Edward L. Simmons (PA 52)

Edward died peacefully on Friday, April 24, 2009.  He was 75 years old and the husband of Merete Simmons. He was born in Chicago, IL, on April 3, 1934. Edward graduated from The High School of Performing Arts in 1952. He attended the University of Chicago and pursued a career as an actor. He performed in Shakespeare in The Park, directed by Joseph Papp, and worked as a Stage Manager in many theatrical productions working with many well-known actors, including Buster Keaton and Eva Le Gallienne. In 1961, he joined WCBS, in New York, as a Producer/Director, working on a range of programs including documentaries, dramas, musicals and children's programs. After moving to Ridgefield, Connecticut, in 1971, he founded Pilgrim Productions - an independent film and video production company. His latest project was with his son, Christopher, as the videographer, for Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary, in 2008. 

Ellen Hoffman (MA 60)

Painter and teacher, Ellen passed away at the end of the 2009 summer, of a recurrence of breast cancer which she fought for four years. At various times in her life an usher at Avery Fisher Hall and a pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten teacher, she was always a serious painter. She had several biennial solo shows at the Soho20 Chelsea Cooperative Gallery, where she was an active member in recent years. The gallery presented a retrospective show in her honor. She will be sorely missed as artist and friend.

Jerome Eskow (Retired Faculty)

Obie Award winner Jerome Eskow, a director, actor, and drama teacher, died in Manhattan on November 14 of Parkinson's Disease. He was 84.

Eskow received the 1961-1962 Obie Award for Best Musical for Fly Blackbird, which he directed, and shared the award with the show's creators, C. Jackson and James Hatch. His other directorial credits include the original musical adaptation of Of Mice and Men, and the London and Sweden premieres of the Frank Loesser musical The Most Happy Fella.

He chaired the Drama Department at New York City's High School of the Performing Arts for nearly two decades until his retirement in 1987.

Eskow is survived by his wife, Libi; his daughter, Lisa Eskow; his grandson, Max Eskow Domel; and his brother, Seymour Eskow. A memorial service will be held for him at Riverside Memorial Chapel on Thursday, November 19 at 5pm.

Lillian Cukier Robbins (MA 50)

Gayle Dixon (PA 64)

Gayle Dixon, 61, a violinist, composer, arranger, and educator, died on November 23, 2009. Ms. Dixon joined Local 802 in 1968 and served on the Trial and Executive Boards. Several of her articles in Allegro, most notable one on Black violinists, won first place journalism awards. 

Ms. Dixon was a busy freelancer who played with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, and Brooklyn Philharmonic, among others. She also performed on Broadway. She is survived by sisters Akua, Stephanie, and Cleo, brother Joseph, sister-in-law Linda, brothers-in-law Steve Turre and Roy Coles, eight nieces and nephews, and many cousins. 

To learn more about Ms. Dixon, see www.JazzBows.com. 

Raphael Kosakoff died on September 14, 2009. A veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II, he later earned three major degrees in education from New York University. He was the founding principal of the Birch School in Merrick, N.Y., which he led for 27 years. 

The recipient of the LaGuardia Award for Cultural Leadership from M&A, Ray was also an American Representative of the National Social Welfare Assembly's Young Adult Council in Paris and Singapore. 

Saul Kunitz (MA 59)

Saul Kunitz passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2009. As an emergency room physician, he had spent his life saving others, and worked until the day he was diagnosed with cancer in February. He died at home surrounded by his large, loving family.  

Ellen Paster (MA 64)

Ellen Paster died December 8, 2008, of cancer complications while traveling in India. She was 60. She played an important role in helping to build up her surrounding communities, both on the East End and in Manhattan, and, according to her family, was an independent, inspiring pioneer for women everywhere. 

A two-time breast cancer survivor, she always reached out to other cancer patients, offering advice and support, survivors said, because she was always eager to help others and extend a charitable hand.

Ms. Paster is survived by her mother, Caryl Steinman of New York City; two daughters, Heather and her husband Matt Borstein of New York City and Heidi and her husband Simon Hars of Colombia; and a son, Jesse and his wife Sarah of California. She is also survived by her longtime partner, Drew Gutterlaite of Southampton and New York City; two granddaughters, Sula and Lily; and a grandson, Adrian. 

Burton Ralph Pollin (retired faculty)

Burton Ralph Pollin, English teacher at M&A from 1948-1956, has passed away. A leading scholar of Edgar Allen Poe, Mr. Pollin published over 12 books and 140 articles on 19th century authors.

Schon Jomel Crawford (LaG 87)

Schon Jomel Crawford passed away due to illness. Mr. Crawford studied voice at LaGuardia and his vocal career continued after. His family asks that you keep him in your prayers. Services for Mr. Crawford were held at the Pleasant Grove Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn. 

Dr. Laurie-Sucher Gaster (M&A 58)

Dr. Sucher-Gaster's scholarly literary work centered on Ruth Prower-Jbvalha, and she taught/performed literature, art, music.

She was mother to Jonah, Toby, Gabe and wife to Michael.

Most in New York knew her through  the High School of Music and Art, her singing with the Renaissance Chorus of NY, the Friday night group, and was friend to many in street singers and  other groups.

She was a cantorial soloist in Chicago, and recorded a wonderful CD.

Her lovely art, and she exhibited often, as well as her music can be sampled on her dedicated websites linked from the chorus page of:

www.renaissancechorus.org.

One can read her sensitive essay about Harold Brown and the chorus on the memories page.

The family address: Michael Gaster and family
6718 N. Newgard Avenue, Chicago, Ill, 60626
773 764 2692

Pete Chivily (M&A 58)

Pete's funeral is going to be on Monday May 11th (his birthday) at 10 am at Holy Trinity church 20 Field Ave, Hicksville, NY 11801-5321. The viewing is at 10 and the funeral at 11 No traditional wake.

Jane Jaffe (M&A 57)

Maura Fogerty (PA 83)

Singer, Performer, Composer Maura Fogarty (PA Music-1983) passed away, March 10^th 2009. Her main instrument was the Accordion. Her secondary instruments were the violin and piano. Recently, Maura favored playing the guitar.  She had lived in the Bronx, close to her family. The cause of death was attributed to an Asthma attack that led to heart failure. 
  
Maura had a following of cheering fans in the local New York and surrounding areas and played to pack audiences. 
She appeared in last year’s (2008) 60th School of Performing Arts Alumni celebration, performing on her guitar, “Into the Sun”, with another of her original songs. 
She was booked to play local New York Clubs to the end of March.

Lewis Cole (PA '63) 

 On October 10, 2008 our dear classmate(playwriting '63) and friend Lewis Cole died of complications from ALS.  Lewis was the important force in the transformation of the Film Dept. at The Columbia School of the Arts and a revered professor and mentor.  The first annual "Lewis Cole award" will be given to an MFA student in screenwriting this spring.  For more information please contact Deborah(Kerner) Tuthill at:  dtuthill@weichert.com

Eleo Pomare (PA 53)

Eleo Pomare, dancer and choreographer, died August 8, 2008. Pomare was known for dramatic pieces depicting urban black life. Born in Santa Marta, Colombia in 1937, he immigrated to New York in 1947. After studying dance at PA, he formed his own company. In 1962, he left to study dance in Europe, forming another company in Amsterdam before returning to the United States to expand his original company. He was also a founding member of the Association of Black Choreographers. Pomare is survived by his companion, Glenn Conner, and three sisters.

Bernard Kassoy (retired faculty)

Bernard Kassoy passed away on August 22 at the age of 93. Bernard joined the Music and Art faculty after World War II, serving as the chief print-making instructor and the school’s first filmmaking teacher.

Bernard earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art from City College and Cooper Union, and worked as a WPA (Works Project Administration) artist and teacher. During World War II, Bernie served in the armed forces as a photographer and mapmaker.  

His work has been exhibited at numerous Manhattan galleries. His photography is in the archives of the New York Public Library and the permanent collection of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown. His cartoons of social commentary can be found in the Theodore Kheel Collection in the Labor Archives at Cornell University.

Bernard served on the boards of New York Artists’ Equity and the American Society of Contemporary Artists. Throughout his career, he received many awards, including six fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. 

Bernard is survived by his wife Honey, his daughter Meredith Kassoy and husband Raphael Bustin; daughter Sheila Krstevski and husband Dimitar Krstevski; grandson Alexander Kassoy Krstevski and wife Anna Revchoun; and granddaughter Toby Kassoy Krstevski. 

Donations in Bernard's memory can be made to the American Society of Contemporary Artists, the Rosenberg Fund for Children, or the War Resisters' League.

The family has set up a memorial website at www.bernard-kassoy.com. We welcome posts from former students and colleagues.

Sherri Lynn Davis-Keita (LaG 90) 

Sherri passed away December 12, 2007. After studying voice at LaGuardia, she graduated from Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio) in 1994 with a degree in political science. Her work experience included positions for the American Red Cross, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, the Working Families Party, and Assemblyman Keith Wright. She is survived by her husband, Dramane Keita, and many loving family members and friends.

Myra Lubell (M&A January '43)

 After a courageous 9 month battle with pancreatic cancer, Myra Lubell Humphrey passed away on June 12, 2008. 

Myra's last years were spent in Portland, Oregon where she retired after teaching high-school English in California. 

Myra loved life and enthusiastically pursued her interests.  Among her many interests were art, music, history, and political discourse. She traveled extensively around the globe, most recently to Thailand and Africa.  Until she became ill, Myra started everyday with a 5 mile walk.  She was a people magnet, gathering around her many  friends who shared her intellectual interests.  Myra loved a challenge and rarely, if ever, was defeated.  From trimming trees with a chain-saw to finessing the silky, passages of Schubert, Myra could do it all.

Armand Whitehead (Jan '52) 

Beloved classmate, Armand Whitehead, died on March 26. He was always fun and very talented. He lived in Stroudsburg PA where he continued to create paintings and hold events.
He is survived by his partner, John Wirth.

Jerry W. Fremuth (M&A '58) 

Jerry Fremuth, 68, of Milford, died April 8 in Lord Chamberlain, Stratford. 

Son of the late Karl W. and Erna T. Wochnout Fremuth, he was born March 23, 1940 in Czechoslovakia. 

Mr. Fremuth received a liberal arts degree from Hunter’s College in New York. He was an art director in Chicago and New York for  many years before his retirement.
 

Survivors include a son, Kent of Illinois; a daughter, Alicia Stamford of Calf.; a sister, Elfrun “Effie” Sargent of Westfield, Mass.; and eight nieces and nephews, Gary F. Sargent, Karen H. Swiecomski, Ernest K. and Kurt J. Sargent, Krista E. Orr, Diedmar, Volker and Guna Fremuth.
 

The Cody White Funeral Home, Milford, handled the arrangements.  
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450.

 Jerry Kravat (M&A '52)

Jerry Kravat, a leading New York City nightclub and concert booker, bandleader and producer who was the longtime personal manager of the singer Barbara Cook, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 72.

The cause was complications after cancer surgery, said his son, Dr. Darwin Buschman.

A crowning achievement of Mr. Kravat’s nearly 50 years in show business was overseeing the career resurgence of Ms. Cook, with whom he began a professional association in 1979. Two years ago she gave a sold-out concert at the Metropolitan Opera House, and more recently she performed three sold-out 80th birthday concerts with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

“As a performer one always wants to find someone who really takes care of business,” she said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “You’re even luckier if you find someone who wants to build a career. But one never expects to find someone who can do all that and also be a close and trusted friend.”

Suave and street-smart, known for his refined taste and sharp eye for talent, Mr. Kravat was a consummate deal-maker. His company, Jerry Kravat Entertainment Services, was formed in 1977, booking bands of all kinds for weddings and other social occasions; its production arm, Park Avenue Talent, produces concerts and corporate events.

Besides Ms. Cook, performers he either managed or frequently booked at some time in their careers included Eartha Kitt, Joel Grey, Cab Calloway, Bobby Short, Lena Horne, Mort Sahl, Steve Allen and Sylvia McNair.

Jerome Kravat was born and brought up in the Bronx, attended the High School of Music and Art, graduated from New York UniversitySkitch Henderson. and served two years in the Army. He began his career playing piano in the Catskills but became a bandleader and businessman after forming an early partnership with the conductor

From the 1960s to the mid-’80s, he managed society orchestras in the New York metropolitan area, and at one point or another booked the entertainment for almost every major New York hotel. He had long-term relationships with the Waldorf-Astoria, for which he became entertainment director in the late 1960s, and the Carlyle Hotel, where he booked the Café Carlyle.

He is survived by his wife, Marty Kravat; his twin sister, Muriel Barall; five children, Dr. Buschman, Lynne Bushman-Fielding, Leah Kravat, Amanda Kravat and Jenny Kravat Solomon; two stepdaughters, Betsy Grass and Julie Wurts; and 13 grandchildren.

In 1977, his orchestra succeeded Guy Lombardo’s as the band playing “Auld Lang Syne” on the CBS broadcast of the ball dropping in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, a practice that continued for 11 years. In the late 1970s, until the death of Princess Grace, he coordinated entertainment for the principality of Monaco. As a theater producer, his biggest success was the 1985 off-Broadway show “Mayor,” a musical-comedy portrait of Ed Koch.

 In Memoriam: Clarisse Kasanoff (Eber) M&A '40

Tamara Gray Hubert (M&A '54)

Ms. Hubert died of cancer in Paris, where she has lived since winning a Fulbright Grant after college graduation.  She was a highly prolific painter of magnificent portraits and is survived by her husband, Jean-Claude Hubert, daughter Ariane, son Nicolas and two grandchildren. 

                                                                                                                                                                              In Memoriam                                                                                      Jan J. Kotik
1972 - 2007

In Observance of Jan's 36th Birthday
Thursday, February 7
7:30-11:30 pm

Magnetic Field
97 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY


Music By:

Mommyheads
Johnny Chan & The New Dynasty Six
The Mighty High
Beekeeper
Babe the Blue OX
Willing
Ida
Elliot Sharp
Chris Rael
Michael Holt
The Ditty Committee


Also performing in Prague:
The Ritchie Success Kill the Dandies

 In Memoriam: Suzanne Pleshette

PA graduate Suzanne Pleshette, the dark-haired, smoky-voiced actress who played Bob Newhart's sardonic and sexy wife, Emily Hartley, for six years on the 1970s sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show," has died. She was 70.

The widow of comic actor Tom Poston, Ms. Pleshette died of respiratory failure late Saturday evening at her Los Angeles home, Robert Finkelstein, an entertainment lawyer and family friend, told the Associated Press. She had undergone chemotherapy in 2006 for lung cancer.

"She was a pro's pro," Bob Newhart said. "Although we knew she was quite sick, she was one of those people that you thought would go on forever."

A stage-trained New York actress, she made her movie debut in the 1958 Jerry Lewis comedy "The Geisha Boy." Ms. Pleshette appeared in such films as Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," "Nevada Smith," "Youngblood Hawke," "A Rage to Live," and "Fate Is the Hunter."

She also appeared with Troy Donahue, to whom she was married for eight months in 1964, in the 1962 romantic drama "Rome Adventure" and the 1964 western "A Distant Trumpet."

On Broadway in 1961, Ms. Pleshette replaced Anne Bancroft in the role of Annie Sullivan in "The Miracle Worker" opposite Patty Duke as Helen Keller.

And on television in 1991, she earned an Emmy Award nomination for playing the title role in the TV-movie "Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean."

But she had a flair for comedy.

Among her screen credits were "40 Pounds of Trouble," "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," "Support Your Local Gunfighter," "The Shaggy D.A.," "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin," "The Ugly Dachshund," and "Blackbeard's Ghost."

She made a couple of dozen appearances on the Carson show over the next few years, including one with fellow guest Newhart - a show seen by writers David Davis and Lorenzo Music, the creators of the upcoming Newhart series.

"Suzanne started talking, and I looked at Lorenzo and Lorenzo looked at me," Davis told TV Guide. "There she was, just what we were looking for.

Her role as Emily earned her two Emmy Award nominations.

Ms. Pleshette was born Jan. 31, 1937, in New York. Her mother had been a dancer, and her father was the manager of the New York and Brooklyn Paramount theaters during their big-band days.

After attending the New York High School of the Performing Arts - "I found myself there," Ms. Pleshette later said - she spent a semester at Syracuse University and a semester at Finch College before moving on to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and acting teacher Sanford Meisner.

In Memoriam: Jerome Ashby

PA class of 1973 mourns the loss of Jerome Ashby. Jerome A. Ashby began his tenure with the New York Philharmonic as Associate Principal Horn in July of 1979 at the invitation of Zubin Mehta. He made his Philharmonic solo debut in April 1982. 

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Ashby began his studies in the New York City Public Schools. After attending the High School of Performing Arts, he attended The Juilliard School where he was a student of former Philharmonic Principal Horn James Chambers. 

An active recitalist and chamber musician, Mr. Ashby appeared at music festivals around the world. He performed with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and performed regularly with New York Philharmonic Ensembles. Mr. Ashby was a faculty member of The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, The Curtis Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival School. He will be missed.

In Memoriam: Marsha Cheraskin Winokur

The class of M&A '59 lost one of our most beloved classmates with the passing of Marsha Cheraskin Winokur on July 30, 2007, after a long illness. She was married to Peter Winokur; they had been our "class couple" since the tenth grade. In addition to Peter, Marsha leaves two daughters, Mara and Rachel.

Marsha, who accompanied senior chorus, and according to Mildred Landecker, now 94, was "the best sight reader" she ever knew, continued concertizing, and was also a well-known and highly respected child psychologist.

On a personal note, four generations of my family were blessed to have Marsha in our lives. All those who knew her, and she had many friends and colleagues, will miss her always, but we will always treasure her in our hearts.

-Connie Boykan

In Memoriam: Sheldon W. Henry

In Memoriam: Edith Del Valle

(January 15, 1929-February 5, 2006)
Edith Del Valle come to our school as a music teacher at The High School of Performing Arts and then became Chairman of the Vocal Department at The High School of Music and Art, and then at LaGuardia. She devoted most of her life to the musical education of young people. She saw her task as bringing out the music that was in them and enabling them to hear and enjoy chords and cadences they had never imagined. If there was one student who was not learning or performing as well as she thought he could she would explore what else she could do, because she was convinced that every child was capable of achievement and it was through achievement that one found self-esteem.
At a memorial service in the LaGuardia Theater on April 29th, we celebrated the contribution of this extraordinary woman to all our lives. Former students flew in from all over the US, and former teachers and administrators as well as current ones attended. She enriched our lives and we were and will continue to be grateful.

Jean Buchanan
(June 13, 1938-March 24, 2006)
Jean Buchanan came to LaGuardia in 1978 and retired in 1994. Her love of music in all its forms; her enthusiasm for everything from Mozart to rhythm and blues was contagious and her students were happily infected. Her students also learned that what she expected, no matter what the musical form, was the kind of excellence that only practice and discipline can create. She was fond of pointing out that “to make a joyful noise” is not enough. One must also sing in key.
Jean was also an interesting role model for her students. She was born and bred in Louisville, Kentucky, and was every inch a Southern lady. However, within her formal style and her strong sense of decorum was an openness of mind that allowed her to embrace new forms and techniques and to laugh at herself as well as the world. We loved both her laughter and her insights and we miss them already.

Bryna Eill
(February 14, 1937-August 6, 2006)
Bryna Eill taught art at Music & Art and at LaGuardia from 1969 to 1991 when she retired. During her years at LaGuardia, she created our architecture curriculum and worked on developing a co-op program which she ran for a few years. When we were preparing for the move to the current location, Bryna managed to convince our principal, Richard Klein, that the student cafeteria should have round tables because they were friendlier and more conductive to socialization. On June 24th, former students and colleagues paid tribute to Bryna in a memorial service. She will be missed.

Edith, Jean, and Bryna all have memorial funds in formation, and A&F invites you to make a contribution.