NOVEMBER 7, 2025

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

Hi Squad Orange & Brown,    

Yup. Another “Thanksgiving Day” a few weeks away. But, are those Weequahic “Turkey Day” memories still in the air in 2025? Sure, many of them shared in the “WHS Note” the last 27 years; any new ones you care to share of school, home and neighborhood, please do so to whsalum63@aol.com. 

Fortuna Gorelick Scheige (“Faye”)(68), who now is receiving e-mail at fscheige@gmail.com, provides clarification:

Regarding my cousin Jimmy (James) Gorelick (of blessed memory), he graduated in 1966, not 1967 as noted by Suzanne Care Cummins. He passed several weeks ago. My brother, Jimmy (James) Gorelick, also of blessed memory, passed in 2013. He graduated WHS in 1967.  Faye

Lew Kampel (60) shares the story of the first graduation at Untermann Field:

Sixty-five years ago this past June 21, 456 (give or take a few) members of the class of June 1960 graduated at a ceremony held on Untermann Field. It was the largest graduating class at the time and the first to have an outdoor ceremony. Having the ceremony in the high school auditorium was not workable without severely limiting the attendance of family and friends. 

Outside venues such as the Mosque Theater were not acceptable to the class. The idea of an outside ceremony quickly caught on. As class president, I worked with our grade adviser Hannah Litzky, who fought long and hard at the Board of Ed and at City Hall, ultimately overcoming one objection after another so that we could have an outdoor graduation on campus. 

When she announced the decision at a full class meeting in the gym, everyone went wild. Fortunately, the evening of June 21, 1960 turned out to be a beautiful one. Speeches were made, honors bestowed and diplomas were handed out as the sun set behind the trees on Goldsmith Avenue. 

The B&W photo, below, is an overview of the 456. In the color picture, I am walking back to my seat. To the right of my empty chair, Sharon Gaidemak (now O'Neil), Class Secretary, is applauding. Al Scheiner and Warren Kessler (not seen), the other class officers, were seated to the left. The two women on the podium, I believe, are Sadie Rous (another class adviser) and Hannah Litzky. I think it was David Weingast, the Principal at the microphone. But I am not certain. Lew

Bob Gold’s (59) recent commentary on Connie Francis received WHS alum replies:

Arnie Kohn (56)

I believe Connie Francis lived on West Bigelow Street, near Belmont Avenue.

She attended Bergen Street School until she was in the fifth grade, I was in many classes with her. Connie and I were in the orchestra together under the leadership of Mrs. Gersh. She played the accordion and I, the trumpet.

She was discovered by Fred Sales of the Startime Show on Channel 13 and thus started her career. Her best friend during those years was Elaine Fidel, married name Sinnowitz, who remained in contact with her. Arnie 

Mady Bauman Barna (56)

I went to a Doo-Wop concert at Drew University; I was in heaven. This one lovely gal in one group sang Connie’s Where the Boys Are and did a wonderful job. I cried my eyes out. Our music from the 50s and 60s was fabulous. The guys were aging but oh what memories. RIP Connie you had a gift. Mady

Jac Toporek (6/63)

For Connie Francis lovers, go see Bobby Darin’s story as presented on Broadway, “Just in Time.” Connie and Bobby’s relationship is a major highlight of the production, as some of her hits. Woman who played Connie was fabulous.  

My parents loved Connie’s album of Yiddish favorites. Her neighbors and youthful experiences in Jewish Newark were key to ability to sing in Yiddish. I still have that LP, I believe. Jac

Shirley Ezersky Friedman (56)

I look forward to the alumni newsletter, looking for a familiar name to bring back a memory. Today it was Connie Francanero. I remember her well; she had a beautiful voice. Connie used to be seen with Elaine Fidel often, walking in the halls. Shirley

Re: Things Weequahic:

Elaine Hersh Krusch (50)

After reading Jack Lippman’s (50) essay on the area across from the Tavern, it reminded me that I have an “Old” (yes, very old) menu from the restaurant from the early 1950s. My dad took us for a treat back in the day. That included my wonderful brother, Don, who graduated Weequahic in the 40s. Will try to locate the menu and share with our readers at some point in the future. Elaine

Rosalyn “Lyn” Geller Stein (6/64

I enjoyed Jack Lippman's (50) piece on the Tavern. One of my special memories was going to the Tavern with my father. I came home from Girl Scout camp before my mother and my siblings came home from camp in the Catskills. So, we had dinner, just the two of us!

However, there is just a small correction. The bus that passed the Tavern was the 107, not the 17. Lyn

Mike Mandell (67)

To Ron Baer (57), that is a very nice tribute to both Narda Mandell (59) and Tony Handler (57). They were far beyond husband and wife; they were best friends and both shared in one another’s good and hard times. Whatever Tony chose to do in his life, he did it 10 % and he cherished his many accomplishments. They enjoyed a wonderful life together, Narda misses him every moment of her life. 

I am Narda’s younger brother, Class of Weequahic 67, though I never finished WHS. I also married my high school sweetheart Nancy Flaxman right out of her Weequahic graduation. We just celebrated 57 wonderful years together and still counting. Many longtime relationships were made in Weequahic. Mike

Arleen Goldman (Columbia 66)

This might seem like a strange request for the newsletter. I am the wife of Fred “Derf” Goldman (6/62) to whom I’ve been married for over 50 years. I read the newsletter when it comes out even though I went to Columbia High in Maplewood. Fred never tells me when he is writing a story or what’s in it. But after all these years of reading his stories, I think he sort of takes the part of bad cop or good cop; mostly bad cop. He always seems to tell storis that no one else would tell about themselves, their bad (naughty) selves. 

Fred still surprises me with how honest he is and not afraid of making himself out as a bad kid. Still to this day, he makes me laugh and cry because I never know what he's going to do. His close friends have given him a new nick name “JUST FRED,” especially, when he does something off the wall. “It's JUST FRED” they say.

I have seen where alumni ask for help to find someone. So, Fred might get some feedback (to retiredmold@aol.com) from his WHS alumni about his stories. He has written in many times over the years as a small part of the great weekly Weequahic newsletter. I'm not sure how he was as a high school kid, but the tales and experiences he shares with subscribers are certainly different than most. Arleen

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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