Benjamin N. Cardozo
 Graduating Class of 1975 Reunion
 By: Octaviar Latty
  On August 4th, 2007 at 12pm, over 150 members of Cardozo’s graduating class of 
 75’ reunited at P.S. 46 in Queens to share an  afternoon reflecting on the past 32 
 years of their lives. The focus of the  reunion was the 50th birthdays of the members 
 and also to  commemorate the passing of Janice Leibowitz, a fellow graduate.
  The reunion gave everyone an opportunity to renew friendships, familiarize  
 themselves with old faces, bring back unforgettable memories, and reflect on a  time 
 that is forever embedded in Benjamin Cardozo's history. 
   Former student,  Debra Guthrie, organized the event with additional support 
 from others making  it a success.  She says, “My job as the  coordinator was 
 effortless. I love organizing events such as parties.”
   Primarily, the contacting and planning of the event was done on  the website 
 www.topofthecourt.com created  by Cardozo alumnus, Larry Schwartz. This was an 
 efficient way for Guthrie to  keep in contact with and inform everyone about the 
 reunion.  The website was instrumental in helping a  growing number of people hear 
 about the event.
   As individuals came up to receive their nametags which included their yearbook 
 picture, some found it difficult to recognize their classmates.
   Guthrie says, “It was truly a special day…the impact of saying  hi to so many, 
 seeing all the smiles, laughs, hugs, and tears made me realize how unique our
 childhood was.”
   Alumna, Ellen Risorto, sister of social studies A.P. Leslie  Strauss was 
 focused on fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, established  to grant 
 the wishes of children with cancer. After the event, it was reported  that the 
 total amount raised for the charity that day was $1,007. 
   Risorto says, “I am honored to be apart of that accomplishment  and I can’t 
 tell you how amazing it was to see people I thought I’d never see again.”
   The day was spent socializing and discussing the highlights of  their lives 
 over the years and ended with a lovely dinner at the Sechuan Inn,  located in 
 Little Neck, NY.
   Many Cardozo graduates have led fascinating lives with  professions such as 
 doctors, nurses, writers, teachers, news correspondents, actors,  and much more. 
 Craig Wolf, a well known author from the class of 75’ attended  the reunion. Debra 
 Guthrie, the main organizer, works as an ophthalmologist in Manhattan.
   There are some, however, that admit they never wanted to leave  Cardozo. French 
 teacher Wendy Weiner, also an attending graduate from the class  of 75’ says, 
 “My high school experience was so rewarding at Cardozo. I wanted to  give back.”
 Weiner describes her experiences at Cardozo as positive, and  stressed that Cardozo
 provided her with a marvelous education that allowed her  to be as accomplished as 
 she is today.
   For many it was a long stroll down memory lane and there were  many good laughs
 as everyone remembered the way they were way back when. 
   Robert Stillman, of New Hampshire, shares his feelings and  reflections in a 
 heartfelt summary of the reunion, “The faces I saw were ones  of our youth, like we
 were kids again. Riding home, each of the 250 miles that  clicked by filled my head
 with thoughts about what we did as kids, how we acted  without thinking and how, at
 other times we thought, but never acted. Each of  those things led us to the
 destinations we have reached after these 30 or more  years of travel. But the reunion
 seemed to bring us all back to the starting  point and the years faded into just a
 blink. What a gift we had given each other that day