MARCH 29, 2024

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Hi Accumulators of Weequahic Nostalgia, 

Merle Rosen Cohen (6/63) and Michael Botnick (68) shares news of alumni passing:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of my friend Wayne Chen (6/64). We moved to Southborough MA 19 years ago. Went to a meet and greet and as everyone was sharing their history, Wayne stated that he was from Newark. And then, of course, he attended Weequahic. Wayne shared that his family operated and owned Ming’s. Well, needless to say, we were best friends from that moment on.  

Through the years I got to know some of his many talents in writing, photography, and cooking. He could do anything with perfection. Wayne will be greatly missed. His obituary can be found at Wayne Chen Obituary. Rest in peace. Merle.

Also advising of Wayne’s passing are classmates Dena Gittleman Greenstein, George Golomb, Ken Vogel and Arlene Chausmer Swirsky.

Sadly, I announce the passing of my wonderful aunt, Joan Ferster/Castelbaum Corson (50). Joan was survived by her husband Donald Corson (50) and two wonderful sons Richard and Philip and their wives Ruth and Sharon and a multitude of grand and great grandchildren. Joan was an educator and taught many years in the Cranford School District. She was quite the character and will be missed. Michael

CORRECTION:

Norman Barr (6/54)

Saul Wolfe, according to his comment in last week’s “WHS Note,” should have been listed as graduating in “51,” not “61." Nibby

Marty Friedman’s (1/47) Comment on Ray Brown, notable Newark Attorney, motivated responses from Howard Rappaport (6/60) and Robert Kaye (6/62):

Joel Leyner, Ray Chasan, and Irv Vogelman who became partners with Ray Brown, worked to get Ray Brown established as a very prominent attorney. He was a giant among his peers. And still a giant in death. A great man! Howard

Marty mentioned that Ray finally got a job with “a Jewish criminal defense attorney” in Jersey City. That lawyer was Raymond Chasan, whose firm I joined right after law school in 1969, and where I still work. Ray Chasan passed away in 1988, and he was widely recognized as a force to be reckoned with. Robert

To Mel Rubin (6/56) on his note about Laurel Gardens:

Lew Kampel (6/60)

I believe Laurel Gardens was on Springfield Avenue, a few blocks west (towards Irvington) of Bergen Street. Friday night wrestling was televised on Channel 13 so my friends and I would go, hoping to be seen on camera. The matches themselves were generally low comedy rather than a sport and seemed fixed.

There were good guys and bad guys. One of the good guys lived in the same apartment building I did on S. 13th Street and wrestled under the name of “Jerry Gordet.” It was not unusual to see him beaten up and taken out on a stretcher on TV and then seeing him next morning without a scratch. Lew

Bob Feder (6/48)

Laurel Gardens and Meadowbrook Bowl; I remember Meadowbrook for wrestling. My Dad took me to boxing at Laurel Gardens and wrestling at Meadowbrook Bowl when I was 10 and WW2 had started. I felt very grown up being there with all men. Memories of those days came soaring back when a college senior writing a paper on “childhood during the war,” asked to interview me. My Dad also took me to see the Newark Bears and Newark Eagles and thus began my first fandom for the Bears that lasted until they left the city. Being ages 10-14 during the war left enduring attitudes and emotions for life.  Bob

Paul Berlin (1/59)

Meadowbrook Bowl was the outdoor venue located on South Orange Avenue. The indoor one was Laurel Gardens located on Springfield Avenue just below S. 10th Street. In the early 1950s, on Friday nights wrestling was televised on Channel 13 live. In winter the program came from Laurel Gardens’ indoors and from Meadowbrook outdoors in the summer. My father worked for Prince Range who sponsored the evening of wrestling, so we always had ringside seats. Paul

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Never attended events at Meadowbrook or Laurel Gardens that I can recall. But familiar with many of those wrestlers who appeared regularly on TV. A friend across the street on Custer Place, Morey Gillette (not sure he graduated Weequahic, but, if he did, probably Class of 65), was obsessed with Buddy Rodgers.

Closest I ever got to a wrestler was the Sunday Antonino Rocca (pic, below, next to Laurel Gardens wrestling card)) visited the South Ward Boys Club and thrilled all who attended. He certainly was a lot bigger than appeared on TV. Another well-known athlete who was a guest at the Boys Club was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ ace pitcher Don Newcomb. He, too, was a huge figure. Most notable was the size of his hand. I remember thinking that a baseball would be like a ping pong ball in his pitching hand. Or, maybe, I was just a little kid to whom everything around him looked big? Jac

A few more doses of the W-MDs:

Nate Himelstein (South Side 1/55)

In reference to Dr Nash, my mother always referred to him as her “Confinement Doctor.” Today he would be known as a Gynecologist. Nate 

Elaine Hersh Krusch (6/50)

There was Dr. Silverman who was an OB/GYN(?) in Newark. Many of my friends went to him when they became pregnant or wished to become pregnant. His son, also a Dr Silverman, followed in his tracks. My daughter Stacy, also a New Yorker, used Frank Silverman when she became pregnant with Ellis, now 18 years old. Elaine

Don Rosen (53)

To Barbara Lerner Blumberg (60), your reference to Dr. Nash and his problem delivering palsy children. My brother and I were both delivered by him. My brother was a breach birth and was developmentally disabled. Not sure if Caesarian birth was in vogue in 1940; nor were MDs ever sued for their errors.

I guess he was younger and more proficient at my birth as this is my 89th

year. Don 

Weequahic commentaries never ending:  

Allan Sapolnick (6/62)

Maureen Morris Edwards (1/64), my mother’s store, Ethel’s Dress Shoppe, was in the same building that you lived in at 1007 Bergen Street. Allan

Gary Fisher (60)

Thanks to Jonathan Lazarus (WHS 5/West Orange 60) on his NJ Jewish News mention of the Park Theatre and others in his wonderful article on movies and movie theaters. Yes, I remember Charlie "the martinet" usher at the Park on Bergen Street. And I remember all the movies and movie theaters he writes about. I think he forgot the "Cameo" theater on Elizabeth Avenue in Newark.

From an old neighbor on Belmont and Madison in Newark. Gary

Helene Kohn Reiss (WHS 62/Union 64)

In reply to Johnathan Lazarus’ post regarding the Park movies, I went to the Park Theater when I was in grammar school. I saw two features, two cartoons, and coming attractions; cost 25 cents. When I was a freshman at WHS, I went there with my girlfriends most Friday nights. Afterwards we would go to Henry's for ice cream or Jo Rays for pizza.  Helene