a publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association

Vol. 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 In This Issue: Alumni Visit Exhibit at Met Letter from the Co-Presidents...... 2 ver 50 members of the Townsend centerpiece of the new installation is the Great Year for Alumni Association Harris family, including alumni Leon Levy, ‘42 and Shelby White Court, Fund Raising...... 3 Ofrom the original and reestab- which is a dramatic, sky lit space linking lished schools as well as current and re- the various galleries and themes. Alumni Association Treasury tired faculty, gathered together on August A special thanks to Julie Chan, ’88, Report...... 3 10 for a special viewing of the new Hel- for organizing the event. lenistic, Etruscan and Roman Wing of the At the High School...... 4 Metropolitan Museum of Art. Harrisites were treated to a special docent-led tour Message from Thomas of the exhibit. Cunningham, Principal...... 5 With over 5,300 objects on more than 30,000 square feet, the newest galleries Mark Your Calendars...... 5 present Hellenistic art and its legacy. The Dawn of a New Government...... 6 Elections to Alumni Board of Directors...... 7 Class Notes ...... 8 Obituaries...... 16 Association Briefs...... 19 Boca Brunch Brings Together Generations...... 20

Alumni Association Annual Meeting Is Huge Success

n Sunday, October 7, 2007, the The meeting was arranged so that Townsend Harris Alumni Asso- before the formal program was begun, Ociation held its annual meeting in coffee was served to the guests as they the Faculty Dining Room of Hunter Col- mingled with each other greeting old lege on 68th Street in . More friends and classmates, making new than 75 members of the Townsend Harris friends and renewing friendships with community attended this gathering, includ- favorite teachers. Then a Sunday buffet ing old alumni, young alumni, former facul- continued on page 7 ty members and some presently teaching at the school. Among the older alumni, those Top: left to right – Panelists Tanya M. Odom, present represented every school year: from Malcolm Largmann, Franco Scardino, Harry Judge Bentley Kassal ‘33 to Jerry Halpern Rattien, David Herszenhorn, Martine Guerrier. ‘44 and Marvin Leiner ‘44 who were just freshmen when the school closed in 1942. Bottom: left to right – Guests enjoying the The youngest alumna present wasn’t an festivities. Faculty members Wanda Nix and alumna yet. She’s a current student and Malcolm Largmann, Martine Guerrier ‘89 and member of the class of 2011. Faculty member Harry Rattien. ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008

Letter from the Co-Presidents

To our fellow Harrisites, 1980s. This year’s ceremony was espe- We hope you are having a wonderful cially unique in that the ceremony was fall and we wish to welcome you to the held as a cocktail reception on the campus Envoy is published by the Townsend Harris first edition of the Envoy, the Townsend of on 23rd Street in Alumni Association. The editors welcome Harris Alumni Association newsletter. We Manhattan, where the school was situ- submissions of essays, photos, articles, letters and memorabilia related to Townsend Harris hope that this is the first of many editions ated for most of the early half of the 20th High School at College and its of our newsletter to come. century. The turnout was remarkable alumni. We also welcome short fiction, creative Both the high school and the Alumni and the celebration memorable. On the photography and art work by alumni. Association continue to go strong. The fundraising front, we continue to be quite high school is one of the best schools in successful raising funds for the Townsend Letters to the editor and other correspondence City, and is also one of the most Harris Forever! campaign. We were able can be sent to [email protected] or to: sought after. Its students receive accolade to increase the endowments for the fac- Townsend Harris Alumni Association P.O. Box 20482 upon accolade. Seniors receive over mil- ulty development and community service New York, New York 10017-0481 lions of dollars of scholarships to college funds (amongst others). Through several upon graduation. Many of those same generous contributions, we were also Envoy Coordinator Craig L. Slutzkin seniors go on to attend Ivy-league schools. able to purchase new classical language Townsend Harris continues to be a leader textbooks, procure new library equipment Contributors to this edition of Envoy include in community service; in fact, Lisa Liu, for the Malcolm G. Largmann library and Julie Chan, Sean Gralton, Varsha Ghosh, a current student, was a Queens Quality finance advanced courses in the study of Gerald P. Halpern, David M. Herszenhorn, Tan- ya M. Odom, Ted Peck and Craig L. Slutzkin. of Life semifinalist last year for her work Hebrew. Of course, our job is not done; advocating volunteerism in local parks. there is still much to do. We encourage Dues for the Alumni Association are specifically School athletics remain a vital aspect of you to contribute to the Alumni Associ- used for operating expenses including admin- the students’ lives. Girls’ , girls’ ation’s endowment funds, which go di- istering our numerous scholarship programs. Annual dues are just $10 for the first four years , boys’ — these are only rectly towards supporting the wonderful after graduation and $25 after that. Additional three examples of current teams that had programs of Townsend Harris. Feel free voluntary contributions to support the school great success this past year. to contact either Ted Peck (tedp25@aol. and scholarship programs are always welcome. As you probably know by now, com), Townsend Harris Forever! Direc- Thomas Cunningham is retiring as prin- tor, or Craig L. Slutzkin (president@thaa. More information about THAA can be found at cipal of the high school. Mr. Cunningham org), Co-President, for additional details. www.thaa.org. has been the principal since 2001 and has We are pleased to welcome a new continued to lead the school to excellence. member to our Board of Directors. Moira The Board of Directors wishes to thank Casey joins us as our PTA representative, Mr. Cunningham for his dedication to succeeding Maria Becce, whose son 2007 dues statements were recently Townsend Harris and wish him well in his Matthew recently graduated from the mailed. We encourage you to pay your retirement. The Alumni Association has school. Moira will strengthen even further dues; Dues are specifically used for been quite active in the search for the Mr. the relationship between the PTA and the operating expenses including administer- Cunningham’s successor. We sat on the Alumni. The board meets quarterly; all ing our numerous scholarship programs. Department of Education committee that alumni are invited to attend our meetings Annual dues are just $10 for the first four interviews prospective candidates. A new and participate in the direction and activi- years after graduation and $25 after that. principal is expected to be named shortly. ties of the Alumni Association. Check our Of course, additional voluntary contribu- There have been many school events website (www.thaa.org) for meeting dates tions to support the school and scholar- during the past year in which alumni and locations. ship programs are always welcome. participated. Over 30 alumni served as We also wish to welcome our new We hope you enjoy this edition of the judges at the high school’s SING! compe- Alumni Administrator, Margherita Envoy and we welcome your comments tition. We once again provided speakers Wischerth, who is a teacher of fine arts at and suggestions on this or any other for the Townsend Harris Career Day, the high school. aspect of the Alumni Association. We can where many of us returned to the school Over the next year, we have exciting be contacted via e-mail at president@thaa. to share our experiences from the work- events and new Alumni Association initia- org or you can call us at (646) 329-6363. place. Kevin Kim of the Class of 1988 was tives planned. We will expand our profes- the keynote speaker at October’s Found- sional networking groups to Finance, Best regards, ers’ Day ceremony at the high school. Insurance and Real Estate Professionals. Last Fall, we had another of our The Class of 1988, the first class of the Tanya M. Odom ‘88 cherished Hall of Fame ceremonies. We reestablished Townsend Harris, will cel- Craig L. Slutzkin ‘91 honored another group of extremely ebrate its 20th reunion. And Julie Chan Co-Presidents distinguished men who pioneered the of the Class of 1988 is currently spear- reopening of the high school in the early heading the redesign of our website.

 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY

Dramatic Gift Tops Great Year for Alumni Association Alumni Association Fund Raising Treasury Report

uring the first eleven months of Polonsky Foundation.” For the record, The finances of the Alumni Association 2007, the Alumni Association fund Hansard Global is selling for about $5.00 continue to be strong. We currently Draising efforts achieved outstand- a share, which means a gift of signifi- hold over $1.7 million in cash and ing results. In addition to the generous an- cantly more than a million dollars to the investments, and pledged money brings nual scholarship fund contributions (the Alumni Association to be used to enrich the total to well over $2.5 million. Alumni Association provides more than the academic activities, programs and ex- The finance committee of the Board $110,000 in scholarships to Townsend periences of all Townsend Harris under- of Directors monitors the investment Harris seniors each year), and the dona- graduates — now and in the future. portfolio, which currently consists of a tions which accompanied dues payments, Thanks to this gift from Leonard balance of cash, certificates of deposits there were some dramatic developments. Polonsky ‘43, the Townsend Harris For- and balanced mutual funds. The Board Early in the year, the Keren Keshet Fund, ever! Fund has passed its goal of raising of Directors reviews the financial posi- which was established by the late Sanford $2,000,000 to establish a series mini- tion of the Alumni Association on a C. Bernstein ‘42, agreed to increase its funds. The income generated from these monthly basis, and any alumnus may annual grant for teaching Hebrew from mini-funds will provide annual income request a report detailing this position. $20,000 a year to $25,000 a year. to various academic, athletic, social and The largest source of funds con- In September, in response to an ap- community service projects. tinues to be contributions— many of peal, the Jerome Levy Foundation, which The Board of Directors of the Alumni which are for endowments in which was funded by the late Leon Levy ‘42, Association hope that Dr. Polonsky’s gener- only the income is to be expended. wrote these welcome words: “ The Trust- ous gift will encourage others to recognize During our last fiscal year (September ees of the Jerome Levy Foundation have that Townsend Harris isn’t just another 1, 2006 through August 31, 2007), the approved a renewal of its annual grant of public high school. It is a unique school of Alumni Association received $190,000 $25,000 to the Townsend Harris Alumni excellence with the highest possible stan- of contributions from its members. Association, Inc.” dards. It’s traditions, and the reputations Membership dues provide much of In December, the Henry Nias Founda- of its alumni are unmatched by any other the source for operating expenses of tion increased its contribution to $50,000 public high school in the country. managing the day-to-day affairs of the for 2007 for annual scholarships. It is hoped that those in a position to organization. And certainly the most dramatic of all do so will recognize, as Dr. Polonsky Expenditures include both pro- was the following e-mail message from has, that supporting Townsend Harris gram and administrative costs; the London:” Leonard Polonsky is propos- programs and scholarships through gifts largest item that we disburse cash for ing to make a gift of 225,000 shares in or bequests serves, the school, the com- is the many scholarships and awards HSD (Hansard Global PLC, traded on munity, the State and the nation. presented by the Alumni Associa- the London Stock Exchange) from the tion each year. In this fiscal year, we have disbursed over $110,000 in such scholarships and awards. We also CAREERS DATABASE NOW ON-LINE! provide a significant amount of fund- ing for various programs at the high school, including faculty development, Looking for a job? purchase of textbooks, coursework in Hebrew for students and procurement Looking to hire from a top-flight talent pool? of library equipment. In this fiscal year, we have disbursed over $50,000 for The Townsend Harris Alumni Association Job Posting page is these items. Administrative expenses back and updated again! This is a unique opportunity to use the include general office expenses, postage Townsend Harris alumni network to pursue your career goals. There and printing for announcements and are currently postings for a job as an investigator and an adminis- alumni publications, refreshments for the annual meeting and maintenance of trator listed, and we expect more to come very soon. our website, www.thaa.org. You can visit the Job Posting page by visiting us at www.thaa.org. If If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free you wish to post a position – whether it be full time, part time or an to contact [email protected]. internship, please email us at [email protected]. We hope that this feature will be useful to the alumni and welcome any suggestions on this and any other services you feel we can provide.

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association  ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008

u u AT THE SCHOOL

At the High School…

u The Ephebic Oath continues to be the u The school’s New York State Regents dition, the school is seeking sponsors guiding credo for expectations, values results were absolutely impressive for this event. For more information, and traditions at Townsend Harris. with 100% of Townsend Harris stu- please contact Susan Brustein, Assis- Community service is a strong indica- dents who took the French, Spanish, tant Principal of Science at sbruste@ tor of the school’s commitment to the Japanese and Latin Examinations schools.nyc.gov. Ephebic Oath. Last Spring, over 225 receiving passing grades. students were inducted into Archon, a u The school boasts over 100 students national honor society whose members u With the mastery of the Hebrew this year who are members of Mu perform over 80 hours of community block print alphabet and script, Alpha Theta — a national math honor service annually while maintaining beginners are already doing oral and society that recognizes the achieve- high academic standards. written communication on personal ment of juniors and seniors with a 93 identity items in the target language. or better overall math average (and u Several students and faculty will Advanced students are accelerating who have finished Math B). These visit Greece and Italy in February, their skills through a very modern Mu Alpha Theta students volunteer 2008. In Athens, students will see the text with dialogs, literary and cultural their time once a week to tutor their Sanctuary of Aglaurus, a cave on the readings, current events and lots of peers in any math subject during north slope of the Acropolis where enjoyable activities. They all learned lunch bands or before/after school. the Ephebic Oath was first taken over about the recent holidays and are two thousand years ago by young looking forward to the joyous celebra- u On the athletics’ front, the school’s Athenians entering adulthood. tion of Chanukah. teams have had some great victories, including the girl’s swim team be- u According to Department of Educa- u Townsend Harris dominated the ing again undefeated, the boys’ cross tion statistics, Townsend Harris was Quality of Life Competition, win- country team sophomores taking 1st the most popular, non-specialized ning two of the top three prizes. place in Queens, and the girls’ cross public high school in country team capturing 1st place in in 2007. More 8th graders selected u Harrisites dominated this year’s the Mayor’s Cup. The PSAL Heisman Harris as their first choice than any International Science and Engineer- Award, given each year to the student other high school in New York City. ing Fair (ISEF). Each of the students who is best in his or her athletics field who participated medaled in their was awarded to four students: Devotia u Economics students had outstanding event: Markrete Krikorian — 4th Moore (Cross-Country), Maureen performance (99.5% passed) on the place, Chemistry; Bushra Wazed— Mc Cluskey (Swimming), Amy Feng Wise Financial Literacy Certification 3rd place, Animal Behavior; and Ben (Fencing) and Linda Thai (Handball). test. 16 students scored 95, or higher, Aronowicz, Warren Cheng, and Erin and were named Financial Literacy Zeqja — 3rd place, Physics. These u In a U.S. News and World Report study, Scholars. Two students achieved per- students competed against 1500 stu- Townsend Harris High School was fect scores. dents from 40 countries. All students named the 45th best high school in who compete at ISEF had previously the entire country! u Over 430 students participated in won in their category at regional com- this year’s National Latin Examina- petitions. u Townsend Harris was the National tion and Townsend Harris achieved Champion of the Youth About Busi- outstanding results: 158 students u The Robotics program that started ness Summer Business Camp, the achieved Summa Cum Laude; 141 stu- last year is off to a great start — with first school from New York to achieve dents achieved Maxima Cum Laude; students capturing medals in the that honor. 53 achieved Magna Cum Laude, and Science Olympiad Robotics NYC 36 achieved Cum Laude. This rigor- regional competition, and placing 9th u In the most recent “School Report ous examination is taken by more in the statewide event. Students are Card,” performed by the NYC De- than 134,000 students representing planning to enter the First Robot- partment of Education on all schools, all 50 states and 13 foreign countries. ics Competition. The school would Townsend Harris was one of the few Townsend Harris students’ results appreciate any alumni expertise in school which received an “A” rating! were better than any other school robotics, or programming in Java, as worldwide. we undertake this new venture. In ad-

 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY

Message from Thomas Cunningham, Mark Your Calendars! Principal High School SING! Competition The 2008 Townsend Harris SING! Dear Alumni: these improvements will place Townsend Competition will take place on each Harris High School at the forefront of of the evenings of January 24, 25 Welcome to another exciting Fall term at state-of-the-art educational programs and 26, 2008 at the high school build- Townsend Harris High School. We have throughout the city. ing in Flushing, Queens. Alumni are much to celebrate this year. Townsend For the second year, every New welcomed to join in the competition Harris High School continues to be an York City school is taking part in a as judges. Please contact Margherita academic institution of excellence in Quality Review. The Quality Review Wischerth, Alumni Administrator, for New York City and in the country. This ascertains how well schools use data to more details at [email protected]. year over 700 students are enrolled in evaluate students, plan instruction and AP classes. This past year, once again, set goals on the classroom and school Florida Luncheon and Breakfast our school achieved the highest passing levels. Parents, students, teachers and The next annual luncheon of the percentage on Regents exams, the highest administrators take part in this process. THAA Florida Chapter will be held rate of attendance, and the highest gradu- As members of the Townsend Har- on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at the ation rate of any high school in New York ris community, you should be aware Westchester and Country Club in City. I know that you join me in con- of my instructional focus. This year Boynton Beach, Florida. The lunch will gratulating both our outstanding staff and my instructional priorities are: writing be served at 12:00, noon, following a re- student body on these achievements. across the curriculum, a focus upon the ception period starting at 11:30 AM, at We have many activities that define Essential Elements of Instruction, in which hors d’oeuvres and libations will our Humanities program at Townsend particular instructional objectives and be offered. The chapter’s annual Spring Harris High School. One of them is the enhanced use of technology. breakfast will be held on Thursday, Election Simulation which is of special Finally, I would like to mention the March 13, 2008 at Temple Shaarei Sha- importance this year because the 2007 outstanding efforts of the PTA and lom in Boynton Beach, Florida. Contact Election Simulation will determine who Alumni Association in supporting our Mort Greene (954-720-5001, email: will be the New York State Democratic educational program. They demonstrate [email protected]) or Larry and Republican representatives at both that teamwork, organization, and effort Treff (561-731-5880, email: treffl@ national nominating conventions this are instrumental in providing quality comcast.net) for further information on summer. On Founders Day, October programs for all students. either event. 26th, we celebrated and practiced those I look forward to another rewarding values that are evident in our community school year and hope to see you at alumni Annual Reunions service program and are enshrined in the and school events. The Classes of 1993, 1998 and 2003 Ephebic Oath. Students and staff donated will celebrate their 15th, 10th and 5th food to the needy, and incoming students Sincerely, year reunions on Saturday evening, recited the Ephebic Oath as seniors pass June 7, 2008. The reunions will be held on to them the torch of tradition and com- Thomas Cunningham at the Knitting Factory in downtown munity service. Principal Manhattan. Volunteers for the reunion There are several new initiatives committees are needed. Please contact underway this year. Thanks to funding The Alumni Association would like to express us at [email protected] to help plan the provided through the school budget and its appreciation to Tom Cunningham, Principal, festivities! by our wonderful Alumni and Parent Susan Brustein, Namita Dwarka, Ellen Fee, The Class of 1988 will celebrate its Teacher Associations, our television Susan Getting, Lisa Mars, and Janet Solomon, 20th year reunion also on Saturday eve- studio has been restored and is now in Assistant Principals, and the entire school ning, June 7, 2008. Volunteers should even better condition than when the cur- faculty, for all of their hard work and efforts in contact the reunion committee at 20yr- rent building opened in 1995. We have making Townsend Harris New York City’s #1 [email protected] for more information. received $150,000 in additional funding high school! to complete our technology upgrade. Fire Networking Event We wish to acknowledge City Council The first Finance, Insurance and Real members James Gennaro, John Liu and Estate Professionals Networking Cock- David Weprin for their generous support tail Hour will be held in early 2008. for educational improvements. We know Please check www.thaa.org for updates.

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association  ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 the Dawn of a New Government

My Personal Account

by Sean Gralton, ’88

he evening call to prayer is still plete, the constitutional government of pictures of and read descriptions of eyes drifting across the air. From my Afghanistan will be more or less complete, gouged out, tongues cut, families mur- Trooftop perch, the closest mina- and this will, at least in the legal sense, dered, rapes, beatings, gun battles with ret serves to provide perspective for the cease being a nation in transition. police, drug smuggling, human traffick- mountains in the background which ring My job is to help midwife the birth of ing, and the list goes on. Kabul. this new government in this ancient land. The people who do this can get away Kites fly in the air over my head, a It is, in some sense at least, a bizarre task. with their crimes because they are unac- reminder that the are no more This is a place where the capital city does countable to their fellow citizens. Democ- — those religious disciples who brought not have clean drinking water, where racy doesn’t guarantee good government, peace as well as terror to Afghanistan, home toilets empty onto the sidewalks but what it does do is make the govern- and whose interpretation of Islam could (for those who can afford sidewalks and ment accountable to the people. find no room for kites, beardless men, or toilets), where illiteracy is the norm, and While it is true that someone who has women’s faces. where $500 a month is an enviable salary. died of cholera because there is no clean The neighborhood that I live in, Shash Some would say that democracy is far water has no need of democracy, it is also Darak, was the front line during the civil down the list of these people’s needs. I true that someone who has been tortured war that decimated Kabul in the 1990’s. think not. and murdered by an unaccountable war- Nothing much was left here. The military Right now, I am the head of the Elec- lord has no need of clean water. compound that neighbors my house is tion Complaints Commission Secretariat, Democracy and accountable govern- first being repaired this summer. The bul- the quasi-judicial body set up to deal ment is not something which should be let pock-marked walls are being smoothed with complaints arising out of the elec- shoved to the back burner because of over, the rubble that had been there toral process. So far, the Commission has other social ills; poverty, disease, and illit- cleared away in two nights to make way received over 2,500 complaints, many eracy do not justify taking away a persons for a new military hospital. having nothing to Beyond that compound is the Kabul do with the electoral River, which flowed again recently for the process, at least in first time in five years, ending a drought the legal sense. which had been the cap to almost three A huge number decades of horror for the people of Af- of these complaints ghanistan. The more optimistic and philo- have to do with sophically minded might consider this a the terror that the sign that the new rulers of Afghanistan complainants say have acquired the mandate of heaven. the local warlords, And indeed, there are new rulers in Af- the people who have ghanistan. Last September brought these held the real power people the first democratically elected in Afghanistan for president they have had in decades. This quite some time, September, Afghans will be electing a new have been inflicting national assembly along with provincial on the their fellow councils. Once these elections are com- citizens. I have seen

 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY right to choose who will govern, nor does Annual Meeting, continued from p. 1 M. Odom ‘88 and included founding it absolve a person of the duty to do so. brunch of salad, sandwiches and soda principal Malcolm Largmann, longtime These elections are not the first in was made available. The annual meet- faculty members Harry Rattien and which I have been lucky enough to play ing is one of the few times each year that Franco Scardino, New York Times report- an important part. I have worked on this members of both the original and re- er David Herszenhorn ‘90 and NYC year’s Iraq elections, several elections in opened Townsend Harris High Schools Department of Education Chief Family Kosovo, and I have observed elections come together in a social setting. Engagement Officer Martine Guerrier in Macedonia and Azerbaijan. What is The official Annual Meeting business ‘89. Questions discussed included “How almost uniformly true about all of these was conducted quickly and smoothly, does Townsend Harris maintain its elections is the measure of hope that the and the Directors were elected without status as the premier Humanities school participants bring to the process. They dissent. The head of the fund raising pro- in the country?”, “What tools do today’s truly believe that they can change their gram was able to announce a dramatic students need to succeed in the 21st gift to the Alumni Association of more Century?” and “What role can alumni While it is true that the a million dollars in stock from Dr. and parents play in a Humanities educa- Leonard Polonsky ‘43. tion?” When the panel discussion was someone who has died of Philanthropist Eugene M.Lang ‘34, completed, Ms. Odom invited questions a recipient of the Presidential Medal from the audience. cholera because there is no of Freedom, gave a brief talk about the This first meeting in Manhattan was clean water has no need of link between social responsibility and successful in every way. It is hoped that formal education. He reported on the if a similar program is undertaken next democracy, it is also true progress that is being made by Project year, even more younger alumni will Pericles, a program designed to prepare attend. Our thanks go to Craig Slutzkin that someone who has been college students for active participation ‘91 and Tanya Odom ‘88, co-Presidents tortured and murdered by an in a pluralistic society in which citizen- of the Alumni Association for the effort, ship, social responsibility, and commu- planning and hard work that went into unaccountable warlord has no nity service are inseparable.Next, in a this project. And very special thanks goes similar vein, there was a panel discus- to Margherita Wischerth, THHS faculty need of clean water. sion on the meaning of a Humanities member and THAA Administrator, for Education in the 21st Century. The pan- her assistance in organizing this event. el was led by THAA co-President Tanya lives by voting and by participating in the electoral process, something that we in America have seemingly forgotten. lections to the lumni oard of This hope is what makes democracy E A B a superior system. While it may have the Directors flaws of cronyism, corruption, and ineffi- ciency like other systems, there is always The following Harrisites were elected to the Alumni Board of Directors at the Annual the possibility that the people, on their Meeting on October 7: own initiative, can change the system. Like Pandora’s Box, inside the box of de- Directors Emeritus Directors mocracy, hidden away under all the flaws we know are there, unnoticed at the Moira Casey, PTA Representative Abraham C. Bein, Class of 1928 very bottom, is the hope that change can Julie Chan, Class of 1988 Jerome Chazen, Class of 1943 occur, the hope that a people can build a Thomas Cunningham, Principal Robert Edelstein, Class of 1934 better life for their children and grand- Susan Getting, Assistant Principal, Saul A. Grossman, Class of 1939 children. It is my job to help bring this Humanities Herbert Z. Kadison, Class of 1935 hope to people, and I feel truly privileged Melissa A. Gibilaro, Class of 1998 Morton Lisser, Class of 1938 to have the opportunity to do it. Shari Gruber, Class of 1990 Samuel Malkin, Class of 1942 Gerald P. Halpern, Class of 1944 Gerald E. Maslon, Class of 1940 Sean Gralton is an international legal, politi- David Herszenhorn, Class of 1990 Sidney I. Silverman, Class of 1929 cal and electoral consultant. He is a graduate Alicia Hughes, Class of 1991 of the Townsend Harris Class of 1988 (the Malcolm Largmann, Former Principal first class of the reestablished school) as well as Marvin Leiner, Class of 1944 a graduate of SUNY Albany and the Boston Donna Manion, Class of 1990 University School of Law. Norman Merino, Class of 1938 Tanya M. Odom, Class of 1988 Charles Sigety, Class of 1939 Craig L. Slutzkin, Class of 1991

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association  ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 u CLASS NOTES u

1929______Carl Hartman retired from AP-Wash- receiving a Ph.D. in economics in 1951. ington staff in September 2006 after 62 He has been on the faculty at Stanford Eugene Leiman was an active trial years of service and is now doing book University for most of his career, though lawyer from 1936 until he was sidelined reviews for AP and a little freelancing. he was also a professor at the University by ill-health in 2004. He wrote music and Henry Scheier is an attorney who is of Chicago and at Harvard. His academic lyrics for the City Bar Association Musi- “98%” retired. work has been mostly in economics but cal Shows from 1947 to 2005. Eugene was some in operations research. He received an Assistant District Attorney for New 1933______the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic York County from 1938 to 1957 and was Science in 1972 and the National Medal also an Adjunct Professor of Law at NYU Jack Landman is now the oldest folk and of Science for 2004. Dr. Arrow is now Law School from 1957 to 1979. line dance teacher in the Catskills, having retired but actively engaged in research Sidney Silverman reports that he is just finished his 56th season with Kutsh- and lecturing, as well as participating in currently engaged in research at the NYU er’s Country Club! learned societies and other good works. School of Medicine in the Department Morton Teicher is a free lance book of Neurology. “My research is in the cor- 1934______reviewer and a member of the faculty of relations between gum disease infection Walden University, an on-line university. and stroke. Another study is in elec- Gene Lang continues involvement in the In June 2006, he attended ceremonies at tronic measures of tremor in Parkinson’s Alumni Association, having attended the the University of Toronto to celebrate the Disease.” In addition, he recently had a recent Greek and Roman Art exhibit tour 50th anniversary of receiving his PhD in book published titled, Comes the Millen- at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, spon- anthropology. He was the first person to nium: It’s Still Tough to be Jewish! He has sored by the Alumni Association as well be granted a PhD in anthropology at the another book which is being considered as being the featured speaker at the recent University of Toronto. by John Hopkins University Press for annual meeting. publication titled The Tooth of the Matter: 1937______Tales of Delusion and Reality. It describes 1935______the case histories of patients referred to Howard Freiberger is retired, but contin- me, who were “difficult to treat” during Richard Carlton reports that “Right now, ues scientific and naval activities at New his 50 years of practice. Sidney was also my number one activity is playing York Academy of Sciences, Naval Order recently awarded a Citation for Outstand- (age 87!), spending winter in Palm Des- of the US, Navy League. He is a frequent ing Contributions to the Science and ert, CA, enjoying good health, social life, volunteer worker at Recording for the Clinical Care of patients who experienced great weather, etc., etc. I write a column Blind and Dyslexic. Traumatic Injury to the Brain. The Award about every two to three weeks which can Nelson Levitt owned and operated a was given by the New York Academy of be seen on my website: www.TheCarlton- number of furniture stores in the NY area Traumatic Brain Injury (NYATBI). ViewpointOnline.net.” up until 2000. Taught courses in small Marvin Grossman spent 63 years in business development at Baruch College 1932______private practice in NYC at the Medical and FIT. Arts Building, 57 W 57th Street during Morton Nadler writes that “It has Richard Fuld remembers Townsend which time he also taught part-time at the been 69 eventful years, too much to put Harris “with great affection and pride. No NYU College of Dentistry for 17 years. into this small box. I have lived on three school, including college, has ever been He is still in private practice — the last continents. I’m now writing my memoirs blessed with the THHS faculty!” He has of his classmates to hang up the gloves. and have actually finished Part I, up to been married over 60 years to the same Marvin is married with three children, 10 my senior year at THH and a fateful woman, has a daughter who lives in Bel- grandchildren and one great-grandchild decision I made at age 15 that determined fast, Maine with her husband and a son, 60 (and another on the way). “I have had and the rest of my life, up to now. The URL years old, married to a wonderful lady over still have a most wonderful life, and look is http://filebox.vt.edu/users/tampsa/Mor- 25 years. They have three children – twin back with fondness to the days spent at ton-Nadler.htm.” girls almost 25 years old and one son, Townsend Harris. If there is one person I Richard Setlow is still at Brookhaven almost 21 years old at Middleburg, VA. would be interested in learning about from National Lab in Upton, NY as a tenured Richard’s grandson is a great ice hockey my class — it would be Stephan Kraft.” staff member working in research on the player. One of the twins graduated Dart- “Wavelengths in Sunlight that induce mouth and the other graduated Middle- 1936______Melanomas” and on the “biological effects bury. His son graduated the University of of heavy, energetic cosmic ray nuclei.” Colorado and has been the Chairman of Kenneth Arrow attended City College Alfred Sloan is in his 50th year of Lehman Brothers since 1996. and then Columbia for graduate study, full-time service at the State University

 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY CLASS NOTES of New York where he is a Professor organization devoted to psychological of Marketing at the Fashion Institute testing and personnel books and forms. 1941______of Technology, one of SUNY’s “glamor His lifelong hobby pursued in travels to campuses”. He still has his glove 66 countries, with an emphasis on Africa David Brainin just returned from Oahu. from 1935-1937, and still uses it occasion- (20 trips). He is an international color It was the first visit since 1945-1946 for ally! Hurrah for the Crimson & the Gold! slide and print competitor, attaining rank him, and the first for his wife, Sema, who worldwide in pictoral color slides and in attended an International Educators’ 1938______nature slides. Meeting and was kind enough to bring him Lawrence Cash — At age 82, Larry along! He keeps active as an arbitrator and Seymour Beder — After THHS, he was been appointed Associate Professor mediator, taking time off to enjoy children received an accounting degree at CCNY at VCA Medical College of Dentistry and (5), grandchildren (8) and great-grand- (now Baruch), then served as a fighter at O.D.V. School of Dental Hygiene in child (1 and another expected) in Califor- pilot in the 8th Air Force during World order to supervise students at the Red nia, Puerto Rico and points in between. War II. He became a CPA and recently Cross Dental Clinic in Norfolk, VA. Anton Hansmann keeps busy trying to retired from a career as an accountant. He Gerald Maslon has been living in a keep four computers on-line (iBook-G4, is currently enjoying life in Florida, where retirement community (Peconic Landing) Toshiba 8000, Pentium II, IV — mostly he is an active member of the Florida north of Greenport on the North Folk of self assembled). He is the webmaster for Chapter of the Townsend Harris Alumni since 2002. Life is pleasant, www.usna/classes/1946 plus database Association, and is doing volunteer work the country is beautiful and his health is manager. for his synagogue. not too bad. He has started to paint again, Peter Norden is currently a professor Samuel Brendler is seeing 1-2 consul- for the first time since Art Society days at in the Engineering School of Columbia tations a week (he is a neurosurgeon). He Townsend Harris!! He would be happy to University in New York City. is also in his 4th year of assisting in 8th see any Harris people who can find their Jesse Seligman is a volunteer fund- grade science in middle school of an inner way out here. raiser for the American Cancer Society. He city school system, 1-2 half days per week. David Roth is a Senior Fellow, Child is also a volunteer literacy reading partner Norman Merino is still an active mem- Welfare League of America. He was elect- for a public school and a facilitator for the ber of both the Parent Alumni Board of ed as a Pioneer of the National Associa- Prostate Cancer Support Group. Directors and the Florida chapter. tion of Social Workers, for distinguished Leon Weiss is now in his eighties and long-term service in social work. subscribes to the aphorism: “How did 1939______Harvey Sabinson has been inducted I ever find time to work at my profes- into the College of Fellows of the Ameri- sion, considering my current interests?” Herman Chernoff is a retired profes- can Theatre in ceremonies held at the Ken- (Pardon the dangling participial which sor of statistics at Harvard and professor nedy Center. During his 50 year career as his THH English mentors would not ap- of applied mathematics at MIT. People a publicist he has represented some of the prove, he reminds us!). His granddaugh- ask how things have changed since he legendary figures (David Merrick, Cheryl ter, Brook, has been accepted for admis- retired. His answer? “They don’t pay Crawford, Roger Stevens, Alexander Co- sion to the University of Pennsylvania me anymore!” He still does research at a hen) and productions (“Finian’s Rainbow”, (entering 2007). somewhat slower pace. His major current “Guys and Dolls”, “Hello Dolly”, “The interest is in one aspect of data mixing Fantasticks”, “Marat/Sade”, “Luther”, 1942______specifically relevant to detecting genes “Carnival”, and ten of Neil Simon’s plays involved in complex diseases. starting with “Barefoot in the Park” and Howard Bennett just finished his Morton Klotz has been retired since ending with “The Sunshine Boys”) of the 1,490th song! Howard and his wife, Pau- 1981 after a 30 year career as a chemist, American Theater. As a principal in the line, celebrated their 55th anniversary on the last 25 of which were spent on explor- public relations firm Salters, Sabinson, February 11, 2006. ing high-energy rocket propellants. Since and Roskin, he represented such artists as Rolf Hubbe is still researching retirement, he has gone back to my first Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Hume Mauck’s Meeting House in Page County, love: photography. Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Jason Robards, Virginia, a Union Church of log construc- Harold Smith has spent 30 hours a the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and tion from about 1800 — that is the history week as a volunteer tutor at elementary Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey of the building, features of its structure, schools in poor economic areas since his Circus. He joined the League of Ameri- and persons involved in its early history. retirement. can Theatres and Producers in 1976 and He is also guiding visitors through the became its Executive Director in 1982. In building as a docent for the Page County 1940______1995, he was honored with a special Tony Heritage Association. Award for Lifetime Achievement. Arnold Ritterband retired from pri- Martin Bruce was busy until age 75 vate practice of internal medicine and is consulting in industry, pursuing private now co-medical director of the Schenecta- practice and maintaining and publishing dy Free Clinic, which with mostly retired

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association  ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 CLASS NOTES volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists Maurice Laszlo is a cardiologist at Pri- went to graduate school. She still travels and others provides free medical care for tikin Longevity Institute in Arentura, FL a lot and works in community health and people without health insurance. — still working part time and loving it! youth development in Boston. She says Ted Peck continues his active involve­ Stuart Simel writes that “As I ap- that she is lucky enough to be still in ment with the Alumni Association, proach my 80th birthday, I begin to touch with many friends from high school contributing to event planning and fund­ wonder what can be said at my funeral as and looks forward to the next reunion. raising efforts. He recently traveled to to what I did to make this a better world Lisa (DeMairo) DeLange — Af- to see his son, daugher-in-law than when I entered it. In the interim, ter finishing various degrees in English and grandchildren. I am enjoying playing duplicate bridge, Literature, Culinary Arts, Restaurant James Selonick is unfortunately deal- tennis, theatre, Florida in the wintertime, Management, Food Studies and finally ing with mesothelioma and a hip replace- and the companionship of a breathtak- back at QC in Library Science, Lisa is ment but very happy with his standard ingly beautiful woman.” now a Young Adults’ Librarian in Rye, poodle. He has had him for nearly 1 1/2 NY (www.ryelibrary.org), reading and years but they are buddies. 1944______buying books for a living, suggesting to impressionable middle and high schoolers 1943______Seymour Evans is now a permanent resi- what books to read and what movies to dent of Arizona and wants to know if any watch, maintaining the library’s website Richard Amelar was the recipient of the other alumni are in the Phoenix area. and my own, and having fun! 1999 Distinguished Andrologist Award Gerald Halpern recently retired from Kevin Kim is a partner in a law of the American Society of Andrology, his practice after a long and distinguished firm and also serves as an aide to U.S. for his leadership and contributions to career in law. He and his wife Carol Congressman Gary Ackerman. Kevin the progress of Andrology. His clinical recently traveled to Australia. Jerry and recently was the keynote speaker at the research began in 1958 with studies on Carol live in Great Neck, New York. Townsend Harris High School Found- patients with congenital absence of the ers’ Day ceremony. vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles, 1988______Daniel Lew resides in Minneapo- determining that their semen lacked lis, got married in 2004, and is now the fructose and failed to coagulate upon Rogelio Alvarez is still in the Navy as the managing attorney for public defender ejaculation. He has made several con- Executive Officer onboard a Guided Mis- services in Northeastern Minnesota. tributions to the understanding of male sile Frigate in Mayport, Florida. Tanya M. Odom continues to work infertility, and is known for his publica- Elizabeth (Bulla) Castelli reports that as a diversity and inclusion consultant tions on sperm and semen analysis, the she is a stay-at-home with 4 children; 3 and coach, as well as continues to work diagnosis and surgery of varicoceles and boys and 1 girl, ages 2 thru 11. in schools and not for profits. She was congenital anomalies of the male repro- Julie Chan recently joined the Com- recently profiled inNew Visions and Business ductive tract, and studies which laid the mercial Real Estate Practice of CIT in Magazine. “On the side,” she serves as foundation of knowledge for assisted New York City. She continues as the the co-president of the Alumni Associa- reproductive technology methods in the THAA Vice-President as well. tion. She is also now on the Board of the treatment of infertility. He has lectured Karen (Vandenburg) Curzio works Vassar College Alumni Association. She extensively and has authored numerous at Ernst & Young. She has been married resides in Manhattan. books, book chapters, and articles. Be- to James Curzio since 2000 and has three Cheryl (Schustack) Smith is married sides teaching, his current interests are children. with one daughter. She has a doctorate in in the field of Public Health, serving as Nicolle Dabbs is an AIDS certified organizational psychology. an Expert Consultant to the New York registered nurse in the division of Infec- State Department of Health. tious Diseases Division at North Shore 1989______Irving Hirschberg is doing community University Hospital in Manhasset. She service, including tutoring. He is playing has worked there for the past six years. Lisa (Feintuch) Brodsky relocated to golf and tennis, and also is writing poetry. Love Foy started teaching high school Massachusetts in 2004 where she cur- Joseph Kesselman — Since his retire- English in at Prospect Heights. rently lives and works. She is still teach- ment a few years ago as CEO of a public She then transferred to Brandeis High ing and would like to go back to school company, he has continued to serve on the School and taught English there for 8 at some point to finish her doctorate. She boards of several companies, both public years. She left that to become a staff hopes everyone is well and says hello to and non-public, in the developer in and now is work- Elliott Roman, Corey Ackerman, Ian and abroad. He has been married for 52 ing at the district/regional level. “I have a Madover, Heather Wacht, Esther Soffer years, has three married daughters, seven daughter named Thandiwe. We call her and the classes of 1988 and 1989! grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Thandie for short! She is 5 years old.” Catherine Cadette has been living He would be pleased to hear from any of Varsha Ghosh, after college, partici- in London for five years. I married an his classmates: [email protected]. pated in VISTA and Peace Corps and Englishman. She has been working at J.P.

10 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY CLASS NOTES Morgan, managing communications in cal Seminary in December of 2003 and Samuel. The family lives in New City, Europe, and has been rebuilding a very old have been pastoring since that time.” New York. and very leaky sailboat on the weekends. Wladyslaw (Vava) Roczniak received Sean Davis currently resides in Bowie, 1990______a Bachelor’s Degree in History and in Maryland and is in the process of fin- Philosophy and Masters in Philosophy ishing his doctoral degree in education Lisa Antinore-Duer writes that she is “on from Queens College, and a Masters in at George Washington University. He maternity leave from my junior high school History and a Ph.D in History from the started his own mental health clinic for ESL position with the Board of Dread… Graduate Center, CUNY. Vava spent children four years ago and it is doing err Ed… Did I say that? These days eight years teaching history as an adjunct well. He has been married for nine years I’m raising my scrumptious 2.5 year old, at Queens College while working on a and has a five year old daughter. Michael Jude, with my husband, attorney Ph.D dissertation, and now, for the past Adrienne Valencia Garcia is a senior Paul Duer in beautiful North Flushing two years, has been an Assistant Profes- attorney at IBM and got married to Jai- in a funky, old restored Tudor, teaching sor at Bronx Community College, CUNY. me Garcia, a music producer and deejay, SSHSAT/SAT English prep and general Kirsten Rodenbeck-Kennedy writes on October 1, 2005. advanced English enrichment to about 30 that she has been busy being a mom. Anita (Zieba-Irizarry) Graham re- brilliant students each week in the comfort Her THHS English classes have come in ceived her BS in Industrial and Labor Re- of my kitchen (many of whom end up at handy, as a few humorous articles about lations from Cornell and MBA in Finance our alma mater looking for the passionate her experiences have been published in from NYU; she has been working the teachers I’ve recalled time and again), trav- her local paper — www.themamadiaries. last 13 years in human resources. She is eling the world, reading voraciously, learn- blogspot.com. “West Point was nothing currently working as a Human Resources ing languages (Mandarin and Urdu are my compared to parenthood. Hope all is well executive in the pharmaceutical industry. two newest challenges) writing about food with my fellow Harrisites…and Girls Vol- Cory Harris is currently working as and adventures, meeting wonderful people, leyball is still #1!!!” a managing editor for a trade publication and in short appreciating my many bless- Taffy Lab founder David Stone has called Military Club Camp. ings. Life is beautiful!” experience writing commercial tracks and Jennifer (Snyder) Latner is currently Jeffrey Cohen graduated from Kel- collaborating on spots and remixes for an in-house attorney for an insurance logg with an MBA and has moved back the likes of MTV, VH-1, Tommy Hilfiger, company, working part time. Along with to Boston. He is currently an associate at Jennifer Lopez, Donna Summer, Etta her husband Ted, she welcomed son Sam McKinsey & Company, the management James, In Demand, Reebok, Columbia in December of 2004. She resides in Port consulting firm. University and the Magnolia Pictures Washington, New York. After graduating Baruch College, Sera award-winning film “Control Room”. Eileen Gunn recently published Your Congi worked as a reporter and anchor His experience as a pianist, drummer, Career Is An Extreme Sport, published by at WCAX in Burlington, Vermont. Since clarinetist and alto and tenor saxophone Adams Media. She is still freelance writ- April 2005, she has been a reporter for player bring an unmistakable musical- ing, living in Brooklyn with her husband, WBZ in Boston, Massachusetts. ity to the commercial world. David also and traveling as much as possible. David Herszenhorn continues as has live performance, composition and Renata Kobetts Miller recently THAA co-Chairman and has relocated recording experience with former Profile/ published her first book, Recent Reinter- with his wife, Christina Pan Marshall ‘90 Another Planet artists, The Insteps. His pretations of Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll And Mr. to Washington, D.C. with their two sons, first work composing was scoring the fea- Hyde: Why and How This Novel Continues to Miles and Isaac. David now covers the ture-length independent film “3rd On A Affect Us. U.S. Congress for Match”. From sound design to full scor- Stephanie (Epstein) Ralton has been while Christina continues to practice law. ing projects and everything in between, taking care of her daughter, Melli. Along Scott Kossove was recently made a his philosophy of “there is validity in all with her husband, she resides in Great partner in the law firm, L’Abbate, Balkan, forms of music” and his love of music in Neck, New York. Colavita & Contini, LLP, where he is a all its permutations is clearly audible in Steven Torres reports: “Life is good litigator, primarily representing lawyers, every track he writes. for me and my family. I am pastoring two accountants and directors and officers. churches in Upstate New York. My wife Donna Manion is now the THAA 1991______Deborah and I now have two children. We Secretary. She recently joined the law have a daughter Grace who was born in firm DLA Piper as the Legal Recruiting Natashi (Pino) Anthony is married with November of 2004 and our son Noah who Manager. four children, three boys and a girl, and was born in February of 2006. I graduated David Mattis just moved to Los An- resides in Fairfax, Virginia. Three out of from Queens College in 1994 and after geles to continue working with Circle of her four children are in Gifted and Talent- several years of floating around with no Confusion, managing screenwriters and ed programs in their schools. She is an of- direction God found me and called me to directors. fice assistant in her daughter’s elementary ministry. I received my Master of Divinity David Nelson and his wife Lisa have school and has been for the last five years. degree from Andrews University Theologi- two children — Jessica Hailey and Jack She would love to get in touch with Nan-

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association 11 ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 CLASS NOTES dita Mathur, Nisha Chopra, Margaret David Park returned from a year long Sussman’s little sister graduated from my Kasahara, Inga Laino, Jessica Rodriguez, deployment to Babil Province, Iraq. He alma mater, Hampshire College. Through Tasha Bailey and Elena Murray. “Please conducted over 50 combat patrols and my mom’s group, I met Michelle Agin email me at [email protected]!” four raids as a company commander in (nee Bilbao). Small world!” Kathleen Critharis-Carras has start- charge of 150 Army combat troops. David Samantha (Graber) Hawson married ed a PhD on urban science education. returned to Iraq in October of 2007. Ron in 2002 and is living in Westchester, Michael Detweiler is currently Shari and Jason Nocera have two New York. Samantha finished all of her deployed to “Southwest Asia” provid- daughters – Sydney and Sophia. They actuarial exams in 2003 and is now a full- ing psychological support to Operation reside in Long Island, New York. fledged Fellow of the Society of Actuar- Iraqi/Enduring Freedom. He is currently Dien Taylor reports that “Susan Appel, ies. She had a baby boy named Brandon the sole member of the Persian Gulf my biology teacher and wonderful Assis- Joshua Hawson in March 2007. Townsend Harris Alumni Association tant Principal for Science, Music and Art, Michelle (Brandoff) Hecht met her Chapter, as far as he knows. tutors young people in my parish’s Home- husband on the popular www.jdate.com Justine Eisenstein got married in work Help Tutorial Ministry. We are still website in 1999 and was married in 2004. May 2006. laughing…no surprises there. It’s wonder- They have a baby boy, Jordan, who was Marissa Gluck reports that “After ful to have Mrs. Appel around. In other born in November 2005 and according to working in advertising and research in news, I recently returned from Finland mother, is gorgeous! Michelle has been New York for seven years, I left in 2002 as the main speaker for an international in pharmaceutical sales for years now, to go to graduate school at the London Lutheran Youth Gathering in Turku.” concentrating on treatment for heart School of Economics and the University diseases and heart attack prevention, if of Southern California.” She now resides 1993______possible. She currently resides in Bayside, in Los Angeles and has started her own New York. custom research and consulting company: Christine Benedetto was married to Ya-Ching Liu is still working at Radar Research. Justin Brown and now resides in Cincin- Hewitt Associates and also teaches ball- Craig Slutzkin is the Chief Financial nati, . She is an attorney for National room dance at Ballroom Dance Sport in Officer of New Leaf Venture Partners, City Bank. Southport, CT in the evenings. “I have a healthcare technology venture capital Stephen Dackson has been working not competed professionally for a year so firm based in New York that manages as an assistant editor at Dateline NBC if there are any guys out there needed a over $1.3 billion in assets. He has also in New York City for the past two years. partner, look me up!” been the co-president of the Alumni As- He has also created five video pieces in Laarni (Mateo) Hazel works in sociation for three years. Craig resides in the last year for an art installation in Los the Advisory Services group of PriceWa- Manhattan. Angeles. His screenwriting career also terhouseCoopers. She currently resides Keith Wilken married Melanie received a boost when his script, The in Brooklyn, New York with her hus- Eichelbaum, Class of ’91 after high Brane Universe, placed in the semi-finals, band Andre and two year old daughter school. They have a son, Kieran Scott. top 50 out of over 2,000 entries, at the Lailah Drea. They are now living in Seaford, LI. Slamdance Screenplay Competition. Melissa Rothchild completed the Co- Jung Yueh got married in 2005, and Jaime Edrosa lives in the Reno, lumbia University MBA Program in 2006. resides in Iowa City, IA since 2006. Nevada area and really likes it out here. Stephanie (Strajchter) Schaefer left The weather is great, the mountains are a career in construction project manage- 1992______awesome, and Lake Tahoe is great. ment to become a Social Studies teacher. Danielle (Tropea) Friedland and her She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Lauren Caiaccia went back to school at husband welcomed their daughter Anya at The Young Women’s Leadership none other than Queens College. She is Lucia into the world on October 14, 2005. School of Queens, a single-sex public getting state certified to teach physical Danielle left her job at Avon Products to school in Jamaica, Queens. She is also education and is coaching at stay home with Anya but since then her the proud mom of an almost 5 year old City College. website, The Celebrity Baby Blog (www. son, Jacob. Bari Schultz Evola and her husband celebrity-babies.com), has been so suc- Adisai Sirisinha returned to her home welcomed their first child, Enzo Anthony, cessful that she runs it full-time in addi- in Bangkok, Thailand. She attended in January 2007. tion to caring for Anya at home. She just university in Bangkok and is currently Adrienne Donovan Kraus and her incorporated and can put “President” on working for Ford Thailand as Product husband David welcomed their first child, her business card! “It’s a crazy, hectic life Planning Manager. a baby boy named Dylan Donovan Kraus but I love it! I started a mother’s group on November 22, 2005. in Forest Hills — we now have over 20 1994______Melanie Nappi got married on Sep- moms and meet every Thursday. I haven’t tember 23, 2005 to Daniel Buckley. She is seen my old gang for a long time but I Aleema Bacchus-Hosein will be cel- currently working for CVS as a Supervis- know that Alexis Vega Singer just gave ebrating her 8th anniversary this July. ing Pharmacist in Forest Hills, N.Y. her daughter a brother and that Marni She and her husband, Saleem, have two

12 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY CLASS NOTES girls and a boy, and recently bought a kindergarten in September and loving Florence Wasserman has been house in Long Island. every minute of it! teaching pre-K at a private preschool in Jennifer Chand and her husband own Manhattan while slowly but surely work- a small, cozy, hip, thriving coffee shop in 1995______ing towards a master’s degree in early a burgeoning neighborhood of artists and childhood education. bohemians in East Williamsburg, Brook- Bonnie Levis Aronowitz — I live in lyn. Owning her own business has been southern Vermont with my husband, 1996______such an exciting journey. She says, “It’s Oliver, and my one-year-old son, Gavriel. great to be part of such an interesting and We spend our time taking care of our Jessica Gazsy graduated from Brown creative community. Potion (the name cow and chickens, and the guests at our University in 2000, married her college of the cafe) just celebrated its first an- holistic retreat. You can see photos of us sweetheart in 2003 and graduated from niversary. And speaking of anniversaries, and find out what we’re up to at www. Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2004. my husband and I just celebrated our 6 teleionholon.com. She is performing a combined Internal month anniversary. If any of you are in the Kelly Villella Canton got married in Medicine and Pediatrics residency at neighborhood, please stop by for a cup of September 2004. Along with her hus- Mount Sinai Hospital. coffee.” band, John, she bought an apartment in Nancy (Manzolillo) Pierdipino Betty Chu recently switched careers. Douglaston, New York. She is Acquisi- received her MA in Marriage and Family After seven years of teaching second-grade tions Editor, Curriculum and Instruction Therapy from Hofstra University. She in Chelsea, she is now working full-time at Allyn & Bacon. sees clients and is working toward her as an Event Planner at Harvard Business Seth Cohen is currently a litigation New York State MFT License. Nancy School. She continues to teach part-time at attorney with Orrick, Herrington and Sut- got married in October 2006 to Salvatore the Museum of Science in the evenings. cliffe LLP in Manhattan. Before joining Pierdipino, bought a home in Howard David Eber and wife Stacy had their Orrick, Seth was a summer associate in the Beach and is hoping to get in touch with first child, Mason Charles Eber, in Janu- New York office in 2004, and a summer Stella Apostolidis. ary 2007, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces. law clerk to the Honorable Nina Gershon Kristy Sottolano reports that “After David and his family live in Pittsburgh, in the Eastern District of New York in working in Broadway advertising and PA. David works for Carnegie Mel- 2003. Seth is also co-founder and vice publishing (DC Comics) for three years, lon University’s Heinz School of Public president of NightFunk.com, a nationally I switched gears and went back to school. Policy and Management as the Director recognized online entertainment guide for I’m expecting to graduate with my M.S. of Admissions. college students, from 1998-2000. Before in Childhood Education in December Stephanie (Bernstein) Nelson is his legal career, Seth served as an associate 2006, and I’m currently very happy teach- living in Huntington, New York, with producer at ABCNews in New York from ing in a private school. I recently moved her husband, Christopher. She has been 2000-2002, researching and writing con- to Forest Hills, where I’m living with my teaching English at Herricks High School tent for ABCNews.com and Good Morn- boyfriend, a freelance and comic book for seven years and has taken on the ing America’s website. Seth also was the artist for DC Comics.” daunting (and often rewarding) task of lead singer and lyricist of two rock bands, Louvere Walker resides in Boston, newspaper advisor. She saw Dr. Larg- one of which, Who’s Confused, released its Massachusetts and works as a Training mann at a party in December 2006, which debut album in May 2005. Engineer (this job is a Trainer/Consultant was very nice! Miguel DaSilva married his college position) for the MathWorks, Inc. Jennifer (Nitka) Perri is working as a sweetheart Michelle in July 2005 to Mi- special educator and a mother to a beauti- chelle Teixeira. He reports that he is still 1997______ful son, Jack. in touch with Nancy Torres ‘95. Susan Stewart continues her double Jasmine Flores works in Chinatown Ilana (Yagudaev) Aranbaev is married, life as a professional actor and book pub- at a non-profit Chinese ministry called has two kids and is currently practicing as licist. In 2005, she played a bridesmaid Chinese Christian Herald Crusades. a Pediatric Physical Therapist. in a national Verizon commercial, and Anthony Kunjbehari currently works as Michael Garber has had a bunch of also originated a role at the Cherry Lane a Business Analyst/Relationship Manager amazing experiences since graduating, Theatre. She appears in the new music for a software firm in Syracuse, New York. everything from being a waiter at Planet video at www.aaronhillandthecrimson- Matthew Soran graduated from Hollywood , to working guard.com, and is currently promoting Brooklyn Law School in June 2005 and for WXRK 92.3 FM K-ROCK Radio. authors Joe Conason, Kevin Phillips, and is an Associate in the New York office of After transferring from Clark University, Barbara Stanny. O’Melveney and Myers. he landed himself in a Neuroscience/Cell Teresa Tse graduated from UCLA An- Michael Stein got married in January, Biology program at Rutgers University, derson with an MBA is now an Investment 2005, separated from the Navy after five New Brunswick. After doing research on Banking Associate at JPMorgan Chase. years of service in the nuclear propulsion transgenic mice in exploration of cell cycle Anna (Schinco) Walters is raising her program and moved to Bellmore, New control mechanisms in the central nervous 5-year-old daughter Kaitlyn who started York with his wife and two dogs. system, he ended up working for Bellevue

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association 13 ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 CLASS NOTES Hospital Center as a coordinator and educa- www.larkingolf.com and tells us that she hearing from old classmates of graduating tor in a Bioterrorism Preparedness course. still keeps in touch with the “Barbies” class of ‘99! Wendy Monterosso married her from THHS (‘94-’98). college sweetheart and is now a Staff Natalka (Palczynski) Roumeliotis 2000______Hydrogeologist. was married on July 29, 2006 to her col- Jerome Sherman is the Washington, lege sweetheart, John Roumeloiotis. She Paul Bruno attended the School of Visual D.C. correspondent for the Pittsburgh continues to work in finance at J.P. Mor- Arts in Manhattan to study painting but Post-Gazette. gan Private Bank in Midtown Manhattan. then switched his major to graphic design. Nicole Strippoli is an associate with During his third year, while working at 1998______the law firm of Wein, Young, Fenton & an art gallery, he was offered a great job Kelsey handling all aspects of law with a with Playboy Enterprises as a product de- Chanda (Casas) Delgado graduated from specialty in real estate and trusts. signer and decided to take it. He worked Marymount College in 2002 with a BS in Linda Sulsona graduated magna cum at Playboy for almost two years and then Business Administration. She is currently laude with a B.B.A. in Advertising and got a job as a designer at Star Magazine. a clinical trials coordinator in the depart- Sales Promotion, and finished her M.B.A He worked at Star for a little over a ment of Neurology at Memorial Sloan concentrating in Marketing. She works year when he was offered the position of Kettering Cancer Center. Chanda tells us at Valassis in metro Detroit working with Associate Art Director for Seventeen. He that she was married to a wonderful man, research data/census info/demographics accepted, but in his absence, Star realized Joel Delgado, last year and is currently to define target audiences for client adver- what a loss they were dealing with, and going for a degree in Nursing. tising promotions. counter-offered in a way that he could not Kimberly Finneran is in her fifth year refuse! So now he is back at Star as As- of teaching Social Studies, and is now at a 1999______sociate Art Director. middle school in Huntington, NY. Ramon Gallegos has been working at Melissa Gibilaro graduated from St. Erin Buscemi has been living in Chicago Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst. John’s in 2002 with a BA in Psychol- and working a residential treatment facil- He is hoping to retire at 40 and start get- ogy and did the job hop as a substitute ity for adolescents with severe behav- ting enough sleep! teacher, counselor for homeless youth ioral problems since 2003. She earned a Simona Polyakov earned a bachelor’s at Covenant House and then Volunteer Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2006. degree in Business from Stony Brook Uni- Liaison at Covenant House. Now, she is Amy Chan-Daniels recently com- versity. She recently started law school. back at St. John’s working in the Office pleted her doctoral degree in Biomedi- Donna Wasserman graduated summa of Campus Ministry on the Staten Island cal Engineering; Biotechnology, and is cum laude from Hofstra University with campus…yes — the other borough. currently a post-doc at The University a BBA in Finance in May 2004. She has Melissa tells us that “I try to keep of Massachusetts at Lowell, working on been working at Estee Lauder for the past my sanity by volunteering as a youth Alzheimer’s therapeutics. She got married two years (she also interned in the finance minister in my parish, Chapter Advisor in May 2007. Amy and husband reside in department there during her senior year). for Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority – Beta Tewksbury, MA. She is currently working in the corpo- Omega Chapter, Northeast Youth Rep- Marla (Diamond) Lemonik is happily rate financial planning department as a resentative for the Society of St. Vincent married and living on the Upper West financial analyst. She is currently enrolled de Paul, and member of the THAA Side in Manhattan. She started another in the company’s on-site MBA program Board of Directors, among other things. company — Calm Kallahs LLC and loves through Hofstra and is expecting to com- My love for DMB hasn’t faded — and being a wedding planner! plete her MBA in May 2008. the summer of ‘07 plans to have me hit Nancy Luo works in merchandising up shows #26, 27 and 28. Oh, sweet at Ann Taylor Stores doing what she says 2001______outdoor concerts!” she likes to do best: buying clothes. Daniel Gold is currently a resident Regina Marasia resides in Connecticut Danielle Carlino graduated from Queens in Internal Medicine at the North Shore and works with Verizon Wireless. College June 2005 with a B.A. in Urban University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. Maggie Yuan recently celebrated her Studies. She is currently attending Queens Eleanor Hynes is an associate at Good- one-year anniversary with her husband, College MAT (Master of Arts in Teach- win Procter LLP in Washington, D.C., Clifton Lin, on June 17. She is still in ing) Graduate Program and is working focusing on intellectual property law. school, having just finished her third year full time at a publishing company in Long Erika (Zwetkow) Larkin was married in human development and psychology at Island City, New York. April 1, 2005 to Mike Larkin. She became the Harvard Graduate School of Educa- Vivian Intermont worked as a para- a Class A PGA Golf Professional in Sep- tion. Her research is on sleeping habits of legal at the NAACP Legal Defense and tember 2006 after 3 years of certification early adolescents and risk factors associ- Educational Fund. and education and is currently teaching ated with poor sleeping behavior. Maggie Alice Iosifescu is in medical school at golf at a private country club in Fairfax, and Clifton just bought their first home in Mount Sinai. She had previously gradu- VA. She is publishing a new website: Arlington, MA. She is looking forward to ated from Columbia University.

14 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY CLASS NOTES Asha Rhodes teaches dance at the of Nursing. She reports, “It is such an Pierrepont School in Westport, CT, and amazing program. It challenges me every Faculty______is a dancer in the Jamal Jackson Dance day and encourages me to become a com- Company. passionate and learned individual. I get Michael Anzel has been busy as an at- Sachindeep Singh graduated from to spend seven hours a week at a hospital torney, adjunct at Nassau Community Stony Brook University with a double interacting with the patients and incorpo- College, and this fall at C.W. Post. He major in Economics and Business Man- rating the skills I learned in the class- recently attended an Alumni Association agement. Sachindeep is currently working room. It’s such an exciting opportunity!” event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst Shanay Freeman has interned at the during the summer. in the Securities Team of the Management Brooklyn District Attorney’s office in the Lawrence Ceraulo, athletics instruc- Controls Department. juvenile crimes department and plans on tor, has been playing tennis at least four Sara Tilitz is a paralegal and aspiring going to law school. She is a Forensic times a week, golf and plays poker once law student. Psychology Major with a minor in Crimi- a week. He won the Martin county and nal Justice. She is also a member of the Florida State doubles tournament (ages 2002______Women’s Team at her college. 50-54) in 2004. In 2005, he won the county doubles tournament (ages 55-59) Rosa Celeste graduated Pace University 2005______and the county singles tournament (50-54 in three years and then went straight to and 55-59). Mr. Ceraulo currently works law school. She attends Florida Coastal Matthew Aglialoro is currently studying part-time at Indian River Community School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. abroad in Vienna. College in Stuart. He works in the As- Marisa Cohen graduated from Cornell Raquel Albarracin continues her stud- sessment Center, proctoring all the on-line University in May 2006 and started her ies at Hunter College. Her ultimate goal is exams, pre-admission and final examina- studies as a PhD student in Educational getting her PhD in Psychology. tions. He tells us that he has made many Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Anthony Diehm is attending Polytech- new friends and stays busy and plays... a Center. During the Fall, 2007, she will be nic University and is a civil engineering lot! He truly enjoys retirement but does instructing two undergraduate psychol- major. miss his friends and colleagues at THHS. ogy courses at Hunter College. Catherine Durante is attending Bryn Saul Cohen continues as a member of Anton De Pasquale is attending Poly- Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA. She has the State Board of Regents to encourage technic University as a graduate student decided to be a math major and also concen- other schools to achieve the excellence for a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. trate on pre-dental. She plans to go to the attained by Townsend Harris. Jennifer Fernandez graduated from University of Pennsylvania dental school. Sondra Eiseman is now retired and Yale last May and completed the Coro Kimberly Go attends Barnard College, living in Florida, but just for the winter Fellowship in Public Affairs. majoring in East Asian studies. She went months. She plays lots of tennis, a little to Beijing, China for a language acquisi- golf and goes to concerts, plays and book 2003______tion program with Columbia University. reviews. She plans to study abroad again, this time Malcom G. Largmann, Harry Rat- Steven Torem completed his BA in in Melbourne, Australia. tien and Franco Scardino were panelists psychology from Binghamton University Brian Na has been an undergradu- at the annual meeting (see page 1). and is now getting ready to begin gradu- ate at Harvard College. As a history and Anthony Morales, former art instruc- ate school at St. John’s University School science major, he would like to go onto tor, currently studies civil engineering of Law. Although his high school friends medical school. He writes, “I value my courses at Nassau Community College might be surprised to discover that medi- Harris education everyday; it has taught and also freelances in architectural design cal school was not in the books for him, me time management, critical thinking and construction. His objectives are to they will be reassured to know that he is and writing really great papers!” complete a master’s degree of architecture still working and volunteering as an Ad- and to become a certified architect. vanced Emergency Medical Technician. 2006______Myron Moskowitz recently attended the 2007 Founders Day ceremony at the 2004______Amber Samalot received the JP Morgan high school. Chase Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Aida Branez has been an honors student Scholarship. She has also been a full time at SUNY Albany, expecting to graduate JP Morgan intern. a year early. She is double majoring in Maryam Sultan — During the sum- Political Science and Japanese Studies. mer after her graduation from Townsend Aida finished her second study abroad in Harris, she worked at Mount Sinai Japan as well as visited Thailand. School of Medicine, continuing scientific Dhanwanti Doma started the Nursing research on the genetic causes of autism. Program at the Hunter-Bellevue School

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association 15 ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 u Obituaries u

ver the past two years, Townsend of Milwaukee, in 1944. Mr. Elbaum was In September 1939, as war was be- Harris lost many members of its the proprietor of Nelson’s Embroidery, ginning in Europe, he joined the Army Oalumni family. Our Florida chap- a business specializing in custom quilts Air Corps as an enlisted man. He was ter lost four longtime Board members and embroidery. He was a life member of sent to England to repair Boeing B-17 ­— Al Feld ‘40, Harold Jaffa ‘40, Norman Friends of Na’amat. bombers and Martin B-24’s, both used Packer ‘35 and Henry Scheier ‘32. u in the bombing of Germany. In 1943, as Below find obituaries of a few of our a captain, he was awarded the Legion fellow classmates and friends: Edward Hall, 91, Class of 1931 of Merit, an unusual award for a junior Col. Edward N. Hall, an engineer officer, for devising a way to repair a David Aronoff, 81, Class of 1942 who as an intelligence officer scrutinized bomber’s fuselage rapidly. By Ted Peck ‘42 the V-2 rockets of Nazi Germany and His introduction to missiles came near The first name in April 5th’sNew York went on to supervise programs leading to the end of the war, when he was assigned Times obituary list is my classmate and the development of the United States’ in- to acquire intelligence on Germany’s friend David Aronoff ‘42. He died of can- tercontinental ballistic missiles, including wartime propulsion work. He analyzed cer on April 4th. Dave was a remarkable the Minuteman, died on Jan. 15, 2006 in parts recovered from exploded V-2 rock- guy, probably the finest swimmer to ever Torrance, Calif. He was 91. ets or retrieved by spies. attend Townsend Harris, and still playing As relations with the Soviet Union At war’s end, he led a group to Germa- tennis at 81. Although he was a so-so stu- rapidly deteriorated after World War ny to study underground missile assembly dent in his Harris days, he became a true II, fears surged in the American military facilities at Camp Dora. He assisted in the intellectual in his later years. He con- that the Russians were gaining superior- division of captured missile equipment tinued to take college courses until the ity in missile technology. As hundreds between England and the United States. very end of his life, expanding his mind of millions of dollars were poured into a After a second European tour, he was and satisfying his curiosity. It always crash program to jump-start the American stationed at what is now Wright-Patter- impressed me that he studied Italian so effort, Colonel Hall emerged as a technical son Air Force Base in Ohio to work on a that he could read Italian literature in its leader, particularly in the rush to develop variety of rockets, including the Bomarc, original form. It didn’t seem pretentious rockets using solid, not liquid fuel. Navaho, Snark, Rascal and Falcon. In or artificial when he mentioned to me one His result was the Minuteman, the 1951, he was a leading instigator of what day how much he enjoyed reading Ovid’s first 10 of which were installed in nearly became the Atlas program. poetry. (In translation, in this case.) impregnable underground silos in Octo- From November 1953 to February Dave was personable, kind, generous ber 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis. 1954, Colonel Hall served as Wright’s and thoughtful — a straight talker who Ultimately 1,000 were positioned in hid- representative at meetings of the Air spoke from the heart but was careful not den locations in the Midwest. Force group, overseeing ICBM develop- to offend. A very private person, I don’t In 1999, J. D. Hunley, an Air Force ment, popularly known as the Teapot know if he had any very close friends, historian, wrote that even considering the Committee. In August 1954, he moved to but I know I cherished him as a dear technical complexity of weapons pro- Los Angeles. friend. At our 1942 Commencement cer- grams, where assigning individual credit He retired in 1959, and the next emonies, Dave was awarded two medals is exceedingly difficult, Colonel Hall was year won a second Legion of Merit. He relating to strength of character. They “pivotal to the development” of the missile. worked for the United Aircraft Corpora- sure had that right. At the time of the Minuteman project, tion and several other firms, and in 1999 u Colonel Hall had already led develop- was elected to the Air Force Space and ment of some of the principal liquid-fuel Missile Hall of Fame. Louis Elbaum, 95, Class of 1928 missiles, the Atlas, Titan and Thor. In addition to his daughter, who lives Louis Elbaum, a New York business- Edward Nathaniel Hall was born in in Calabasas, Calif., Colonel Hall was man, passed away in Miami, FL, Tuesday Forest Hills, Queens, on Aug. 4, 1914. survived by his wife of 62 years, the October 23, 2007, at the age of 95. Mr. He was the son of a furrier who went former Edith Shawcross, and his sons, Elbaum was born in New York City, bankrupt in the Depression, but he David, of La Crescenta, Calif., and Jona- where he attended Townsend Harris was able to attend the City College of than, of Kendall Park, N.J. High School and New York City College. New York, which was then free, where u He received his JD degree from Brook- he earned undergraduate and master’s lyn Law School and was admitted to the degrees in chemical engineering. Later, Monroe Inker, 80, Class of 1942 New York Bar in 1941. During World while in the Air Force, he earned a From the Boston Herald, Tuesday, April War II, Mr. Elbaum served in the U.S. master’s degree in aeronautical engineer- 18, 2006: Army Air Corps as an instructor in radio ing (propulsion option) from the Califor- Monroe Inker of Newton, a lawyer, mechanics. He married Esther Hianny, nia Institute of Technology. teacher and author, died Saturday of

16 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY Obituaries heart failure at his home. He was 80. War II. From 1951 to 1952, he served as and was Of Counsel to Dornbush Shaef- Born in Boston, Mr. Inker grew up special counsel to a United States Senate fer Strongin & Venaglia. He specialized in Brighton Beach, N.Y., where he at- committee headed by Estes Kefauver. in corporate and tax law. Lynton, who tended Townsend Harris High School. The televised hearings of the committee was a graduate of the Class of 1925, He later attended showed the extent to which Mafia figures attended Yale University and Harvard on the GI Bill. had received special treatment from gov- Law School and was a member of Phi He began his law career as a crimi- ernment officials. Beta Kappa. He was mourned by his wife nal defense lawyer before moving into Yet Mr. Kostelanetz always said he Hattie, sons Stephen and Dick, as well as family law in the 1960s. His advocacy felt more at home as a courtroom advo- his granddaughters. for women’s rights and child welfare led cate than an administrator on Capitol u to the passage of no-fault divorce and Hill. In 1946, he helped found the law equitable division of marital assets statute firm that evolved into Kostelanetz & David Mark, 81, Class of 1939 in 1975. Fink, and he continued to show up at the David Everett Mark was an American As a young man, Mr. Inker taught at office regularly until just before he died. career diplomat. Harvard and Northeastern University During his long career, Mr. Kostela- Born in New York City to Leslie Mark, Law School. Later, he taught at Boston netz handled a heavy load of tax evasion and Lena Tyor Mark, Mark graduated College and Suffolk Law School. He and cases. Among the clients he defended from Columbia University, and while Charles Kindregan co-wrote the four- were Bobby Baker, a protégé of Presi- serving in the Army Air Corps during volume Massachusetts Practice Books on dent Lyndon B. Johnson; Dr. W. Ken- World War II, he completed his studies at Family Law, now in its fourth edition. He neth Riland, the physician to President Columbia Law School. He joined the U.S. also co-wrote an annual paperback on Richard M. Nixon and Gov. Nelson A. Foreign Service in 1946, serving in South domestic relations rules. Rockefeller; and Anthony Conrad, chair- Korea, Germany, Finland, Romania, and Mr. Inker was survived by his wife of man of the RCA Corporation. His efforts Moscow in the 1950s. 46 years, Elaine; two daughters, Lauren were frequently successful. In the early 1960s, Mark served in of Needham and Rachel of Jericho, VT; Born in 1911 to a wealthy family in various capacities in the “Intelligence four grandchildren and a niece. pre-revolution Russia, Mr. Kostelanetz and Research Bureau” until his appoint- u and his family fled St. Petersburg and ment as Ambassador to Burundi from eventually arrived in New York when he 1974 to 1977. From 1979 to 1981 he Boris Kostelanetz, 94, Class of 1928 was 9. served again at the U.S. State Depart- Boris Kostelanetz, considered the In 1933, Mr. Kostelanetz joined Price ment as a deputy assistant Secretary of dean of tax defense lawyers, died in early Waterhouse as an accountant. But to State. After retirement from government 2006 at St. Vincent’s Hospital near his stand out from his peers, he enrolled in 1981, he consulted on international home in Manhattan. He was 94. at St. John’s University law school at affairs for ALCOA in Pittsburgh, Penn- Mr. Kostelanetz, a founding part- night. Upon graduating from law school, sylvania. ner of Kostelanetz & Fink, handled the he joined the United States attorney’s A gifted linguist, Mark spoke fluent defense in tax evasion cases for scores of office in New York, where his financial Russian, German, and French, and was well-known clients like Imelda Marcos background made him the expert in conversant in Portuguese, Spanish, Ital- and James Brown. But he made his own prosecuting complex securities and tax ian and Japanese. With the break-up of name as a tenacious federal prosecutor crimes. the Soviet Union in 1989 and the dearth who took on organized crime. Mr. Kostelanetz was an adjunct profes- of Russian linguists, Mark was asked to As a special assistant to the United sor of taxation at , help establish the American Embassy in States attorney general in 1939, Mr. where he also served as a trustee. He was the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Kostelanetz helped expose the Mafia’s also president of the New York County He returned to Tbilisi in 1992 to partici- ties to the movie industry. He went on to Lawyer’s Association and chairman of pate in helping the Georgians write their prosecute several organized crime figures the character and fitness committee of the Constitution. who had infiltrated the International Al- Appellate Division, which oversees the During the 1990s until his death, liance of Theatrical and Stage Employees admission of lawyers to the bar. Mark was an active member of the and extorted huge sums of money from Mr. Kostelanetz’s wife, Ethel, died in Council on Foreign Relations in New Hollywood studios and neighborhood 2002. In addition to his daughter, Mr. York City. He volunteered every week cinemas. That 1943 case was among the Kostelanetz is survived by a son, Rich- for nine years as a guide and translator first to lead to convictions for murder, ard, and a granddaughter. for Big Apple Greeters of New York. extortion and conspiracy directly under u He worked full time as a licensed New federal statutes, not state laws. York City tour guide for Gray Line/ Soon afterward, Mr. Kostelanetz was Harold S. Lynton , 97, Class of 1925 CoachUSA, sharing his love for the city appointed chief of the war frauds section Harold S. Lynton died at age 97 on with thousands of tourists each year in of the Justice Department, which exam- June 11, 2007. Lynton was a former any number of the languages he spoke. ined fiscal irregularities during World partner in the law firm of Shea & Gould Mark taught a variety of courses as an

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association 17 ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 Obituaries adjunct professor of global affairs at erick, a daughter, Judith, and stepsons that he was flown to Pearl Harbor to New York University. Steven and Miles Stuchin. supervise its installation in a submarine. Mark, 81, died in 2005 while on vaca- u After the war he turned to cosmic ray tion in northern Montana. measurements in the upper atmosphere u Gilbert Perlow, 91, Class of 1932 using captured German V2 rockets. By John Schiffer and Charles Johnson, He designed and built several detector Maurice Paprin, 85, Class of 1936 Argonne National Laboratory systems that were launched from White Maurice Paprin, a real estate entrepre- Sands, New Mexico. neur who built thousands of apartments in Gilbert Perlow, one of the pioneers of In 1952 Gil joined the faculty of the New York and spent decades promoting the Mössbauer effect and an editor of the University of Minnesota and in 1954 he liberal causes, died on November 25, 2005 Journal of Applied Physics and Applied moved to Argonne National Laboratory at a hospital in Manhattan. He was 85. Physics Letters died on February 17, where, apart from sabbaticals at Harwell Born in the Bronx, Mr. Paprin got 2007, a week after his 91st birthday. and Munich (where he was the recipient his start building single-family homes in He was born in New York City on of a Humboldt Fellowship), he spent the the 1960s and went on to build, buy and February 10, 1916. Gil went to Cornell rest of his career. manage large apartment buildings and in 1932 as an undergraduate at age 16 to Gil had always believed in the subsidized housing complexes through- study medicine, as his parents saw this importance of looking for applications out the city. as a good career during the Depression. of research and in communicating and While he made his fortune in business, But so strong was his interest in physics disseminating the results of research Mr. Paprin was busy as an activist. He (and, as he said, his talent for medicine (and indeed held a patent for using the protested U.S. wars, bought newspaper was not so great) that he switched. He Mössbauer Effect to measure y-ray po- advertisements calling President Clin- went on to graduate work at Cornell, larization). He became Editor of both the ton’s impeachment an “obscene circus” and his Masters thesis was on measure- Journal of Applied Physics and Applied and founded a nonprofit called the Fund ments of satellite x-rays was supervised Physics Letters in 1970. He retired from for New Priorities. by F. K. Richtmyer. He then moved to the Physics Division at Argonne in 1981, The group organized forums on issues the University of Chicago and did his but remained an important influence in ranging from the plight of the U.S. farmer Ph.D. thesis research with S. K. Allison the AIP’s physics journals office at Ar- and Watergate to the ouster of President on nuclear reactions of 6Li using a Van gonne until he finally retired in 1990. He Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. de Graaf accelerator. For assistance with was an inventive editor, and instituted a Mr. Paprin also served as chairman making a lithium target he consulted a high-Tc panel when these materials were of the Business, Labor and Community chemist, Mina Rea Jones, who became discovered, assuring rapid publication Coalition of New York and was president his wife as well as scientific partner until and APL’s share in this exploding field. of Associated Builders and Owners of she died in 2003. Following the example of Reviews of Greater New York for 14 years. Gil’s Ph. D. thesis was completed in Modern Physics he established Applied Mr. Paprin served on the Townsend 1940. With America’s involvement in Physics Reviews. He wrote many of the Harris Alumni Association Board of World War II approaching, he left Chi- form letters still used and his ad hoc cor- Directors for many years and was a Vice cago for the Naval Research Laboratory respondence was a delight to read. His President of the Board for several of them. in Washington DC, where he worked on constant support was highly appreciated He was survived by his wife, Jacque- submarine detection using ultrasound. by his successors. line Paprin, his sons Seth, Yale and Fred- The system he built was so successful, A witty and cultured man, he enjoyed reading, sketching, listening to music and sailing his yacht on Lake Michigan. He WANTED: ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS! served as Commodore of the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club.

The Board is looking for volunteers to help us with the following: u

u Finances u Fundraising u Event Planning u Website u Magazine and Newsletter u Chapter Liaisons production If you have an interest in volunteering in any of these areas (or one not even mentioned!), please contact Craig L. Slutzkin, Co- President, at [email protected].

18 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008 ENVOY

Association Briefs about college and career planning. or Townsend Harris Hall are men- Students were treated to a brunch and tioned, referred to or discussed in any a tour of the university campus which way. It is expected that the library’s u Townsend Harris Alumni Association was coordinated by Alicia. “Townsend Harris Corner” will even- t-shirts are now on sale! All shirts are Remarked Tanya, “I think this tually contain hundreds or even thou- white and short-sleeve and come in all was useful to the students on so many sands of volumes with a Townsend sizes. T-Shirts are $15 each. For more levels. We allayed many of their fears Harris connection. And this section by information, please email us at thaa@ about the whole college admissions its very existence will serve as a con- thaa.org. process. And they were able to hear stant reminder to present and future about how Alicia and I made our students of the accomplishments of u CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein decisions on our college and career their fellow Harrisites. It will also be a hosted a memorial service for Maury choices. ” constant reminder of what a humani- Paprin ‘36 who passed away in late ties school can produce. 2005. Among those in attendance were u The Fall semi-annual Breakfast Meet- Sidney Silverman ‘29, Ted Peck ‘42, ing of the Florida Chapter was held Please contact us at [email protected] if you Gerald P. Halpern ‘44 and current high on Thursday, November. Bob Kahal have something to donate or informa- school principal Thomas Cunningham. reports “Thankfully, the tropical storm tion to provide. You may also send items Noel with its gale force winds veered directly to: u Over 150 alumni from the Classes away from South Florida allowing the of 1992, 1997 and 2002 gathered on gathering to enjoy the usual reminis- Ms. Margherita Wischerth June 9 for their 15th, 10th and 5th cences and good natured banter.” Townsend Harris Alumni Association year reunions in Manhattan. The re- 149-11 Melbourne Avenue union was held at the famed Knitting u Townsend Harris has dedicated a Flushing, New York 11367 Factory in downtown Manhattan. section of the Malcolm G. Largmann Library exclusively to literary works u On July 1, Tanya M. Odom ‘88 and by or about Harris alumni and their Alicia Hughes ‘91 spoke with 15 cur- families. This will include works in rent students at Columbia University which Townsend Harris High School

Townsend Harris Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Last October, Abraham Bein, Irving Gerber, Hello Ms. Odom, Saul Grossman, Gerald P. Halpern, Herb Kadison, Malcolm B. Largmann, Morton I wanted to thank you for making it possible for me to attend the Townsend Lisser, Louis Lowenstein and Norman Merino Harris High School Hall of Fame Induction this year. It really wouldn’t have were inducted to the famed Townsend Har- been possible without your help. I truly appreciated every single moment of the ris Hall of Fame. Over 100 members of the night, and enjoyed spending time with such wonderful alumni and their family Townsend Harris family attended the cer- members. emonies, which were especially unique in that I felt so much pride as a Harrisite after listening to the stories and speeches they were on the campus of Baruch College on made by the new inductees. Although I knew how special Townsend Harris was 23rd Street in Manhattan, where the school and still is, the induction really enriched my knowledge of the amazing history was situated for most of the early half of the that Townsend Harris High School has. Listening to the words of the inductees 20th century. Sumit Patel, current Townsend and of the alumni I was able to speak with after the ceremony was inspiring. Harris High School student and newspaper The induction added to the passion I have for my high school and to my tremen- photography editor, attended and wrote his dous feeling of gratefulness at having a chance to leave my mark on the history thoughts about the ceremony to Tanya M. of Townsend Harris High School. Odom, co-President of THAA: I think that somehow holding the induction at Townsend Harris or making it open to all current students in the future would be spectacular. I know that my fellow students would also appreciate the induction and that it would really help them all understand how special their high school is to a greater extent. Once again, please accept my deepest gratitude for making it possible for me to witness something so special and inspirational.

Sincerely, Sumit Patel

A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association 19 ENVOY Vol 1 , No. 1 • Winter 2008

Boca Brunch Brings Together Generations

n Sunday, April 29, graduates of the Class of 1988 and members of Othe Florida Chapter gathered at the home of Ruti Kon Bell ‘88 in Boca Raton for a delicious brunch. Alumni and their families got to meet, eat and talk about their Harris experiences. Ruth Quiles took pictures to capture the festivities.

Townsend Harris Alumni Association P.O. Box 20482 New York, New York 10017-0481

20 A Publication of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association