You may not have heard of Joe, but you sure know all the showbiz stars he worked with!  Nicknamed the “Dean of Publicity” by the head of Warner Brothers Studio, he was the last of an influential genre of Hollywood publicity executives.  For 45 years, he managed the film campaigns of such legends as Clint Eastwood, Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford and John Wayne, just to name a few.  Joe passed away at age 90 in 2005.

Professor White was a philosopher and historian of ideas, most identified with the innovative theory of “holistic pragmatism” which could be applied to all disciplines that seek truth.  He is best known to generations of history and philosophy undergrads as the editor of two standard classroom texts: “The Age of Analysis” (1955) and “The Intellectual Versus the City: From Thomas Jefferson to Frank Lloyd Wright” (1962).  Born Morton Gabriel Weisberger in 1917, he graduated from Seward at age 15!  Prof. White passed away in 2016 at the age of 99.

(1915-1977) Born Samuel Joel Mostel, Zero was a comedic actor extraordinaire on stage and screen. His career came to a halt when he was subpoenaed in 1955 to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. The subsequent blacklisting did not stop him from making a successful comeback on Broadway in the 1960s. The musicals “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Fiddler on the Roof” both earned him Tony Awards.

(1925-2010) At Seward, he was Bernard Schwartz, but to the world, he was a handsome leading actor who earned numerous awards and nominations, including Oscar and Emmy nods in a career that spanned over sixty years. His personal life in Hollywood was as famous as his professional life for his many romances, wives and a famous daughter named Jamie Lee Curtis. Equally adept in comedy or serious drama, memorable films include “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe and “The Defiant Ones” with Sidney Poitier which earned him an Oscar nomination.

(1923-2008) Born Estelle Scher, this petite “Golden Girl” appeared on the stage and big screen, often playing the role of a mother. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was as the feisty, wise-cracking mother on the hit TV comedy series, “The Golden Girls” that brought her the most fame, as well as Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. See her website www.estellegetty.com to learn more.

Multi-faceted and multi-talented. How else can you describe this comedian, actor, writer, director and producer whose cutting-edge humor made him a household name within the African-American community? Among his many credits is the Emmy-winning sketch comedy series “In Living Color” which he created and hosted in the 1990s. He directed the hit movies “Scary Movie” (1 and 2).

(1912-2004) Add a Nobel Prize-winning scientist to Seward’s roster of super high achievers. Among his many honors and awards is the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1970. Dr. Axelrod, a Ph.D., was a biochemist who spent most of his career with the National Institutes of Health, gaining recognition for his research on neurotransmitters and the pineal gland.

Want a good laugh? Jerry has been making us do just that for over half a century. First, with his wife Ann Meara in the comedy team “Stiller and Meara” in the 1960s and 1970s. Then, in the hit TV sitcoms, “Seinfeld” and “The King of Queens” decades later. He has passed down his “funny gene” to his son, Ben Stiller, the movie actor.

(1938-2003) Born Stanley Martin Feuerman. Stan’s love of pop standards from the “great American songbook” was evident as an on-air radio personality in New York. With a career that began in 1959, Stan would eventually be heard on NYC’s radio stations such as WPIX, WHN (country music), WFAN (sports), WNEW and WQEW. He was also host, producer and writer of the syndicated “Solid Gold Country” which was aired in over 200 markets for Dick Clark’s radio network.

1920-2000) A career of fifty-plus years in film, TV and theater that was rewarded with Oscar (“The Fortune Cookie”) and Golden Globe wins and many more nominations. He starred in several comedies written by Neil Simon, often teaming up with Jack Lemmon. He may best be remembered as the slovenly half of “The Odd Couple”. During his Seward days in the 1930s, he was known by his given name of Walter John Matthow.

Richie wants you to sit back, relax and tune in to some cool sounds. He and his brother, Charlie, are the lead singers of The Soul Survivors, a Philadelphia R & B group. Their songs have hit Billboard’s R&B Top 100. So, go ahead – to their official website www.thesoulsurvivors.com and be prepared to enjoy music that is “timeless and authentic”.

(1925-2004). And the “Tony Award” goes to… Virginia for her performance in the musical, “Raisin” in 1974, based on “A Raisin in the Sun”. Born Eliza Virginia Capers, this veteran singer and actress appeared in countless Hollywood films, TV shows and Broadway productions. She studied voice at the Juilliard School and performed in Yiddish theater. “I did a lot of radio with [band leader Abe] Lyman. Then Abe took me on some band dates in the Bronx. There stood yours truly. The people who thought I was a nice Jewish girl got the shock of their lives.”

You can say Kevin has many “Friends” in Hollywood. This Seward alumnus achieved success behind the camera as a producer and director of several television comedy shows and specials, including the megahit “Friends”, its off-shoot, “Joey” and the HBO series “Dream On”. Now on the faculty of his alma-mater, Emerson College in Boston, Kevin continues to produce shows and to teach.

(1914-1982) “Ooh! Ooh!” was the trademark exclamation of this stand-up comedian. Born Joseph Roszawikz, he was a regular on several TV series of the 1950s and 1960s, including “The Phil Silvers Show” and “Car 54, Where Are You?”.

You can catch Luis on the HBO series “How To Make It In America” or in many upcoming movies. Better known as Pedro Lamboy while in Seward, Luis has countless film and TV credits on his resume. As a character actor, he often plays the sidekick, policeman or thug. Luis has appeared in many films by director Steven Soderbergh, including “Traffic” and “Boogie Nights”.

(1913-1993) The next time you hear a beautiful tune on the radio, it may just possibly have been written by this fellow Seward alumnus, born Samuel Cohen. His many songs for films have won him numerous Oscar nominations, including four wins. Add to his shelf, Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. He also wrote the lyrics for a number of Broadway musicals. Some memorable songs include “Love and Marriage”, “Three Coins in the Fountain”, “High Hopes” and “Call Me Irresponsible”.

Among Seward’s alumni is our very own Olympic athlete! Dr. Katz was a member of the 1964 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Performance Team in Tokyo. Her career as an educator, writer, coach and swimmer has earned her world class awards and recognition. She is a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. See her website www.drjanekatz.com to learn more about her life-long passion with the world of swimming.

Thank Bill for helping you to stay abreast of current events and issues! In the 1970s and 1980s, Bill was an anchor on several news programs on Channel 5 in NYC: “Black News”, “The 10 O’Clock News” and his own “McCreary Report”. For his achievements in news broadcasting, he has won numerous awards including two Emmys. He can now be seen on the news program “Special Edition”.

(1924-2000) The Honorable Judge Ramirez led a most distinguished life marked by “first”s: the first Puerto Rican to be elected to the NY State Assembly and to the NY State Supreme Court. His career as a jurist was all the more remarkable given that he was blinded in early adulthood. He was active in many civic organizations in Brooklyn and an advocate for the disabled. Upon his retirement from the bench in 1997, Mayor Rudy Giuliani proclaimed a “Justice Gilbert Ramirez Day”. As a lasting legacy, a park in Brooklyn and an apartment building in the Bronx bear his name.

(1922 – 2014) Born Anna Heller, she was a veteran actress of the stage, screen and TV. With numerous appearances and recurring roles on TV shows and movies, Anna was busy in the business of show business for over fifty years. Her specialty was playing frazzled housewives and matriarchs. Credits include “The Sopranos”, “NYPD Blue” and the soap opera “Ryan’s Hope”.

(1917-2010) Born Irving Freeman, he was a character actor who appeared in many TV shows. He is perhaps best remembered as a regular on the popular comedy “The Phil Silvers Show” in the 1950s. He had been a member of The Friars Club since 1987.

Johnny is enjoying success on the business side of the music world. He is the manager of Aventura, the musical group of four young men, and was instrumental in promoting them to national and international recognition in the Latin music community. Follow him on www.myspace.com/johnnyaventura, twitter.com/johnnymarines and www.facebook.com/people/Johnny-Marines.

At 6’5″ tall, this Seward alum played basketball with the “Tigers” at Tennessee State University. Later, in the 1970s, he joined the world famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team which entertained audiences around the globe as it played exhibition games that combined athleticism, theater and comedy. Bobby has been active as an advocate of GED (General Equivalency Diplomas) programs.

If you are a fan of dance performance, then this Seward alum is your man. Prominent in the world of postmodern dance, David is a dancer, choreographer, actor, writer and theatrical director. Audiences from around the world have seen his work, as well as on television programs such as PBS’s “Great Performances” series. Learn more about his distinguished career on www.pickupperformance.org.

Aida has been nominated twice for an Emmy Award and has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role as Janice Soprano in the HBO TV series, “The Sopranos” (1999-2007). She played Judge Felicia Catano in the TV series, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2013-2018). She has appeared in many major movies. You can also say acting runs in her family. See her on Facebook to learn more.

(1920-1993) A TV and film producer, Ely first achieved recognition adapting theatrical productions to film. He won a Peabody Award for his innovative “Play of the Week” series which aired from 1959-1961. He formed The American Film Theater in 1972 which mounted plays such as “The Homecoming” to film. Not limiting himself to drama, Ely produced a three-hour documentary “King” on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King which earned critical praise.

(1921-2010) Do you find yourself singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” along with Elvis? Or “What a Wonderful World” with Louis Armstrong? How about “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” in the jungle, the mighty jungle? This Seward alumnus and consummate musician, along with his co-lyricists, brought these memorable songs to American pop culture. A graduate of the Julliard School of Music, George played several instruments. He collaborated on several Broadway musicals and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984.

If you like spectator sports, then tune into ESPN and HBO and listen to him give the play-by-play in Spanish. Roberto is a sportscaster/analyst for a variety of sports (football, basketball, hockey, etc.). He is also the editor of “Futbol Mundial” Magazine. See him on his website www.RobertoAbramowitz.com and on Facebook.

Seward Class of 1940 and a graduate of Columbia Law School.  Judge Shainswit led a distinguished law career – a legal pioneer championing women’s rights and education.  She authored the NYC Rent Law and Regulations and worked with NY City Council President Frank D. O’Connor.  She first served in NYC Civil Court in 1971.  From 1973-1999, she was a Justice on the New York State Supreme Court.  The Honorable Beatrice Shainswit passed away on April 29, 2023 at age 98.  View her obituary on www.Legacy.com.

Smile if you see Neil. He just may be taking your photo! Neil has traveled the world as a photographer for Time, Inc. His photos have appeared on over two hundred covers of Sports Illustrated, Time and People Magazines. He has photographed numerous international and national sporting events, as well as major political figures and celebrities. Neil now devotes most of his time to producing and directing film. View some of his work on his official website NeilLeifer.com

Born Lenny Solomon, this “Wildman” was a professional wrestler with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He appeared in several movies, including “The Wrestler”, and TV shows (“Matlock”). Want to get physically fit? You may find him at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California where he is a personal trainer.

Can you top this? This 6’6″ Seward alumnus played for thirteen years with the National Basketball Association as a member of the Boston Celtics team. Eight of these years in the 1960s were NBA championship seasons. His post-professional career has included coaching and programs in support of players. Learn more on his website www.satchsanders.com.

Was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 and served until 2008 when she had reached the term limit. She was the first Latina to represent her district and the only Latina Republican in the California State Legislature. In 2004, she became a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s transition team after the recall election against Governor Gray Davis and was named as one of California’s delegates to the Republican National Convention. In 2008, she was appointed to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board by the Governor.

A word to the wise: Don’t pick a fight with Phil! “I never lost in the street, as an amateur, or as a pro,” Phil once said with a laugh. In 1936, he won the sub-novice middleweight NYC Golden Gloves boxing title by scoring five knockouts in six bouts. One time, he scored two KOs on the same night. In May of the following year, he turned pro and was such a popular attraction, he fought his second bout at Madison Square Garden. He retired from the pros in 1939 with a 7-0 (5 KOs) record.

His achievements are Legion-dary! Emigrating to the U.S. from China in 1960 at the age of 12, Fang learned English and succeeded academically, obtaining a Masters Degree. He served in the U.S. Army in a twenty year career that included duty in Vietnam, followed by another twenty year career at the Army installation in Fort Monmouth, NJ. During that time, he became active with the American Legion, serving many offices from the post to the national level. In September, 2011, Fang was elected the national commander of The American Legion, becoming the first Asian-American to lead this mutual-aid organization of military veterans.

Was elected to the NY State Assembly in 1978 and served for the next 28 years. He chaired a number of committees, most notably the Education Committee for ten years. He authored landmark education laws (to create Charter Schools in 1998, the NYC Mayoral Control Law in 2002 and enactment of Pre-K and class-size reduction programs in 1997). In 2004, he joined the City College of NY’s graduate school as an adjunct professor.

(1915-2003) Moe spent a six decade career with the US Postal Service and as a labor leader. He became America’s best known postal union leader through his tough bargaining style which brought improved wages and benefits. He was president of the 340,000 member American Postal Workers Union from 1980 to 2001.

Seward has its own Olympic athlete!  In the sport of foil fencing, Nikki fenced her way around the world.  She won the National Foil Championship and won silver and bronze medals at the Pan American Games.  She was a member of Team USA at the World University Games and at the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics.  Nikki was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.  She has been coaching at Temple University.  To read more about her illustrious career, click on this link  https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=6158206

Brigadier General, US Air Force, retired 1979. Adding to the list of distinguished Seward alumni, Class of 1943, is General Becker. He is a Korean War and Vietnam war veteran. His military career and service to our country are summarized on the U.S. Air Force official website http://www.af.mil/information/bios

(1910-1999) “Mr. Brooklyn”, as he was sometimes called, was a leading member of the Democratic Party in the borough. A lawyer by training, Harold was chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the 1970s. He may be best known for negotiating two labor agreements without a strike or a fare increase during NYC’s fiscal crisis during that period.

…..Began his legal career in 1975. He first served as a Justice in NYC Civil Court in 1985. Since 1990 Judge Tom has been presiding in the State Supreme Court of NY.

(1914-1977) Was a Member of the NY State Assembly from 1957-1962. He was known for passing tenant-friendly legislation and authored “The Forgotten Man in Housing” in 1959. In 1968, he became a Justice of New York State Supreme Court, and later, a Surrogate of NY County. If you find yourself at Madison, Grand and Jackson Streets on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, you are standing at Samuel A. Spiegel Square, named in his honor.