Memories of Browning Following World War II

As told by Michael Mittelmann ‘49

In response to Dr. Botti’s ‘State of the School’ Address, Michael Mittelmann ’49 shared his reflections on what it was like to be a student during another challenging time in Browning’s storied history.

Browning’s 1947 Junior Varsity Basketball team. Mr. Mittelmann is the last student seated on the right.

On December 9, 2020, many of us joined the Zoom presentation by Browning’s Head of School Dr. John Botti. COVID-19 has produced changes and influences how we function in so many ways. His presentation brought back remembrances of what existed over seven decades ago.

I attended Browning in 1946, one year after the end of World War II. It can only be a guess as to what core plans or priorities existed at 52 East 62nd Street. For a 14-year-old student, my focus was learning and developing study habits for various subjects. Physical education took place on the narrow, enclosed cage-like rooftop or on rare trips to Randall’s Island when we didn’t use the basement gym. Interscholastic basketball was a huge favorite. We did not have the Browning Panther as a mascot at the time.

I have no recollection of any parent-teacher meetings, functions or involvement by my parents. Private tutoring in Latin with a faculty member enabled me to complete curriculum requirements. In every single subject, the very experienced teaching staff was deeply involved. Some had been at Browning for many years and their names are inscribed in the school’s archives.

WW II was not discussed in history class, and I’m not sure if any older students had served in the war. We did a bit of community service along with a few girls from The Nightingale-Bamford School at a facility in the Yorkville area. At the time, the school lacked a full-time nurse or health office. Most classes were quite small by the time I graduated in 1949, with some friends having left to attend boarding school. The concept of mentoring, I feel in retrospect, would have been greatly appreciated. Outstanding publications such as the Buzzer and the Grytte did not exist, although I have a ‘history’ with a primitive short-term version of the latter. A very close relationship has been maintained with several classmates whose achievements and friendships will never be forgotten. Recently, I learned of the great academic progress of a student with whom I gave an oral history relative to my service in the Vietnam war. The student graduated from Browning in 2008.

Dr. Botti’s precise outline and detailed discussion at the ‘State of the School’ address were very strong. I think the plans for Browning will continue to make students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents very proud in the years to come.