The North Side Fire Flares Again

Elvira (“Vivi”) Cilmi Kunz (1964) Writes - “Hi Art, I would like to add to the North Side fire memories.

My family lived on Brown Street, approximately five blocks from North Side. Every morning, my siblings and I would gather the kids from the block and head down Congress Ave. to the school. On the morning of the fire, we were stopped by a staff member (?) a block away from the school (Downing St.) and told to go home. It wasn’t until other students starting arriving that there was talk of a fire.

The staff member confirmed that the news was true, but we weren’t allowed to get any closer.

When I got home, my mother thought we were telling a ‘story’! I tried to convince her that it was true. She knew how much I loved school, so she was a bit confused. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that she received a telephone call confirming the fire.

The entire experience upset me greatly. North Side School was my second home, and I adored the teachers and staff.

Having it burn down was pretty devastating.

Later on, we were grateful that it happened during the night and that we weren’t in class at that time.

Getting back there for our last year was a blessing. Mr. Robert (“Bob”) Foerschner was amazing. He guided us through our final year with grace and discipline. He and I worked together in the summer programs for many years, and we became good friends.

I will always treasure my days at North Side.”

Ron Judkoff (1965) Writes - “Art, I lived close to North Side, especially if I cut through a couple of backyards. I have had a sneaking suspicion for the last 70 years that I may have caused the fire. We had art class last period the previous day. Everyone had a clean-up assignment, and for some reason, I have had the niggling fear for the last 70 years that my job may have been to turn off the kiln! I didn’t always pay close attention to what teachers were saying back then. My wife, Carolyn Stoloff (Willets Road School and Wheatley 1965) pooh-poohs this notion and assures me that no teacher (the art teacher’s name escapes me) would trust this to a 9-year-old without checking and that anyway, wouldn’t the kiln have had a high temperature automatic shut-off that must have failed? I fervently hope this is the logical explanation and that, in any event, the statute of limitations is long passed.”

Graduates

1965 - Anthony Napoli - “My son, a professor at Duke, gave a commencement speech at Boston University, where he received his Master’s degree. He has an interesting take on the future of AI.”

Philip Napoli speaking at Boston University Commencement

(((Highly Recommended - Art Engoron)))

1965 - Leslie Rakoff Cohen - “I still recall the lines from John Brown’s Body "lies a-moldering in his grave" in a Rodney Nierenberg 1965) musical composition.”

1966 - Robert Eastman - “I would have loved to be on Maui with four of my old friends!”

1968 - Andy Forstenzer and Mark Gross - With Friends in California

1972 and 1974 - Glenn Monk (1972) and Elyse Rame Beyer (1974)

(((Elyse Rame Beyer’s husband Mark Goldberg did not attend Wheatley and should not be confused with the Mark Goldberg (1969) who did.)))

1974 - Bill Meyn - “I am humbled by the achievements of so many Wheatley graduates, whose stars have illuminated the world so brightly. By comparison, my own life may qualify as a Horatio Alger story, whose heroes boast of modest accomplishment. Forty-five years as a mid-level public servant in the Coast Guard is something, anyway, for a guy who had one foot in the Coast Guard Academy front door upon High School graduation and another foot on the path to an unknowable future. I'll never know if I gave up a chance for greatness or grinding poverty when choosing the more secure path. In retirement, my last remaining ambition is to someday be a terrible burden on society. My friends tell me I have already achieved that status (LOL).

From the Archives:

Richard Levy (1975) Writes - “Just FYI, the photograph of Dan Engoron (1973) beating Bruce Pandolfini in a chess game was from the fall of 1972 or the winter of 1973. Fischer played Spassky in the summer of 1972, so Dan’s victory occurred after Bruce commentated on the world championship match. Bruce also appeared in the film “Searching for Bobby Fischer” in a brief cameo, but more interestingly, the chess coach character named Bruce Pandolfini was played by academy-award-winning actor Ben Kingsley. Bruce also appeared in the series “The Queen’s Gambit” as the host of a chess tournament at a high school. And he, along with former World Champion and possibly GOAT Gary Kasparov, were the chess advisors for that series, which is well respected by the best chess players in the world for its accurate portrayal of brilliant top-level chess games.

I also beat Bruce Pandolfini, on his next visit to Wheatley. I still have the trophy for that victory. I think Dan received a similar trophy.