Before the Billions: When Buffett Schooled Scarsdale
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- Written by Leslie Chang
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(The following was submitted by Leslie Chang, from the Scarsdale Historical Society. The original article appears on their site.)
We may be used to hearing about the moguls who have walked the streets of Scarsdale, but one name that feels unexpected is “Warren Buffett.” I heard his name come up in village lore about past teachers at the Scarsdale Adult School (SAS). Yes, he walked the halls of Scarsdale High School and stood at the chalkboards! But what brought him here, and what did he teach? I wanted to shed some light on this fun fact, and it’s perfect timing to coincide with the SAS being awarded the Spotlight Award at the upcoming Scarsdale Bowl Dinner on April 24, 2025.
Learning from the Best: Benjamin Graham
The story of Warren Buffett’s connection to Scarsdale begins with his mentor, Benjamin Graham, a Wall Street icon and “the father of value investing.” Graham may not be a household name, but he is like Wall Street’s Albert Einstein. He was born in 1894 and famously wrote the book “The Intelligent Investor” in 1949. Right around that time, Graham and his wife, Estelle, moved to 7 Harcourt Road. I found many details about his Scarsdale life in his biography: Benjamin Graham on Value Investing by Janet Lowe.
Photo of the Graham house at 7 Harcourt Road, Scarsdale, and photo of Graham from 1956. Source: Benjamin Graham on Value Investing
In the biography, Graham’s neighbor George H. Heyman Jr. (also a prominent financier) shared a funny anecdote about commuting with Graham to the City on the train. He described how Graham brought stacks of brokers’ reports on the train to read and tossed them on the floor one at a time. By the time they reached Scarsdale, Heyman said “it looked like it had snowed around our seats.” That’s a detail that today’s children of the digital age will never experience.
There was one other Scarsdale-related tidbit that I found very amusing. “In 1951, he built an addition on the house that jokingly was called Ben’s ‘$10,000 ‘Ping Pong room.’” I couldn’t help but stop by Village Hall to find evidence of this financier’s “playground.” Sure enough, I found his building department application for the addition. 
Benjamin Graham’s building permit application for creating a “ping pong room.” The note saying “Convert existing terrace to game room” is crossed out for some reason. Source: Village of Scarsdale.
The same year he built his home addition, Graham was a lecturer at the Scarsdale Adult School. The classes are mentioned in his biography, stating: “as if he did not have enough to do, Ben taught an evening class at the Scarsdale Adult School.” He continued to teach other finance classes there through 1954. The Grahams were active in other community work, too. For example, Estelle was a second grade class parent at Fox Meadow School. Graham was also a guest lecturer for the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale and the Scarsdale Woman’s Club.
A Young Warren Buffett
Graham’s acclaimed book had mesmerized the young Warren Buffett, and he applied to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business largely because Graham was teaching a course there. As a student, Buffett established a close relationship with Graham and was hired to work at his prestigious firm, Graham-Newman, in 1954.
At 24, Buffett’s $12,000 annual salary allowed him to rent a garden apartment in White Plains. It’s very possible he was introduced to the area through Graham, who lived nearby. “I moved to White Plains, New York, with my wife, Susie, who was four months pregnant, and my daughter. Every morning, I got on a train to Grand Central and went to work,” Buffett stated in an article for Forbes. His stint living in White Plains was short-lived because Buffett missed Omaha, and planned to return upon Graham’s soon-anticipated retirement.
Buffett Birth AnnouncementBuffett and family in 1956
It’s so fortunate that during his brief 21-month stint in Westchester County, Buffett taught classes for SAS at Scarsdale High School. With only months of work experience, he may not have scored the position if it weren’t for the introduction by Graham. Lowe’s biography of Graham confirms the connection stating, he “helped Buffett land an evening job teaching investments at the Scarsdale Adult School.” Buffett had taken a Dale Carnegie class for self-confidence, and also wanted to keep his speaking skills sharp.
After much digging, I found a voice recording on YouTube where Buffett mentions the classes in Scarsdale, stating, “I taught a course at the Scarsdale Adult School while I was back in New York right before I then returned to Omaha in 1956…I benefited enormously from a few teachers when I was both in undergraduate school and graduate school, so I think that part of life is passing along what you’ve learned to the next generation.”
He even elaborates on the content of his classes and mentions Graham as an inspiration, saying, “I didn’t really use notes very much, I would just sort of ‘wing it’ generally. I never did an elaborate presentation, but I tried to use real-life examples in class because the professor that I learned the most from, Ben Graham, always used current examples, and it made it very interesting.”
Buffett Family 1956
The funny thing is, even though SAS announced all of their classes in the Scarsdale Inquirer, I haven’t found Buffett’s name mentioned in our village newspaper. Unlike his mentor Graham, whose lectures were lauded in the local media, Buffett was still a no-name “kid” in the first year of his career. I wonder if any Scarsdalians took this course and later realized it was with
THE Warren Buffett?
I finally found one reference to Buffett’s teaching position in the White Plains newspaper, with his name misspelled. It confirmed he taught the investment “fundamentals” class, but “specialists in the field” taught the advanced course.
Source: The Reporter Dispatch, September 9, 1955
Buffett once shared this piece of advice: “Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do. Anything that improves your own talents.” This is a great reminder to invest in ourselves and take a class at SAS - our teacher just may be the next Warren Buffett.
Warren Buffett holding a portrait of Benjamin Graham, taken by Graham’s granddaughter and shared on her blog.. Source: beyondbengraham.com
Latimer Calls Out Musk's Lack of Empathy
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Representative George Latimer called out Elon Musk for his lack of empathy in a speech on the floor of the house on April 9, 2025.
He said, "Elon Musk said recently in a Joe Rogan podcast, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy”. He said further that empathy has been “weaponized”.
This is consistent with his statement about Social Security which he called a “Ponzi scheme," not a program that has saved the lives and the livelihood of countless Americans.
This is the philosophy of Elon Musk.
Let me contrast that with the philosophy expressed in Matthew 25:
“For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick, and you ministered to me. I was in prison and you visited me.
Then the righteous will answer ‘Lord when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick or in prison.
And He will answer “when you did this for the least of my brothers, you did it for me”
Empathy. Not the weakness of Western civilization. The bedrock of Western civilization.
A Third Term?
On Monday April 7, Latimer had this to say about Trump's hint at a third term:
"When I was Westchester County Executive, I signed a two-term limit into law— on myself and future Executives. It was the right thing to do. Trump hinting at a 3rd term is dangerous. Instead of talking about undermining the Constitution, he should focus on making life more affordable for everyday Americans."
Latimer is a co-sponsor of H.Res.171 (Goldman) reaffirming the 22nd Amendment.
We the People Have Had Enough: Protest Against Closure of WP Social Security Office
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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A crowd of about 200 protesters turned out on Saturday March 22 to voice their opposition to the closure of the U.S. Social Security Office in White Plains. It is the only social security office in the county at a time when the agency is requiring in-person visits to make changes or claims. The agency has suggested that residents drive as far as Goshen, NY or New Haven, CT to take care of issues.
Protester sported signs saying “Save the Safety Net,” “STOP, Deranged Oligarchs Grab Everything,” “Hands Off Social Security,” “We The People Have Had Enough,” and” Support Retirees, Not Billionaires.”
In order to retain the office, Westchester County offered social security space in a county-owned office building but they were turned down.
On Saturday the group heard speeches from Congressman George Latimer, President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten and State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins. In the crowd were State Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and County Executive Ken Jenkins.
Weingarten reminded the group that Social Security is not a handout. It is an earned benefit that workers have paid for through years of employment.
Andrea Stewart Cousins spoke passionately about the impact of her father’s $300 a month social security payment for her family. Her father fought in World War II in a segregated army and returned to a segregated America. Despite that he was able to get a union job and accrue his social security which his widow lived on after his death.
Commenting on the closure of the office, Deborah Porder Lead Organizer of Indivisible Scarsdale said, “Everyone should protest cuts to social security because they hurt all of us. For decades, my employers deducted social security and Medicare taxes from my paychecks. I understood that that my money would be safely invested in the social security trust fund and I would receive benefits when I retired. The government has no right to take the money away from me or from any other worker who contributed.”
Forrest Brings His Love of Gardens and Sustainable Practices to the Scarsdale Forum
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The Azalea Garden at NYBG: Photo by Larry LedermanWith the first spring flowers in bloom and your garden coming back to life, Todd Forrest, the Head Horticulturist at the New York Botanical Garden spoke to over 60 attendees at the Scarsdale Forum on Thursday night March 27, 2025.
His hour-long talk spanned the history of the NYBG, toured some of the great gardens of the world and then reviewed sustainable garden practices to safeguard your own garden and the entire Bronx River watershed which Scarsdale shares with our neighbors to the south.
Todd Forrest: Photo credit Susan Douglass
He started with the history of the garden, which is just a short drive south from Scarsdale. Though we think of New York City as a densely developed urban environment, the work of early conservationists served to preserve large green spaces. Founded in 1891 by Nathaniel and Elizabeth Britton, the 250 acre garden makes the Bronx the greenest borough in Manhattan.
The original plan was designed around the path of the Bronx River and a large grove of hemlocks on the property. As the garden was installed, efforts were made to preserve every existing tree. As a result, Forrest called the garden “a 250 acre miracle in the center of the city.”
Why do we garden?
Forrest counted the reasons, the first, “to celebrate the beauty and diversity of plants.”
He showed slides of some gardens of renown at the NYBG, around the country and around the world. Among them are the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at NYBG which he called “the most democratic garden in the country.” He showed photos of the Rose Garden along with Daffodil Hill, the Azalea Garden, the Lilac Garden and the Peony Garden, all at NYBG.
Gardens also serve as palates for personal expression and as a means to impress. Beyond New York, he discussed some of the world’s greatest gardens in Sussex England, at Lotusland in Montecito, CA to the Alhambra and Kyoto’s Ryoan-Ji.
Gardens are also planted to produce food. Forrest showed the New Roots Community Garden, a green swath surrounded by concrete in the Bronx. The garden which produces large amounts of healthy produce sustains hundreds.
Last he said gardens allow us to connect with nature and he showed a photo of the native plant garden at NYBG which has become one of the garden’s most popular features.
Todd Forrest and Cynthia Roberts: Photo credit: Susan Douglass
Then Forrest turned to the real reason for his visit, which was to encourage the audience to adopt sustainable gardening practices to safeguard the Village, the Bronx River watershed and those downstream.
He explained that nitrogen and phosphorous released by garden chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers pose grave dangers to the entire ecosystem from bees, birds and butterflies to fish, wildflowers, plant life and humans.
40 million acres of turf grass across the country are fed by millions of pounds of fertilizer that are toxic to our earth.
He explained that it is the mission of NYBG to spread the word about biodiversity, conservation and enhancement and to share information about the changes they have made at the garden.
He showed examples of updated practices such as eliminating the weekly spraying of the rose garden, of planting compost to revitalize a dead lawn or letting a lawn go to clover and dandelions. Rather than spray pesticide to control bees, they use warm water and soap and have experimented with the use of compost tea, fish emulsion, kelp and molasses in place of harsh chemicals.
To those who wanted to know where to begin sustainable practices, Forrest advised:
-Do no harm.
-Plant trees, which he called “our most incredible asset.”
-Use native plants, not because you must but because they are beautiful and create a habitat for pollinators.
Last he said, “Apply your skills to ecological restoration and citizen science.”
Forrest just published a new book, "Gardening with Nature at the New York Botanical Garden," which he calls his love letter to the garden. Photographs by Larry Lederman. Check it out here.
200 Turn Out to Enjoy Chicken Biryani, Shwarma and Samosas at Ramadan Iftar Dinner
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Like many other religions where observers take part in fasting events to make time for reflection and to grow closer to God, during the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast each day to express their spiritual discipline, attain piety, to seek forgiveness, and to empathize with those less fortunate. After sunset, it is customary to break this daily fast with prayer and a festive meal called an iftar.
Since iftars are oftentimes celebrated with families and friends alike, on Thursday, March 13th, the Scarsdale High School Muslim Club held their third annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner inviting the entire Scarsdale community to join them for a special potluck dinner. The warm and inclusive environment saw attendees excited to meet with each other, students helping out at every turn, and young children delightedly playing with new friends.
As one of the club's co-presidents, Kamila El Moselhy, explained, “This was the third annual dinner and our largest turnout yet! Our first year hosting the dinner (2023) we had the dinner only open to Scarsdale high school families and students, so we had about 100 people there. The following year (2024) was the first year we were allowed to open it up to the entire Scarsdale community and we had about 150 people in attendance. This year our turnout was unbelievable with close to 200 people there! I am so happy with how the Community Iftar keeps growing and reaching more members of our community.”
El Moselhy went on to explain that the entire SHS Muslim Club helped to organize the community gathering, where attendees signed up to bring a dish (including cuisine from different cultures around the world) for everyone to share. Some of the delicious additions to the feast included chicken biryani, shawarma on rice, butter chicken, pizza, samosas, kathi rolls, and so much more.
El Moselhy believes that, “This dinner is just such an important event because it really reminds our community members, both kids and adults, that there is a place for everyone in Scarsdale and it allows others who are not Muslim to help us bring joy to our community. I am a senior this year and graduating in June, but I am hopeful that this tradition will continue and grow.”
Daniyal Naeem, another of the club’s co-presidents, shared, “The Community Iftar is important to me because it is a chance for me to get together and meet the Muslim community in Scarsdale. Each year I meet so many new people and it helps me remember that I have a whole group of people who support me. Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces when they see the big turnout and all of the delicious food gives me such an awesome feeling. A highlight for me this year was when someone came up to me and told me that her children look up to me because of my achievements and they hope to run the Muslim Youth Club too!”
When asked, “Why is a dinner like this important to you?” the club’s third co-president Rehma Qadir remarked, “I grew up with many of my peers not knowing much about my religion and holidays, and I believe this dinner is a good step in the right direction to create more awareness about the Muslim community in Scarsdale in a fun and social environment. Qadir added, “I think it’s important that we build on the small community we have and extend a hand out to others who may not be of the same religion in order to unify the overall Scarsdale community.”
The successful event, attended by young children, students, parents, faculty, and school board members alike, is sure to be back by popular demand next year. Until then, the SHS Muslim Club wishes a Ramadan Mubarak to all those who observe.
