ume 24 mber 3 NYU ALUMNUS VISITS ALMA MATER 'U Alumnus Neil Diamond, now an acclaimed international Rock music star! pays a visit to his na Mater and talks over old times with NYU Co-Captains James Bonacorda (left) and Herb Mones. ,;[ fenced for NYU from 1958 to 1962 and on the occasion of his Madison Square Garden Concert October, took the opportunity to drop in for a quick workout. (see page 3) EDITORIAL ROCK STAR GIVES UP SABER FOR ELECTRIC GUm 11JJ1EllJtllJl At the age of 65 the Chairman of the by Jay Horwitz Board of a good-sized industrial company has just asked me about going back to Most people easily identify Neil Dia­ "I rea Ily enjoyed meeti ng tl Volume 24 fEJltJJ1D fencing again. About 50 years ago he was mond as one of the top pop singer-com­ the present NYU team." said NE Number 3 interscholastic champion in foils. Now he posers in this country. But few, if any, earned seven gold albums. "n known that the Brooklyn native was a pre­ back a lot of pleasant memories Official Organ of the regrets that at Dartmouth College instead Amateur Fencers League of America of continuing with fencing he went in for miere fencer for New York University a de­ Dedicated to the Memory of the more popular sports of baseball and cade ago. JOSE R. deCAPRILES, 1912-1969 squash - with considerable distinction. Diamond, now 31 years old and living in Second Class Postage Subsequently, he played top notch polo for Beverly Hills, Calif., was in New York City Paid in Cedar Grove, N.J. many years. last Octo bel' to perform a 15-day series of Publisher: W. L. Osborn Now, ready for retirement from business, one-man show performances at the Winter he feels that steeplechasing on horseback Garden Theater on Broadway. In spite of his Editor: Ralph M. Goldstein is not a suitable sport and while he will hectic schedule, he still found time to visit Assoc. Editor: Richard Gradkowski continue to ride, he feels that he would I ike NYU at the Violets' Washington Square Gym­ the thrill and exercise of fencing. He nasium. Feature Writers: Irwin Bernstein, told me that he wished he had kept up Dan Lyons, Jeffrey Tishman "My four years at NYU were just beauti­ with our sport through all the intervening ful," said Neil, who helped Abraham Lincoln Historian: Alex Solomon years and wondered whether he was too old High School capture the New York City Editorial Staff: Marilyn Masiero to go back to it. scholastic fencing championship in 1958. You can imagine my answer, "It would be Photographer: Russell Ellis "Whenever I come back to New York, I al­ a testimonial to our sport!" Is there an­ ways try to have a reunion with my fencing Photo I other healthy, year-round, exhilarating, ac­ Policy Board: Stephen B. Sobel, Chairman, teammates. The captain of the 1959-60 FIFTY YEARS OF FENCING AT NEW tive pastime to equal it? This is an aspect VERSITY. Shown above is part of t R. M. Goldstein, I. F. Bernstein, W. L. team, Mike Dasaro, lives in San Francisco of fencing which should be assiduously pro­ more than sixty former N.Y.U. fence Osborn, P. Tishman and every time I play there, I always make moted in the educational field - from ered at Washington Square, New 't Advertising Correspondence: it a point to spend the day with him." Novmber 10 for the annual Varsity~..c 5 Great Oak Lane, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570 elementary school through the university Once again the Varsity won, 14-13, level "the life-time salutary value of fenc­ Diamond, a saberman, fenced for NYU co-captain Jim Bonacorda defeated Printing and Advertising Plates: ing"! from 1958 to 1962. the 1957 I.F.A. champion, in the fin Linotype Composition Company, Inc. The senior alumnus present was Albl "Neil was a solid athlete," recalled Hugo 208 Piaget Avenue, Clifton, N. J. 07011 team captain in 1926 and 1927 and S MAESTRO VISCONTI Castello, the Violets' head fencing coach fencer at the New York Athletic ( Published six times a year. Subscriptions for for the last 26 years. "We won two National fifty years ago this season that N, its first fencing team. Since then thl non-members of the AFLA is $3.00 in the U.S. and Maestro Edward H. Visconti passed away College and three Intercollegiate Fencing $4.00 elsewhere. Opinions expressed in signed nineteen I.F.A., nine NCAA, and nine articles do not necessarily reflect the views of on August 27th, at the age of 96. A gradu­ Association championships when Neil was championships; while sixty-two Violet American Fencing or the AFLA. ate of the Italian National Fencing Acad­ here, and he was the th ird man in saber for named A!I-Amricans. CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE NOTE: Articles, results emy, he come to the United States in 1916 of competitions, letters to the Editor, photos ~nd us. Once, in two consecutive dual meets cartoons are cordially solicited. All manuscnpts and taught for many years in San Francisco. he didn't have a touch scored against him. must be typewritten, double spaced, on one side of the paper only, with wide borders. Photos American Fencing extends its sincere con­ I still think that's a school record." should be glossy finish and with a complete cap­ dolences to his family and many pupils and tion. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned Diamond, who was good enough to repre­ unless submitted with a stamped self addressed friends. envelope. No anonymous articles accepted. sent the Violets at the I.F.A. champion­ Send all contributions to: SECTIONAL DATES Ralph M. Goldstein ships, might have been even a better fencer 397 Concord Road SANDOR NAGY according to Castello. We are advised that the foll( Yonkers, N.Y., 10710 tiona I Championship dates have Maestro Sandor Nagy has passed away "Neil always used to bring his guitar on President: Stephen B. Sobel, 18 Beverly Road Mid Atlantic Sectionals, May 5 Cedar Grove, New Jersey, 07009. in November at the age of 72, near his our road trips," kidded the coach. "I al­ William Paterson College, New Je ways knew that music would eventually be Secretary: Irwin F. Bernstein, 249 Etan Place, home at St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, Atlantic Sectionals, May 12 al Westfield, New Jersey, 07090. where he had retired. The Hungarian born his career." Grossinger's Grossinger, New Y( fencing master taught for many years in DEADLINE FOR 1973 ISSUES But Diamond still has a high regard for East Sectionals, May 19 and 20, his academy in New York. Our profound his old sport. He has begun fencing again State, Tallahassee. Metropolitan Issue Date Closing Date Mailinz for Copy Date sympathy is extended to his wife, Theresa, in Los Angeles and he hopes to enter AFLA will be held May 5 and 6, at VI MARCH/APRil FEB. 10 MARCH 31 and to his family and friends. tournaments in the near future. N. Y. MAY/JUNE APRil 10 MAY 31 AMERICAN FENCING PiHle Two AMERICAN FENCING FIE CHAMPIONSHIPS NATIONAL RANKINI The 1973 World Championships and Foil: 1. Freeman; 2. M. Davis; :: Junior Championships will be held accord­ 4. A. Davis; 5. Borack; 6. Nonr ing to a revised format, approved at the 8. Axelrod; 9. Lang; 10. Russ! last FIE Congress held in May, 1972. The by Steve Sobel linger; 12. Tarascio. present pools of six system wi II be amend­ sports in society and of the Olympic move­ ed as follows: Preliminary pools of six will Epee: 1. Melcher; 2. Bozek; 3 ment in international relationships. With be used for the first and second rounds, Nanna; 5. T. Makler; 6. B. A LIFETIME SPORT IN A until 24 competitors remain. At this point, Cantil/on; 8. Micahnik; 9. N TROUBLED WORLD this in mind, it is advisable to reevaluate the desirability of the promotion of fenc­ the competition will be organized on a Taylor; 11. Kerr; 12. Reith. Following the 1972 Olympics a spotlight ing by the AFLA, and why fencing enjoys basis of pools of four fencers, each pool Saber: 1. Orban; 2. Apostol; 3. [ of public opinion has been focused on all the designation of a lifetime sport by the being fenced on two strips, with the two ales; 5. Gall; 6. Keane; 7. T. sports, and their proper place in society. President's Council on Physical Fitness. pairs of fencers meeting simultaneouslY. Qualification, in the event of ties in these Kaplan; 9. Goering; 10. J. T The public has been vividly exposed to At the high school and college level, Danosi; 12. Hamori. many disturbing events in the news head­ fencing can be a major part of the educa­ small pools, will be by barrage. The final lines: An American concept of Amateurism tion of a student. In sports, all are equal, will be a normal FI E final of six. Women: 1. White; 2. Clovis; 3 which is idealistic and praiseworthy but has rated on performance, and strive for suc­ The AFLA has indicated an intention to 4. Armstrong; 5. King; 6. Ad proved to be unrealistic in international cess according to established rules of a enter a United States Team in the Senior Devan; 8. Mitchell; 9. Genton athletic competition; a swimmer who con­ duly constituted organizing body. There is World Championships to be held in Gote­ pone; 11. O'Connor; 12. Lath; quered an asthmatic condition to win an also another major advantage it is en­ borg, Sweden from July 2 to July 14, 1973.