JULY 12, 2024

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

Hi Broadcasters of the Weequahic Historical Blog, 

Lenore Blumenfeld Beerman-Friedman (1/51) is the newest addition to the “WHS Note” subscribers list at ef4440@aol.com.

Keeping the connection viable and continuing:

As noted a number of weeks ago, thanks to the generous readers of the “WHS Note,” almost $77,500 has been contributed over the last 24 years to the Weequahic Class of 1963 Scholarship Fund (The Fund) to support the educational and personal advancement of WHS graduates. Please lend your continued individual support by filling out the attached form (WHS 63 DUES FORM) and committing in 2024 to assisting The Fund and helping the “WHS Note” keep us connected every week. Thank you for giving every consideration to the request made, herein.

Charles Zeichner (6/58) shares fond memories of growing up in Newark, of himself, the road traveled and another Weequahic alumnus success story:

My fraternal twin, Marvin, and I lived in the Ironbound section of Newark (also referred to as "Down Neck") until we were approximately four years old. The Clinton Hill section became our new residence, located on Runyon Street where we both attended Hawthorne Avenue School and then Bragaw through grades 7 and 8. After one year at the Weequahic Annex located at Hawthorne Avenue School, we attended grades 10 through 12 at Weequahic High School.

I fondly reminisce about Hawthorne Avenue. The butcher where my mother purchased all her meat; the two bakeries; Cohen's for the best two hot dogs with the works, French fries and a large Coke for $1.00. Then there was Bragman’s for the best pastrami sandwiches. My family moved to Chancellor Avenue when I was fourteen years old. It was a carefree and wonderful time.

My brother Marvin became a police officer in Union, NJ. I followed in a totally different direction entering the military for six-month active duty and five- and one-half years reserve. This was followed with owning a delicatessen, which was purchased from my father who shortly passed away. I sold the business two years later in pursuit of a college degree at William Paterson College (now William Paterson University) and graduated three years later with a BA degree. My education continued with my Master's in Administration and Supervision from Seton Hall University. 

I realized that I had a proficiency in both mathematics and science and received certification in both subjects. I taught in the Chester Schools located in Morris County for 33.5 years, first as a teacher and principal, then Director of Curriculum and Instruction where I created and implemented the Gifted/Talented program. I then became Vice President of the Summer Institute for the Gifted for six years followed with eight years in a private full day Hebrew School in Passaic County teaching Mathematics part time. I also served on several Boards of Trustees and was recently elected to my local Board of Education.

I am so proud of my accomplishments over the years which were due to my environment, friends, and my stubbornness to achieve. Anyone can do it if you have the determination, and a wonderful wife of 60 years that stands behind you with encouragement, candor, and strength. I tell you this story because I was not the best student. I really didn't put the time and efforts into my studies or have the academic support at home. Every day after school I worked in my father's business five days a week and on Saturday. On Sundays, I worked from 6 am to 12 noon. This was by choice because the money was my primary motivation. In reality I should devoted more time to my studies. However, it made me who I am and contributed to some large degree to my success. I have two marvelous daughters and four wonderful grandchildren. Charles

Reaching Out:

Marvin Rausch (Hillside 56)

My wife Vivian Confield Rausch (WHS 60) and I reside in Delray Beach, FL and would like to hear from our classmates. I can be reached at beechmtn5@yahoo.com.   Marvin

Maxine Feinblatt Kaplowtiz (65) 

Does anyone have any info on Allan Miller, Class of 65, who became a doctor and has since passed. His grandpa owned Pechter’s, the Harrison baking company. Please contact me at maxiesaffel@gmail.com. Maxine 

Warren Grover (1/55)

In the late 1960’s and through the 70s, a number of professional offices moved to East Orange and remained there for at least a decade. Looking for some historical perspective from anyone among our readers who has some personal knowledge and/or are aware of any dissertations or other scholarly work on the move from Newark to East Orange. If you can assist, please reach out to me at minuteman1996@msn.com. Warren

Judy Epstein Rothbard (6/58)

In 1990, our classmate Sherry Ortner did a study of our class culminating in the publication of "Capital, Culture and the Class of '58." At that time, she  interviewed some of the children of the class. Sherry would like to reconnect with those children, but does not have current contact information. If your child was interviewed and/or filled out her questionnaire, please contact me at judyepster@yahoo.com and I will pass your information on to her.  Judy

Mady Bauman Barna’s (56) comment about her dad and the Weequahic Diner motivated comments, as did Harlene Gelman Horowitz’s (6/58) prior “WHS Note, comment, “We all lucky to live in those great years? There will never be years like our Weequahic years again.” 

Mel Goldstein (57)

I really liked your dad. When me and my friends would meet at the Weequahic Diner after our dates, he kept us in line and told us to quiet down which we did right away.

When I got back from the military I was in uniform with another sailor and we went to the Diner for pancakes. It was packed Friday night. When he saw us he said, "Wait a minute boychick," went over to a table and told the occupants to leave because they were there long enough. He seated us and made sure my buddy and I were given first class treatment. I kissed him on the top

of the head when we left. Your dad would always pinch my cheek whenever I ate there. What a mensch (stand up guy). Mel  

Shirley Ezersky Friedman (56)

I never fail to look for the newsletter every Friday. Most times disappointed that I never see anything from my classmates. Recently, I was happy to see two old friends and classmates from school, Mady Bauman Barna and Mel Rubin. Mel, I knew slightly; he was always friendly and happy in the halls.

Mady talking about the Weequahic Diner brought back great memories. It was my favorite place to go to, as I knew it was the place to see and be seen. Always great fun and the food was the best. My family was different than most. I never saw or did what most had the pleasure of seeing and doing, so my blogs are somewhat very rare.

I hope I hear from other classmates as it's very uplifting to bring back the "good old days." We will never see anything like our days at Weequahic again; sitting on stoops with neighbors waiting for the Good Humor man, kids riding bicycles in the street, playing kick ball, mibs, and hop scotch. Those were the years. Living in California, the kids have none of that, just computers and swimming pools. That's it. Just think we had it all! Shirley

Jack Lippman (50)

A recent posting mentioned Lehigh Avenue as a place where almost everyone lived at some point in their Newark life. Well, I never lived there but I've just finished re-reading Philip Roth's novel, “I Married a Communist,” in which a good deal of its story was related at the fictionalized Lehigh Avenue home of the late “Doc' Lowenstein,” Weequahic English teacher and Roth's advisor, fictionalized by Roth in the novel as “Murray Ringold.” I also had several friends who became pharmacists who worked at Lehigh Drugs, at the corner of that street and Bergen Street. 

But all of that is now history, just as the Weequahic and Claremont Diners (also mentioned in the last posting) are, too. I still recall the courtesy of Leo (or maybe it was his brother) when a bunch of just-graduated WHS seniors, half-drunk, piled into the Weequahic Diner for dessert and coffee after an evening in New York City, with its younger drinking age. Jack

More W-related comments to share: 

Marvin Kaleky (Hillside 55)

I read with great interest Marc Tarabour’s (6/63) article about those from WHS who died on or around D-Day, especially as to “Pvt. Joseph Goldberg Airborne

D-Day June 6, 1944 Basse-Normandie France Purple Heart.”

I never knew Joseph Goldberg. He is buried in Talmud Torah cemetery on South Orange Avenue in Newark a few feet from my parents' graves. Joseph's father was one of my father's friends in the organization Chudnover KUV. Some years ago, when I was visiting NJ from my home in Florida, I noticed that Joseph died June 6, 1944. At that time, I decided that there probably was no one saying Kaddish (prayers for the deceased) for him, and I took it upon myself to remember Joseph Goldberg and recite Kaddish on his yahrzeit Paul Goff (58) 

Each week in addition to reminiscing about high school days I learn something of the outstanding lives of fellow grads. A recent edition of the “WHS Note” featured David Shapiro (64) citing a linked to a NY Times obituary which highlighted his background and career as a noted poet of the New York School. Who knew? Me, in my cloistered west coast small town existence certainly didn't. 

In the same edition, Winston Brill (57) noted that he and his wife were celebrating their 60th anniversary. I don't recall knowing either Winston or his wife Nancy and congratulate them on their anniversary. But because they live in the State of Washington as I do, I decided to look them up. I googled Winston and found a number of references to Dr. Winston Brill and want to call to the attention of other readers his brilliant (no pun intended) career as a professor and researcher in microbiology. A very brief review can be found here: Article on Dr. Winston Brill. If you search his name on YouTube, you'll find a couple of lectures he gave at Bellevue Community College. I'm sure there's more. 



The post war era in the Weequahic section was a potent mix of the children of first and 2nd generation Jewish families from Russia and more recent immigrants from the World War. They mixed with those who fled Hungary and the iron curtain countries and beneficiaries of the start of America’s black migration. Who knew how well we would all fare? I certainly didn’t, but it is a great story. Paul(anniversary of one’s passing). My visit to Normandie, France several years ago had a whole lot more meaning to me. Marvin

Michael Klein (6/56)

As those of us who went to Weequahic in the 50s are moving on, and as we collect diseases, and tell our "organ recitals," I think of Philip Roth from his novel, "Everyman" in which he says: "Old age is not a battle. It's a massacre."

Hang in there. Michael