50 North Shore Towers Courier n October 2014 Epic lady named for an epic poem Getting to spend 30 uninterrupted minutes with Eneas Arkawy is an achievement. Between a bridge game, nine holes of golf and a UJA meeting – all in the same day – Eneas agreed to sandwich us in. Where did you grow up and how did you get your first name? I grew up in Brooklyn and attended Madison HS and Brooklyn College. My aunt was fond of the classics and named me after a figure in Virgil’s Aeneid. In the name dictionary, it means “worthy of praise.” I’ve tried to live up to that. Most people pronounce the feminine form as E-niss. Did you have any career goals as a child? My earliest memories are of a love of nature and of science. I attended Audubon Camp. I helped found the Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard in Douglaston. I became a teacher of gifted children in District 26 Queens at PS 221. I enjoyed trying new techniques with my classes and received an award for Exemplary Teaching of Science and was flown to Dallas, Texas to make a presentation. What are some of the many organizations in which you are active? UJA has been close to my heart for many years and I am on the board and cabinet of Women’s Interboro that meets in Manhattan. I am co-chair of the Holocaust Program at NST. The Migdal Chapter of Hadassah honored me with the Myrtle Wreath Award. In 2008, Brooklyn College presented me with a Lifetime Achievement Award. You seem to have many long-time connections to many NST residents. What are some of them? Steven Weissman was in my kindergarten class decades ago and I am still good friends with his mother, Julie, the NST photographer and crafts display curator, who lives in Building One. Ari Ackerman , son of Congressman Gary Ackerman was in my class and years later invited me to light a candle at his Bar Mitzvah. I graduated from college with Selma Schumer mother of Sen. Chuck Schumer, Saul Weprin father of City Councilmember Mark Weprin and State Asseemby member David Weprin , and Ann Spitzer mother of former Rep. Eliot Spitzer. I met Sylvia Weprin at Ari Ackerman’s Bar Mitzvah. Wow! What about your own family? I am blessed with three daughters, five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. My daughters are Elyse, in Delhi, N.Y., Linda in Lodi, N.J., and Marcia in Ossining, N.Y. One of my great thrills was playing golf here on the NST course with my twin grandchildren, Nate and Reed. You’re known as an assiduous letter writer. What is that about? Way back in junior high school, I began writing to a pen pal in England. We wrote frequently and kept it up for 68 years. My correspondence friend was not able to come here so I visited her – twice. She died a few years ago and her nephew mailed a butterfly pin as a gift. I treasure this reminder of our long distance friendship. Also, I taught many Japanese s t u d e n t s whose parents worked in the U.S. for a few years before r e t u r n i n g to Japan. At their insistence, I continued s tay ing in touch with them through the mail. At their request I visited t h e m , m a n y y e a r s later, in Japan. I see you are holding what appears to be a hand -made picture book. What is it? M a n y years ago my daughter, Elyse, decided to give me a special “present.” She wanted it to be “more precious than gold” and “”made with love in my own words and pictures.” I’ve kept it all these years and thought you might be able to share the last pages with your readers (see below). Eneas Arkawy: By FRED CHERNOW Kindergarten teacher Eneas Arkawy nee Slomin celebrating Steve Weissman’s 6th birthday in 1983.
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