Biografia

4 de abril de 1920 · The Bronx, Nova Iorque, EUA

Mende Koenig was one of the East Side Kids. He later became a school teacher in Canoga Park, California.

Retired as a principal in 1987 from Tarzana Elementary School and lives in West Hills, California.

Initially an elementary school teacher in the mid-1950s at Richland Elementary School in West Los Angeles.

Was recently feted at a big reunion party at a Sherman Oaks, California restaurant in 2006 by students of his 1955 class who reconnected via the Internet.

His first name was spelled "Mendie" in a local Los Angeles news article, dated September, 2006.

Every audition I went on I heard the same thing -- 'If we need a street tough we'll call you.' They didn't call. I knew the handwriting was on the wall.

My job was to teach them, get them ready for the world. Who says you can't have some fun doing it? The movies taught me good timing and I utilized it with the kids to make a point or get a laugh. I wanted them to like coming to school, just like they enjoyed going to the movies.