CLAIRE WURTZEL has been an educator for 40 years. Her focus is on helping teachers with students who have learning difficulties and/or behavior challenges. Claire is on the faculty of the American Museum of Natural History where she is teaching in an exciting initiative- a masters degree program in the teaching of science.

 

From 2008-2011 she was the Director of Professional Development for the Churchill School.  Prior to Churchill, Claire worked with Dr. Mel Levine at All Kinds of Minds, bringing the work of Dr. Levine to New York City Public Schools. Claire was on the faculty of Bank Street Graduate School for 17 years, where she taught courses and chaired the Department of Special Education. Claire also works with teachers, administrators, families, psychologists, librarians, and museum educators both nationally and internationally. Through Claire’s relationships with NYC public school principals, she and Bill have begun launching healthy breakfast workshops in the schools.

 

Claire and Bill just celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. They have 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren, and live in New York City.

 

BILL WURTZEL was an award-winning advertising creative director by day and jazz guitarist at night. In 1989, he switched to a music career. Bill was a member of the Count Basie Countsmen, Bill Doggett, and Jimmy McGriff bands, among other jazz legends. Bill performs weekly at HENRY’s, The Neighborhood, and American Folk Art Museum as well as concerts and jazz clubs and private events billwurtzel.com . He is a founding director of the Jazz Foundation of America, which helps jazz and blues musicians in need jazzfoundation.org

 

The Breakfast Story

 

From the earliest days of our marriage, Bill has made me healthy, artistic and hilarious breakfasts. Just to make me laugh.

 

Although he’s not a cook, Bill makes any food look visually appealing. Who expects carrots and celery on your eggs? A sense of abandon was, and is a constant. With his skills as an artist and jazz musician, he can improvise the food designs spontaneously with whatever ingredients are on hand.

 

Bill’s edgy breakfasts are a wonderful gift and an expression of his love. About 6 years ago I encouraged Bill to photograph the breakfasts because they were so spectacular but gone in a minute - like Mandala sand paintings of the Tibetan Lamas. He began photographing the breakfasts and emailing them to friends and family who not onlyloved them, but were inspired to make their own healthy, silly breakfasts.

 

The New York Times ran a feature on my breakfasts. It was weird to have my private intimate gifts exposed on the Times landing page. But I’ve grown comfortable sharing them with others because I love that Bill’s artistry is being praised and appreciated.

 

Now we have a book, “Funny Food” which will be available in April 2012- with 365 breakfasts.

 

I have been a “Weight Watcher” for many years and Bill is very supportive. He measures the ingredients of my breakfasts carefully so that I can calculate the pointseven as he makes the craziest breakfast.

 

It’s a joy to start each day with a healthy breakfast and a good laugh.