JUNE 28, 2024

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

JULY 4th WEEKEND HIATUS COMING UP NEXT WEEK. THE “WHS NOTE” WILL BE IN YOUR IN BOX AGAIN ON JULY 12.

Hi Poets of Weequahic Verse,  

CORRECTIONS:

The note last week on the passing of Irv Schrob (1/63) mistakenly stated the maiden name Irv’s spouse who shared the sad news. The comment should have been accredited to Barbara Bierbaum Schrob (6/64).

The WHS Alumni Association’s announcement of the Class of 2024 inductees to the Weequahic High School Hall of Distinction were revised as noted below.

IRWIN LEE BRODY, 1944 – Inventor and leader in telephone communications for hearing impaired

DR. NOAH CHIVIAN, 1952 – Endodontist and teacher of dentistry at Newark Beth Israel Hospital and Rutgers University

PROFESSOR LEON OSTERWEIL, 1961 – Pioneer software engineering educator and researcher

DR. WARREN MELAMED, 1963 – Dentist, Entrepreneur, Corporate Leader, Philanthropist

Mel Lissner (53) submits photo of mini reunion with classmates of 1953:

71 Years ago, we were graduating Weequahic High School. Recently, we met for lunch at Mezza in Livingston NJ. I am pictured in lower left in green outfit. Ron Zevin, who is seated to my left, was a doctor, OB Gyn. Behind Ron is Ike Kent, a basketball and football star for the high school. Judie Seidman Gold is still playing a lot of tennis; standing behind me. She was the pretty baton twirling majorette. Caught up with each other’s doings! Fun and nostalgia. Mel

Paul Lipkin (60) shares a never often enough “It’s a Small Weequahic World” moment:

Spent most of my life in New Jersey. After my wife passed away, I 

moved to Monroe Township, NJ. Left Monroe for Florida seven years ago. As I approach my 82nd birthday, I felt a need to be closer to one of my children. My youngest daughter lives in Wilmington, NC and I moved two miles away from her into the Davis Community. A big culture change from where I lived in Florida.

A few weeks ago at one of our social event, I started to chat with a nice lady. I stated I was from New Jersey, she said, “So was I.” Where in New Jersey I asked. “Newark,” was the answer to which I told her that I was, too. “Weequahic High Voo Den (what else in Yiddish)? She was Class of 1953; Helene Hornstein Siegel. Helene had also moved here to be closer to her children and had lived in Monroe Township before moving to Wilmington. Yup, Small WHS World, after all. Paul

Phil Tischio (6/61) honors another Weequahic grad for noble deeds:

Just thought I’d pay homage to my dear high school buddy Jimmy O’Donell (6/61) who passed away not long ago. I am so proud to have known him and shared so many good times. I like everyone to know of one of Jim’s great gifts to the world. He ran an organization that bought together Irish and English youths for the greater part of his life. Not sure exactly how many he sponsored, but, I believe, a number around 20,000 would not be too far out of the park.

We spoke many times about his activity and he was always reluctant to accept my praise. Jim was so humble saying he was the one blessed, He was very proud of his efforts and the results. It would be hard to measure the true results, but he truly felt that if only one kid learns to live a fuller, less hateful life, it was worth it. I will end by saying he was’ t just a really good man, he was also ton s of fun. Phil

Sara Friedman Fishkin (60) responds to prior newsletter comment from Bill (Fruchter) Foster (Chancellor 56/WHS 60), and he replies:

Bill, I'm happy to report my ties to friends from grammar and high school are still strong. My dear husband, of almost 60 years, recently passed away and so I was grateful to share Passover with Weequahic friends Harriet Fein Waldman and Carole Weissman Siniawer. Jeanette Amundsen Boothroyd. and I will travel to Tanglewood this summer (FYI: Jeanette's great-grandson, Rondell, is a rookie for the Buffalo Bills). I hope to see Bette Krupenin Kolodney then, too. Paul Lipkin and I had brunch recently just before he moved to Wilmington, N.C.

Neighbor Jack Lippman (50) shared his copy of the "Philip Roth Photos from a Lifetime" book. Of course, I loved the iconic photo of Syd's. But it was seeing the photo of the Osborne Terrace Branch of the Newark Public Library that brought back memories, rarely discussed here in this blog (hint to hear more from readers about that wonderful library and others in the area). Can you remember "moving up?" I vividly recall "graduating" to grown-up books on the second floor of Osborne Terrace where the different look and feel of both paper and text was so exciting. 

Recently I was part of an Art Deco walking tour in nearby Lake Worth. We stopped to view a mural inside the local post office and I was so disappointed because my love of those Depression Era murals was born and cultivated by the truly magnificent two-story epic "Enlightenment of Man" by Michael Lenson which surrounds the staircase in our Weequahic lobby. The mural portrays the epic struggle and triumph of man. Now Michael Lenson has gained greater fame as one of America's most important painters of social realism. To refresh our memory of the work of art we were privileged to experience, search "Enlightenment of Man" by Michael Lenson. I’ve heard there’s still a call for funds to restore the mural. My sincere belief is that by suggesting folks view the mural is a subtle way to possibly soliciting support to help restore the WHS mural.   Sara

Sara, sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. I would be devastated if I lost Eleanore, my wife of 57 years. On to happier thoughts. Well, you certainly are active!

I’m surprised I didn’t run into you at the Osborne Terrace Library because I was there so much. They dedicated a chair and table for my exclusive use (LOL). Mark Baumgarten must’ve been lost and found himself surprisingly at the library (LOL) while I was reading “Lions on the Hunt,” a favorite book. He ribbed me about it for a year. The things you remember!

I remember Harriet Fein, Arthur Newman and, I think, Charles Kram skipped into our class perhaps in eighth grade. They were all very smart and Harriet was very good looking. I enjoyed teasing her after she skipped, which she probably doesn’t remember. As I enjoyed chasing you around the Chancellor Avenue halls which you probably do remember. I looked at our June 1956 graduation picture and they are not in it. I wonder why? I hope that more of our classmates will prove they are alive and kicking. Thanks for corresponding. Bill

Almost July 2024 and the NJ Shore memories still vibrant and alive for beach goers of W-yore:

Jerry Krotenberg (6/60)

My first thoughts of Bradley Beach were from a place called “Pearls.” It was on Park Place, three blocks from the beach. We had three small rooms and an ice box in the kitchen. Ice would be delivered twice per week. We later moved closer to the beach and stayed at “Murray’s.” He also threw a big party at the end of the summer. Jerry

Abby Lerman Cassell (59)

To Marvin Kaleky (Hillside 55), my family spent many a summer at your family’s Mayflower Hotel in Bradly Beach. My parents, Jack and Nettie Lerman, were close friends of your parents. I was quite young, but I longingly looked at the teenage crowd with envy and wanted to hang out with you guys. Alas, it never happened. Abby

Mel Rubin (56)

As I sit watching the rain on Memorial Day, it reminded me of another day 71 years ago. Barry Pilger, Kenny Klein, and I went to Bradley Beach for Memorial Day weekend. My family spent the summers for several years at the same house on 5^th Avenue. As we were coming there in a few weeks, the owner gave permission for the three of us to spend the weekend free, which was a great price for me. We took the bus from Newark to Asbury Park and walked to Bradley.

Other than the fact that the weather was overcast and rainy, we had a great time. One minor problem, I was the only one who brought money. So, everything was on me. When the “Bank of Mel” ran out and the weekend wasn't over, I went to Syd's (where I ate lunch every school day) and got a job. He asked me if I had ever worked a grill and, of course, I said yes.

Everything was great until someone asked for a chocolate milkshake. I constructed all the ingredients but forgot to put the cover back on the mixer. The result was a chocolate geyser. Result, I had to clean off the ceiling. Dahken Goht (Yiddish for Thank God) that he knew me. At least we came home with money. Its ironical that the next summer I worked the grill on Fifth and Ocean relatively mishap free with Syd's experience under my belt. Mel

Danny Enzer’s (59) recent comment mentioning “Jimmy Buff’s” received several responses:

Sharon "Dodie" Rubinstein Forsyth (6/59)

I, too, have fond memories of going to Jimmy Buff's for the best sausage and hot dog sandwiches in the world. But we went to a restaurant that I thought was in North Newark or Bloomfield. I could be wrong. There's a Jimmy Buff's in Kenilworth now, but disappointing. Not at all like what I remember.

And once, when I went to the flea market in Stuart, FL, there was a vendor advertising Jimmy Buff hot dogs. What a joke! Not even close! For certain things, there's nothing like the old days. Dodie

Joel Enda (1/62)

I remember both restaurants, Jimmy Bubb’s and The Reservoir, very well as my family took my brother and me to both many times. As a point of information, both restaurants still exist. Every once in a while, we travel to Jimmy Buffs in Kenilworth which is run by the grandson of the founder. Joel

Sy Mullman (66)

Danny, today you can find Jimmy Buff’s in Kenilworth on the Boulevard. My daughter-in-law’s grandfather was Jimmy Buff. The Reservoir can now be located in South Orange.  Sy