JULY 25, 2025

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Hi Members of the WHS Roundtable of Nostalgia,  

Narda Mandell Handler (59) and Paul Levitt (Maple 48) bring sad news of the passing of relatives:



It is with a broken heart and much sadness that I tell you my beloved husband of 66 years, Tony Handler (67) has passed away. He was on his bike training for his 337th Triathlon when he died suddenly. What a man (see article of Tony beating the odds. What an asset to this world. What a humble human being he was. The world has lost one of its finest. He will have his own cloud in heaven. See you soon, Tony. Save me a seat. Narda

My incomparable sister, Sandra Levitt, graduated from Weequahic in 1947. She traveled widely and felt comfortable with different languages, acquiring a fluency in three of them. In her nineties, she settled in Colorado to be near me, her brother. Of late she was in memory care and died a few months ago. Here is her obituary (LINK TO PDF) 

Jacqueline Kaufer Klein (66) shares family memorabilia:

Perhaps this photograph might be of interest to someone? My uncle, Edward Fischer (mom’s oldest brother), was in this class, Avon, January 1936. I just came across this sepia heirloom and thought to share it. His location is one row down from the top and 7th student from the right-hand side.

I don’t know if this was a graduation picture or a yearly class picture, but it was old enough that the boys are wearing high woolen socks. And many of the girls have wool coats with fur collars. If interested, let me know; j.klein590@gmail.com). 

Uncle Edward served in World War II as a medic on a ship in the Pacific and saw terrible injuries and casualties which were airlifted onto the ship. His service had a great effect on him for the rest of his life.

My mother had two brothers, Edward, the older brother, and Sanford, the younger brother. Their parents had become destitute and one of the children had to leave school and go to work. My mother wanted her brothers to finish their education, so she left school at 14-years old. She and my grandmother were able to get money to open a luncheonette on Bergen Street and ended up being very successful!

They worked all day and night in the luncheonette. I was just the two of them; prepared all of the food themselves! Mom continued to work every day of her life until she was 73, when she sadly developed a degenerative muscle disease. I never once remember her taking a day off for a cold or a flu or anything at all.

She never was able to return to school. But, through relentless hard work, a “grate yiddisheh kopp (a great Jewish head),” “mazel (luck)” and savings, she was very successful. And extremely generous to anyone who ever needed a helping hand. Those who needed her help, financial or otherwise, was never turned away. A true “eyshet Chayil (women of valor).” Jacqueline

“Shore” is nice to have a “shore” thing to recall so fondly as the NJ Shore:

Elaine Hersh “Hershey Bar” Krusch (6/50)

I remember those summers well, and all that went with them. My brother Don had signed up for the Navy and that afternoon he was to show up at the recruiting office. My mother wouldn’t let him go! He was eventually drafted into the Army. After serving his time, he went to Columbia in NYC, later becoming a successful optometrist. Instill miss him. All this came back from reading reflections from so many about Bradley Beach. Elaine 

Arnie Kohn (56)

Recent Jersey Shore memories included the oft mentioned Ocean Grove. Of course, in my high school days, we referred to Ocean Grove as “Ocean Grave.”

Today, it is no longer under strict Methodist control and there are some great places to dine. There are many other venues of interest and one can drive their car anytime and anywhere within the boundaries of the shore town and look for a place to park. Arnie

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Ah, yes, “Ocean Grave,” Arnie. For a fairly ignorant of the world high school student, such as I, the mysterious relationship of Ocean Grove to the shore and shore town around it, was mystifying (not that it really meant anything to me in those days in a socially naïve shell). As I passed OG on my walk from Bradley to Asbury Park, I would look into the town’s abutting buildings a bit leery of crossing the narrow grassy lawn into the depths of what seemed to be unwelcoming surroundings. 

Lot better today (except for the parking, as per Arnie’s note). Fine restaurants, good ice cream venues, interesting shops, etc. Some of the former religious sites are still available to view. Yes, lots of changes at the shore we knew and frequented many years ago. Deal, for instance, is a “bib deal,” now. And many of us, who gawked with awe and envy at shore goers with cabanas, today are pleased to tout that they have cabanas, and even ocean front condos at the shore. We have come a long way, friends. Jac

Weequahic near at hand via recollections aplenty:  

Richard Hochstead (6/63)

To Regina Green-Wells (70) on her note about Kool and the Gang appearing at WHS, I believe that around 1979 they had an office on Chancellor Avenue. Richard

Allan Kalb (53)

What a surprise to see Bernie Jacobson’s (51) picture in the newsletter as submitted by J. Paul Blake (68). We lived in the same six family house for many years and were friends and playmates until his family moved away. The newsletter is a true treasure, especially allowing us to reconnect. Allan 

Alan Ginter (64/65)

In response to the note mentioning Neil Rothstein (6/59) that appeared in the “WHS Note” several weeks ago, he was the Head Lifeguard at Fabyan Cabana Club, I think. Once, just before closing time, I saw his white Head Lifeguard sweatshirt lying on the ground underneath the lifeguard stand. I admit that I swiped it, thinking that would be just the coolest thing to wear along the avenue. Duh!  

One evening in early Autumn, I was walking with the crew on Chancellor, crossing Wainwright, and proudly displaying my Head Lifeguard sweatshirt with the Fabyan Cabana Club logo and even Neil's name right there on the front! A car suddenly stops in the middle of Chancellor and Wainwright in front of the gas station and Neil runs out yelling about his sweatshirt. 

Of course, he knew who I was. I was VERY humble and mumbled my made-up story about having found it outside the Cabana Club and immediately returned it to him. I walked around cold the rest of the evening. Admittedly, I was a minor league sociopath, just not a smart one. Learn from your mistakes, kids; don't ever take anything that is easily identifiable and parade it around the neighborhood. Alan

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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