Often of late I think that one of the gifts I received in life is where I grew up and my four years at Wheatley.  I moved to Vermont in 1970 and rarely return.  But the memories are returning more frequently and, having learned of Mr. McCormack's death, one memory resurfaced again about his class.  And then your newsletter  arrived.  Evidently, Bari Mittenthal Mears and I were profoundly affected by Zeno's Paradox.  The Teacher referenced in the following linked article was Mr. McCormack.  http://tcvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/zeno-paradox-online.pdf  Mr. McCormack was a wonderful teacher.  Thank you, Arthur, and thank you, Bari, and thank you, Mr. McCormack. Jack Davidson

1963 – Donna Kenton – Letter to the Editor of the New York Times

To the Editor: I’ve been taking taxis for almost 50 years. Contrary to what many people think and say, I have generally found the drivers to be incredibly hard-working family men (and some women) who are polite and love this city as much as I do.  I don’t understand why the powers that be in the city let Uber and the rest take over our streets and decimate the taxi industry just like that.  Shame on them! 

DONNA KENTON, NEW YORK

1964 – Lionel Orloff – Deceased. 

He is survived by siblings Diane Orloff Davis, 1960, and Robert Orloff, 1963, and, I believe, wife Susan.  [editor’s note:  Lionel grew up on the other end of Bengeyfield Drive from me.  He was friendly with my older brother, Malcolm, also 1964, and I remember Lionel as a cool guy with a (presumably) Russian name.  Amazingly, when he passed he was living on the same block on Staten Island as a colleague of mine….small world.  I’ll print a fuller Wildcat Obituary in the next newsletter if someone can find or write one.]

1964 – John Sullivan – (Another) Community Helper

John writes:

After a great career in the insurance brokerage industry (30 years with the same employer, from which I retired in 2015), I am now the Board Chair of a Homeless Ministry on the east side of Kansas City, MO.  We deal with substance abuse, physical abuse, homelessness, etc. all on a daily basis from 9-1, M-F, in one of the worst areas of town.  Prostitution is on the corner next to us;  drug houses & deals are commonplace.  We are trying to be an area of hope & comfort to those wanting to break the cycle.  I look at homelessness as being on a continuum of environment (privileged or not) to addiction to homeless to hopeless. Our goal is to stop that cycle.

Just a few of us are there daily to respond, where we can, to the needs of those we serve.  We provide meals and a social worker on a limited basis for counseling & agency access, hygiene products, treatment referrals, transportation & follow up, etc.  We just successfully moved into a Missionary Baptist Church.  The Pastor has embraced our Ministry.  That is truly a blessing for us.  If any readers would like to contact me regarding what we are doing, my email address is cassiecaity@sbcglobal.net and my mobile telephone number is 913-219-3123.  We are on Facebook as Neighbor2Neighbor.  https://www.facebook.com/n2ninc/

Our address is 3551 Wabash, Kansas City, MO.  Although some 70 agencies in KCMO provide food to those in need, our particular goal is to get away from a transactional relationship with our clients and instead have one of interactions.  I am the first to say, when someone calls me “Sir,” “I am not ‘Sir,’ I am ‘John’ & we are not ‘you and us,’ but we are a ‘we.’” 

We have been in operation 20 + years.  We will survive. 

Thanks for listening & God Bless.

1965 – William George Nuebel, Jr. – Deceased

Writes Steve Metzler, 1969:

I read in the Wheatley Alumni newsletter about the loss of Billy Nuebel, 1965.Recently I was in Washington DC and visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall.Attached is a photo of his name. Bill was a classmate of my brother Charlie; older brother of my friend Jimmy Nuebel (1968); and a neighbor.I recommend all to visit the Wall. It truly is a humbling and sad experience.The war wasted so much of our generation.

1966: David Hurvitz, An appreciation

Writes Jon Silver (1965):

My cousin, David Hurvitz, 1966, was a prince, as I believe all who knew him would testify. After Wheatley he matriculated at the University of Chicago, and he then received a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Princeton.  His field work was in Madagascar.  The bulk of David's post-graduate work was as President of the company that publishes the Yellow Book series of directories.  Circa 2000, at a large family reunion, David met one of our many mutual second cousins, Martha Klein, R.N., of Boston.  Martha soon moved into David's apartment on Park Ave South.  They married soon thereafter and had a large reception at the New York Botanical Gardens (Bronx).David had been fighting leukemia since the late-1980s and succumbed to it several years ago.  Martha was his personal, live-in nurse from the time they met until his painless death, which she supervised. Those who knew David will remember that he was rarely content, did not often smile, and was frequently unable to be happy, despite his gifts and princely nature.  They will be relieved, and glad, to know that Martha made David very happy for the ten years they had; she made him smile often, and his was a light, bright smile, a light-up-the-room smile, that reminded me of his grandfather's, and many other's from our Klein relatives; and she often told him, perfectly, how great he was.  Whenever I saw that, I knew I was seeing love in action".  R.I.P. David Hurvitz.

1966, Alan Orling: Deceased

Obituary of Alan Orling

Alan S. Orling, 69, died at his home in North Salem, NY on March 25, 2018.  The cause of death was Lewy Body Dementia.  A native of Roslyn Heights, NY, Alan graduated from New York University in 1973 and immediately began a lifelong career as a freelance photographer, bringing an exceptional sense of composition and a deep sensitivity to his work.  He was best known for his ability to capture the human dignity of his subjects.  On assignment for PR firms, national magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, he photographed Chief Justice Warren Burger, Senator Ted Kennedy, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, journalist Studs Terkel, CBS News President Fred Friendly and the infamous Roy Cohn.  Alan’s talents were no less on display in the photographs he took of ordinary people for employee magazines and annual reports.  Extremely self-reliant, he enjoyed, and preferred, working alone, but was a loving and loyal friend.  A devoted father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife Maggie, whom he adored, his children Emily and Eli, son-in-law César Alvarez, daughter-in-law Jeri Orling, grandchildren Ommy Bird and Io, and his brother Jeffrey and sister Merry.

Maggie, Eli, and Emily write as follows:

  Dear Friends and Family: We are having Alan’s memorial celebration on Saturday June 2 at 2pm.<215 Hawley Rd., North Salem, NY.  The service will begin at 2:30 and will be outside (weather permitting), walking shoes recommended, no need to wear black.   You might bring an umbrella for shade. Afterwards we’d like you to join us for refreshments.  We are having a pot luck and here is the link if you would like to contribute. https://www.mealtrain.com/potlucks/zvezzr. 

If you play an instrument and feel inspired, please bring it.  We look forward to seeing you.  It means so much to us to have this gathering of our community on our property to celebrate.

Writes Robert Halper (1965): As the arbiter of all things Wheatley, I thought you might consider putting an obit of Alan Orling in your next Wheatley update.  Alan  was a close friend, one of the good guys, and will be greatly missed.  His death, however, relieved him of a great deal of suffering caused by the debilitating disease that eventually ended his life.

1967 - Art Engoron: Son’s law school graduation

On May 22nd, 2018 (which happened to be my 69th birthday), my older son, Ian Abbie Engoron, graduated from Fordham Law School. Come September he'll be working at Olshan Fromme & Wolosky in midtown Manhattan. That same day the New York Law Journal ran a front-page article about a decision I issued.  In case you can’t access it, or just want to save time, here’s a slightly condensed version: state Supreme Court justice in Manhattan denied a petition to throw out a felony complaint filed by former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman against Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas; but the judge agreed that the former AG overstepped his authority.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, in a decision issued on Friday, denied the Article 78 petition in Thomas v. Underwood.  Index No. 154456/2018, that had asked the court to declare that the felony complaint filed by Schneiderman on March 11 was issued in violation of lawful procedure. The complaint charged Thomas with grand larceny for allegedly stealing campaign and inauguration funds for personal use.  The petition also had challenged the authority of the acting attorney general to pursue the case and asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction preventing Acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood from pursing enforcement actions against Thomas. Engoron’s decision stated that ‘in the final analysis, if this Court were forced to decide whether or not the AG had the authority to investigate the matters at hand, it would decide that it did not.’  ‘The AG simply didn’t have the power here claimed.’ But, Engoron wrote further, when the Westchester County grand jury indicted Thomas for fraud on May 16, ‘as a result of the indictment, what had been an attempt to prevent an investigation is now a collateral attack on a criminal case pending in another county.’  He wrote that case law precludes Thomas from ‘seeking injunctive relief in this Court to quash an ongoing criminal prosecution elsewhere.’  He denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding. Engoron said that Thomas would have to challenge the criminal proceeding, and Underwood’s authority, in the Westchester County court.  But, he noted, in passing, ‘that whatever are the rules of succession for the NYS Attorney General, the idea that the office would not be able to function at all based simply on a vacancy is, to say the least, counter-intuitive.’

Randall W. Jackson, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, who represents Thomas, issued a statement saying: ‘We appreciate the Court’s careful consideration of the matter and its sound conclusion that the Attorney General has been engaged in an illegal investigation, in violation of New York’s laws and Constitution.  We look forward to addressing this issue and other serious problems with this case in the appropriate courts.’  A spokeswoman for Underwood said, ‘We welcome the court’s decision and look forward to proving our case in court.’

1969 – Gerald Gersh - Proud Poppa

Gerry’s son Brian just graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pace U, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.  This coming September he’ll be in law school.

Fan Mail:

1958 (Steve Nelson) - Art, you continue to do a fantastic job with this.  Thanks for your efforts.

1958 (Barbara Newman) - Many thanks Art.  Best regards.  Barbara

1959 (Phyllis Brunswick Siegel) -Many thanks again for maintaining records and helping alumni re-connect.

1959 (Matt Sanzone) - Thanks, Art.  Your Wheatley Chronicles are so important for all us alums.  I’d like to send a shout out to Dr. Boyan.  So great to hear from him.

1960 (Renee Gershen Nadel) - Thanks Art for yet another "newsy" newsletter.  I loved reading about the start of Wheatley.  I was there from the beginning but never knew of the politics.  Kudos for your continuing work.  [editor’s note – Renee was the Editor-in-Chief of the 1960 Aurora.  It was the first I had ever seen;   it captivated me for years, and it helped inspire my current alumni activities.]

1961 (Jack Davidson) – Thanks for doing this. 

1962 (Naomi Klotz Obie) - Thank you, Art, for keeping us updated on important news (although some of it is sad, indeed).  I would like to join your fan club -maybe even run for its president.

1963 (Donna Harmelin Rivkin) - Great job as always!  You have a wonderful way with words, and you paint such interesting pictures with them.

1963 (Donna Kenton) - Mayor Engoron,  It’s wonderful of you to take the time to do this.  Thanks always!

1964 (John Sullivan) - Many thanks for your commitment to keeping Wheatley grads updated.

1965 (Ray Christian) - Well done.  Thank you.

1965 (Ellie Kocheck, formerly known as Ellen Senft) - I wish to add my thanks and appreciation for all you do, Art.

1965 (Jonathan Silver) – Thanks for the newsletter, which I read assiduously.

1966 (Rick Jalonack) - Art, I can't believe you have done such a wonderful job preparing this magnificent piece.  Nice job.   Rick

1966 (Diana Noble Rubinger) - Another great newsletter.  Mr. Johnson was one of my favorite teachers!  Seeing the photo was so nice!

1967 (Fred Hanft) - Thanks for all this.

1967 (Amy Beth Pastarnack Hughes) - Thank you, thank you, thank you, Arthur!!  The Hammers lived next door to me and were so nice.  I saw Glen Hammer complimented you.  He had twin brothers and the cutest little sister!

Great memories!  Thanks again Art! 

1967 (Corrine Zebrowski Kaufman) - Thank you Art.  So many good stories and remembrances.   You are so good to keep us connected!

1968 (Kathy Kram) - Many thanks, Art.  It is great to read all of this history of the Wheatley School!

1968 (Ilene [“Cookie”] Levine) - The Class of 1968 reunion in early May was fabulous!  David Hechler and Arlene Rappaport Vezza did a superb job organizing it.  The room was filled with great and warm vibes and everyone was delighted to be there.  Thanks for getting this whole thing started.

1969 (Deborah Willard Goldenberg) - Art, if anyone questions the validity of The Wheatley Newsletter, they can speak to me (631-234-4160).  I commend you for keeping us in touch.  For example, that the two Wheatley teachers named “Johnson,” Phyllis and Keith, were married to each other never occurred to me.  After all, Johnson is a very common name.  We have had two “Johnson” presidents……  Keep up the impressive work!!!!!!!!!!

1970 (John Weiss) – Thank you for keeping the spirit of our youth alive.

1972 (Howard Davidson) - Thank you for your hard work.

1972 – (Patty Juris Berwald) -  Hi Arthur.    Great newsletter.  BTW.....David [Berwald] and I were also at Mark Vedder’s funeral.  Sad.  Strange to be there.  Age catches up to us all, but hopefully not that quickly.  PB

1972 (Merraine Sesskin) – I appreciate this newsletter!

1973 (Steve Blumberg) - Thank you for being the editor and chronicler of all things Wheatley.  I take that back, you’re much more than a chronicler, more like a curator, narrator, and historian.  It was a pleasure to read the contributions of Norman Boyan and Phyllis Johnson Satter.  Taken in its entirety, your newsletters are like a quilt in progress, wherein each news item, and I’d like to think each alum, faculty member, custodian, lunch personnel, and administrator, is a piece of this still-growing quilt called “Wheatley.”

1973 (Gail Gimbel) - Your newsletter was and very informative.  Reading of the losses really got to me. 

1974 (Ellen Marie Barnett Diana) - Thanks for all your time and effort.

1974 (Victoria Abbott Pitcavage) - Thank you for all the time and effort putting together this newsletter for our pleasure.  They must keep you busy.  It was a pleasant surprise when I sat down this morning to read.  Keep up the great work.

1974 (Donna Bloom Cave) - Thank you for another great newsletter.  I do read them all, even though I don’t usually comment.

1978 (Valerie Gomes) - Thanks for the update; so grateful for all you do to keep us informed and connected.  This must be a labor of love!!!  It was great to hear how Wheatley came into existence, and the information you got from Norm Boyan was terrific.  He must have so many interesting stories to tell.  Thank you so much for keeping me in the loop.  I feel like we are all one big family.

1982 (Kenneth Leibowitz) - Enjoyed your latest chronicle, particularly reading about Wheatley’s first principal.  I got a laugh when he told you his memory is not what is was!  I wish I had his recall at my age.  I saw in another of your articles that Walter Wathey, another principal, who retired in the late 70s, is in his mid-90s.  I guess the tap water in the principal’s office can be bottled and sold as a longevity enhancer! 

1984 (Frank Schnur) – Wow….this is great stuff!  I follow Wheatley Alum Shep Messing, 1967, of NY Cosmos soccer fame, on Facebook and Instagram.  I think he is coming out with a new book.  I’d also be interested to know if the Varsity Soccer team has won a state championship since the Class of 1984 (including me) led the team to the State Championship in winter of 1983.  Thanks Arthur! 

1985 (Jack S. Barufka) - Thanks so much for sending these as you always do!

2009 (Amanda Hartman) - I love reading these, thank you.  You literally update the entire Wheatley community on hundreds of people's lives. Talk about being a good correspondent!

Closing:

That’s it for the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 19.  Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.