SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

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

Hi Sharers of Recollectquahics,   

Scott Heimberg brings sad news of his dad:

I regret to inform you that our father, Gene Heimberg, passed away last month. He was just five days shy of his 92 birthday and leaves behind his wife, two sons, four granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. Our father was a true son of Newark having graduated from WHS (50) and Rutgers there and then worked his whole career for Prudential, retiring as the Chief Investment Officer for the company.  Scott

Ron Baer (57, responds to Narda Mandell Handler's (59) note sharing the news of the passing of her husband Tony Handler (57):

I suppose this is peculiar. Tony and I were high school classmates. I don't think we exchanged more than a dozen words in those four years. We were from different grade schools, in separate home rooms, not involved in similar activities, and our personality types were unlike each other. And yet, I remember him vividly, his presence stamped upon those years.

I would watch him. Why? There was an allure of difference upon him, especially when he was with his girlfriend Narda. They seemed to walk sheathed in a serene aura, firmly in the world but not of it. I would think, "That is what love looks like." 

I have wondered what life emerged from that time. And now his wife Narda announces his passing, referring to his comment in an earlier “WHS Note.” wherein Tony shares with fellow Weequahic alumni his personal story with the hope that it gives some inspiration to cancer patients. Here is Tony's remarkable story, copied from the “WHS Note” of 9/29/23 (LINK TO PDF). Ron

Class of 1970 Reunion Reminder:

The WHS Class of 1970 Announces Our 55th Reunion on November 29 at the Galloping Hill Caterers, Union, NJ. For tickets please contact Patricia Price (cordi27@aol.com) or Mary Ware-Brown (brownmf@optimum.net).

Please follow the link for additional information: Link to Flyer

Alumni Highlights:

Carrie Jackson (68)

To all jazz aficionados and music lovers, this past June, I released my new album “JERSEY BOUNCE 2025,” a collaboration of great tunes with musician arranger Radam Schwartz, and my bandmates. Please check it out on any of the streaming platforms. Here are links to the album for your review. Carrie

Digital Music Audio Streaming Platforms & CD Sales: Link to Apple Store

YouTube Music : Link to YouTube

Amazon Music: Link to Amazon Music

Calvin Schwartz (6/63)

Just announced winners in New York Book Festival. My book “There's a Tortoise in My Hair” won runner-up to the winner in “General Fiction.” The Festival press release appears, below. Calvin

GENERAL FICTION:

WINNER: Goodbye, Sweetberry Park - Josh Green

RUNNERS-UP:

The Fateful Voyage of the Empress of Ireland - Cheryl Roberts Gale

Aftermath Boy - Robert E. Honig

There’s a Tortoise in My Hair - Calvin Barry Schwartz

The Given Up Girl - Ellen B. Rockmore

Howard Megdal (Cherry Hill East 88; Megdal Bakery family) tells of a fleeting “It’s-a-Small-Weequahic-World” moment:

Consider this a “Missed Connection, craigslist-style.” At a Cherry Hill Library event for my new book, “Becoming Caitlin Clark,” someone in the audience was wearing a WHS t-shirt. Was hoping he would introduce himself afterwards but he left. Was it someone from this group? If so, please ID yourself through our weekly newsletter or to me directly at howardmegdal@gmail.com. 

Here's the listing from Triumph Books for the book I wrote, Link to Article, Triumph Books. Some critical responses to the book appeared in the “New Yorker” (Link to New Yorker article) and Washington Post (Link to Washington Post Article). Howard 

Martin Friedman (1/47) initiated contact with Weequahic grads of his time at the school to explore the possibility of a reunion or communication and parts of the conversation appear, below:

Lorraine Branfman Friedman (1/48) 

Still alive living on the central coast of California. I am not very mobile, so it has to be a virtual reunion on Zoom. Hope to hear from you soon. 

Marty Friedman 

I heard from three people, none that I knew before and none from my class.

I should have requested what grammar school they attended because we always knew the kids in the grades lower in the grammar school. I attended Chancellor. What school did you attend? The richest came from Maple Avenue, the poorest came from Peshine. Everyone had lunch at the Pagoda Chinese fast-food place on Chancellor and Summit Avenues. I’m still working and still playing golf. Marty

Lorraine Branfman Friedman 

I attended Hawthorn and Bragaw. Lorraine

Marty Friedman

I don’t think I met anyone at Weequahic High that went to Hawthorne Avenue or Bragaw Avenue Grammar Schools. I will ask Jac Toporek (1/63), Editor of the weekly WHS newsletter, to follow up because that is an interesting fact that the people who attended different grammar schools didn’t become friendly with others from different grammar schools. Although when I was graduating, I did join a group who had Mickey Panzer, Joel Mayer, Arty Schoenfeld, Herman Ziegler., and Herbie Weinstein.  Marty 

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Certainly, one was drawn to their elementary school classmates, Martin. Speaking for myself, I had a number of friends from schools other than Peshine. Playing sports at Weequahic helped integrate me, my twin brother Norbert and WHS athletes with other school alum. Especially for me and Nor, because the soccer team, where we both were members for four years, was diverse as to elementary schools but also as to countries of origin. Homerooms, as I remember, for the June 1963 class, were also fairly diverse. Being in the same Homeroom for 4 years sort of helped lessen the impact of any territorial baggage and break area barriers. But, no doubt, I am sure there were those who chose, or through social and socializing concerns, remained within their own safety and comfort zones. Jac

Marty Friedman

So, since I was not on any sports team, I didn’t become friendly with students from different schools until graduation time. But I did know younger and older students from Chancellor Avenue school. Interesting.  Marty

Jac Toporek

As Marty noted, the question/topic was “Interesting.” Readers of the “WHS Note,” feel free to join the conversation. What are your recollections of, what I choose for an alternative phrase, “fit in” with your new school neighbors from all over the Weequahic school district?  Jac

Ira Melon (6/63) sends Alumchums back to the beach with these pics of “yore shore:”

I thoroughly enjoy the postings of the days gone by about the Jersey shore, especially Bradley Beach. I have spent the last 28 years living more than half the year in Belmar, near the Shark River inlet close to Bradley. Many northern shore towns such as Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley, Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake, and Sea Girt are outstanding. They boast year-round activities, restaurants, music concerts, local community theater, art guilds, library activities and local bands. The shore is sure to please.

And for your viewing pleasure, I am sending pictures on the promenade in Bradley, as well as others via the attached PDF. Before you click on this link to the collage of old photos (LINK TO PDF), below, is photo of first in the nation “beach badge” in 1929 issued by guess who.  Ira  

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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