JANUARY 10, 2025

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

Hi Describers of the OBA Scene on Chancellor Avenue,  

Mourning WHS Alumni:

Rosanne Litwak Skopp (57)

It pains me to share the sad news that my lifelong friend Sheila Stein Farbman, (6/57), died during Chanukah 2024. She was beautiful inside and out and I will miss her very much. We shared birthdays, 4 days apart, and wedding anniversaries, a week apart, throughout our lives. May she rest in peace. Rosanne

Harvey Cohen (1/53)

Dan Green, Cass of 1950, passed a few weeks ago, after a long illness. Harvey 

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Recently the subject of “WHS Note” comments and praise, Dr. Victor Parsonnet (41) Passed away a few weeks ago. The good doctor was well known for his medical achievements, tenure at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark and his philanthropy in the arts and in support of the WHS Alumni Association. He was a 2008 inductee in the WHSAA’s Hall of Distinction. The Star Ledger’s obituary for Dr. Parsonnet can be accessed at Obituary for Dr. Victor Parsonnet. Jac

Fred Goldman’s reference to French fries of the W-Hood, received attention:  

David Flecker (62)

Could the place be Syd’s? David

Arnie Tillman (63)

I think the French fries you are talking about came from the Hot Dog Haven. The owner, Dave Aronow, told me his secret was to boil the fries first then fry them. They came in a small brown paper bag with a long skinny wooden fork. They were best eaten with gobs of ketchup. Arnie

Ellen Jeret Gross (6/62)

Hot Dog Haven on Chancellor Avenue had the best fries served in a paper bag. The Aronow Family owned it. Their son Leslie was in our class. Ellen

Sondra Green Weissman (52)

I believe the "restaurant" to which you referred is Halem’s on Chancellor Avenue. Sondra 

Don Rosen (53)

I'm pretty sure your French fries in a small bag were from Syd's. Many of us at Weequahic ate there. Their hot dogs were quite well known, too. Don

Barry Gruber (1/54)

I’m pretty sure you’re talking about Syd’s. They came in a brown paper bag with the grease soaking through. OMG, I can taste them now. Barry 

Mel Rubin (56; Is it that long already?)

I don't think it was Syd's, as they had already moved to the Milburn Mall when you were at WHS. I believe the Bunny Hop was still on Chancellor Avenue before moving to the Essex Green Mall in West Orange. I remember going there when Richie Trugman (61) ran the place. Wasn't the grilled steak sandwich called the Jerry Bomb? It was grilled skirt steak, with onions, peppers, fries and mustard on half an Italian round bread. It was similar to an Italian hot dog, without the grease. They saved the grease for the fries. 

I am salivating just thinking of the many I consumed! Both had great fries. In my estimation, Syd's, both in Newark and Bradley, have not been surpassed. I remember the grease dripping out of the bags, running down your arms as you gobbled them up. I was told that they were double cooked in beef fat, That's what gave them that great flavor. Syd's has to be # 1. Mel 

Ron Orbach (1/52)

Regarding the French fries, could you be thinking of Syd's? Ron

Steve Care (66)

The French fries you were referring to came from Syd's across from Untermann Field. Eventually, it was bought by Dave Aranow and became Hot Dog Haven. Unfortunately, he no longer sold the same fries. I worked at Hot Dog Haven for about 1 year. Steve

Phil Tischio (6/61)

I would have to say the store was Syd’s, home of the French fries, Kukamonga, and my favorite “MK” hot dog all for about 50 cents, Such a deal! Tish

Audrey Blumenfeld Posnock (53)

Syds was across the street from the High School. Great hot dogs and French fries. Delicious.!  Aubrey

Some more teacher related thoughts:  

Steve Epstein (6/63)

To Elliot Braun (1/64), If the incident of the missing bowl at the Chanticleer happened in eighth grade, the teacher was probably Mrs. McCaffery. She was a rather heavy-set woman who most students feared and were glad to move from Chancellor to Weequahic. Steve  

Eliot Braum (1/64)

To Steve Epstein (6/63), Thanks for the response and “Yes it was Mrs. McCaffery. She was a nasty woman. For some stupid reason she disliked me and put me in a remedial reading class in my first year at Weequahic. I sat for a few weeks with people who couldn't read. Of course, since then I had read hundreds of books. I have published scores of articles and several books on archaeology and also edit English for others.  Eliot

Howard Klein (66)

Referring to my classmate Daniel Fink's comments, Andy Wekstein was the Gym teacher marching us around, barking commands. Mild mannered but tough. Howard

Jack Lippman (50)

My mother was a grad of South Side grad which was the Weequahic of its day before WHS was built. And South Side was where Weequahic students took Summer School classes. That's where I was in Doc Lowenstein's English class during his McCarthy Era travails, studying Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Jack

As recollected from the W:  

Harry Katz (64) 

Jimmy Buffs in West Orange has the best deal on Tuesdays. Buy a double Italian Hot Dog, pay single price. Very good. Harry

Margie Bauman (6/60)

A note for Ron Zevin (53), re his note on a visit to 100-year-old Dr. Victor Parsonnet, a founder of Beth Israel Hospital, where I was once a candy stripper. Here’s to plain “Good Luck” on living a ling life, but a square of dark chocolate a day can’t hurt. In Normandy a lovely square of dark chocolate is often served with an order of coffee, a great combo. The French are wise! Margie 

Bob Lombardo (1/63) 

I read the comment from Esther Gordon (6/52) on Longboat Key, the hurricanes and I'm glad she's OK. I live in Bradenton, on Palma Sola Bay, just a few miles from her home. I understand that a number of other Weequahic alumni in Longboat. We are very lucky to be living in such a beautiful area.

My wife and I have lived here since 1974 and I've seen some bad storms. But to be affected by a strong surge of water with hurricane Helene, and then only a few weeks later, a direct hit by hurricane Milton, it was more than most areas can handle. The storm amazingly subsided to 100 MPH winds at Sarasota-Bradenton Airport as it made landfall, or it could have been even more deadly than it was. The barrier islands of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key were severely damaged. Hopefully we can cleanup and rebuild this beautiful area many a Weequahic grad calls home. Bob

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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