NOVEMBER 10, 2023

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

Hi Kinfolk of the Weequahic Family, 

Jac Toporek (6/63) says “Happy Birthday” to a Weequahic centenarian:

Last Saturday, family and friends celebrated birthday #104 for Thelma Goldberg Gottlieb, Weequahic Class of 1937, at the Daughters of Israel in West Orange, NJ. Still young at heart and greeting all with an inspirational smile. Wishing you well, Thelma and looking forward to your good health and a return to DoI for #105.

Pictured with Thelma are WHS alumni, L to R, Dalia Segall Jacobowitz (WHS 66-68/Columbia 69), Alan Halperin (60), Ilana Segall Tenenbaum (68), Judy Gottlieb (68; Thelma’s daughter), me, Judy Wilson Schwartz (6/63), Helen Gottlieb Neadel (64; Thelma’s daughter) & Marty Axelrad (65).

J. Paul Blake (68) shares thoughts about long time relationships:

Recently, a longtime friend in Oregon made a comment that moved me to think about my relationships with friends of long standing. David French's column printed in the Las Vegas Sun a few weeks back immediately brought to mind Weequahic High School, the terrific work Myra Lawson and the WHS Alumni Association and the incredible “WHS Note” Jac Toporek (6/63) produces, both providing an opportunity for "friends" to share stories and stay connected. My idea for the "Great Class of 68 Zoom Reunion" is an effort to do just that. French’s article about ‘loss of belonging, our escalating loneliness. And one of the markers is the extraordinary decline of friendship” can be found at Link to David French article.

On a personal note, friends, especially those in Seattle where I lived for 30 years and left, in part, due to a failed marriage after 19 years, are amazed at my successful transition to Nevada. I've remarked many times that it's the relationships that I've maintained with my remarkable WHS classmates, others from Drake University (one called me recently), acquaintances in Minnesota (from where I returned not long ago) and those in the Emerald City (including a few now also in Nevada) that account for my attitude and, to a degree, my good health.  Paul

A few more notes reflecting on the 60^th Joint Reunion of the WHS Classes of 1962, 63 & 64:

Calvin Schwartz (6/63)

A LONG wait for this special Weequahic High School REUNION, the 60th celebration for 1962, 1963, 1964 classes. Saturday October 14^th. There’s an essay to be written. The thrill of it all. The reunion was pure class and perfect and magical. Interestingly, several times I had to process we're all pushing 80 but largely in amazing coherent functioning shape. A tribute. The sun shone on so many happy and smiling faces of graduates of Weequahic, all enjoying the reconnecting, recollecting, and reliving their high school experience. My head is still swimming in memories from the reunion.

Highlighted in the photo, below, are two of my idols, Chris Perval (2^nd left; NJ All State, All American basketball at Iowa and my classmate and basketball team member, Larry Layton, last on right. Joining me (2^nd from right) is Carole Fowlks Watkins (far left; 6/64). 

Marilyn Gruber Semer (6/62)

I want to extend a sincere thank you to all on the Reunion Committee for the difficult task you undertook in organizing this reunion. Your persistence and creativity in combining three years of classes was a great idea. 

There was COVID as the chief interrupter but the aging of our classmates, the distance and costs related to travel, and the potential traffic in NJ all contributed to reluctance to attend, I'm sure. Gratefully the rain kept away the Rutgers fans from creating a 60,000+ person traffic jam.

However, I am preaching to the choir, that is, those who attended. For me, the event was very nice and I enjoyed reconnecting with those who were there.

"Happy trails to you until we meet again." Marilyn

Ira Melon (6/63)

Many thanks for the committee’s dedicated work as well as the entire reunion group’s work in putting together our “60th”. It was great to see old friends and reminisce about days gone by. Ira

Fred Goldman (6/62)

Formally known as “Derf,” I'm now FRED THE HEAD. Note the pic, below, at the reunion (with classmate Robert Russell) and you could see why the nickname changed.

First off, we have to give the reunion committee a big THANKS for all the hard work they did. Not only is it hard enough reuniting one class but three is a miracle! It was really great seeing and talking to our old friends in person, not via e-mails or texting on a smart phone. Or on a rotary phone; yes, I have two. I don't even use a cell phone. And for sure not a smart phone that has a better name then me.

Most of the alumni that were there knew me from all my crazy stories in the weekly newsletter. Now they can put a face to them and, of course, my haircut. I don't care what others might think about them, just trying to make them interesting without fearing to poke fun at myself. After all, my recollections are over 60 years old.

In the past, my newsletter comments referenced that I thought the kids from Hawthorne Avenue up to Lyons Avenue were treated a lot different than those who resided between Lyons and WHS. I'm not sure how it affected the girls, but I know how the boys were impacted. Seemed to us that the girls from the other side of Lyons treated us boys like we were hoods, so it was very hard to make friends with those girls. It may have taken 60 years, but at the reunion all of that was forgotten. It looked like everybody got along GREAT. If you didn't know the person beside or in front of you, ask to see their ID tag and picture and begin a conversation about our shared Weequahic experience. 

Two of many reunion highlights; I meet my first cousin at the reunion who I hadn’t seen or spoken to in years. He is now a fan of this newsletter. It was nice to reconnect with him. The other highlight was strange. Someone was very mad at me for one of my stories, held a grudge against me and he let me know about it. I tried to give him my side of the story but he would not listen. I am glade he had his chance to vent at me and I hope he feels better now.

And last but not least, I had a great time hugging a lot of my old girl friends. Some I did date and as for the others, well, we got along well. Once again, thanks to all members of the reunion committee who worked so hard. GREAT JOB. Fred