My Brooklyn

Readers Report


Maria (Dagounakis) Castagnozzi

My Brooklyn is a wonderful place that I think of often. My family moved to Brooklyn when I was just a baby in 1972 or 1973. I lived there until I was about thirteen. Although we moved a few times, I always lived in the Kensington section of Brooklyn. I attended P.S. 179 from Kindergarten until I graduated the sixth grade. I graduated in 1984 and went to Ditmas Junior H.S. (J.H.S. 62).

At the time I may not have appreciated Brooklyn life but looking back, it was a terrific place to raise children. Perhaps I didn't care for it at the time because I was a bit mischievous and as a result of the tight-knit community, I seldom got away with anything. People in the community went out of their way to watch out for the children. So, if I crossed Ocean Parkway or roller skated into the alley or courtyard of a neighbor's building, my mother was bound to find out.

I remember the friendships. I think of Cindy and Laurie Adamsky, Alexis Garcia, Elizabeth Mroz, Giocomo Lioce, Maria Tarulli, Jennifer Berini, Jennifer Houck, and a whole host of others, frequently. I have tried contacting many of these individuals, but my efforts have not been too successful.

What I most appreciate about my experiences in Brooklyn is the wonderful education system that I benefited from. I still remember practically all of the teachers that I had at P.S. 179. Kindergarten was Mrs. Barry, then Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Singer, Mrs. Morber, Mrs. Avedon, Mrs. Issacs, and Mr. Nelson. I remember Mr. Heller read to us and Ms. Leanza taught a course in opera. I love the culture that I was taught. In addition to opera, many of the faculty members were Jewish and we always enjoyed ethnic foods and even ethnic song. I still remember Ms. Grossman singing a song entitled, "Zoom Gali-Gali." I guess most importantly, I learned the skills necessary to go on. I was reading well above grade level and doing just as well in math. I will always look back on my years at P.S. 179 with fond memories. I would love to revisit but it is hard to find the time.

My days at Ditmas J.H.S. will also be remembered throughout the years as fond times. Ditmas is where I was first introduced to the legal profession. Yes, I am an attorney. I was in the seventh grade and my class was given half a year of social studies and the other half was a course in legal studies. I absolutely loved the class and the teacher, Ms. Carol Distephano. One of my fondest memories is of myself and a small bunch of students preparing to visit an elementary school to "put on" a case. I knew, by the end of that semester, that I wanted to go into law.

I will also never forget the friend that I had in my social studies teacher, Ms. Beatrice DeSapio at Ditmas. She was a tough and demanding teacher but she was also an understanding person; someone I knew I could talk to. This, is, to me, the recipe for a wonderful teacher!

After the eighth grade, in 1986, my family moved to The Bronx. I hated the idea of moving and I resisted it all of the way. Brooklyn was all that I knew and all that I wanted to know. It was where my friends were; it was home. The move did bring about some wonderful things. Most of all, it was here, in The Bronx, where I met the boy who would grow up to become my loving husband, and for that, I am glad. However, the community was very different. The people were different. It was a different philosophy or something but people in Brooklyn were much more caring and involved. For that, Brooklyn will always hold a special place in my heart.

31 December 2000


Ed

My Brooklyn from two to twenty-two years old was Flatbush: E. 16th St. & Beverly Rd. Lived there until I graduated from Hunter College in 1969. Apt. 2I at 236 E. 16th St., the "dead end" street. Punch ball, stoop ball; touch football with Lenny Schwartz, Barry Shaw, Joel Epstein, Ronnie Kerman, Steve Weinless, Freddie (did we ever go upstairs to see that Army/Navy game?). Victor the Good Humor Man (Mom, throw down 15 cents, I wanna get an ice cream); P.S. 139: Ms. Zavadov (K), Mrs. Soloway (1st), Mrs. Jaffee (2nd), Mrs. Gronick (3rd), Mrs. Keefe (4th), Mrs. Silverman (5th), Miss Keit (6th). The loudspeaker in every room bringing messages from the principal, Mr. Kaufman: (3 chimes and then "Good morning boys and girls, this is Mr. Kaufman speaking to you." As if we didn't know it was him); Who wants to be eraser monitor or window monitor?; A-bomb drill, everybody under your desk. J.H.S. 62 (Ditmas Jr. High School: in love with my 7th grade homeroom teacher, Marlene Rosenbaum; lusted for Ms. Osterweil, the art teacher; loved learning from Mrs. Smith (home room and English) and Mr. Cohen (even though he didn't like the dopey heart Eugene Merbaum & I made for the science fair). Steve Arnofsky, where are you? Always stopped at the candy store on the way home from school to buy an egg cream, candy or a comic book (it was never the same when the price went from 10 to 12 cents); I hope Ray Bergen kept those 2000 comics he had in his attic. Movies on Saturday at the Loew's Kings or the Albemarle or the RKO Kenmore or the Rialto BUT watch out for the matrons. They were born old and mean! Remember "Hit the Penny," box ball and Chinese handball? Erasmus High School: the arch; lunches at Garfield's cafeteria (burger, fries and coke special); Fulton's and Jahn's for ice cream; hanging out on weekends with Barry, Randy Brenowitz, Susan, Judy (who'd woulda thunk you'd grow up a date Joe Pepitone?) and her little sister Nancy; Friday nights at the skating rink in Prospect Park.

I moved to different neighborhoods in Brooklyn (Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn Heights and Sheepshead Bay) but never left. My wife thought she escaped when she graduated and moved to Manhattan but when we married we settled in Brooklyn. I've watched neighborhoods change from good to not so good and back to good again. Brooklyn is a dynamic, alive place to live. I feel sorry for all the people who left and can only think of Brooklyn as part of their distant past. You can come home. Try it. If you haven't become too jaded you'll probably still like it.

1 January 2001


Readers' reports continue . . .

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