Autumn Years Fall 2024

Even the pandemic was no deterrent to the Wildcats’ unrelenting need to bond and sing on Tuesday afternoons. First, they rehearsed outdoors and so cially distanced at a local park. When that became untenable, they relocated to Barbara’s back yard and then to her front yard. Eventually, they resorted to Zoom sessions. “It was so important to all of us to maintain our connection, our community during Covid,” says Sandy Koblick. Joe Ferrante is currently the lone male member of the Wildcats, but men have participated since the group’s inception, including Susan Novie’s husband Rich ard who sang with the group until his passing three years ago. Joe was a North Haledon Police Officer for 33 years, retir ing as the Chief of Police in 2005. He was also the president of the homeowners association for his North Haledon com munity for a while. It was through this capacity that fellow community mem bers—and Wildcats—Sandy Koblick and Arlene Tancorra learned he sang with

Clara Krever is another original Wildcat. When describing her partici pation in the group Clara says, “I love the music. I am a very happy girl when I am singing, and I treasure the friend ships I’ve made.” Silvia Tallody lived in the same neighborhood as Barbara Heitmann and Susan Novie for many years, and Susan and Silvia attended a Zumba class together. It seemed only natural that, years later, Susan would encour age her to join the Bergen Community College Senior Chorus that Barbara directed. Silvia Tallody is yet another original Wildcats member. Jeanne Mancision, a retired nurse and hospital administrator, joined the Wildcats about six years ago and is the group’s sound engineer. “This is such a lovely group,” says Jeanne. “The in terpersonal care that people have for one another, you just can’t beat it.” When Jeanne learned she had to audi tion to join the Wildcats, she remem bers thinking, “I don’t know if this is

several rock groups over the years and another Doo-wop group. They launched a successful campaign to recruit Joe as a Wildcat, and he has been a member for nearly a decade. Joe especially enjoys the harmony the Wildcats can achieve be cause their voices are all different ranges. He also performs some solos, including “My Special Angel.” Shelly Stein, a retired high school math teacher who serves as treasurer for the Wildcats, is an original mem ber. After thinking long and hard, she added her name to the Doo-wop sign up sheet passed around the Sing, Sing, Sing class in which she was enrolled. “It was a big decision,” she reflects, “but absolutely one of the best things I’ve done since I retired.”

FALL 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS 49