APRIL 28, 2023

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

Hi, Special Memories Delivery From Weequazon,  

Lynne Freling Zemachson (6/58) has been added to the W-Network at zemal@yahoo.com.

Sharon Rous Feinsod (66) acknowledges the loss of a classmate and Arlene Music Levitt advises of loss of relative and classmate:

With sadness we share the passing of our dear friend and class member, Ruth Glass. Ruth lived in Washington State for many years where she worked as a teacher. She is best remembered as a cheerleader and a friend to many and sister to Lorraine (6/64). May her memory be for a blessing. Sharon

 It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of my cousin and fellow graduate Sidney Slifer (65). He put up a brave fight, but succumbed on April 10,2023. He was a very kind and really nice guy. Everyone liked him. Sid never had a bad word to say about anyone and will be missed. Arlene

Arty Drucks (54) extends an invitation as does Howard Kravis (Chancellor/W. Essex 74):

“Weequahic Tuesday Dinner,” Boynton Beach/Boca Raton area   

For men ages 65 & up; Newark, Hillside, Irvington

Anybody want to join? Contact me at srtdrucks@aol.com  

Meet every Tuesday, 6 to 9 pm at different place each week . Artie

Anyone from the Weequahic Community of the 1960s and 50s want to get together on Thursday, May4 at the Pickled Herring Deli on Route 9 in Englishtown or go to Harold's in Raritan Center around 11 am (?),

let me know by replying to harold.kravis55@gmail.com. Harold

Brenda Allen O’Neill (6/63) continues the commentary on the “Weequahic lifestyle:”

I lived around the corner from Gary on Vernon Avenue. His dad was our milkman and delivered milk to us when we lived on Vernon and on Wickliffe Street in Newark. I also remember his mother. Our parents all worked hard to provide for their children. My mom worked in a dress factory where they didn't have a lunchroom. They ate lunch in the bathroom and only got 20 minutes to eat. My dad worked for Lindeman Fuel where he delivered coal by horse and buggy back in the day. Later driving a truck to deliver coal and later oil. He was the only one who drove the tractor-trailer. At times, he would get a call like 2 A.M. to go to the port to get oil to be delivered to an apartment building or company. Lindeman was bought out by Liberty Fuel oil and was finally taken over by Petro. 

I attended Hawthorne School for one year and three years at Clinton Place Jr. High. Gary's sister Barbara and I graduated in 1964 and we both worked for the courts. Barbara was a Probation Officer and moved up the ranks. I started out in the Welfare Department later transferring to Probation and then on to the Civil Division as a Team Leader in Case management. Barbara retired before I did.



But I had the same work ethics as my parents; if you want something you work hard for it. I retired after 45 years of service in the Essex County Superior Court.

I remember some my teachers lived in the neighborhood as well. Marcia Kramer lived a few doors from the Prager family on Leo Place. My typing teacher, Ms. Colby, lived on Nairn Place. Ms. Eames, Health in the Physical Education Department. lived directly across the street 17-19 Vernon Avenue. I can still see her getting into her big car; was 1959 when the cars looked like they had wings (laugh).

Yes, there were some homes where the families had money and their lifestyles were better, of course. But for the most part everyone did what they had to do to provide for their families. That goes on now today whereby some families still have a little more than others. We lived our lifestyle. Brenda

Enid Hinkes provides another report in memory of Weequahic’s fallen war heroes.

In major catastrophes at sea, two Weequahic students were killed enroute to their assignments. They were both awarded Purple Hearts as their deaths were the result of enemy action. Arthur Kucharski, who, according to the 1940 census lived at 168 Goodwin Avenue completed one year of high school (1938 0r 39) before entering the workforce.

Pictured below, Martin Pedinoff’s (1/41) Legend entry read “A feeling of much, a feeling of ease, Makes position secure, on life’s trapeze;

Orchestra, Ping Pong, Printing Workshop, German Club, College Prep, F & M.” He resided at 223 Schuyler Avenue.

To read the details of their personal and military history, click on (LINK TO PDF).

Driving the W-Hood:

Mel Ortner (64)

In response to Fred Goldman’s (6/62) post about drag racing, I used to race my 63 Corvette on Woolsey and also on Rt 22. One time on Rt. 22, a race was arranged at 3 AM. I watched two guys trailer in their dragsters, fire them up and race down the highway and then put them back on the trailers and haul ass out of there before the police could get wind of it. That was the most exciting and outrageous race ever on the highway. 

We also raced on Rt 1/9 by the airport. One time, when I raced there, the police were waiting at the end of the 1/4 mile and pulled me over along with all the observers parked on the side of the highway. Everyone got a ticket except me because, as luck would have it, the cop was my next-door neighbor. Another great place was Rt 21 which was the north end of McCarter Hwy, under the overpass. Those were the days and I can proudly state that my Corvette was undefeated. Mel

Frank Argenziano (6/62)

In response to my classmate and long-time good friend Fred Goldman, one of my early driving experiences occurred while still on my permit. It happened on a hot summer day in July of 1961 and one of my friends (guess who?) suggested we go up to the South Mountain Reservation to get out of the city. The problem was we had no car. However, my father's car was sitting in front of my house since my parents were out of town with my aunt and uncle. My friend suggested that since my parents weren't due to return until later that evening, we could use the car and return it to the same parking spot before they got home. No one would ever know. 

That may have worked, except for a very minor fender bender I had near the corner of South Orange Avenue and Harding Drive in South Orange. When a police officer arrived, he wanted to see driver’s license and registration for the vehicles involved. After looking at my paperwork, he correctly noted that I was on a permit and needed a licensed driver with me. I told him my licensed driver was in the car. The officer wanted to see his driver’s license. With a hand waving gesture, I summoned my licensed driver. Are you ready for this, out of the car, with no shirt and looking kinda wild, comes Fred "The Head" Goldman. 

The officer looked at me somewhat in disbelief and said something like, "This is your licensed driver?" Fred presented his newly minted license (he's about a month older than me) and that was the end of that adventure. Of course, I had to face the music that night when my parents got home, but the damage to my dad's car was so minor, he wasn't upset too much. Frank

Fred Goldman (6/62) 

This is note on driving that includes my good friend Frank Argenziano (6/62) and a third partner, Richard Trechak (6/63) and me. After we all got our driver's licenses, we would go cruising around at night looking for any action, racing, girls or just driving the neighborhoods. Only one drawback, we had to use was our parents’ cars, of course; not like Frank's story where we just took the car. One night we go to pick up Richie and notice that his father's car is the exact same car as Frank's father's car which we were using to drive around in. Same color, same number of doors; it was a great match.  

I knew that Richie’s dad worked hard, got up very early and came home fairly late. Not a 9 -5 job and he never use to go out after work. Richie’s mom didn't drive. I'm pretty sure it was my plan, but if there is a difference of opinion, I'll take credit for it anyway. When Richie came down, we asked him to get the keys for his dad's car. Yes, you knew what we were about to do; we switched the cars Took the lookalike and then put Frank's car in the same spot. If Richie’s dad looked out the window from the second-floor, he could never know that we switched cars.

The plan worked great every time we made the switch, no accidents. One day at Weequahic, Richie has some bad news for us. His dad is getting a new car because, as he told Rich, “This car was the worst car he ever owned since it just used way to much gas.” We never put gas in after we used it and he was getting so mad that he had to keep getting it filled up. Our days of free cruising were over.  Fred