APRIL 14, 2023


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Hi Networkers of Weeq.com, 

 

Jac Toporek (6/63) follows up Gary Prager’s (1/61) reference to the “Weequahic lifestyle:”  

 

It seemed to me, now that I dwell on the issue (thanks, Gary, for making me dwell), if there was a so-called “Weequahic lifestyle,” it depended on the neighborhood.  Parents were making a home as best their economic status allowed and guided by those families with whom they shared the specific streets, stores, friendships (or lack, thereof) and grit.

 

Many lifestyles in the Weequahic District. The neighborhoods, geographically on the fringe or in the heart (although not certain where the heart was) were varied. There were those that struggled and those who, as George Jefferson aspired on TV many years ago, “moved on up.” My parents were Holocaust survivors new to this land and struggling to fit in. Others included in the sort of outlying Meeker/Elizabeth Avenues area were single parents struggling to raise children, small store owners struggling to make their future brighter, non-Jewish residents struggling to find a niche within a majority and often closed Jewish community, African-Americans struggling to overcome misguided fear and discrimination; could go on and on listing the strugglers. The bottom line is that, as I saw it from where I lived, there was no “Weequahic lifestyle” to emulate, just living life was a goal.

 

I do have to admit, however, on hindsight, I could see how Weequahic High School, through its melting pot of students and neighborhoods, would widely opened our eyes to what we may not have previously known, seen or experienced. We easily learned every day of multiple lifestyles, economic status and, unfortunately, whether the school would in itself be a struggle as to grades, popularity, making friends, keeping friends, athletic proficiency and just plain making it to the finish line at the graduation ceremony. Sure, it was easy to bb envious of the lifestyles of others. But, it was still not a specific “Weequahic lifestyle” to which others aspired, emulated or obsessed. Yes, would it have been better that the struggles were mitigated? Absolutely, but for the vast majority, the “Weequahic lifestyle” was just plain old “living life.”

 

And before you all come down on my seemingly dim “struggling” view of  life in the Weeqquahood, despite the struggles the district was a colorful, dynamic and wonderful place in which to live, go to school, grow up and struggle. All the fond memories we have shared in the 23 years of weekly newsletter makes that perfectly clear.  Jac

Weequahic in “Wikipedia:”

 

Pat Sebold

My wonderful aunt, Hannah Litzky, who taught English at Weequahic High School, taught me the pronunciation was “Wee-Khoi-ick.” When I did my practice teaching under the guidance of another wonderful English teacher, Hilda Lutzke, that is the way I pronounced it and still do today! Pat

 

Carole Heller Shapiro (6/63)

To add to the conversation as to the pronunciation of “Weequahic,” I mostly hear “Week-Wake.” Carole

 

Jeff Golden (6/63)

To my classmate Jac Toporek and Larry Koenigsberg (64). sometimes, when I mention to people that my high school has an alumni association, sends out a weekly email newsletter where alumni reminisce about the old neighborhood, and has been doing so for 25-some-odd years, they find this very odd. Some of them went to what were once outstanding high schools in Philadelphia and they never heard of such a thing. They might ask "Where did you go to high school?" I answer Newark, New Jersey. I might add that my high school was once considered academically one of the top high schools in the country. 

 

Some would ask further, "What's the name of your high school?" Then I have a problem. I tell them that, if you never went to that school or lived in the neighborhood, you are required to pronounce it "Wee-Kwoy-ic." They ask how is it spelled and what does it mean. Eventually we get into the whole Indian name thing.

 

Speaking of Indian names, there is a town near me in south Jersey called Pennsauken. It’s an Indian name. Some people think it sounds funny and ask what does it mean? I don't think anyone really knows that any more. I tell them it means "Where the waters run clear, the corn grows tall, the fish and game are plenty, and people of all nations live together in peaceful harmony." Since that is the exact opposite of what people think of Pennsauken today, that is usually a conversation ender. Jeff

 

Norm Barr (6/54) 

I am responding to Jac Toporek’s (6/63 description of the high school’s name as being pronounced “Wee-kwoi-ick” and his Chicago cousins’ twist, “Weekawaka!” For the sake of completeness, I would add the common blue-collar pronunciation, “Week-wake.” Norm

 

(Editor’s Note: for many in Mr. Martino’s Chem class it was “we quake”)

 

Mel Rubin (56).

In regards to Larry Koenigsberg’s (64) article about the derivation of the word “Weequahic,” I recall that there was a gazebo near Elizabeth Avenue in a grove of trees on a path that had an inscription stating that this was the meeting place of the two Lenni Lenape tribes and that was the source of the Weequahic name, “meeting place.” Not having been in the park since the 60s, although I have played a lot of golf there, I am unaware if the gazebo till exists or if it ever did. Can anyone help me out here? I hate to think it was a figment of my imagination, but in the 50s I was there on multiple occasions as it was on the way to the ball fields.   Mel

 

Jerry Kaye (Krotenberg) (1/60/faculty 64-69)

I remember the music teacher at WHS, Mr. Melnick, who said the proper pronunciation of our fair school rhymes with “Sequoyah,” the beautiful trees in Muir Woods, CA. Jerry

 

Newark History Society

FYI, we have posted recordings of ta program on the Newark History Society's YouTube channel entitled "True Owners of the Land: Munsee Lenape and the First Settlers of Newark,'” March 14, 2023 

(Newark History Society Program YouTube Link). Eyesha Marable's reading of NJPAC's land acknowledgement begins at minute 2:30, while Tim Crist's presentation starts at minute 5:50; the Q&A session begins at minute 56:45.

 

Conversational Weequahood:  

 

Elaine Hersh Krusch (6/50)

Reading the bulletin brings back so many memories of places, homes, stores and so on. I recall getting on my bike (my brother Don’s old boys

Bike) and riding to Irene Weiss’s house after school. She’d put a record on the machine while we practiced the rumba. Sadly, she’s been gone a long time.

One memory provokes another. The stores, the 5&10, the grocery on Chancellor Avenue between Schley and street name I cannot recall at this time. My mom sent me there to pick up an order with only change in my pocket. It was a happy time. Elaine

 

Jerry Enis (1/56)

Saddened to hear about the death of David Bass (6/24). In addition to his role as a physician at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital, David had a horse ranch in Israel. He played a significant role in the historic Entebbe rescue of hijacked passengers. After being released, he provided important intelligence (e.g., guards locations were stationed etc.) and then returned as a medical officer on the raid. About 2000 people turned out to hear his retelling of the incident. Jerry

 

Miriam Perlman Feldmar (6/57)

A few friends met at Eppes Essen in Livingston just the other day and among the many things we were talking about were different classes we took at Weequahic. To Elliot Braun's (1/64) post, I mentioned that I took "Occupations" with Mr. Wallach and we had to write a report on what we wanted to be. I think I was a sophomore and decided I wanted to be an airline stewardess. I took the #107 bus to Newark Airport and had an interview with someone who was very informative and even gave me a stewardess pin. I couldn't have been more excited.

 

I wrote my report and Mr. Wallach gave me an A+. It was a great experience, but, alas, has a sad ending because the first time I was on a plane I got terribly sick to my stomach and realized using my mother's expression - "It's not for me." Also, that was the only A+ I ever got from a teacher for the rest of high school. Miriam

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