Main Bio Page
A - F
P - Z
Credit Card Compliance Attorney
NYU School of Commerce, Accounts + Finance-BS; Brooklyn Law School-LLB
Married to a cousin of Judith Klein-AB Davis -55
Children: 2 Boys-1 is a chef and 1 is a DR
Grandchildren: (2)1 boy and 1 girl
After law school I was in the US Army. I was at Ft. Dix and Governors Island. At Governors Island I was the clerk to the Judicial Officer and the courtroom bailiff. I then spent a few years in insurance before going into banking. My career really started when I joined Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (MHT). General purpose credit cards such as Visa (then known as Bank Americard) and Master Card (then known as Master Charge) were just beginning. It was a very exciting time. We were part of the creation of plastic money. Today everyone worldwide has a credit card. My responsibilities included preparation of all consumer documents, federal and state legislation, litigation including a lawsuit that was decided by the U. S. Supreme Court. I traveled extensively throughout the United States where I spoke at Banking Conferences. At some point because of the job pressure I took up jogging. This included participation in several marathons including the NY Marathon. Ultimately with two mergers my job changed and I was able to obtain a severance package and retire. I organize a monthly luncheon for MHT credit card employees.
I decided due to the nostalgia craze then taking place in the culture to become involved in the Davis reunions. This will culminate in the 50th reunion. While it is sad to learn that some friends have passed away and others are too ill or their spouse is too ill for them to attend it has been very satisfying. I have had the pleasure of working with a new type of artist. A web designer, Marjorie Spears who has given the class a world class reunion web site. Also my "Nancy Drew" Patricia Nash who was able to follow every lead in locating people. Patti was also brilliant in reviewing my lists for any errors. I am also grateful for a firm I have worked with since my insurance days for their assistance in locating people.
Eisenhower's Middle America was a great place to grow up. Every 10 years Fortune magazine does an article on New York City. The article that came out when we were at Davis referred to Mt. Vernon as a premier NY suburb. The teachers were all highly qualified and motivated. Living on LI as I had to since my job was there regrettably took me away from Westchester.
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Angelina "Angie" GHERARDI McNamara
Yonkers, NY
Secretary
Married 46 years
Children: 2 Sons
Grandchildren: Six-3 girls & 3 boys
Along with raising my boys and being a mother and a housewife,
I was also employed over the years as a secretary in the corporate world.
General Foods and Pepsico are two of the large corporations I have worked
for and it afforded me the opportunity to meet some very interesting people
and make some very lasting friendships.
Most of my travel has been within the United States and Canada, with Minnesota
being the most traveled to state since that is where my oldest son and grandchildren
live.
Although tennis, bowling and swimming are a few of the sports I have enjoyed
participating in over the years, dancing is the activity I am most passionate
about. In fact, in past years, I was very active in a local amateur theater
group where I performed in many musical productions. Now, in retirement,
I feel very fortunate to enjoy good health and to be able to do all the
things I enjoy.
I feel very fortunate to have attended A.B. Davis and to have benefited from its high academic and social standards. I attribute the success I enjoyed in the corporate world to my excellent, devoted teachers who prepared me well.
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to you Michael for all your time and effort in getting together us "old" people for this wonderful reunion!
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Machinery Sales and Marketing, 35 years
Cornell, BME, MME; Harvard MBA
Married
Children: (3) Matthew, Melanie, Christopher
Grandchildren: 4+
My Life:
I met my lovely wife, then an Elmira College student, at a mixer dance.
We married in 1963 after I had served two years in the Army. Following graduate
school, I worked for 18 years with International Harvester. I especially
enjoyed building a distribution network in India for our locally-made farm
tractors during India's "green Revolution". We lived in India
for 4 years. We then moved to Germany where I learned German and sold farm
and construction equipment for 5 years. Following IH, I became responsible
for U.S. and international sales for a plastics machinery division of a
British engineering company. My greatest job satisfaction was negotiating
a contract with a Russian counterpart and walking past the floodlit St.
Basil's Cathedral in the snow of Moscow. My current work as a Realtor in
Florida has given me the flexibility to look after my ailing mother-in-law.
Gwen and I have been richly blessed. We count among our blessings our three children, their spouses and our grandchildren, and the many, many wonderful people who we have met on our life's journey.
How did Davis H.S. affect my life?
We all remember and have affection for Miss Brown and Miss Padue. Miss Reynolds once gave me a grade only of 85 because I did not complete the assigned extra credit. That incident spurred me to what has become a lifelong goal to try harder, do more.
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Judith GOLDMAN
Frommer
Wellesley, MA
Education
Cornell University, Rutgers University; BS, MA, Ph.D
Married
Children: Michele and Ben
Grandchildren: Isabella
My first job was teaching elementary algebra at Graham Junior High School in 1959-60 and now, ,45 years later, I'm, a year away from retiring after teaching French language and civilization at Harvard for almost 30 years. My travel has been mostly to Europe, although I have managed to get to China and Egypt. Hopefully, retirement will allow me and my husband of 45 years to get to Australia, Russian and a host of other places. With two wonderful children and children-in-law and the cutest, smartest grandchild ever born, I have no complaints.
We could have been inspired more, but all in all I think we got a good education, a sound foundation for life and further study. According to my memories, we were both a "melting-pot" and a "salad bowl" and typically "fifties."
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Robert "Bob" GREENFIELD (Canadian)
Alamo, CA
American Express Company, 32 years
NYU-2 years
Married to Colleen
Children: 3
Grandchildren: 3
32 years with American Express, Retired Senior VP Corporate
Services.
Traveled all over the world, i.e., Europe Far East, Australia, etc.
Computer Controller Digital Model Trains
Golf-Handicap index 11.I play 3 times a week
Personal investment management - takes a lot of time
Wine Collection (mostly California). Sharing a bottle a day, etc.
Married to the world's kindest most lovable and certainly
best woman.
Living in and loving California and its terrific weather.
Moved to Mt. Vernon in 1952 from Montreal, Canada where my situation in school was rather under whelming. At Davis I learned how to study and absorb those things that served me well through life. In my Davis S.A.T.exams, I was in the top 3% in math.
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Carol GREENSTEIN
Stone
South Burlington, VT
Real Estate Broker
Goucher College, Towson, MD
Married 47 years
Children: 2 (our son deceased at age 25, accident 1984)
Grandchildren: Mark 13, Andrew 10-1/2
Realtor for 28 years---Still work full time but vacation often. Took cruise to Russia, Scandinavia, Summer '04. Spent Christmas week with the family skiing in Aspen, CO. Skiing regularly in Stowe, VT, avid tennis players (my husband Barry plays N.E. circuit), speed walkers, have a boat on Lake Champlain. Also avid bikers and have biked through France, Spain, Napa Valley and around New England.
Very involved with U of Vermont (on Vermont Regional Board), plan events and act as Ambassador for UVM. Barry is chair of Regional Board as well as UVM Victory Club Chair (All UVM athletics). Our grandsons are the ball boys for the UVM men's team. We are both involved in fund raising for UVM, our Medical Center, United Way, etc. with my husband chairing every committee that he is on.
We are very fortunate to have our daughter and family living 10 minutes away so we get to spend a lot of time with them---skiing, tennis spectating and their soccer and basketball games, etc. Get to NYC 3-4 times a year to catch up on Broadway shows and see family.
I was very pleased with the quality of my education and was well prepared for college..After 2 years at Goucher, Barry and I married (he had graduated from UVM and had fulfilled his military requirements. I left school to work for McCann-Erickson, a top Ad agency in NYC---invaluable experience working in the City!
I have been at Lang Associates in Burlington for 22 of my 28 years in Real Estate, always #1 or 2 in dollar volume (80 associates) for the last 18 years, and have no plans to retire. Barry has moved his office home (Life Insurance) after 48 years, and loves a little less crazy pace. He is also a heli-skier and plays the New England tennis circuit in summer.
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Vincent GRIPPO
Hawthorne, NY
Retired Bank Executive
American Institute of Banking, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers
University
Married 46 years to Carol Cipriani, Davis Grad 1958
Children: (3) Mark, Alan, Cynthia
Grandchildren: 5
Retired Bank Executive (Senior Vice Pres. Hudson Valley Bank) since December 2002. Spent 47 years in banking. Started as a transit clerk with County Trust Co.,Mt. Vernon and rose through ranks as teller, head teller, bank manager, VP and Regional Vice Pres. for Bank of New York (open merger) in charge of Northern Westchester County. Joined Hudson Valley Bank in 1987 and spent 15 years there, the last 7 years in charge of the Attorney Segment soliciting and serving the accounts of a large number of Lawyers in Westchester County, part of the Bronx and also many Supreme Court, NYS Judges. Graduated from the American Institute of Banking (8 years at night). Graduated from Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University in 1974.
Visited many areas in U.S., San Francisco, California wine country, Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Colorado and Las Vegas. Out of country, toured Italy twice, Bermuda, Aruba, Hawaii, etc.
Hobbies and Interests include golf, gardening, hunting, nature walks, fine-dining, reading. Enjoy watching baseball and foot ball. In retirement spending more time with children and grandchildren.
A.B. Davis had a major impact on my life and work habits instilling discipline, a good learning environment, excellent teachers and subject matter. I feel graduating Davis in 1955 is equal today to graduating a two year community college with an Associates Degree. The school was a good mix of Christians, Jews and minorities. Everyone got along well and learned from each other, although the student body was a mixture of low, middle and high income families from the South and North side of Mt. Vernon.
In the 1950's, Mt. Vernon was the 11th most densely populated city in the U.S. with 72,000 people living in 4 square miles. With two railroads, the New York Central and New Haven, 3 railroad stations and major parkways such as the Bronx River Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway, it was a unique place to live in close proximity to the culture of New York City, Museums, Theaters, etc.
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Ira Arnold
GULKER
Boca Raton FL 33496
Professor, NYU College of Dentistry, Dentist
Columbia, NYU for DDS
Married to Caryle Cohen Gulker (a Queens girl)
Children Jennifer & Holly - twins and Matthew
Grandchildren: Marissa
I practiced dentistry for 38 years (mostly in Manhattan) and taught dentistry for 40 years at NYU, most recently as Director of Fixed Prosthodontics. Just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Lived in Manhattan and then in New Rochelle for 35 years. Caryle was a teacher and supervisor of education for the deaf.
We are now full time in Florida, where I enjoy tennis, photography, reading, TV, movies, house renovations, and computers.
I remember Mount Vernon fondly because of the many good friends and many good years we had there.
The most memorable teachers were Mrs Bridge at Graham Junior High and Miss Brown at Davis. Both were very sharp ladies who were demanding in very nice ways and were great at instilling confidence.
It's nice to remember Mount Vernon as it was in 1955!
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Wendell D.GUNTHORPE
Albuquerque, NM
Aviation
University of Maryland (European Division), College of Santa Fe
Married
Children: 6
Grandchildren: 5
Currently, I am semi-retired. Fly for Bode Aviation (General Aviation Facility) in Albuquerque. Wife and I do a lot of music for weddings, funerals and church services. (Instrumental and Vocal). I play flute and sing-wife accompanies and also plays flute. She is a paid organist at one of the local churches. Several overseas trips since marriage eleven years ago.
I have kept the many school memories alive through frequent paging through my yearbook and old newspaper sports-page clippings.
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Nils GUSTAVSON
Lancaster, OH
Sales Anchor Hocking, NYC, Owned & Operated a Retail
Furniture Store for 35 years
Upsala College, East Orange, NJ, Bus:AD
Married
Children: 2
Grandchildren: 3 + (one due in May)*
Moved to Ohio in 1959. Spent 2 years in the Fiberglass Industry. Retail Furniture in 1961.
Moved back to NYC in 1966. Spent 3 years in sales with Anchor Hocking Corp.-Glass Container Sales. Lived in Fair Haven, NJ.
Moved back to Ohio in 1968. Bought a Retail Furniture Store in 1971. Retired in 2003. Sold the business to my son.
Spend my time, being a grandfather, community affairs, golf, travel and relaxing (10-20 weeks a year in Hilton Head, SC)
*My Decision to attend the Reunion will be determined by the date of birth of my 4th Grandchild.....Last minute.
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James "Jim"
HAESSLER
Canyon Lake, TX
Air Force
Bellevue University (Nebraska): BA
Married to Patricia
Children: (2) Jim Jr., Jeffrey
Grandchildren: (2) Lauren 14, Drew 12
Well, it came as quite a shock, but after two years at the Juilliard School in New York, I came to the full realization that a career in music was not what I wanted after all. I suppose many of us faced life-changing choices during those early years that dramatically affected the course our lives have taken.
During the late 50's and early 60's, the Air Force was undergoing a rapid expansion. Gen. Curtis LeMay was building the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and needed flying officers at a rate faster than the newly formed Air Force Academy would provide them. I applied for and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program anda year and a half later received my commission and wings. During that time (in Texas), I met Patricia who was to become my wife.clearly the best decision I ever made. The next 22 years were spent in SAC, mostly in B-52s. Our two sons were born while we were stationed at Loring AFB, just outside of Caribou, Maine. We then were sent to Seymour-Johnson AFB near Goldsboro, North Carolina and then to Montgomery, Alabama where I attended the Air University. My turn to participate in the Viet Nam thing came next. I spent one long year at U-Tapao, Thailand..still in B-52s. Upon returning to the States we were sent to the Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. I was assigned to the Plans Division of the SAC Airborne Command Post.nick-named "Looking Glass." Simply put, we were the backups to the SAC underground command post for the control of all bombers, ICBMS, and nuclear submarines which comprised the Nuclear Triad. Happily, we and the Soviets avoided that madness. Our last assignment w as to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth where I was Chief of Operations Plans Division for the 7th Bombardment Wingyupback with the B-52s. I finally retired from the Air Force in 1982 as Lt. Colonel with more than 6000 hours of flying time. It was a good experience and I was proud to have served with an exceptional group of professionals.
Most recently I am working with the local school district at the Alternative School (Read "Discipline" Center). Working with students who are considered "at risk." These are middle school and high school students who are either classified as "special ed" due to learning disabilities or students with a history of behavioral problems (usually associated with drug use). Let me tell you.....if you don't already know.....schools today do not even resemble schools, as we knew them!
Our older son, Jim Jr., lives with his wife Karen and our two Grandkids Lauren (14) and Drew (12) in Highlands Ranch, a suburb of Denver. Jim graduated from Texas A&M with a major in Computer Science and is the Finance Director at a local college. Karen is a registered Dental Hygienist. Our younger son, Jeff, works for a San Antonio Public Relations firm as head of Photographic Production. His wife, Laura, is the Director of Mortgage Finance for D.R. Horton, a national homebuilder. Laura has two teenage sons from a previous marriage. Yup, Jeff became a surrogate father to two teenage boys. How lucky can you get, huh!??!
Looking forward to seeing all of you soon. I was amazed at how many faces emerged from my minds eye as I scanned through the list of names from our class. Good news, you were all still just eighteen years old!!!! Maybe the reunion's not such a good idea after all?!?
We live in the Texas "Hill Country" about 30 miles north of San Antonio. Our address is: 482 Lake Forest, Canyon Lake, TX 78133. Y'all come now hear?
I would venture a guess that possibly the best known and most beloved faculty member at Davis was "Doc" Randall the Band Director. He and I maintained a loose contact until his passing about 3 years ago. To this day, I keep in touch with his widow, Vivian Randall. She still lives in Pleasantville and I intend to visit with her while I am in NY. "Doc" was a simple yet totally honest individual who cared deeply for all his kids. I will treasure his memory always.
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Carole Barbara HENKIN Weiss
Potomac, MD
IBM - 23 years, Long Term Care & Disabilities Advocate
Vassar College AB '59, Mathematics, Physics
Married: almost 48 years, Donald H. Weiss - Davis '52, NYU, BS-EE '55
Children: 3, Peter ('60), Evelyn ('62) BA American U, LLB Boston U, practicing
Tax & Estate Planning Attorney; Richard ('65) BSEE Duke U, LLB Columbia
U, Chief Intellectual Property Attorney and Strategist for Nortel Corporation.
Grandchildren: 5: Barrington, RI Joshua 14, Matthew 12, Daniel 7;
McKinney TX Jamie 10, Evan 7 _
I worked for IBM Research, from immediately after graduation until three
months prior to the birth of my first son, due to the laws at that time
concerning working during pregnancy. My transition from college girl, to
married woman, to career woman, to motherhood progressed quickly and relatively
smoothly. In the fall of 1968, for the first time, I ventured into juggling
motherhood, wife, and career roles by returning to work part time.
In the spring of 1969, my family moved from Poughkeepsie, NY, to Rockville,
MD, a suburb of Washington, DC for my husband's IBM career growth. I was
unable to find a job that utilized my skills until I was willing to work
full time. I made that decision in 1973. Fortunately, this was 8 months
before my eldest son was diagnosed to have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
(ALL), for if I hadn't returned to work then, I might never have been able
to break away from my increased family responsibility. The first few years
were spent balancing a never-ending stream of life threatening situations
while attempting to maintain a “normal” environment for my two
healthy children, a “successful” marriage, and a renewed career
as an IBM Computer Programmer/ Systems Analyst.
My healthy children grew up, moved on and out. Peter, our oldest lived at
and attended The American University for two years before the limitations
imposed on him by excessive radiation and chemotherapy forced him to leave
school and return home. Having a child with a “disability” placed
tremendous stress on my entire life. I kept busy with work as a coping mechanism
making good progress with my career and became a dedicated lap swimmer for
both mental and physical relaxation. While Peter's health stabilized, Donald
and I resumed yearly traveling vacations, played duplicate bridge, and collecting
porcelain.
In September 1988, Peter developed Spinal Meningitis, secondary to the treatment
for ALL. He became a quadriplegic in a coma. The National Institutes of
Health (NIH) discharged him to a nursing home. I managed to get him to three
rehab hospitals each time returning to a different nursing home. I became
a Long Term Care Advocate and started a local organization.
In 1994, I retired after 23 years with IBM. Then, I successfully worked
to get Peter able to walk, and talk again. In 1998, I managed, with assistance,
to have Peter move out of a Nursing home and return to live in the community.
The major part of my life is still taken up advocating, planning, and running
the program for our oldest son's life. In January, 2001, after four organizations
failed to give our son the care he needed, and he suffered an additional
head injury, we began running our own organization as a pilot program with
state funding. In January 2004, we celebrated the 30th year of his survival,
from ALL.
In my spare time, I enjoy water aerobics at the JCC, and still play some
bridge both with and without Don. Don has finally retired. He also enjoys
working out at the JCC and volunteers at the American History Museum Hands-On
Science Center. We also enjoy visits with our children and grandchildren.
I probably became a mathematician due to the great math department at Davis: Miss Padou and Miss Brown. However, I still fondly remember, experiences in Doc Landis' Biology class, "Senate, Treaty, 2/3 " from Mrs. Hiller, the experience of "Pop" Phillips, the anxiety of French with Miss Cheney, and Miss Quinlan.
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Arthur "Art"
HIRT
Seneca, SC
Physical Education Teacher
Ithaca College, Syracuse University; B.S. and 36 hrs.
Married to Diane Olmstead, Davis Grad 1954
Children: Doug 45, Professor & Deputy Director of Chemical Engineering
at Clemson U.
Janet 43, Middle School Music Teacher, Batavia, NY
Grandchildren: Patrick 13, David 11 (Janet's); Ryan 8, Scott 5, Colleen
4 (Doug's)
Diane and I have been married almost 47 years. After college I taught Driver Education for 5 years at Windham and Cairo, NY high schools. We moved to Chittenango, NY to teach Physical Education for 29 years.
I coached wrestling at Chittenango for 12 years and was the Section III Wrestling chairman for 14 years.
During summers and after my retirement I drove a tractor trailer
I also officiated soccer, football and track and field. I still officiate track & field at Clemson University meets.
Teachers like Irv Halstead and Bob Minerly were a great influence on my going into Physical Education.
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Barbara HOLMES Schnitzer
Kings Park, NY
Teacher
University of Rochester, Brockport State Teacher's College, BS Elem Ed;
SUNY Stony Brook, MA Liberal Studies
Married: Joe Basso, Davis Grad '55 (Divorced) ; (2nd Husband) Leonard Schnitzer
Children: 7
Grandchildren: 9
Graduating from A.B.Davis HS in 1955, I spent two years at the University of Rochester before transferring to what was then called Brockport State Teacher's College. I received my BS Degree in Elementary Ed in June 1959 and my MA degree in Liberal Studies from SUNY Stony Brook in 1975. Fellow Davis 1955 graduate, Joe Basso, and I were married in August 1958. We were married students my Senior and his Sophomore thru Senior years at Brockport (he was in Mt Vernon working two years so received his degree from Brockport in 1961).
Daughter, Diana, was born August 1959 followed by son, Philip, in May 1961. I was a stay-at-home Mom who baby-sat for other children of married students while Joe completed his degree. We moved to Long Island the summer of 1961 so Joe could start teaching Math in Brentwood. I taught Kindergarten in West Islip 1963-4. Our third child, Joseph, was born September 1964 and our marriage ended a year later. I taught Sixth grade, First grade, and Kindergarten from 1966 until 1989 in Central Islip before I retired through the state in 1992.
I met my husband, Leonard, at a Ski Club in 1976 where we were the only non-downhill skiers! After a whirlwind romance, we were married in June 1977 and merged our two families. His three children: Ellyn b.1958, Steven b. 1960, and Lisa b.1965. Five of the six children lived with us. Lisa lived in Texas with her mother and stepfather. Len worked as an attorney with The State Insurance Fund until 1993. He is at present a per diem attorney with Feldman, Kramer, and Monaco in Hauppauge, NY.
Our son, Robert, was born April 1980. When I retired from teaching Kindergarten, Len and I became active in Boy Scouting as Webelos Leaders.
I also became very active in The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International where I have been a member since 1976. I am a past President of my chapter as well as Communications Chair for the state of New York three bienniums. At the present time I am Historian and Newsletter Editor for my chapter, Communications chair on the state level, and have enjoyed attending conferences and conventions in Sweden as well as many different states.
As a child I attended Sunday School at the Community Church at the Circle in Mt Vernon; when I married Joe, I converted to Catholicism; and now my beliefs are basically Unitarian although Len and I are members of Temple Beth David in Commack where we are co-Presidents of the Chai Club!
We enjoy traveling, both to see our seven children and nine grandchildren but also to see sights that we had only read about. Our children live in Fargo, North Dakota (Robert), Bowie, Maryland (Lisa), Rochester, New Hampshire (Joseph), Fredericksburg, Virginia (Philip), Albany, NY (Steven), Manhattan, NY (Diana), and Albertson, NY (Ellyn). Internationally, we have visited Jordan and Israel (1996), Great Britain (1997 and 2000), Panama (1999), Sweden (2001), and France and Monaco (2002).
We are very interested in genealogy and I have visited Salt Lake City once a year for six years to research at the Family History Library. Len accompanied me three times so far! We hope to spread this obsession to our children and grandchildren in the future! Ellyn is already searching via the internet.
Did I say we have grandchildren? Ellyn, married to Michael, has twin sons, Jonathan and Michael, who will be 6 in March. Philip, divorced from his wife, has two: Emily 12 and Zachary 10. Joseph, married to Suzanne, has two: Amanda who will be 13 in May and Joseph 11. Lisa, married to Marty, has two: Caraline, who will be 5 in June and Annabel who will be 1 in June. And last but not least, our youngest, Robert, and his "significant other" Leah have one: Damon who will be 1 in June. Our other two children - Diana is divorced and will be graduating from Cordozo Law School in Manhattan this June. She is also a musician. Steven is married to Christina and has two grown stepchildren and 4 step grandchildren.
Mt Vernon means a lot to me. One of my favorite teachers in HS was Agnes Padou who was both my homeroom teacher as well as Trig teacher Extraordinaire! I remember that half her class (me included) aced the Trig regents!
My roots are in Mt Vernon. My maternal great grandparents settled there in the mid 1880's and my paternal grandparents moved from Butte, Montana to Mt Vernon in 1906 when they bought a house on Lincoln Ave across the street from Hartley Park. Dad's sister, Mildred Holmes, had a civil service job in France during WW1. Her name is on the service monument in Hartley Park. Dad, his two older sisters, and one younger brother all attended Mt Vernon HS when A.B.Davis was Principal. Aunt Mildred was there when Grace Lewis was a student. Uncle Ed was a friend of the youngest Marx brother who would spend summers with his uncle-I believe on Archer Ave.
My mother, Natalie Parpart Holmes Colantuono who died at age 96, was born in Mt Vernon in 1907. (Some of you may have been in her "Brownie" troop, which met after school at Pennington!!) She attended Sophie J. Mee School, Mt Vernon HS, and Mt Vernon Business School. Her father attended the old Lincoln School (He was born at 10 E. 14th St in Manhattan in 1881). Mom's mother, Imogene Hoyt, was deputy city clerk for Mt Vernon in 1897 when her brother, William N. Hoyt, was ill or on vacation. She was assistant to her brother until her marriage to Arthur Parpart was revealed in 1904. The mayor was Edwin Fiske at that time. The Hoyt family moved to Mt Vernon from Jersey City in 1891. My grandmother was born in 1868 but kept this a secret her entire adult life because she was an aspiring actress and also because she was 13 years older than her husband!
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Barbara J.
"Hoppy" HOPFER Smith
Kailua, HI
Volunteer
From AB Davis to University of Colorado for 2 _ years where I met and married
Peter S. Smith of Wahiawa, Hi. He graduated in 1960 a tour of the U. S.
before returning to Hawaii. Wahiawa, Makiki, Kailua/Lanikai - places we
called home.
Three children - Eric Kaulana Smith (44); Heather Mahina Smith Rideout (40)
living in Salem, Or., and Michael Kanoa Smith (38).
Five grandsons - 3 are Eric's - Sevren (17), Caton (15) and Walker (11),
and 2 are Heather's Jordan (13) and Makoa (6).
I am fortunate to live in a glorious spot on Oahu - Lanikai! ! ! ! ! Where I can see the ocean every day and watch the whales from November thru April.
Mahalo to Peter, a mortgage banker, real estate broker, real estate appraiser, and in his words "a mean ole property developer", who gave his family all a love for travel and who was very instrumental in restoring historic buildings in Honolulu, particularly in Chinatown and Aloha Tower Marketplace. He passed away in 2000.
Now, I'm blessed with a very fine gentleman friend who has taught me to snorkel and about the fish. My descriptions of the fish I see make him laugh.
Enough seriousness, now you get to decide which of the following I did or didn't do or which I love to eat.
A acrobat, actress, ambassador, artist, aunt,
B babysitter, baker, barber, beauty queen, bok choy
C chaperone, chauffer, chef, commandant, coach
D dancer, daredevil, debator, dim sum, docent,,
E editor, emoter, electrician, equestrian, etcher,
F fisherman, frisbee player, friend, float builder, fund raiser
G gardener, gofer, golfer, grandparent, guardian
H ham, helpmate, hiker, hostess, hula dancer
I illustrator, imp, inspector, instructor, Irish
J jailer, janitor, jelly maker, journalist, juggler
K keeper of the keys, kidnapper, kite flyer, knitter, kava,
L landlord, leading lady, landscaper, lei maker, limu
M magician, manapua, map reader, marshallette, mother,
N nanny, ne'er do well, nightwatchman, nurse, nun
O old, ombudsman, 'opae, optimist, 'opihi
P paddler, painter, photographer, poi, president
Q quaertermaster, queen, quiet, quilter, quirk
R rancher, reader, researcher, repairman, runner,
S sashimi, seamstress, secretary, singer, skier
T teller, title searcher, traveler, treasurer, trustee,
U undergraduate, undertaker, unicyclist, unicorn lover, useful
V ventriloquist, veteran, vice president, visitor, volunteer,
W waitress, weatherman, wedding planner, wife, window washer
X xenphobe, xylophone player, x-ray technician,
Y yachtswoman, Yankee, yardman, yodeler, young at heart,
Z zany, zealot, zoo keeper
Aloha to you all, see you in May. H.
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Robert
HOROWITZ
Dobbs Ferry, NY and Delray Beach, FL
Sales
Rider
Married to Carol, Mt Vernon High Grad, 1964
Children: Holly & Lee
Grandchildren: Casey & Evan
Was in Retailing, owned a Tool company, now have an advertising specialty company. Love playing tennis.
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Jane JACOBSON
Stein
Washington, DC
Author and Publishing Executive
Brandeis University, 1959 BA
Married
Children: 2
Grandchildren: 4
How to account for 50 years since high school graduation! Moving through
the timeline, college at Brandeis was an intellectually liberating experience.
A major in the history of ideas prepared me for nothing specific but gave
me the ability to think critically. By good luck, I began my career as a
writer at Engineering News-Record at McGraw-Hill, covering the building
spree going on in New York and elsewhere. From there I moved to Time as
a business reporter, down to Washington in 1966 (I have remained here since)
where I started freelance writing on health and technology issues. One thing
leads to another, and so I began writing and editing books on these issues,
started a magazine on health policy, became vice president of publishing
for a health and science communications company and eventually started my
own publications consulting firm. I am now phasing down on work, keeping
some clients, working on the 4th edition of a health education college textbook
(Decisions for Healthy Living) and very much enjoying the lighter schedule.
My husband, Bob, and I spend six weeks in the winter and 10 weeks in the
summer in Steamboat Springs, Colo. We ski, snowshoe, hike, bike and more,
depending on the season. Our children and their families live in Hartford
and Portland, Me., and we visit them there and they come to see us in D.C.,
and Steamboat. With more free time, we are involved with volunteer work,
swimming and skiing with developmentally disabled children and adults in
both D.C., and Steamboat, and working on homeless issues in DC. We've always
managed to travel-initially for work (living in Geneva, Switzerland, when
my husband was with the State Department) but mostly for fun. We've climb
Kilimanjaro, trekked in the Everest area of Nepal, hiked the Milford Track
in New Zealand and in the Torres de Paine in Chile and more. We just celebrated
our 40th anniversary with a week-long trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, with our family-10
in all including the four grandchildren ranging in age from 3 years to 5
months. What wonderful way to honor the occasion. Onward to more.
Although I have not lived in Mt. Vernon since I graduated from college,
it continues to be a part of my life. A close friend in Steamboat grew up
there. A classmate goes to my temple in D.C. A recent article in the New
York Times about a Mt. Vernon school with a pathetically out-of-date library
prompted me to donate money to it. So you can take the kid out of Mt. Vernon,
but not the Mt. Vernon out of the kid.
Deanna JAFFE
Miller
Rye, NY and Pompano Beach, FL
Teaching, Real Estate Management
University of Maryland; B.S Education
Married
Children: 3
Grandchildren: 5
In 1959, I married my husband Robert whom I have known since I was 14 years old and he was my date for the senior prom. We met up in Lake Mahopac, where our families each owned a home. We spent some wonderful summers up there while we were growing up and we continued to go there when our children were born. They looked forward to going as much as we did. We will be celebrating our forty-sixth anniversary in June. I never left the area and we have remained in Westchester since our marriage. For the past 32 years, we have lived in our dream home that we designed and had built to our specifications. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. degree in Education. I taught for a short period of time after graduating college and then went on to do real estate management for seventeen. When I retired from this, I immediately went onto becoming involved in a number of charitable organizations where I served in leadership capacity. I served as President of the Jewish Community Center of Harrison and continue to be involved in the New York Metropolitan Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. We are the proud parents of three children, two daughters and a son who are all married and we have as of now five grandchildren who range in age from four months (twins, one of each) to fourteen years. We are most fortunate in that two of our children live in Rye Brook and as I write this my youngest daughter and her family have just bought their first home and are also moving to Rye Brook in September. Over the years we have done a great deal of traveling in both the U.S and abroad. Some of our best vacations are trips we have taken to the various national parks across our beautiful and breathtaking country.
For the past seven years, we have owned a mobile home park in South Florida. As a result, I tend to spend a good bit of time down there, which is something that does not upset me very much. My experiences in this venue make for some very interesting conversation with my friends and family. Our family has a great deal to be grateful for and we appreciate every moment.
Mount Vernon has always been a part of my life. My mother grew up in there and my family had a business there for over 50 years. My mom Dorothy Burack Jaffe attended A.B. Davis, Pop Philips and Mr. Altschuler were her teachers. In fact, Mr. Altschuler was just beginning his career as a teacher when my mom attended. I truly can say without hesitation that I received the best education at A.B.Davis. The teachers did not accept mediocrity. I remember many of my teachers, Mr. Grell (Earth Science), Mr. Collins and Mr.Gentilesco (Spanish), Mr. Searle (Economics) and good old Miss Wilson; she introduced me to the Atlantic Monthly and the National Review. We strove for excellence because the teachers expected it of us. There was some special ingredient in our educational process that motivated all of us to strive to be the best. When I think about it, how did we prepare for our SAT exams without Kaplan and the Huntington Learning Center? We were taught good study habits and it laid the foundation for all our future endeavors. When I think back, it was a fate worse than death to be called to the principal's office. I still remember the way we learned the colors of the spectrum in our Psychology class, which met in the auditorium with Miss Brauer. I think back to Graham School where I graduated from elementary and Junior High. Mrs. Mandel, or music teacher in Junior High introduced us to the opera at the original Metropolitan Opera House and many of us had the good fortune of being able to go with her and the Music Appreciation Class to see two operas a year over a period of three years. I have never forgotten this experience. In the Kindergarten class, we had a fishpond and the teachers always had extra clothes because I think invariably one of the classmates would fall in and get wet. Miss. McDougall, the Home Ec. teacher had a sister teaching in Latin at Davis. She insisted that I bring my mother to school because she remembered that my mother would not use a thimble in her class. She also taught us how to make chocolate pudding from scratch no Mighty Fine for her and who could forget the macaroni and cheese with the white sauce that we learned to cook. I still have the apron, head covering and bag we sewed in here class. Our teachers really cared about all of us and did not hesitate to give us a dressing down if we needed it. Early on, we were taught the importance of spelling words correctly, we didn't have spell check. To this day, my children ask me to proof and edited what they have written. I will never forget the wonderful enriching experiences I was exposed to at A.B. Davis and the bright group of students with whom I had the opportunity to share them and of course the great times we would have, whether it be in the cafeteria during lunch, the great sorority and fraternity functions and the many friends we made. We were a most fortunate group to have grown up in Mt. Vernon and graduated from A.B. Davis. It prepared us for life's experiences.
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Ellen JAMES
Smith
Bronxville, NY
Elementary School Teacher Grades- A Precursor to Head Start, Pre K,
1st, 2nd
Hunter College BA, MS plus 67 credits above MS
Divorced
Several informally "adopted" nephews and nieces
I received my two degrees in Psychology and Early childhood Education at Hunter College. The additional credits were obtained at Hunter, Manhatanville, NYU + the College of New Rochelle. My travels include the Scandinavian Countries, Cuba, Brazil, Japan, Argentina, Peru, Trinidad, Egypt, Kenya, England, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Scotland, etc., and many US states including Hawaii and Alaska. I have had a myriad of medical problems from head to toe. However my four (4) knee replacements during a period of twelve years should establish my place in the Guiness Book of Records. (Smile) On the other hand, I attend a health clinic four times per week with the greatest of pleasure and hard work. I enjoy attending plays; dances; concerts; restaurants; lectures; and NY State Teachers Retirement trips + information forums. Also I delight in listening to the radio: WNYC 820 AM and WBAI 99.5 FM. (Try them; you'll like them.)
Mt. Vernon was a wonderful community while we were growing up. My neighborhood was very close knit and to this day we come from near and far to attend the wakes and/or funerals of our friends even though we may not have seen each other since the previous gathering. A. B. Davis gave us the greatest superior education to succeed, (Remember diagramming sentences!) (smile) I enjoyed and cared about the classes, my classmates, and the teachers. The teachers and our peers motivated us.
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Evangelyn
JEFFRIES Ramsey
HOWELLS, NY
Nurse Practitioner
SUNY New Paltz and Hunter College; Masters of Nursing
Married: Husband Davis Grad,1949
Children: 4
Grandchildren: 10
Great Grandchildren: 4
Retired: NYS Department of Mental Hygiene and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, NY
LIFE REFLECTION: Attending schools in Mt. Vernon and graduating from A.B. Davis gave me an excellent academic foundation and prepared me for a very successful career in Nursing.
When I reflect on my growing up years in Mt. Vernon, the things that I think shaped my adult life the most were family, community and my church family. My parents had migrated to Mt. Vernon from a small community in Allensville Ala. A large number of relatives, mostly cousins and close friends also migrated to Mt. Vernon. The adult friends and cousins all became our Aunts and Uncles and their children our cousins. We were a very close knit and supportive family all of who lived within walking distance of each other.
The other part of growing up on the wonderful south side of Mt. Vernon was the closeness of our community of neighbors and friends. I had a mother on every corner. There was no way I could misbehave and not have a relative, or one of my mother's friends or a friend's mother call my mother to let her know what she had seen. Usually before I got home.
Last, but most important, we had to attend Sunday school and church every Sunday. Our family attended Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. An early introduction to religion has been the basis of my strong belief in God. This belief has remained a large part of my life. My faith in God has sustained me through many experiences that I otherwise could not have gotten through.
Alice JOHANSON
Harter
Sun City Center, FL
Elementary Vocal Music Teacher
Potsdam SUC; BS Mus. Ed.
Married
Children: (4) Jennifer, Amy, Susan, Rebecca
Grandchildren: 8
I taught music part-time while raising our 4 children. Eventually retired with 20.5 full time years in NYS State credited.
My husband and I moved to Florida in 2000 and enjoy our active lifestyle here doing water aerobics, pottery, playing duplicate bridge, golf and church handbell choirs. (Alice directed a handbell choir for 22 years in New Hartford, NY).
Mr. Emil Nielsen and Doc Randall had significant influence on my career.
Bruce JOHNSON Davis
Mount Vernon, NY
Retired Teacher
Hunter College; B.A., M.S. + 30
Married
Children: 1 Daughter
My entire career has been as an elementary teacher in the New York City Public School System. Being a teacher afforded me the opportunity to be off on the holidays and vacations with my daughter. For many years, I played tennis weekly. Now, since I am unable to do that, I exercise by line dancing.
I have traveled extensively with my husband who traveled quite often for his job with the IBM Corporation. I have visited most of the continents. My most exciting trips were to the Far East and Alaska.
Much of my time, during my retirement, is spent on church activities and supporting the Mt. Vernon High School Knights Basketball Team.
I have fond memories of A. B. Davis High School. The school was small enough for me to know most of the students in my class.
I enjoyed the sports and the rivalry between Edison and Davis. The teachers left a lasting impression on me and I find myself very often telling anecdotes about them. It was a great educational experience that I will never forget.
Janet KAGEL
Ressler
Montpelier , VT
Arts Administration; Vermont Arts Council, State Arts Agency
University of Wisconsin; B. S
Married: No
Children: 2 daughters by birth, 3 sons by adoption
Grandchildren: 4 , ages 7-1/2 to 1 month
All of my working life has been connected to the arts. My B.S. Degree was in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin with a major in dance which I taught for many years. I was married right out of college, moved to Cleveland where my husband was completing his PHD in Experimental Psychology, and joined the Cleveland Modern Dance Association. I taught dance to adults and children, and did a lot of choreography for a group of performers. Later moved to Milwaukee and did the same. My two daughters were born in Milwaukee. After an injury to my foot, I bought a loom and learned to weave, eventually moving to Maine with family and friends, and joining a crafts coop and later an independent weaving. coop. Managed the weaving shop, taught weaving and designed clothing and other items for retail and wholesale. I moved to Vermont in 1978 and was instrumental in founding a retail craft cooperative which is still flourishing. I took a job with the Vermont Arts Council as the Director of Community Programs, and more recently of Arts Education, which is now my primary job. It is very important to me, as I was a hands on learner who was bored and did very poorly at school because of the limited way in which schools were then and are for the most part still run today. My focus is on integrating arts into all aspects of learning, which is the way I wanted to learn and for which there is much evidence of its benefit. Along the way I was divorced and later married a man, who has since died, who had three sons ages 5, 7 and 10, whom I adopted. I am very happy with my job, it gets me traveling quite a bit and I get to visit my children all over the continent. I have done quite a bit of traveling with my mother who is now 92 and still very much together. I do some cross country skiing, a lot of walking and yoga, and knitting and sewing for my children and grandchildren.
Politics is endlessly fascinating to me. I am a liberal Democrat and
can't figure out why everyone thinks Howard Dean is such a radical. He drove
many us crazy with his conservative agenda here in Vermont. I spend a lot
of time going to the theater, music, dance, and look forward to the time
when I can get back to making art again.
Davis was probably not worse than any other public school. They were all,
and too many still are, very unsatisfactory for a large number of students.
I hated school altogether after first grade. In fact, I had to be convinced
by my parents to to go college at all and was lucky enough to get into the
University of Wisconsin where I majored in modern dance, which I loved and
finally did fairly well. I can't remember a single teacher after first grade
who taught in a way that was interesting or engaging for me. I am now in
a position to try to help schools find ways to teach students like myself
and support teachers who don't fit into the narrow school learning styles.
I can design programs and make grants available for schools to encourage
them to develop and expand discipline based arts as well as integrate arts
learning.
Physician (Neurologist)
Cornell University, University of Louvain, Belgium; BS, MD
Married
Children: (3) Lian, Lara, Jill
Grandchildren: (2) Samantha, Zac
Neurologist, clinical practice, research and teaching (Professor at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia). Was Chief of Neurology at the Wilmington VA Hospital and for the last 10 years was the Chief of Staff. Retired in 2003, after a heart attack. Prior to that, traveled every year to Caribbean (Grenada our favorite). Have traveled extensively through New England. (Camping, etc.)
Love to read, enjoy music, classical and jazz, play golf and until recently had a sailboat (27') on the Chesapeake.
I'm actively involved in the University of Delaware, school-Academy of Livelong Learning (for those over 50) and take various courses (S/semester). Major emphasis in Art and I'm very much into oil painting and Civil War History. Still do some part time Neurology work mainly medics legal issues and workplace related injuries. Spend much time with family. My wife is still working (Director of a Medical lab at the Christiana Hospital). When she retires, we hope to do some more traveling. We presently have a place at the Delaware shore and spend as much time as possible there with our 2 dogs, a "Golden Doodle" and a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Receiver.
Life is good!
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Sandra "Sandy"
KLEIN Weinstein
Lake Worth, FL
Social Welfare Examiner & Supervisor for Nassau County,
NY Dept. of Social Service
University of Bridgeport; Adelphi University: AA Degree
Married
Children: 2
Grandchildren: 4
My early life involved my two children, raising them and enjoyed being a mother. My next chapter working for Social Services was interesting, stressful and I liked working for a large government agency.
My husband Warren and I are now retired, living in a Country Club community in Florida. We are now enjoying p laying. I play golf, tennis and bridge. I love to visit my children and grandchildren and travel to foreign countries and of course our beautiful country and the National Parks.
Davis was a great foundation and I loved living in Mt. Vernon. I was lucky to be in Mt. Vernon.
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Management Consulting
University of Michigan: Economics and Finance; Attended NYU Graduate School
(Taxation)
Joel Koenig is the Managing Member in the Washington, DC office of The Koenig Group, LLC. The Koenig Group, LLC is a regional consulting organization offering creative planning strategies to affluent clients of Law Firms, CPA Firms and Investment Counselors. Through its joint marketing and strategic partners, it renders services to clients in Washington, DC, the Midwest and the Southeastern United States. The Koenig Group, LLC is also a Registered Investment Advisor. Joel was formerly a Founder, Officer and Director of The Management Compensation Group, Inc.'s Washington, DC office and The Todd Organization of Washington, DC and M Financial Corporation. He was also a Director of National Philanthropic Affiliates.
The Koenig Group, LLC's areas of business expertise include wealth preservation planning and executive benefit planning, specializing in family wealth preservation, business succession, business sale, acquisition and charitable tax planning and executive benefits. Joel has lectured on various topics throughout the country at CLU, CPA, bar association, tax conferences and six estate planning councils. He has written extensively on qualified plans, split dollar, charitable tax planning and family wealth perpetuation. In July 2001, he authored an article in Trusts & Estates Magazine entitled "The World without Death Taxes". The article predicted opportunities created by EGTRRA, the new tax law. In July 2002, "Diffuse the Time Bomb" was also published in Trusts & Estates Magazine. It formed the thesis for Joel's 2002 NYU Tax Institute and 2003 International Forum presentations. In 2004 he lectured on "The World without Death Taxes