Wantagh
HERALD Citizen
Seaford F.D. gets new wheels
Overturned car in Wantagh
Students show vets gratitude
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NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020
VOl. 68 NO. 48
OBITUARY
The life of Tim Denton teacher. Their parents’ backgrounds in academia spurred her brothLast week, the Herald report- er’s interest in learning, she ed the death of friend and col- said. “He was a reader from the league Timothy John Denton on time he’d just learned how,” LauNov. 14, at age 67, in Manhasset. rel recalled. “He started reading Co-workers from Herald Com- before anyone else, and he quickmunity Newspapers and Richner ly began reading a lot of books Communications — and talking about of fered words of music.” remembrance of Coupled with Dentheir friend Tim. ton’s early craving Many noted his wisfor knowledge was dom and quick wit. an insatiable appetite But Denton, a Califor music — listening for nia transplant, to, discussing and was known among eventually learning those closest to him how to play it. “He a s a n a n i m at e d , was attracted to claskeenly talented and sical music, even as a timothy Denton highly spiritual man. child,” Laurel said. He was born on “That was the music July 9, 1953, in Los that we had in the Angeles, the third of Earl and house, yes, but he was attracted Vita Denton’s four children. He to it on his own.” and his brothers, William and By the time he attended Ross, and their sister, Laurel, Arroyo Grande High School, spent their formative years in she said, he had become a dediWhittier, 20 miles southeast of cated musician, as well as an Los Angeles. unofficial follower of the hipIn 1958, when Tim was 5, pie movement, which was at its according to Laurel, the family height in Califor nia as Tim moved to Arroyo Grande, a small grew up. “He had long hair and town in central California. Earl wore his sandals to school,” his Denton was a school district sister recounted. “These things superintendent, born and raised were frowned upon at the time. in Los Angeles and a “city guy,” Our father was very straitLaurel said. Vita was an English Continued on page 3
By J.D. FREDa
Jfreda@liherald.com
J.D. Freda/Herald
WaNtagh high SChOOl Key Club members gathered last Saturday morning to help collect toys for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation Toy & Fund Drive.
Cars bear gifts for Theissen
Students lend hand in toy drive for sick children By J.D. FREDa jfreda@liherald.com
Last Saturday, a line of cars, classic and contemporary, pulled up in the municipal lot behind the headquarters of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh. Inside were donated toys. Students from the Wantagh High School Key Club checked each car for every last toy and placed them in bags. After collecting hundreds of toys in less than three hours, they thanked the donors and hauled the bags into the building. Each year, Seaford resident
John Theissen, 49, resident philanthropist, and his nonprofit host a handful of fundraising events to help sick and underprivileged children. Many contributions are typically made at large galas and fundraisers, but this year many were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, Theissen was facing the possibility of losing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of donations. One of the foundation’s best-known events, dating back to its founding in 1992, has been the Holiday Toy and Fund Drive, which usually runs from early November
until Dec. 23. Its inspiration was Theissen’s experience as a teenager in Schneider (now Cohen) Children’s Hospital in North New Hyde Park. The day before he underwent 10 hours of surgery to address a large tumor growing on his pituitary gland, a critically ill 7-year-old girl named Tasha walked into his room and gave him a gift. Theissen was so appreciative of her generosity that he vowed to dedicate his life to helping other children in the same position as him and Tasha. Now, 32 years later and in the midst of a global pandemContinued on page 15