Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 27 November 2018

Created: 27 November 2018

Last Updated: 27 November 2018

Hits: 6328

“He expanded the envelope of opportunity for every student, he championed all of us, he was that special teacher who could light you up, he changed my life….”

Those were just of the few of the words of praise spoken for beloved teacher and community member Eric Rothschild at a memorial service at the Woman’s Club of White Plains on Monday November 26, 2018. Hundreds of former students, colleagues, school administrators, friends, admirers and devotees braved the elements to attend the service for Rothschild who passed away at the age of 81 on October 30, 2018.

Not many 81 year-olds could draw an audience of this size, but Rothschild was more than a teacher -- he was a mentor, a lifelong friend and a guru to everyone who was blessed to be in his circle.

Family friend Peter Weintraub credited Rothschild with inspiring him to become a teacher. He said, “Every time a student comes to thank me, I say “don’t thank me,” thank Eric Rothschild.” He said that Eric remembered every student he ever taught, including their siblings, their children’s names and where they live now.” Another devotee said, “In the days before Facebook, Eric was a one man social network.”

Weintraub read “ A Giant Pine,” a poem by Georgie Harkness:

A giant pine, magnificent and old,
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power. Within its fold
Birds safely reared their young. The velvet ground
Beneath was gentle, and the cooling shade
Gave cheer to passers-by. Its towering arms
A landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life's alarms.”
It fell one day. Where it had dauntless stood
Was loneliness and void now. But those who passed
Paid tribute and said, “To have known this tree in life was good,
It left its mark on me. Its work stands fast.”
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold–
This giant pine, so magnificent and bold.

Former SHS teacher Neil Ginsberg paid Rothschild the highest compliment, saying, “Our country would not be in this mess if everyone had the privilege of being taught by Eric Rothschild.” Both Ginsburg and teacher Maggie Favretti spoke of Rothschild’s role as a mentor for their teaching careers at Scarsdale High School. As an aspiring teacher Ginsberg was told to “go see the best social studies teacher in Westchester County” and he was thrilled when Rothschild agreed to be his mentor. Favretti said, “Eric loved everything about teaching because he loved the kids.” She said, “He encouraged us to be more, to go to school, to do research … and he observed my European history class because he wanted to learn more.” Ginsberg continued, “He challenged students to be curious. His passion for learning was contagious. He was in a class of his own.”

Rashid Silvera, another legendary teacher in the Social Studies department at SHS also credited Rothschild for bringing him to Scarsdale when he was employed at a neighboring district. He said, “Eric invited me to be a part of his dream team.” Silvera reviewed some of the pivotal civil rights events that occurred during Eric’s student years at Scarsdale High School and Harvard College and said he “paid attention” and “they got into system.” He called Eric the father of STEP (Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Program) which he founded in 1966 to “let people from somewhere else come here so that we could feel them and they could go back and bring with them what we thought was good and glorious and true.”

Silvera remembered that when his own grandmother passed away, Eric sent his son Adam to Roxbury to attend the funeral “and give me love.”

Vic Leviatin, a friend for 56 years said Eric introduced him to tennis and to author Michael Harrington who at the time had just written “The Other America.” He remembered summers at Camp Andrewscoggin where Rothschild was head counselor, and credited him with helping Vic to design the W.I.S.E. Program, a precursor to the Senior Options program at SHS that became a model for similar programs all over the country.

Family friend and former student Anne Rubin was so impacted by knowing Eric and taking his AP US History course that she decided to become a professor of history. She said he was “brimming with enthusiasm,” and with “sheaf’s of notes and overhead transparencies he brought history to life.” Rothschild taught “the power of music and humor – and that history did not have to be dry.” She said, “My shelves are lined with books that he gave me…. Eric had this relationship; intellectual mentor, friend, and father with so many former students. He went to dozens of graduations and weddings. He tickled our babies.” She added, “He had the kindest biggest heart that I have even known. He gave of himself unselfishly. He will live on in my heart and in all of our hearts.”

Peter Rothschild, Eric’s brother quoted Martin Luther King, saying, “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.” Discussing his brother, he said “Eric’s passion gave his life meaning and vitality. Eric and teaching cannot be separated.
Teaching was everything … the joy of elevating interests and prospects of students was everything. He was that special teacher who could light you up. …I am so very proud of him.”

Addressing Eric’s many fans, eldest son Alan Rothschild said, “He took more pride in your success than his own.” Looking back on his life as Eric’s son, Alan remembered “seeing the man walk on the moon, summers at camp, hundreds of books, STEP picnics and visiting a family in Mississippi, family car trips to visit historical sites, his dad grading papers with a red felt pen and the ding of his typewriter.”

He said that his father had the first of several heart attacks when he was only 46, so when he got the diagnosis of Parkinson’s 13 years ago, he said, “Don’t worry, my heart will get me before Parkinson’s does!” Alan said his father met many challenges in the past 13 years, and the cognitive challenges of Parkinson’s scared him the most.

As he grew sicker Eric watched the NY Giants and said with increasing frequency, “The coaches are not listening to me. Take me down to the field so that I can talk to them.”

Adam Rothschild said, “Growing up as the son of Eric Rothschild was like having a very large family – I shared my Dad with all of you. It was great but there were some boundary issues. You hung out at our house… You cooked with us… You did research in our attic… You went to camp.”

He said the family had received many condolence letters since Eric passed away and called them “stunning and consistent.” He read one from a former student who is now a professor at the Air Force Academy who said, “Please know the impact he had on me.” He said he tells his own students, “I had a teacher who knocked it out of the park with every lesson. He opened our minds and challenged us to open them further.”

He ended with these words:

Death leaves a heartache no can heal
Love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 04 December 2018

Created: 04 December 2018

Last Updated: 05 December 2018

Hits: 5626

Memorial Service for Beverley Sved. Photo credit: HL FlisserScarsdale Bowl recipient and committed community volunteer Bev Sved was remembered at a memorial service on Wednesday November 28 at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club on Wednesday November 28.

Former Village Trustee David Buchen was the master of ceremonies and spoke in a meaningful way about Bev’s Master of Ceremonies David Buchen. Photo credit HL Flisserlife of service in Scarsdale and her various contributions, such as her role in the development of Christie Place and her longtime work with the Overhill Neighborhood Association who organized the memorial. Buchen read some remarks from Mary Beth Gose and Paul Sved, Bev’s husband for 47 years, thanked Buchen and their Overhill friends for arranging the gathering.

He explained that Bev died suddenly on September 22 from an aortic aneurysm. He said in their 47 years of marriage they “never had a serious disagreement,” and marveled, “how time flies when you’re having fun.”

In addition to giving the following remarks about her friend Bev, baker extraordinaire Evelyn Stock contributed delicious sweets.

Here are Stock’s remarks about Beverley Sved:

My deepest sympathy to Paul, her loving and supportive husband of more than 45 years, to all those who loved Beverley, and to our community for the sudden and unexpected loss of an incredible volunteer, an incredible person, much too soon. It seems impossible that I was speaking about Beverley at the Bowl Dinner less than 10 months ago. You will hear some of what I said then.

I had the pleasure of working with Beverley for nine years on the Scsrsdale Foundation where she became my friend. When I served on the CNC, I submitted her name for her second term as a Village Trustee.

Evelyn Stock: Photo credit HL FlisserBut let’s go back. It is 1984. The Sveds are living in Montclair, New Jersey in a lovely house in a lovely community. Only problem—a deadly commute to their jobs at IBM in New York. Only solution—moving to New York—really to Westchester. Beverley’s father had lived in Scarsdale as a child. But it was not family history or the schools but location, location, location which brought the Sveds to Scarsdale. It brought them closer to IBM. And their new home at 26 Overhill Road provided lots of land and sun for Beverley’s gardening. But first IBM made a dream proposal --four years in Paris.

In Scarsdale, children are the usual reason people move here and they become the usual conduit for community involvement. So we should all be grateful to the neighbor who suggested the Sveds join the Overhill Neighborhood Association as soon as they returned from Paris in 1988. The rest is history as Beverley went on to become President of the Overhill Association followed by being chair of SNAP from 1996 to 1998. By this time, she had retired from IBM and had begun what was to be her real career – Scarsdale volunteer.

And what a career it was. I believe that Beverley has been an been an active member –often the leader-- of more organizations than anyone else in Scarsdale. And I think you would agree that I am a good person to make that judgment. The list includes the United Way of Scarsdale/Edgemont, the Westchester County Historical Society, the Citizens Nominating Committee, the Procedure Committee (where she helped facilitate the creation of a website), the Scarsdale School Superintendents Citizens Search Committee, and the Scarsdale Technology Advisory Council. And when her term as Mayor ended, she added the Planning Board, Westchester County Historical Society, TVCC/now Forum, Board of the LWV of Westchester, and the Scarsdale Foundation. In each position, she brought her analytical skills in finance and planning and her fair and thorough approach to problems and issues. Bev had a knack for developing better procedures, leaving each organization improved.Paul Sved: Photo credit HL Flisser

Of course she was smart. She was one of only six women to graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, class of 1966 and the only woman to obtain an engineering degree. But her being smart was the real kind of smart—common sense, plus education, analytical skills, and more. I felt more confident of my choice of a financial advisor when I learned she used the same person.

Everywhere she earned the reputation as a dedicated, perceptive, intelligent, calm, consensus builder who created a collaborative and collegial working atmosphere. She was able to balance competing interests to promote the best interests of the community or organization, often reaching out to solicit and understand other points of view. Her goal was the resolution of problems, not attaining personal credit. She was a proven team player, never attempting to micromanage, working well with fellow board members and the Village staff. All of these qualities were to stand her in good stead when she was mayor during the contention that surrounded the Christie Place development.

But we cannot forget the Beverley who made working with her so pleasurable and made her a wonderful friend. She was fun to be with, had a wicked sense of humor, was always able to see the humor in a situation, always had a smile. Unlike many of us, she was always willing to listen and even change her mind.

Indeed, Beverley herself exemplified what you can receive for being a volunteer—knowing and working with people like her. Generally, when you move to the suburbs, your source of friends are your neighbors and the parents of your children’s friends. BUT when you volunteer, you become friends with your fellow volunteers. Ever since the Sveds moved to Scarsdale, it would have been hard to find a volunteer activity that did not include working with and knowing Beverley. And thus finding a new friend.

We will miss her incredible involvement in so many organizations and witnessing the pleasure she derived from this involvement. I think back to back to April 26, less than 10 months ago when I thanked Beverley for allowing me to share my experiences working with her and the opportunity to convey my pleasure in her receiving the Scarsdale Bowl --one she so richly deserved. She left an incredible legacy of what it means to be member of community. We are grateful.

Thanks to Michelle Lichtenberg for her reporting.

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 21 November 2018

Created: 21 November 2018

Last Updated: 21 November 2018

Hits: 5356

Eric FriemanTwo SHS grads were noted for their success in the past weeks:
SHS graduate Eric Frieman has been named by Forbes to the 30 Under 30 list for Healthcare. When Eric Frieman's older brother came back from deployment in Iraq, Eric wanted to make sure he had help if he needed it. It was hard to find. Frieman cofounded Veteran & First Responder Healthcare in 2016 to provide intensive outpatient addiction and mental health treatment programs. The company has grown to more than 60 employees and a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Rob Fishman, a 2004 graduate of SHS has been named to Hollywood Reporter's “Next Gen 2018: Hollywood’s Rising Executives 35 and Under.”

Here’s the entry from the Hollywood Reporter: After building and selling his first two startups — data company Kingfish Labs to BuzzFeed in 2012 and influencer marketing firm Niche to Twitter for $30 million in 2015 — Fishman is busy on his third. His Brat digital studio, which has raised more than $40 million from such investors as Anchorage Capital and Shari Redstone's Advancit Capital, produces teen-centric shortform video series for distribution on social media. The 1-year-old company found early success with its Chicken Girls drama and Rob Fishman (Photo credit Ramona Rosales)subsequent movie, which amassed more than 15 million YouTube views. (Bill Simmons' teenage daughter is a fan.) Since then, Brat — which Fishman runs with Niche co-founder Darren Lachtman — has grown to 50 employees and is filming shows nearly every day out of its Hollywood production facility. "We've had a great opportunity to insert ourselves into youth culture really quickly," says the Cornell alumnus, who got his master's degree in journalism from Columbia and spent more than two years running social media for The Huffington Post. After years away from writing, Brat has given him the opportunity to brush up on that skill: "Now I get to rewrite our scripts."