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Dave Wyman | all galleries >> Galleries >> Clover Avenue Elementary School > The Kids and Mr. Sparti
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The Kids and Mr. Sparti

Who are all those kids? They are tantalizingly familiar. Hmmm....I think I recognize Joel Axelrod, two left from Mr. Sparti, with the flat top haircut. Howie - is that the kid with the hat and black shirt, in the middle? I don't see myself, so I must be the photographer. Also, when was this picture made? I thought I had Mr. Sparti in the 5th grade, but I'd noted in my photo album that this was the 3rd grade. Are these 3rd or 5th grade kids? Let me know what you think, Cloverites.


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David Chesney 28-Jan-2015 11:09
I can verify Joel's identifications and add a couple. That's me (David Chesney) in the front row second from the right as you view the photo, hand shielding my eyes from the phone. The one other person I am pretty sure I can identify is Paul Winter, front row two kids to the left as you view the photo. We lived in the apartments on Sepulveda Blvd. I entered Clover the year it opened (1954) in second grade having spent first grade in the bungalows at Charnock Road school.
Joel Axelrod 19-Oct-2005 20:42
Yes...That is me, Joel Axelrod, with the flat top that Aaron Paul of Paul's Barbershop on Pico near Allied Models, gave me. Mr. Sparti was great....he played the violin and performed "special effects". He'd use his jacket like a veronica and act as the matador while we kids as bulls, charged him. He came by every day to our lunch area for his ritual snack from my lunch bag...my mother started adding another sandwich just for him. When I had one of the first boy-girl parties at our house, we invited Mr. Sparti and he came. For 6th grade graduation, I wrote a play that satirized a graduation ceremony with students playing the part of our teachers...Stevie Epstein played Mr. Sparti (Steve played violin like Mr. Sparti, who led the school orchestra), Gail Rivise was the principal, Bernie Greenfield was Mr Reid and I did a ballet in Robin Stone's tights to The Nutcracker as Mr.Beckham. We were such a hit with the 6th grade graduating class and their teachers that we were asked to perform the play for the entire faculty. This picture was taken next to one of the handball courts. From L-R top row (the best that I can after 40+ yrs)Johnnie Steinberg, Joey Paganelli (?) (?) Me with flat top, Marty Haines or Steve Epstein, Mr. Sparti, Tim Johnson, Pamela Overholt
2nd row (?), Missy Greenspan or Karen Siegel, (?), (?), Howie Newcomb (hat and dark shirt), Michael Harris, 2 boys then Gail Rivise and Jill Macpeak Front Row L-R Robert Noonan, Alan Greenbaum, Ronnie Gudtkin, Paul Brockman, Mark Mazar, Mickey Lerner, 2 boys...kid in the cowboy shirt might be Daniel Gideon, David Chesney (hand shading eyes) and Clifford Hersch in the checkered jacket. This was taken in 1958-59.
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