NOVEMBER 24, 2023

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

Hi Thinkers of Thoughts-Quahic,   

Hope you all had a meaningful Thanksgiving. May there many, many more moments for which you personally will be thankful in the future.

Passing of Weequahic community members:

George Rubin (6/59)

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I relate the passing of Janet Mattia Robinson (6/60) on November 11. Janet was one of my dearest and closest friends for over 40 years. She leaves a daughter Lauren, a son David, and a grandson Max. We were an item through the 1980's and I am left with the fondest of memories. Her obit is at Obituary for Janet Lois Robinson. George

Myra Lawson (70) (ED, WHS Alumni Association)

The life of Marshall Cooper will be celebrated at a memorial service tomorrow, Saturday, November 25^th at 1:00 PM at the Newark City Hall Rotunda, 920 Broad Street, Newark. Marshall was a long serving member of the WHS Alumni Association and a longtime city employee. The flyer for the memorial service and his obituary can be accessed at (Link to Marshall Cooper Obituary).  Myra

Reunion note:

The WHS Class of 1994 announces the date of its 30th reunion date. Scheduled for October 18-19, 2024, the event will include a cruise and banquet dinner. For more info, contact Janicea Jones-Vance at flwrofluv@gmail.com.

Added references to WHS authors:

Steve Bogner (66)

I respond to my classmate Bob Steinberg’s recognition of Howie Rosenof’s book (our WHS classmate) “Engineering Your Career.” Howard was a brilliant student and a very accomplished Ham Radio operator who went to great lengths to help me get the Minnesota Twins home games! Both Howie and Bob were superb students, accomplished people and great classmates. I am proud to have known both of them. Anyone and everyone can benefit from their books.  Steve

Helen Lippman (65) 

Many thanks to Fran Katz Sekela (54) for her lovely review of my book, To Newark with Love. So rewarding to hear from fellow Weequahic alum who share my affection for our hometown! Helen

Jack Lippman (50) shares an article about a WHS Alumnus:

Some of you in Florida might have seen this article in the Palm Beach Post. I don't know the highlighted gentleman, Murray Schwartz (40), but it is clear that he came out of the southern part of Newark. World War Two hero, successful engineering career, and vodka-drinking champion! Check it out in the attached document (Link to Murray Schwarz Lippman article). Jack

Ira Melon (6/63) and Marc Curtis Little (69) provide some personal insight on prior article “WHS Note” articles and mentioned alumsters:

In response to J. Paul Blake (68) who posted a note about the passing of Laura Melon, my first cousin, the article he referenced is truly a gem as is the story of how Laura and Larry Wasser reconnected after 40 years apart. They were happily married for 20 plus years. Laura and family lived at 179 Lehigh Avenue on the first floor of a two-family home that my grandparents purchased. After my aunt and uncle relocated to Florida, they tried to orchestrate a “chance” meeting between the two twenty plus years ago. Not sure if they had a hand in the reuniting. Larry, a pediatrician, and Laura who resided in Louisville, KY, Reunited, they had a loving 20 years together. Laura was a sweetheart, and I’m truly saddened by her passing. Ira

My mother, Clara Little, and Harold Ashby Jr.'s (Class of 66 President) mother met when I started Peshine Avenue School in 1956. Mrs. Ashby learned my parents moved into the neighborhood (897 Hunterdon Street, directly behind the school) when it was time for us to enter the ninth grade so their children would be able to attend Weequahic High School. Mrs. Ashby admired my mother's dedication to her children and her drive to get more Black parents to become members of the PTA at Peshine. The two of them became friends and when Mrs. Ashby decided to relinquish her role as President of the Peshine PTA, she convinced my mother to volunteer to replace her. My mother became president in 1960 and remained heavily involved with the PTA on many levels well into the 1990s. 

As a result of their relationship, I met Harold Jr., who was a member of the downtown YM-YWCA. I wanted to go to the "Y" in 1961, but, in the beginning, my mother didn't want me traveling downtown alone. Harold showed me where to catch the #27 Mount Prospect bus at Hawthorne Avenue and Bergen Street and rode with me the first few months after I joined the “Y.” While I did not know Mr. Ashby, who later became the President of the Newark Board of Education, I knew Mrs. Ashby and Harold Jr. 

When I was a freshman at Weequahic starting in September 1965, Harold tried to get me involved with the Orange and Brown Association. I had become deeply interested in sports, had a part-time job and schoolwork was a challenge, so I did not take Harold Jr. up on his invitation. Though I lost contact with him after he graduated Weequahic in 1966, I got to know the kind of character he conveyed to a little guy like me. He was indeed a class act. Marc

W-Mining for memories:  

Phil Tischio (6/61)

“Wow;” reading of the blowout victories and record of this year’s WHS football team. Four years in high school, 1957-61, no football wins and one tie. Great going Weequahic football 2023.But we did have the best-looking cheerleaders and twirlers. Phil 

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Withall that has been written and stated about the prowess of the Weequahic Football Team 2023 (and may the winning ways continue), I, sadly, admit that my twin brother Norbert and I never went to a WHS game during our four years at the high school. It certainly wasn’t because our family was shomer shabas (observed the Sabbath) and we were prohibited from going to the games. Maybe it was that from our apartment (corner Meeker and Elizabeth Avenues) it was a distance to travel? But we did travel to school daily, no? Perhaps, as soccer players for Weequahic, we felt that we would not fit in (talk about Weequahic life Style). If you were to add a PS:  we did get to a good number of WHS football games after graduation and while in college and have managed to attend a few playoff games in the recent past.

On hindsight, we missed out on the fanfare and social interaction. And the camaraderie and Weequahic FAN-aticism evidenced by the photo, below. Sorry to say my classmates, L to R, Sandy Scheps, Art Watkins and Charlie Conrad are no longer with us. Yet, they are fondly remembered. Missed them at our 60^th reunion a few weeks ago.  Jac