NOVEMBER 17, 2023

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

Hi Commentators on Weequahic Lore, 

Weequahic High School invites all alumni to participate in the following upcoming events:

WHS Turkey & Food Distribution Drive

 Saturday, November 18 from 10 am to 1 pm

Donations accepted at the high school

WHS Alumni Homecoming Breakfast

Thursday November 23, 7:30 - 9:30 am

Attendees must RSVP by text to 

862-902-2564 (name & grad year) 

Enid Hinkes (60) honors the WHS heroes of the Korean War:

I am temporarily switching to the young men from Weequahic who died in the Korean War. I hope that there are still some alumni who remember them from their classes or neighborhood or are relatives and can add more personal information about them. I would also like to hear from anyone who has the June 1947 Legend. Please contact me at ehinkes@aol.com.

I start with Gerald H. Feinstein (1/50), below, but attached is the rest of Gerald’s story as well as the stories of Joshua “Kussy” Kohn (47), Jerry Sobrano, and Aaron Tegay (LINK TO PDF).

Gerald (June 17, 1932 – September 21, 1950) was in the Class of January 1950, but left Weequahic in 1949 to join the Marines. His parents were Jack Feinstein, who died in 1946, and Lillian Charen Feinstein. He had a sister Roslyn Feinstein. A cousin Renee Berlinsky was also listed as living with them at the apartment at 153 Leslie Street. Enid

Weequahic Reunion News:

Lillian Friedman Weinstein (59)

WHS Class of June 1959 is exploring the possibility of having a 65th Reunion. We need to know how many classmates would be interested in attending before this is finalized. It would be in October 2024. If you're interested in attending this, please e-mail me with a response to lil.weinstein@gmail.com. Lillian

J. Paul Blake (68)

More than 40 classmates registered for the “Great Class of 68 Zoom Reunion,” on Sunday, October 29. I organized the gathering with the support of Myra Lawson, Executive Director, WHS Alumni Association. The virtual event marked the 55^th year of the class graduation. Each classmate gave a one-minute update about their lives and memories of friends and teachers at Weequahic.

During the planned 90-minute program, Lawson shared comments on events and issues at the school and reminded the group of options to support Weequahic including contributing funds toward the potential renovation of the school’s auditorium. Michael Botnick read the names of deceased classmates before a moment of remembrance. The conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Israel as well as the recent mass shooting in Maine were also acknowledged. Blake encouraged classmates to submit items to the weekly “WHS Note.”

As for my classmates who participated in the Zoom Reunion, I was most impressed with the immediate and genuine camaraderie among my “Great Class of 68” classmates, as well as the frequent references to one another’s professional success. I’ve remarked many times that I am eternally grateful to my mother for choosing the Weequahic Section to live. She always strived to have me and my two sisters attend the best schools. Weequahic High School was that indeed. The academics were solid with outstanding, dedicated teachers. Aspirations were high in every aspect of the school including extracurricular activities.

Beyond the incredible friends among my classmates, competing in baseball and basketball (including the YMHA) my fondest memories were performing in the marching band, especially parades. Serving as OBA President, including being Principal for a Day, was also special. A few classmates declined the opportunity to be ceremoniously "expelled" fearing for their school records. I should have expelled them for disobedience.

Weequahic High School, during a fascinating period in our nation’s history, was absolutely the best time of my life. I’m grateful many chose to participate in our Zoom reunion, and I look forward to our 60^th get-together in 2028. J.Paul

Sandy Serbin Dresdner (6/56) seeks info on classmate:

I wonder if anyone can provide information and/or obituary on our classmate Martin Sperling who, sadly, died several years ago. Please contact me at sidresdner@gmail.com. Sandy

Commentary on Weequahic athlete highlighted by Bill Pollak (1/53):

Myron Borden (1/52)

It was good to see those familiar names mentioned by Bill, all of whom were such great Weequahic athletes in the early 50s. However, Bill was being very modest by not mentioning himself. He became perhaps one of the most famous, if not, the greatest athlete of Weequahic alumni. He was a terrific pitcher of that same era.

Bill then pitched in Essex County baseball leagues until he was in his late 60s (that I know of) and was the winning pitcher of over a thousand games. That is not a misprint. He was amazing. I saw him pitch and win a game in the late 1990s. I'm sure that many of those who subscribe to this publication remember reading about his exploits in the Star-Ledger sports pages over the years. I'm happy that he is still alive and well. Myron

Jack Rudowsky (1/49)

I am an old-time Weequahic baseball catcher, 1947,48,49. I can remember one game at City Stadium that our coach, Charlie Schneider, was so, so disappointed in our team that for one game he sat in the stands and not on our bench. Those were the days. Needless to say, we were not a very good ball club. Jack

Roberta Blake Abramson (1/54)

Bill, I remember you made a touchdown during a football game to impress me and got a concussion. Do you remember? I married maxillofacial and oral surgeon Burt Abramson (48). You also probably forget that you gave blood in your junior year for my dad when he was in hospital when he had bleeding ulcers! So many moons ago!  Roberta

Harold “Hal” Bruck (54)

I am a breast surgeon on the faculty at Columbia and on the Breast Surgical Service at Columbia University Medical Center. Currently living in Manhattan. Played football at Hamilton College where I was named Little All American. Graduated from Columbia University Medical Center. After 3 years in the Army as a burn surgeon at Fort Sam Houston during the Viet Nam War, I returned to Columbia as Assistant Professor of Surgery, then joined a private practice in Ridgewood, NJ. I’ve been retired from active practice in 2011 while maintaining my faculty appointment at Columbia. Unfortunately lost my wife Ellen, nee Schultzer, 2 years ago. Otherwise, enjoying retirement in Manhattan. Would be pleased to hear from Bill and anyone else from our era. Hal (halbruck@aol.com)

Lawrence Sosnow (1/53)

I applaud Bill’s work for compiling that most interesting list "on WHS athletes of yesteryear.”  It was fascinating to know where my school friends are now and to recall the fond memories of so many people on that list. 

Thanks also for the photos of Untermann Field, which shows its remarkable transformation into a professional stadium where students can better develop their athletic talents, which can offer life-changing opportunities.  Larry

Them Weequahic Days:  

Bobbi Edelman Ostrowsky (Chancellor 64/WHS/Mountain 68)

Thank you to Lew Wymisner (6/64) for writing about my nephew Daniel Edelman. He is a professional soccer player for the NY Red Bulls and was also the captain of the US Under-20 World Cup team in Argentina this year. My brother Stu Edelman (6/64) was the proud “Pop Pop” to his 5 grandchildren and was kept very busy attending all of their activities. It breaks my heart that he is no longer with us. He would have loved to see how our family has grown and he would have been there cheering everyone on. Bobbi

Lew Wymisner (6/64)

I was a classmate of Stu Edelman's and I have known Hannah for just as long. I miss Stu and others from the Class of June 1964 that have passed on way before their time. I live in Colorado for the past 40+ years and have seen Stu and Hannah at the various Weequahic reunions (10, 20, 30, 40, & 50). I keep in touch with Hannah on Facebook.

Mazel tov to NY Red Bulls’ Daniel Edelman, Stu and Hannah’s grandson, and his career. His father, as some of you well know, was a fantastic runner. Lew

Mike Mandell (67)

I worked at the Bunny Hop all through high school. The Bunny Bomb was a hot dog on half an Italian roll (pizza bread) with onions/peppers and potatoes. You could get a single or double. A Burger Bomb was the same, but with a burger in place of hot dog, A Jerry Bomb contained sliced skirt steak on a half pizza roll. A garlic bomb was served on half a pizza bread cut toasted with butter and garlic powder and included steak, onions, peppers and potatoes. 

The cost; Bunny Bomb $.45; Burger Bomb $.65; Jerry Bomb $.85; Garlic Bomb $.95. A sliced steak platter was about $1.15. Times have certainly changed! Mike

Joel Enda (1/62)

To Jac Toporek (6/63), I’m still bowling today. I bowled in the alleys you mentioned and also at Lyons Lanes, Elizabeth Lanes and the one in Irvington. But the one with the most lanes, was Edison on Route 1. Joel