The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 283
Dear Wheatley Wildcats and Other Interested Persons,
Welcome to the Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 283.
9/11
Gerry Gersh (1969) - “My 9/11 story, aside from crying in front of the TV, was becoming part of an amazing organization, ‘The 911 Police & Firemen Fund’. I was one of 7-8 marital therapists. ANY 9/11 police officer or firefighter married couples could join the three-day event for free. ALL of us were put up in nice hotels. The 20 or so couples showed up Friday night, given free theater tix and free dining at nice places. Saturday and Sunday, they were given same but just had to attend the Couple’s Seminar both days 9-5. We’d start explaining communication skills and techniques, and then the couples broke into 1:1 trying out the skills while we’d walk around touching base, giving tips here and there as needed. I recall the ‘Sunday Wrap Up,’ and the couples, bar none, expressed tremendous gratitude for getting away from their kids for a weekend, being wined and dined, and praised us for simple but powerful tools that made them more honest and vulnerable with their partner, leaving them much closer to each other. I did this two years in a row, and it’s one of the most rewarding memories I have.”
Notable Progeny
James Kirchick, son of Bill Kirchick (1969) and nephew of Howard Kirchick (1967), will be making his 6th appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher TONITE, September 25th, 2026 at 10:00 P.M.
Real Time With Bill Maher September 25 Guests: Andrew Huberman, Jonathan Swan and James Kirchick
Real Time with Bill Maher returns Friday, September 25, with Andrew Huberman joining Bill Maher for the one-on-one interview. Jonathan Swan and James Kirchick will take part in this week’s panel discussion.
The episode airs at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT on HBO and will also be available on HBO Max. Along with the interviews and panel, the hour features Maher’s opening monologue and his signature “New Rules” segment.
James Kirchick — The Atlantic contributing writer joins Swan on the panel. He is the author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington.
https://seat42f.com/real-time-with-bill-maher-september-25-2026-guests/
Concert and Other Music Comments
The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 281.
The Wheatley School Alumni Association Newsletter # 282
Jill Simon Forte (1967) Writes - “The article by Lenny Steinhorn (1974) about the Beatles was excellent. Bob Forte (1965) and I went to see them in Shea Stadium. The instrumental music was too loud to hear them sing, but the experience was very exciting anyway.
Gerry Gersh (1969) Writes - “Great Beatles story by Lenny Steinhorn.”
William Kirchick (1969) Writes - “As for the music of the 60’s, etc., thank you for including the Byrds, one of my favorite groups, but I do believe that some of the current artists, like Coldplay and Bruno Mars, will have a lasting legacy, as well.”
Hilarity for Charity Event - 10/2/2026
Richard I Schwarz (1967) Writes - “My daughter, Laura Dasher, is organizing an HFC (Hilarity for Charity) event for Friday 10/2 in Manhattan.
HFC is a wonderful organization that supports Alzheimers victims and their families. It was established by Seth Rogen and his wife Lauren, whose mother died from this horrible condition.
The Lorraine and Richard Schwarz Family Foundation has been supporting HFC for years. This is the 3rd comedy night event that Laura has organized, and it’s really a fun time!
The October 2nd event will be hosted by Desi Lydic, who just won an Emmy as a cast member on the Daily Show.”
Graduates
1966 - Denis Feldman - “Art, the best time in my career is now. I have been helping young entrepreneurs master the Commercial Real Estate challenges. But it’s not work, it’s getting paid to think. Why stop at this point? The mind has an endless capacity to grow and expand.”
1966 - Claude Lévy and Marta Pesa and other AFS Foreign Exchange Students
L-R - Alicia Fingerhut (Spain); Claude Lévy (France) (Wheatley): Marta Pesa (Argentina) (Wheatley): Wilma Campanelli(?) (Italy); Richard Mason (England) (Roslyn).
Does anyone know what school(s) Alicia and Wilma attended, and/or the correct spelling of Wilma’s last name?
1967 - Jane Colchamiro Schlanger - Graduated from Roslyn High School
1968 - Laurel Brandt - “In 7th or 8th grade, my section had science with a teacher, Mr. Busby, who was confined to a wheelchair, perhaps from polio (although I don’t recall ever being told). Our classroom had high black science tables, and each of us had a dedicated labratory book. One day, on top of a high table, someone’s lab book caught fire from a Bunsen burner. Most of us were frozen, including the teacher. But (if I recall correctly), a classmate, Kenny Gallard, jumped up on the table and stomped out the fire! Though it was more than 60 years ago, I remain impressed with his quick thinking!!
I’m curious whether anyone else remembers this event.
Stay well.
Laurel”
Kenny Gallard (1968) Responds - “Wow! Somebody actually remembers me from 62 or 63 years ago?? That’s amazing.
I have a vague recollection of this. But I vividly remember Laurel and Mr. Busby.
Best to all!
Ken
1969 - Gerry Gersh - “Santana created a whole new sound, and the break in ‘Evil Ways’ was nuts! I heard them my first year at Friends World College, attending a progressive education conference in Cuernavaca, Mexico. A very kindly a robust (big belly and all) Padre let a group of us international travelers stay at his mansion gratis. He’d greet me at the morning breakfast table with a booming voice, ‘Hola Gerry, Hola!’ One night, he threw a huge party, with over a hundred attendees, around his swimming pool. Our group watched from the rooftop, stars out, influenced by some of the strongest ganja, until someone played, my first hearing, of a Santana song from a radio or cassette and blew my mind.”
Postscript: MANY years later, I learned that the kindly Padre was a front for gun running throughout Central America, and the parties he threw were to raise funds for this.”
1975 - Charles Berlin
Charles and Wife Sharon
Peter Berlin (1978) Writes – “Hi Art,
My brother, Charles (Chuck) Berlin, Class of 1975, passed away unexpectedly after surgery on September 18, 2026.
He was 69 years old. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his daughter Samantha (Bryan and children); his son Justin; his mother, Euna; his brother Peter (Class of 1978); and his sisters Cynthia and Lauren - both class of 1979.
Charles and Sharon recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. He deeply loved her, his children, and grandchildren, and he will be terribly missed by them, his family, and his many friends.
Thank you.
Best,
Pete Berlin
Back Then-Willets Rd. Kindergarten 1955
Laurel Brandt (1968) Writes - “The little boy seated third from the left (as you look at the photograph) (light shirt, dark suspenders) in the back row of the Willets Road 1955 kindergarten photo is my cousin, MICHAEL BRANDT. Mike left for private school after 6th grade at WRS. He would have been in the Class of 1967.”
Further identifications, anyone?
Fan Mail
1965 - Sharon Neely Halm - ❤️
1966 (Denis Feldman) - “I admire you for what you have accomplished, and even more for what you give back.”
1967 (Jill Simon Forte) - “Another interesting Newsletter. I especially loved seeing that my good friend, Marjorie Gross (1967), had written in 😘”
1968 (Laurel Brandt) - “Although I left Wheatley after 8th grade, I have wonderful memories of my time at the school, and I stayed in touch with a few people. I very much enjoy reading the Newsletter. Thank you for your hard work.”
1968 (Claude Levy) - ❤️
1969 (Gerry Gersh) - “Great long Newsletter, Art!”
1969 (Jim Wallach) - “Art, best one yet. Regards, Jim 1969”
1972 (Jeffrey Kargman, MD) - ❤️
1977 (Maryann Donnelly Kreischer) - ❤️
1978 (William Haft) - ❤️
Unknown (“Susan”) - ❤️
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 282 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 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 # 283. Please send me your autobiography before someone else sends me your obituary. ⏳
Art