On April 8, 2013 Bill Newmann wrote:
Sadly I recently heard of Art's untimely death which occurred in Portland, where he's lived for the past 20 years. Â He recently changed his name to Art Adler. I've seen him a few times in the last 10+ years and have enjoyed some short canoe trips out here in Washington and around Portland with him. Â I was able to find Art's obituary at this link: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/DignityMemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=art-adler&pid=160368093, I am currently looking to locate his wife, Vicki.
Reading Art's epitaph and looking at his picture, it's obvious he enjoyed his time on his own terms. So maybe it was less than any of us would want, but it sure looked like the man realized some real satisfaction from what God gave him. Â There's a lesson to take from a life lived like this. Â For those of us still here to remember him, it isn't going to be forgotten. Â You're lucky to have had the chance to spend quality time with him out Oly way.
On April 9, 2013, Jeffrey L. Rothschild wrote:
Bill thanks for sharing this information. Â Art and I somehow ended up in the same homeroom every year from Ravinia K thru HPHS and spent many great times together growing up. Â In looking for things for our upcoming reunion found some fun photos of the 'Ravinia school guys' that we all were in and brought back those fun years when you just went to a school yard, rode your bikes around town and just played for fun of being together.
Again Thanks we can all share some stories this summer when we meet for the reunion, we are that old!!
Jeff
Speaking of canoe trips:
During the summer of '63 before heading off to college, a dozen of us engaged in what at that time was the world's longest floating game of “Diplomacy”. Anyone else remember those games? During one of them, Artie proposed a canoe trip to the Canadian lakes north of Minnesota. Lots of guys said that they wanted to come; but in the end only Artie, Bill Buchholz and I went. It was truly memorable in many ways. Quiet. Solitude (tri-itude?). Tent and not the light-weight nylon with pop-up aluminum frame. Heavy canvas packs with all necessary gear. Freeze-dried meals. Portages; sometimes more than a mile. We'd put firewood inside the tent at night to keep it dry in the event that it rained. Truly roughing it. And no cell phones or GPS. It was a great time. Without Artie it would not have happened.
Hi,
I feel compelled to chime in here, seeing the comments from my classmates.
Artie (can I think of him as other than Artie?) went to Brandeis for college along with Brian Marcus and me, so the three of us (Midwesterners amidst all those New Yorkers and from the same high school, no less) kept in touch at school though Artie was already starting to be more loner-like. Artie and I had also just spent a lot of time together senior year at HP because his family had hosted Katsu, the AFS student from Japan, and my family had hosted Tania, the AFS student from Brazil. There were lots of AFS get-togethers with host students and the AFSers from other countries so we saw one another frequently and shared the experience of hosting.
Additionally, my family had a long-time acquaintance with Art's parents and Karen Brecher, as most of you know, is married to Bill Alschuler, Artie's first cousin. ...so much Katz-Alschuler connection.
I am delighted, Bill, to know that you and Artie spent time together doing restorative, enjoyable outdoor things. I rather like canoe trips myself and I remember that Artie was usually very comfortable with himself when surrounded by nature. It's funny but I also totally recall some of his facial expressions and his little - often sardonic - laugh.
I look forward to seeing you all at the reunion. Tania fully intends to be there - all the way from Rio. We have been in close touch/visits all these years. We have been also both been in touch with Katsu, who wrote me the following when I had told him of Artie's death.
'I was told about Art’s death by his sister Aryn (Merilyn) last October. He seems to have died in his bed during the night of on Oct. 8th and 9th. I was told he had been having some health problems, but even Ary did not know what they were. Aryn told me his wishes were not to have any formal ceremony, or memorial and to have his ashes spread on his favorite river, and Art lead his life just as he wished, at a distance from the family and to a degree, from civilization.'
Thanks for sharing that Ellen....I only remember him as Artie too, and he and I were always doing things together in Ravinia, kind of inseparable.....tennis courts, in that wonderful house and just wandering in the woods, ravines and the beaches near their home. He had that wonderful lopsided smile and dimple....a dear childhood friend!!! So sorry to have lost touch with him and hoping somehow that we were going to convince him to come to reunion.....a lesson to us all.....do it today!!! We might never have the chance if we put off 'reconnecting', saying 'I love you' or ' I'm sorry' ....
Was saving this photo for the Ravinia School part of weekend but with all the nice notes about Artie thought you might like to remember him from a photo taken in front of my house on Sheridan, across from Beth El summer of '54 I think.
Can you name everyone? Â Sorry a little small but you can enlarge!
oh so fun, Jeff. That is how I remember you - except that now I've seen you as a grownup wonderful man!
Is that Henry Hansman second from the right (next to you) and Harry Bosley ?? second from the left as you look at the photo? Can't see the others so well...
Wow, didn't know John Tremblatt ever was @ Ravinia. He came to EPS around 7th grade & was great friends with Steve Cohen & a big part of those years. Then he moved to Southern Cal. Wonder whatever happened to him?
You are probably right Jerry, that's just who it looks like. Okay Jeff....I can't enlarge enough without terrible distortion on my IPad...fess up...who are they?
Sadly I recently heard of Art's untimely death which occurred in Portland, where he's lived for the past 20 years. He recently changed his name to Art Adler. I've seen him a few times in the last 10+ years and have enjoyed some short canoe trips out here in Washington and around Portland with him. I was able to find Art's obituary at this link: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/DignityMemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=art-adler&pid=160368093, I am currently looking to locate his wife, Vicki.
On Apr 10, 2013, at 10:14 AM, Jerome.Taxy@uchospitals.edu wrote:
I didn’t know Art Altschuler very well. While my family moved to Highland Park in 1954, I grew up in Sherwood Forest and went to West Ridge – might as well have been a different world. Certainly for the elementary school days you all are remembering. I wouldn’t even have known about Shelton ’s but for going to Hebrew School at Beth El. I didn’t meet any of you until Edgewood – and then I left to go to Red Oak for 8th grade. But, in reading these entries over the last few days, I am truly impressed at what an empathic group of people make up this high school class. The lessons and important things in life have not been lost on you/us. Like Don Nathan, I have always felt grateful to have lived and grown up in Highland Park – and it may be a principal reason why I moved back here 30 years ago.
I knew two people on the “deceased” list from elementary school. Arnold Goldman came to West Ridge in 4th grade and lived a couple of blocks from me. He was very shy and quite awkward. I think Bill Gould’s story is a riot, since I had lost touch with Arnie after high school. The other was Jeff Perlman. Also a West Ridge alum who had a stutter and, possibly as a result, didn’t fit. He gained great confidence in high school as an actor, where his stutter was not only manageable but disappeared while he was on stage. I believe he was a suicide.
My most vivid memory, however, from elementary school was of someone who never made it through West Ridge. Elliot Ratner, who lived two blocks from me and was my best friend at 9 years old. We were in 4thgrade together when he developed acute leukemia. There was no treatment for this disease in those days. As children, of course, we knew practically nothing except that he was very ill. I think he lived 9 months – certainly less than a year. The middle name of my son, Ben, is Elliot – I think about this boy often and is probably a major reason I became a physician.
I have loved reading all the stories about our classmates and the wonderful impressions that have been left. You didn't have to be close to feel these wonderful memories.
I especially was moved by Jerry's story and the impact it made on his life. I was left in tears reading his words. I definitely feel these stories and others should be shared with our class, even though it can be a difficult read but very up lifting.
I am currently on business in the Land of Oz down under and just reflecting on all the responses regarding the passing of Artie , but more close to home , at what a critical - close to home reality that there are more years behind us then ahead of us and we are flirting with the inevitable.
Our classmate just said do it now not later - how true it is. If you haven't make your bucket lists.
I really look forward to seeing everyone in July and just sharing wonderful (I hope) memories of yester year and where we are today and how we intend to finish our journies. This is not meant to be somber or morose but the truth.
Artie was an upbeat engaging personality in highschool - I am only sorry we did not spend more time together. His house and setting in the ravines was yes incredible, private and picturesque.
I am so enjoying all the memories you are sharing of Artie. I didn't know
him well but was jealous of his tennis court, and Ron gidwitz's too. Wish
we could all share in our memories of those who's earthly lives were cut
short.....I remember Dary Schatz at our 20th flying into the hall like
dianna Ross. She certainly changed her life around and became a wonderful
(sober) woman.
Any other good memories of friends no longer with us?
I too was saddened to hear of Artie's death. I knew Artie from 3rd grade in Ravinia through high school. I especially remember how he was tormented at Ravinia because of his relationship with Allison Lauter. I always had a wonderful time at his house. We lost touch after high school until he showed up at my door in New York. We picked up without missing a beat and had a very enjoyable time. I believe he was designing golf courses at that time, after spending time in San Francisco finding himself. I wonder why he changed his last name? His grandfather was a very famous Chicago architect.
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