MAY 12, 2023

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

Yvette Pitman Ambrose (1/58), Judy Cohen Labella (1/61) and Ed Weinstein (65/66) share sad news:

It is with sadness that I report my good friend Max Makow, Class of 1949, passed away April 17, 2023. He attended Peshine Avenue School.  Yvette

Diana Bash Deo (60) passed away in March 2023. We became good friends over the years, enjoyed constant communications, monthly lunches and other get togethers. She is missed much among our group of WHS friends. Judy

It is with sadness that I write about the untimely death of George Martinez (66). George had a heart attack while he and I were snorkeling together in Westpunt, Curacao. Being an avid WHS supporter, he was wearing his WHS T-shirt when he passed away. George and his wife Karen were joining us in Curacao for a winter break.  The four of us regularly traveled together, all sharing a certain spirit of adventure and curiosity. He will be missed.

George and I started our adventures together in high school with unaccompanied trips on the Appalachian Trail and canoeing down the Delaware River. I can’t believe now that a half dozen boys did that without any adults, but the experience was formative. George continued to be an explorer throughout his life with insatiable curiosity and an interest in people, places, art, and history that he was ready to share with those he knew. He leaves behind a multitude of friends in his home of San Francisco and elsewhere. He will especially be missed by his wife Karen, his two daughters, their husbands, and his grandsons. 

Many of those who remember George, might not remember that he was on the wrestling team and the fencing team during his years at WHS. He was also on the Legend Art staff. Art became an enduring interest. After high school, George attended NJ Institute of Technology, where he studied and became a chemical engineer. George had a tremendous amount of alumni pride for his years at WHS. Anyone wanting to donate in George’s name, should send their donation to the Weequahic High School Alumni Scholarship Fund (WHS Alumni Association Scholarship Donations/). Ed

Correction:

In remarks last week referencing the Kuder Preference the name of Ellyn Marks Geller (1/61) was misstated as “Ellen.”

Reunion Hype:

Phil Yourish and Lou Bodian (6/64)

The Class of 1964 has joined the classes of 1962 and 1963 for a combined 60th Reunion on Saturday afternoon, October 14, 2023, at the Delta Somerset Hotel. By doing this we will be able to maximize participation at a time when age, health and travel are limiting factors in organizing a standalone reunion. As we move closer to our 60th milestone, let’s get together once more to celebrate our wonderful Newark and Weequahic years and rekindle our cherished memories with each other. A second invite with payment info will be sent to you by email very soon. We look forward to seeing you in October. For info and questions contact us at philyourish@gmail.com.  Phil and Lou.

Gary Goss (6/64)

Class of 1964 mini-reunion will be held at Peter Hercky's outdoor recreational complex with a pool in Martinsville, NJ on June 10th. Great food and friends. Contact me for info, cost and RSVP; funnyface1531@gmail.com or by phone to.413 587 0637. Many are attending! Gary

“Weequahic lifestyle,” as W-Alumsters see it:

Natalie Confield Tublitz (I/52)

In response to Bobby Clark, (64), I feel your sadness. I lived in the Weequahic section and never sensed any kind of privilege. Each of us have our own interpretation; my situation seems similar to yours. Please smile and know that I am 9 years older and was just a happy kid. Wish my parents could see me now. Cheers. Natalie

Fred “Derf” Goldman (6/62)

In my opinion, back in my Weequahic days, there seemed to be two sides of the Weequahic Section. The divining line from Hawthorne Avenue to Lyons Avenue was the poorer side. And the other side was from Lyons to Chancellor Avenue. I grew up in the poorer side. Very hard-working dads. As a kid, it seemed to me the moms were always home. Not only did our mothers not work, most moms didn't drive. In fact, most of the family had to struggle just to have one car. Some of the things that I remember, now looking back, we weren't rich, but not poor. Just middle-class families with hard working dads.

The best thing was the kids I grew up with were all really good and, believe it or not, most of them are still alive and we keep in touch by computer. For my group with whom I hung out, maybe the secret was no smoking, no drugs, no booze; nobody cared if we did any of that stuff. We didn't need to be cool or try to impress anyone.

Among the things I recall in our section (not sure of all the facts), most residents had party lines on our phones and small TVs, all were black and white. When the first colored TVs came out, if one of my friends was lucky to have one, we would all go over to watch together. Of course, I'm leaving out things like the moms would buy stuff from Fuller Brush and treat themselves by buying Avon products.

There was no car-pooling. Instead, we had bikes to take us where we wanted. I listed just some of the stuff we did growing up. I'm sure there are a lot more stories out there. Oh, I just thought about one more thing that I felt, as a student at Weequahic, was wrong (and this is in my opinion). It seemed if you lived in my section of the district, most of the girls, but not all, were stuck up. The boys were a lot easier to make friends with. Fred

Mel Rubin (56)

I have been reading with interest all of the comments on locations impact on the individuals. I never noticed a difference with my fellow classmates related to where they lived. I do remember that I had the same homeroom with the same kids from Peshine Avenue School at Weequahic High. Our row started with Marcia Prince, Ellie Reece, Linda Rosenthal, and me. As far as socializing with other kids, we were all over. I would walk to Barry Pilger’s house on Renner, walk up Renner to Clinton Place and we would meet Mark Mohr, Kenny Klein, Moose Klein, Herb Gomberg and about eight to ten other guys.

My family first lived on Peshine Avenue, Belmont Avenue and Leslie Street. But the group stayed together for the four years. I never noticed class distinctions. We were all Weequahicites, whether we lived below Bergen Street, off of Hawthorne Avenue or Chancellor or Lyons. And, even if they lived on the Irvington, Maplewood line (Sandy Cook) or off of Runyon Street (Neil Frederick). Sadly, more than half of us, as Shakespeare put it, have “shuffled off this mortal coil.” Mel 

Lenny Sherman (1/61) responds to the “WHS Note’s” inquiry about veterinary services in the Weequa-District:

This note is in reply to the newsletter question as to “Who was the best pet vet in Weequahichood.” From my perspective it boils down to three, but, first, I have to mention an afternoon in 1964 when I was in Margie’s Sweet Shop speaking with my friend’s mother. She asked me what I intended to do after I graduated from Rutgers. I told her that I planned to go to veterinary school. She was aghast. “Lenny,” she implored me, “become a real doctor, not a vet!” Evidently, I did not follow her well-intended advice because I entered that profession in 1967.

So, getting back to the subject of the three veterinarians. Dr. Norman Lindy had a very busy veterinary practice on Chancellor Avenue in Irvington. On a typical night in the 1950s and 60s, you would see hordes of his clients overflowing onto the front steps patiently waiting their turn. In the waiting room there were two bathrooms, one designated for “Pointers” and the other for “Setters.”

Going down a mile or so was Dr. Albert Berkelhammer’s veterinary office where we brought our “Peanut” and then our cocker spaniel “Taffy.” My family felt more comfortable with him and he became my mentor.

The third veterinarian? Oh, that was me. While my practice was being constructed in Whippany in 1970, I worked for Dr. Berkelhammer for a couple of months. He was very compassionate and competent. Lenny

Mel Rubin’s (56) inquiry about a “gazebo” drew some attention:

Berthe Weissman Nathanson (6/59)

I remember the gazebo you are talking about, at least I think I am talking about the same Gazebo. It was in the woods and was very classical looking made entirely of stone. The structure sat non top of a small hill. I don’t remember seeing a sign, however. Nor did I know it was supposedly the “meeting place” of two Indian tribes. I believe it might have been near a playground in Weequahic Park. Berthe

Arnie Kohn (56)

I remember another gazebo and the inscription , which was in the little "Pocket Park" at the intersection of West Runyon and Elizabeth Avenue. Arnie

Jeff Golden (6/63)

I think the gazebo that Mel Rubin refers to is on Divident Hill (no, that's not mis-spelled). The inscription inside it may have said something about it being a meeting place of Lenni Lenape tribes, but the gazebo itself really commemorates something else. Its where the mayors of Newark and Elizabeth met in 1666 to set a very optimistic boundary line between the two cities when both were in their infancy. The gazebo was built in 1916 to mark the 250th anniversary of the event, even though that boundary by then was no longer relevant. Here is a link to a story of the event:

Link to Gazebo story

A picture of the gazebo from an old postcard can be found at

Photo of the gazebo. And a more recent article on what's happening with the gazebo now is readable at Update on gazebo from 2018 (last link also submitted by Mel Rubin [56]). Jeff (Mel

Larry Koenigsberg (64)

Wikipedia describes the gazebo as the “Divident Hill Pavilion” at Wikipedia on the Divident Hill pavillion,

A couple of nice old colorized-looking postcards can be found at Oldnewark.com at Old Newark photos link.  

Newarkhistory.com also has a nice photo and some explanation at Photos and additional history. Larry