JULY 18, 2025

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

Hi E-Chatterers of the Weequahic Kind,  

Sara Friedman Fishkin (60) shares mini-reunion pic of three long term friends:

This “IS” our treasure...we are it! Yes, still great friends after 65+ years. We are on a trip to The Berkshires. Pictured, below are Bette Krupenin Kolodney, Sara Friedman Fishkin and Jeanette Amundsen Bothroyd, all WHS 1960. Sara

Marc Tarabour (6/63) follows up on reunion invite:

Sigma Alpha Rho Fraternity, Nu Beta Chapter, played a significant role in my Weequahic experience. I continue to maintain friendships with many of my brothers to this day. The fraternity, established over 104 years ago, is a Jewish high school organization that remains very active, particularly in the Philadelphia area.

I am organizing a fraternity reunion on August 20th at Eppes Essen in Livingston. There are some brothers I haven't heard from or may have missed. If you are available, please reach out to me at mtarabour@gmail.com or call me at 201-247-0939. Marc

Martin Friedman (1/47) reaches out to WHS alumsters from the distant past:

I would like to find out if anyone from the classes of 1945 to 1949 are still alive.

Maybe we could have a reunion? Please feel free to contact me at Martyfriedmanpres@gmail.com. Marty

Judi Wodnick Chait’s sharing the news of the passing of a former Language Arts teacher received responses:

Joan Radin Gerard (1/62)

I was also saddened to read of Judith Berson’s passing. She was my French teacher at Clinton Place Junior High and had a profound influence on my future career as a French teacher. Her youth, vitality and knowledge made her class the highlight of my day. I was thrilled to win the French Award and became a French teacher at West Orange High School in 1966. 

At WHS, I was equally delighted to be in Mr. Chasen’s Russian class. His energy was boundless and encouraged me to continue my Russian studies along with French in college. In 1967, I spent 6 months in Communist Russia working as a guide at an exhibit sponsored by the U.S.I.A. 

I am now 81-year-old and living in northern California. I lead a French conversation group. Just another example of the great influence our Weequahic teachers had on our lives and future careers. Joan

Barbara Lerner Blumberg (60)

I, too, had Judith Berson at Clinton Place Junior High for French. That trip to New York still lingers with me. I had escargots for the first time. I still remember the words to the libretto for Carmen which we had studied before going. Barbara

Susan Oaklander Leon (1/58) and Myron Borden (1/52) highlight WHS Alumni:

Arlene Helfer Maguire, Class of 1958, has published eight children's books, selling well over one hundred thousand worldwide. Her last few books, still available on Amazon (Link to Amazon site), include: "Life's Changes," a heartfelt and inspiring journey into the unchanging love that lives inside all of us, "Catjectives," an A-Z rhyming book for children and adults alike that takes you into the whimsical world of cats and "Special People, Special Ways," an award-winning book that explores the differences among all of us.

Arlene has been writing poetry and books since our days at Weequahic. Her books are so inspiring and creative! You must check them out for your own collection or for gifts. Susan

If you receive notifications involving Hawthorne Avenue School, you might include this information. While looking through the Internet, I checked on a boyhood friend of mine named Michael Applebaum, who lived on Tillinghast Street a few houses down from Clinton Place. He was also a fellow classmate of mine during my years at Hawthorne, which only had classes through fifth grade, and first year of Weequahic High School. I lost track of him after fifth grade because his family moved away.  

Michael’s father gave violin lessons from his home and also instructed his son. Michael became a professional violinist, changed his last name, and was known as Michael Tree (which is English for “baum,” German/Yiddish for “tree;” “apple” speaks for itself). He not only became famous in the U.S. but world-wide. Unfortunately, Michael passed away in 2018 (Link to Michael Tree Obituary). Anyone interested in more about him may check on line which provides much information about him (Link to Article). Myron

Seymour Levine (60) adds another layer of WHS area sports memorabilia:

Frank Chekorski's name has come up in these columns in the recent past. He was one of the great athletes to come out of Newark ever. His family moving to Hillside, Frank never got a chance to play at Weequahic. But, while living in Newar, his family lived off of Wolcott Terrace on either Patton Place or Fessenden Place. I don't recall which.

A year or two younger than me, our paths crossed many times at Hawthorne Avenue School playground half a block from my house at 409 Hawthorne. This must have been when we were in the 5th and 6th grades and baseball was everything. I played with and against Frank in softball and touch football in the playground. He was outstanding as a young athlete and commanded respect from all of us kids. Could he hit? Wow. He would later discover basketball and per the Newark News was all state in basketball and I believe also in baseball for Hillside in the very early 1960s.

Another memory of sports when growing up on Hawthorne Avenue was walking to Avon Avenue School to watch some high caliber basketball played in their schoolyard. There were no nets or metal nets, just the circular rim. And featuring Al Attles going up against Cleo Hill and accompanied by pros such as Ray Felix and Walter Dukes and others. It was terrific standing among crowds of people watching these guys do their thing and not worrying about skin color or anything else. Just there to watch some hoops. Seymour 

JFK in Newark still has some allure:

Arthur Schechner (49)

I think I might win the meet the President sweepstakes. In the spring of 1948, I was chosen to represent Weequahic High in greeting President Harry Truman when he came to the Mosque Theater on Broad Street for a campaign speech. That was 77 years ago. Arthur

Elliot Gourvitz (6/63)

When Kennedy came to Newark to campaign, I was there as an usher at the Mosque Theater. The thrill of that campaign appearance will always remain with me some 65 years later. In those days as teenager and young adult, I became political and volunteered to help Paul Krebs in his campaign to become a congressman (see photo of me, below). His run for office allowed me to see Kennedy close up and personal.

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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