JULY 26, 2024

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THERE WILL BE NO PRODUCTION OF THE “WHS NOTE” FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE WEEKLY WEEQUAHIC ALUMNI NEWSLETTER WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR “IN BOX” ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2024.

Robert Fischbein (64), another “Authorquahic,” shares details of a new book:

I spent 35 plus years in education and started at Montgomery Pre-Vocational school as a teacher in 1969. I worked there for three years. Then returned to be a Director of Support Service at Essex County Vocational Schools 1984-1987. Miss Dorothy Gould was my first principal and became my life mentor. Dr William Harvey became my other mentor and was Superintendent of ECVTS. Their stories are both summarized in this book. The goal of this book is to show people at any age that being bullied is not a life sentence. A different approach for a novel story.

All my wonderful memories started on Watson Avenue (not far from NBA great Al Attles) near Peshine Avenue School. Then to Hawthorne Avenue, Hunterdon Street and Keer Avenue. My dad owned a small food market on Hawthorne which was destroyed by the riots and then rebuilt.

My book, The Bullied Student Who Changed the Rules, is available on Amazon (Link to Amazon book) and in other book stores. Bob

Correction:



In Last week's newsletter, Stella Goldberg Geller's WHS graduation class should have been identified as June 1952, not 1955.

On school subjects of an elementary nature:

Enid Kesselman Gort (57/58) 

I’d like to thank Barbara Lerner Blumberg (60) for remembering my aunt, Ida Sabelotsky (Sabel). She was an inspiration both to her students at Avon Avenue School and to me.

My mother, Rose Sabelotsky Kesselman, taught at Maple Avenue School during the same years. Incredibly, these sisters and master teachers were proud to devote a combined 100+ years to the Newark School System. Enid

Jack Lippman (50)

During World War II, there were boxing matches in a ring set up in front of the grandstand at the old trotting track in Weequahic Park. I wonder how many remember them? One evening at these fights, the pungent aroma of a cigar wafted several rows back to where we were sitting. The smoker was Herman Kull, the Peshine custodian. Jack

Donald Kauffman WHS (57)

To Barbara Lerner Blumberg (60), I too went to Avon from K-7 and completed the 8th grade at Chancellor in 1953. We lived at 93 Rose Terrace and I remember Dr. Gann who also became the principal at Maple Avenue Elementary. I remember a teacher, Mrs. Berlin, awarding me a red pen for writing in cursive and Mr. Frank who was in charge of the hall monitors and the “police boys.” I was a police boy; my post was the corner of Rose Terrace and Tracey Avenue.

My older brother Martin Kauffman and many of our cousins, who also lived on Rose Terrace, went to Avon. I have wonderful memories of growing up on Rose Terrace during WWII and my years at Avon Elementary School. Don

Matthew Naula (59)

To Bill Pollak (1.53), I cannot ever forget playing basketball in your driveway and garage with you old guys. Was great fun! Just a reminder, I think the Peshine teacher you mentioned was named Hecht not Hech. But they all seemed like they should have retired 20 years before they did. JJ Sullivan was hard on us and gave me the only "D” that I ever got in school. I guess I got confused as to which was my right or left foot when we marched. If we made a mistake, he would take the blackboard eraser and slam it on your Keds sneakers.  Matthew

Edward "Woody" Sonnabend (6/53

In regard to the question about how many Weequahic alumni went to Avon Avenue School, I was one. I attended Kindergarten and part of first grade until December of 1941 when we entered WWII. It was then that my father joined the army and I went to live with my grandmother in Virginia.

My Kindergarten teacher, I believe, was Esther Winett. I don't recall first grade. I lived on South 10th street between Madison and Avon Avenues (our house is no longer there). I remember Rose Terrace was a block and a half away. When I came back after the war, I went to Madison Avenue School, 6th to 9th grade.

I do remember playing stickball in the Avon schoolyard with other future graduates of WHS. There must have been many Clinton Hill students who attended Avon and were future WHS attendees after Madison Jr. High’s 9th grade and not the "Annex."  Woody

More to say about W-sports moments:

Sandy “Buddy” Bing (56)

Thanks to Danny Enzer (59) for recalling our baseball days at Weequahic. I started playing baseball in the 6th grade with Paul Tractenberg (56). Paul was the pitcher and I was the catcher. We frequently met on the Pomona side of Maple Avenue School to practice pitching and catching. We were “battery mates” throughout high school.

Even better, we were best friends then, and we continue to be best friends today. I have many memories of those days at Weequahic and growing up in Newark. Some better than others, but what I remember most are the people I met along the way. Sandy

Steve Epstein (6/63)

Great article and win for Weequahic against Boys High in 1967. I had graduated by then. If I’m not mistaken, that team was No. 1 in the nation. But to me, the WHS 1962 State Championship team beating South Side High three times in 61-62 and possibly the best athlete to ever come out of Newark (Lonnie Wright) might have been more impressive.

In 62, we won the Group 4 State Championship and South Side won Group 3. Maybe being best in the country is an unbelievable accomplishment. But it is my opinion that just winning on the court is an actual accomplishment. Just my personal and prejudicial opinion as Head Manager of Coach Feins’ first State Championship. Thanks to all the members of that team for a lifetime of great memories. And, still recall the great cookies that Mrs. Fein would bake for us after two straight wins.  Steve

Irwin Leib (57)

In response to the comment of Danny Enzer (59), the year you were referring to was 1955. I was a junior on the Weequahic baseball team and you were a freshman pitcher with a wicked fast ball. It was rare for a freshman to pitch in a varsity game, particularly, with Paul "Yogi" Trachtenberg (1/57) as one of the top pitchers in the City League and even at the state level.

I, like you, will never forget playing at Memorial Stadium where the Newark Bears played their home games. At that time, the Bears were the AAA affiliate of the NY Yankees. I think you pitched against East Side that day. I started at second base and Sandy "Buddy" Bing was the catcher. Somebody tried to steal second and Buddy threw a perfect strike to me covering second base and we got the out.

We went on to become the City Champs in 1955. Like you, the memory of playing at Memorial Stadium has never left me and is near the top of my baseball memories. Irwin

Alum stories from the W-past: 

Gwendolyn Melvin (74)

I used to go to Sears with my mother in 1964. I was so young. We lived at 198 Prince Street. What good times my brother, sister and I had. Gwendolyn

Evelyn Goldstein Fusella (53)

After reading about the graduates that will turn 80 this year, I think about those of us who, if we are fortunate, will turn 90 in 2025. We graduated in 1953 and had a wonderful reunion last year. To all of you, I hope I will be writing to wish us a Happy 90th. Evelyn

Shirley Ezersky Friedman (56)

Every week I look so forward to hearing of a familiar name, a face, some info on friends made growing up. Recent "surprise!" Two familiar names Artie Drucks (54), and Arty Novom. So happy to see a familiar name. And, yes, Arty Novom looks terrific, in great shape as I sat next to him at a reunion. We reminisced about the Good Old Days. It felt so good; I felt like a teen again. I'd love to hear from so many others out there that are "ghosted," meaning living in the background. It would be great for all of us to re-unite that way! Shirl

Marilyn Frank Jacks (64)

I was so sorry to read of Anna Raff Bloome's (64) passing. My mind suddenly travelled back to Demarest Street. She, Phyllis Lerman, and Rose Marianka trudged to Bragaw Avenue School, our alma mater. Along with Barbara Schindel (64), Marilyn Molk, myself, and other dear, dear friends, we shared a wonderful history, never to be forgotten. Forgive me for inadvertently leaving some wonderful classmates out, and for the use of our maiden names. May those who have passed rest in peace, and for those of us still here, may we find joy in our memories. Marilyn.

Lenore Kugel Velcoff (1/54)

I was friends with Myrna Penchansky Alpern, Lois Acker Urban and Estelle Cohen Fried all through Bragaw and Weequahic. For the next 65 years we remained friends until both Estelle and Lois died (both in their 80's), Myrna and I still live in West Palm Beach, FL. We often talk about our “great” years in Weequahic.

For Mel Rubin (56), I was told that the Yiddish expression "kuch-aleyn" meant "cook alone" in a community kitchen as opposed to having meals cooked for you in a hotel. Lenore

Mike Siegel (58)

In response to the note by Fred Goldman (6/62) on his boat, in 1962 I bought a 16’ boat. Other than Steve Soroka and Blackie Fromkin, I think I had the only boat in the Weequahic neighborhood. In the summer I would trailer the boat down to Shark River We would water ski in the basin. Sadly, I had to sell it just prior to entering the Navy OCS program upon graduation from Newark College of Engineering. Mike