DECEMBER 19, 2025

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

Good evening, Some of you may be receiving this Note a second time. There was a glitch in the email listing so some subscribers did not receive it. Thank you for your patience, Myra

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Hi Painters of the Scenes of Colorful Weequahic Neighborhoods,

WINTER HOLIDAY HIATUS AHEAD. THERE WILL BE NO DELIVERY OF THE “WHS NOTE’ UNTIL FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026. UNTIL THEN, BEST HOLIDAY WISHES TO ALL OF YOU WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE WEEKLY EXCHANGE A NOSTALGIC “W-HIGH.” AND, OF COURSE, “HAPPY NEW YEAR.”

THE SUPPORT OF THE WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MYRA LAWSON, IN MAKING CERTAIN “OUR” NEWSLETTER REACHES THE WHS ALUMCHUMS IS DESERVING OF “OUR” GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

IF THERE ARE ANY WHS MEMORIES YOU WISH TO SHARE OF CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, NEW YEAR’S EVE ACTIVITIES, FESTS, ETC., PLEASE MAIL TO WHSALUM63@AOL.COM. 

Howard Mandelbaum (6/59) submits obituary for WHS friend:

I am sad to report the death on Dec. 4, 2025 of Manny Gerstein, Class of January, 1958, A successful attorney in Edison, NJ, he retired to Palm Beach Gardens, FL after living in East Brunswick for many years. Manny is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughter, Robin; and son, Steven with his wife and three children. 

A veteran of the Navy, he will be remembered as a good listener, a great storyteller, and a super nice guy. I will miss him. His obituary can be read at Obituary for Manny Gerstein. Howard 

Recent submissions to the “WHS Note” expressing concerns about news reports of Weequahic area shootings, gang activity, the tragic death of a youngster falling from a high window of the Weequahic Park Towers and the closing of an art school in Newark were forwarded to the WHA Alumni Association. Myra Lawson (70), the WHSAA’s Executive Director, provides a response that might not answer all the questions, but includes some clarity:

1. Newark has not been taken over by gangs. The crime rate has been steadily decreasing under the current mayor's leadership and the police/community partnership is being cited as a model for other urban areas.

2. The shooting on Chancellor Avenue and Leslie Street that happened recently was not a common occurrence. No one knows who the intended target(s) was/were. Just last week four people were picked up and charged in connection to the shooting. No motive yet, and the investigation is still ongoing. A number of community organizations have also stepped in to bring awareness to criminal activity and what people in the community can do.

3. The school is gaining enrollment every semester. Several years ago, the previous administration in Trenton sent in a temporary school superintendent who wanted to change Newark's public school system into a charter system. That did not happen and the city now has complete control over the public school district.

4. Weequahic not only prepares students to graduate with a high school diploma, but also offers students an opportunity to graduate with a certification in two allied health fields. Most of the graduating seniors are going to college and majoring in biology (for nursing) and technical fields. The school was also accredited by the Middle States association three years ago and the building has been placed on both the New Jersey and the National Registries of Historic Buildings.

5. Weequahic today offers a full range of not only academic programs, but also athletic programs. They also host a number of community service opportunities which students, faculty and staff participate in.

6. Arts High School is a district school. One of the first public 'magnet' schools in the city (and country) and they are thriving.

7. I believe the school closing that Trudy refers to is The Newark School of the Arts. This school is an independent organization and does not come under the public school district. My understanding is that they have experienced a decrease in donations over the past few years, so their closing is not due to mismanagement but instead due to lack of funding.

Finally, I still live in the South Ward. My neighborhood is relatively safe; my neighbors look out for our community. We have many opportunities to interact with the police and the City's leadership to share concerns, etc. I've never had a problem here; however, I do look out for my well-being (no matter where I am).

I hope this helps clear up some of the misconceptions of the school and the community. If any alumni would like to visit the school, please let me know and I'll arrange for a tour. Thanks, Myra (weequahicalumni@gmai.com) 

George Golomb (64) reaches out to classmates and WHS friends:

I personally get pleasure learning about classmates, where they are living, and what they are doing. I enjoy learning about Weequahic graduates through our newsletter. Wonderful people in my class have died; e.g. Jeffrey Menkes, Sam Mayer, Alan Adler, Michael Goldberger, Wayne Chen, and Alan Naftalis. Stan Herr (6/63) was a year ahead of me at Weequahic. He was a terrific person and he passed a number of years ago. 

I am grateful that I have friends from Weequahic who are still alive and are very nice and interesting people. Would like to hear from and about them. My email addresses is goeagle1@comcast.net. Thought that some of my friends in the Class of 1964 might like to learn where I live (Maryland) and what I am doing (still happily practicing law at age 78). I am busy with work and really enjoy helping people with their problems. George

Alan Ginter (64/65) submits comment about Marshall Banner’s, as previously promised:

Marshall Banner's was known to every kid all over the South Ward. It was on the corner and the windows were all blocked up with merchandise. You walked in and Marshall Banner himself was behind the counter literally surrounded by what looked like the aftermath of a hurricane; stacks of comic books, games, toys of all kinds (yo-yo's and Slinkys to jump ropes, cards, and sets of Jax), magazines, rubber dog poop and fake vomit, whoopie cushions, stickers, maybe stamp books, pink rubber balls, paddles with little rubber balls attached by a rubber band, caps and cap guns. All of it in seemingly random order or no order.  

Nevertheless, despite the seemed clutter, he could immediately locate anything you ever wanted. He didn't mind if you just came in to look around although he never kept his eyes off of you. Marshall was pleasant but not overly personal so I didn't know anything about him or his personal life. To me, he was a man of mystery; easy to talk to for a little kid.  

Banner did not live in my immediate neighborhood (Schley Street just up from Margie's between Chancellor and Lyons Avenues). My Uncle Herman and Aunt Sally lived just up the street above the stores in the same block. Plus, I went to a kind of Hebrew School Bar Mitzvah Crash Course taught by Rabbi Lieberman at Temple Rodfey Shalom just up Clinton Place from Marshall Banner's. Allowed me to wander in there a lot. 

Also, the bike shop on Lyons that we've been talking about in the newsletter was just across Lyons Avenue; Marshall Banner's being on the corner of Clinton Place and Lyons. 

I started music lessons at Music Unlimited on Bergen and Lyons and, if the weather permitted, I walked home and always stopped in at Marshall Banner's. By the way, it was always "Marshall Banner's." I don't even know if the shop had a name.  

Another memory of that corner was when I passed the tavern across Clinton Place from Marshall Banner's. The bar often had their doors open in the hot weather. That's where I first heard Lloyd Price singing "Stagger Lee." That's the version I still sing today and I always think of that corner and that juke box. Don't get me started on juke boxes; an entirely different topic. Maybe next time. 

To quote James Cagney as George M. Cohan, "...and that was strictly ON the record...". You can print it. Maybe we'll get more schtick about Marshall Banner's from other Weequahic folk.  Alan 

Nostalgic spin around the W-Hood: 

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Star Ledger this week printed news that one of Newark’s iconic sites (Anheuser Busch) has been sold and will be relegated to memories of Newark things that were part of our lives. To read two Ledger articles on the sale and future of the sign that lit up the area's skies, please click on the following PDF LINK.

Please feel free to share memories of the brewery via whsalum63@aolk.com. Jac

Jan Krusch (6/58) 

To Claire Mayers Nierenberg (6/58) and her young/old mini reunion broads who are 85, or almost, you all look terrific. “Keep on, keep on!” I celebrated my 85th in May and made a small party for myself with a group I belong to here at Lake Ridge in Tom River. If you're ever down in my area, please get in touch (flutefogey@msn.com). I'd luv it! Jac

Karen Schreiber Kanter (65)

To Bob Gold (59), I was glad to see your name with your story about Connie Francis. You brought back fond memories of you, Bob Greenberger, and Stu Friedman with my brother, Alan, who you know passed away a few years ago. I can still picture all of you with Alan and wishing I were a little older. 

I remember your dad, Philip, who you said was one of Connie Francis’s teachers. Of course, I recall your brother Nate. I can almost hear Alan calling me excitedly to ask if I read what Bob Gold said in the Weequahic Newsletter. Alan was the school’s biggest fan! Thanks for being his good friend. Karen

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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