APRIL 18, 2025

TO RESPOND WITH A COMMENT OF YOUR OWN, PLEASE CLICK ON WHSALUM63@AOL.COM.

Hi Force Orange & Brown,  

Michael Kerner (6/63) and Melissa English bring news of the passing family members:

It is with profound sadness that I would like to share with the Weequahic community the recent passing of my beloved brother Robert Kerner, Class of 1955. The Star Ledger obit appears at Obituary for Robert Kerner. Mike 

I just logged onto my dad's email and saw the newsletter. My father, Frank Straka (6/61), attended WHS and followed your emails before his dementia took over. Please find his obituary here, Obituary for Frank Straka, Sr.. I remember my dad could sing the fight song and had a letterman's sweater as he was a soccer player. Melissa

Hal Lipton (1/55) speaks of his relationship with WHS legendary basketballer Al Attles (55):

I was part of a group of guys trying out for the WHS basketball team in the 1950s. Among the boys trying out for the team was Al Attles. The coach was Dr. Don. After Al made a great play (I think it was a left-handed layup), Dr. Don stopped the action and said, “I don't know if Al is that great or the rest of you are that bad." I never forgot what Dr. Don said, but always remembered it.

Al had a great memory. After playing for the San Francisco Warriors and also serving as coach of the team, Al remained a part of the team as advisor/consultant and doing PR work for many years. I had taken a job at Oakland Children's Hospital (1989-1993) as Director of the Social Work Department. One night, when my wife and I went to a Warrior's game, Al was sitting in the press box area. He saw me walking around, called my name and invited me to sit with him. I sat with him for about an hour. We talked about having lunch one day. 

A few days later, we spent about 4 hours having lunch and talked about the "old days" at WHS. I remember saying to him that he was a good hitter (softball) in our gym class. I also told him that I was afraid he would come out for the baseball team and beat me out for the shortstop position. But I also mentioned that I noticed he was not so good a hitter. I asked why. Al responded that he once got hit in the head when playing baseball. That event made him a bit gun shy as a batter. Al did not try out for the baseball team that year.  

I remember how assertive and skillful he was as a ball handler in basketball at Weequahic. Al was also a great defensive player, as well. I once saw coach Lustig have Al (about 6ft tall) guard a player from Montclair (about 6'9”) and Al held his own. I also recall how good he was as a receiver in football. He caught passes from Monroe Krichman and made All-City.

I was so sad to hear about Al's recent passing. He was not only a great athlete, but a wonderful person as well. Hal 

Jac Toporek’s (6/63) inquiry about President Kennedy’s participation in a Newark parade received several responses:

Barbara Zieper (64)

Saw your story in the newsletter about Kennedy in Newark. I remember seeing him at the Mosque Theater!  Barbara

Judy Wilson Schwartz (6/63)

If my memory is correct, JFK was at the Newark Columbus Day Parade in October, 1962. I was standing in front of Petty Drugs and I believe he smiled directly at me. Judy

Saul Wolfe (6/51)

The visit from JFK was for the Columbus Day Parade In October, 1962. I met him that day when I was an Assistant Corporation Counsel and former South Ward YLD President on the reviewing stand on the steps to City Hall. As he was well protected that day by men with rifles visible to us on rooftops across the street, I have always had questions about what happened in Dallas. 

I love reading the Weequahic blog. It brings back so many memories that an old guy of 91 treasures. Saul

Al Brief (6/63)

I remember seeing JFK in a motorcade on Broad Street in Newark. Not sure if it was a campaign event or after he was elected, But it was exciting to see him. Al

Barry Gruber (1/54)

Sometime in 1960, JFK came to Newark in his Presidential campaign. He appeared at the Mosque, then in a motorcade down Broad Street to the Armory where he appeared with Frank Sinatra. My friend and I crashed both events. We had “Speed Graphics,” which only press people used. The world was more innocent then so we were let in as press people. 

After his speech at the Armory, Kennedy left the stage and walked through the crowd. I got up on the stage and stood on a chair to get a better angle. I braced myself with a foot on the table, But as I leaned forward, I pushed the table off the stage. It was tied to a table on both sides so three tables went crashing down with all the banners and signs. A hush fell over the crowd. Secret Service jumped up but when they saw there was no threat everything continued.

In 1962, JFK came back to Newark for a civil rights meeting at Temple B’nai Abraham with Dr, Prinz and Dr. Martin Luther King. As some people know, when MLK gave his famous “I have a dream speech” in Washington, D.C., he was preceded and introduced by Dr. Prinz. Here is a photo of JFK and Civil Rights leaders including MLK (2nd from left) and Rabbi Prinz (3rd from left). Barry

The W-Past remembered:  

Norman “Nibby” Barr (6/54)

To Jac Toporek (6/63), compliments to you on your response to Dr. Jumu’ah’s commentary. It was all well-said. I especially admired your call for more response from ALL Weequahic alumni.

I was intrigued by your mention of “West Kinney Street”. In your recent comment. My grandparents owned a home at 341 West Kinney Street where they raised ten children. My father was number 4 of 10. The home remained in the family until the mid-1950s, and I visited it frequently up to my adolescent years. It was located near the top, of what was the then, West Kinney Street; one-half block below a former (in the 1940s) brewery. There was a very tall brick chimney still standing from the brewery.

In the 1960s (I believe), the whole area was torn down in order to build high-rise public housing (which proved to be a disaster). What does upper West Kinney Street look like now? Norm

Jac Toporek (6/63)

The area of W. Kinney where I visited had a few schools and some residence units. Do not recall stores or commercial property. Jac

The WHS NOTE is emailed to you by the WEEQUAHIC HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION for the CLASS OF 1963 ASSOCIATION and editor, Jacob Toporek.



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