Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,

Welcome to the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 259.

Class of 1966 60th-Year Reunion

The Wheatley School Class of 1966 60th-Year Reunion Committee is working diligently to create a fabulous celebration to be held in New York City on October 17, 2026 (details to be announced). They hope each one of you will attend this special occasion.

As the reunion committee so poignantly stated: “This is our 60th-Year Reunion, and none of us is getting any younger, so this will be one of the last times we can commune together and catch up with classmates we haven’t seen in decades. We’ll share fun stories, about then and now, and laugh together. We hope you’ll join us, as each one of you is special, and we want to see you.

Please email Diana Noble Rubinger ( DIANA4425@GMAIL.COM ) and/or Suzanne Stone ( MSHB2000@AOL.COM ) as soon as possible to let us know if you plan to attend.

We hope to see you this October!

Warm regards from Beverly, Lawrence, Amy, Alison, Charline, Diana, Bette, and Suzanne.

San Francisco Bay Area Gathering

Larry Rosenthal (1965) Writes - “ I am pleased to announce The Fifth Annual(?) Unofficial San Francisco Bay Area Wheatley Reunion Potluck—TFA(?)USFBAWRP-- to be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, noon - 4pm, in my Berkeley backyard. Early signups include fellow Berkeleyans Peter Siegel (’66) and my brother Steve Roselaren (’67), as well as Barry (’65) and Aldene Gordon from the South Bay. Interested Wildcats, please email me at larros99@gmail.com . Out-of-towners welcome!

Palm Springs, California Gathering

All Wildcats are Invited

Richard “Rich” Weissman (1972) Writes: “Don’t forget to RSVP for the March 21 & 22, 2026 Wheatley weekend get-together at my home in the beautiful city of Palm Springs, California.

Saturday, March 21, 5:00 pm - catered buffet dinner with champagne and wine, and musical entertainment. Broadway star and singer Nicolas King is coming in from NYC to perform live with accompanist Scott Smith on the piano! To learn more about Nicolas, go to his website:

Broadway Star Nicolas King’s Website

This will be an incredible performance, which you can see up-close in my living room.

Sunday, March 22, 11:00 am - catered poolside lunch. Casual and relaxing lunch to end the weekend get-together.

We have over 70 people attending thus far, so come join us. Simply email me your rsvp. Spouses, partners, and friends are welcome. Our house is designed for large events

There are no costs for you to attend, as my husband, J.D. Horn, and I are hosting and paying all expenses (you are responsible for your own accommodations and transportation). To see photos of events at our house, go to my website on the charitable/political page. Our home is located in the Andreas Hills area of Palm Springs. Casual attire for both events. In the unlikely event of rain (Palm Springs is a desert), both events will be indoors.

Spread the word to other Wheatley graduates! Everyone is invited!

With love,

Rich Weissman

Class of 1972 (but graduated in 1971 and so not in the 1972 yearbook)

Attended North Side Grades 1-6 and then Junior and Senior High at Wheatley.

Email: rweissman@hotmail.com

Cell: 503.250.4545

Website: www.richweissman.com

Shelley “Sheli Nan” Hershcopf (1968) Adds - “I will be performing at the fabulous party that our generous alumnus, Rich Weissman (1972), will be hosting in Palm Springs later this month.

[[[Editor’s Note - I plan to attend - Art]]]

Issue # 258 - Overview

“CLE” Writes - Wow! That was a wonderful issue, with so many contributions taking us to parts unknown, both here and abroad, only to end up with Mrs. Brescia looking beautiful at the astonishing age of 106. Congratulations to Gene Razzetti, Francine Halfon Rosenberg, and Gerald Gersh for sharing their personal stories. And to Denise Paine : well-said, and the proof is in the puddin.’ I’d much rather read about the explorations, successes, failures, and life’s lessons (surviving Vietnam, a scorpion, Malaria, a 5-day coma?!) lived and endured by other Wheatley graduates than read regurgitations ad nauseum of the strained, divisive dialogue assaulting us day by day in the media. The recent Newsletter was downright entertaining!

Racism on Long Island

Joan Bressman Hoffman (1961) Writes - “My family lived in Levittown right after it was built. It’s not true that Jews were not allowed. Unfortunately, it is true that blacks were not allowed.”

Parent

Melanie Artim Writes - “The happiest birthday wishes to the beautiful Mrs. Brescia!”

John ??? Writes - “Wonderful to see Mrs. Brescia. I was very close to the family as neighbors in my early years. They are a great family. Frank and I were good friends as children during our North Side years. Best of health, Mrs B.”

Graduates

1967 - Mitchell Stephens - Substack Debut

Fellow Wheatleyites,

I just began a new, free Substack: Ideas on Ideas , featuring a kind of thinking very much encouraged, despite my resistance to homework, by the wonderful Wheatley faculty 60 years ago.

Three pieces currently up on the site :

-- The Success of Failure: 20 ^th -Century Thought and the End of Glad Confident Mornings . Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein and Simone de Beauvoir are among those mentioned.

-- The seven most powerful ideas of all time (Arthur thinks # 4 should be # 1)

-- And also one of my short videos: Thinking About Thought…and Its Perplexities , which also tests my theory that fast-cut video is the best way to discuss our often jumpy thoughts.

Lots more by me to come. Subscribe

THANKS!!!

mitchell stephens
professor emeritus, journalism
new york university

substack: Ideas on Ideas
books

1968 - Shelley “Sheli Nan” Hershcopf

1968 - Vicki Hobel Schultz – “I attended sixth grade at Willets Road and seventh grade at Wheatley, after which my family moved to Los Angeles.

I remember a Wheatley science teacher, Derrel Busby, who was in a wheelchair, and learning about valences and doing chemistry experiments. I had a lab book with carbon paper, of which I was ever so proud and excited about.

I graduated high school in Pacific Palisades, California in 1968. Although I lived in Roslyn Heights for only two years, I know that the education there was far superior to what I experienced in Los Angeles, even though I went to the ‘top’ schools there.”

1969 - Gerry Gersh - Paula Panzeca Foresto (1969) Writes - “ My fellow 1969 Wheatley classmate and neighbor Gerry Gersh’s Friends World College experiences around the world were beyond incredible! You were a very brave soul, Gerry!”

1969 - Daniel Ross - Lunch in NYC

L-R - Dan Ross (1969) and Art Engoron (1967) at Il Tinello East, 244 E. 46th Street, NY, April 26, 2026

1975 - Robert Portolano - Deceased

Randy Rosler (1978) Writes - “ Bob Portolano , a close friend of mine and a Wheatley graduate (Class of 1975), passed away recently. Five days ago, I received a call from Porto’s son that no one ever wants to receive. Porto — Bob Portolano — was gone.

Growing up next door, he wasn’t just a friend. He was the heartbeat of our group in the 70s and 80s. The ringleader. The instigator of adventure. The guy who somehow always made things happen.

When I look back on who I became — the relationships I built, the confidence I found — a lot of that started in those years with him. I am grateful beyond words for the time we had……and I am saddened beyond words that there won’t be more. If you knew him, you know how special he was.”

1979 - Donald Watnick - Midtown Meal

L-R - Art Engoron (1967) and Donald Watnick (1979) at Arno Restaurant, 141 W. 38th Street, New York, NY, February 25, 2026

Fan Mail

Faculty (Steve Ehre) - ❤️

1962 (Karen Strumpfler Tucker) - ❤️

1964 (Jerome Bernstein) - ❤️

1964 (Richard Ilsley) - ❤️

1966 (Richard Jalonack) - ❤️

1968 (Carol Belsky) - ❤️

1968 (Rebecca Consolo Freer) - ❤️

1969 (Gerry Gersh) - “  GREAT JOB ART (!!!) pics and all.”

1969 (Paula Panzeca Foresto) - “ Thanks for all your time and efforts.” ❤️

1970 (Amy Jacoby Budish) - “Hi Art!! I’m always amazed by what I learn about our classmates!—What fascinating histories! I didn’t know Gerry Gersh , but the tales of his travels were incredible!! I’m glad that folks want to share their stories. Amy B.”

1972 (Arlene Acker) - ❤️

1974 (Melanie Artim) - ❤️

1980 (Todd Cooper) - ❤️

The Usual Words of Wisdom

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

Thanks to our fabulous Webmaster, Keith Aufhauser (Class of 1963), you can regale yourself with the first 255 Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletters (and much other Wheatley data and arcana) at our website:

The 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, wow!, 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 cannot and do not vouch for the accuracy of what people tell me, as TWSAA does not have a New Yorker style fact-checking department.

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, worked, performed, and/or studied there. Art Engoron, Class of 1967

Closing

That’s it for The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 259. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary.