FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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

Hi Collectors of WHS’ Recolleted Recollections, 

The WHS ALUMNI Association forwards an obituary on the passing of Ralph Brewer who taught at Weequahic and where several of his children attended as students, as well:  

Larry Koenigsberg (64) responds to recent “WHS Note” comment, "This is not a complete listing [of notable alumni], so if you know of others, please let us know":

I'm thinking of the artist Marc Zimetbaum (61), a mover/shaker in the founding of the NY Studio School. For bare details, see New York Studio School history which says: "The School opened on September 23, 1964 with a student body of sixty selected students who had responded to the call of a new approach to art education. The original space, a loft on Broadway, had itself had been found by the students, under the leadership of Marc Zimetbaum." Enough perhaps to say: "Marc Zimetbaum, founder of the New York Studio School."

More information is in his obituary ( December 20, 2020) at Marc Zimetbaum obituary. In his junior year of college at Pratt Institute as an art major, Marc became increasingly stifled and disappointed with the programming there. He wanted to be a fine artist spending most of his time in creative pursuit in the studio. The school did not have a Fine Arts major, so he was required to enter the Arts Education program geared toward teaching. Marc decided it was time to start a new art school devoted to the learning and development process that happens for all artists in the studio. The New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture opened in 1964 in a loft on Broadway in New York City. It later expanded and moved to the old Whitney Museum building on 8th Street in Greenwich Village where it still operates today.

I look forward to commentary submissions from others as to notable WHS alumni that should receive recognition and add to the list of “notable alumni.” Larry

Peshine Avenue School nostalgia continues:

Maureen Morris Edwards (1/64)

Pictured, below, is my 5th grade class from Peshine Avenue School; December 1956. I made some wonderful friends from this class. I don't remember everyone but, under the photo, I listed the ones I do remember. Many became graduates of the Weequahic classes of June 1963 and January 1964. I invite anyone who recognizes those designated with a “?” to respond with the identity and name.

Seated From Left to Right:

1st row - Marcia Parnes, Jill Fox, ?

2nd row - Nancy Marra, Steven Green, Kenny Krenshaw, ?

3rd row - ?, Diane Cerio, Me, Richard Hodes

4th row - Adrianne Silberg, ?, ?, Norman Levine

5th row - Martha Schwartz, ?, Verona Russell

Standing, Front to Back (Right to Left):

Lenard Belgard, Michael Gotfried, Rosalie Reitman, Adrianne Altman, Jackie Mercer, Phyllis Lazarus, ?, ?.

This was quite a task to my memory. It was like I was back at school doing homework. Well as best as I can remember, the teacher was a pretty young woman. Her name may have started with an” L.” Again, an ID of the teacher is welcome.

I was transferred to Maple the following year. My sister Bernadette (WHS 1/60) and I were supposed to be attending Maple all along, but my dad, who was the Bergen Street beat cop, asked principal Caviccia if we could attend Peshine so he could keep an eye on us since my mom worked downtown. Yeah, I know it was a big favor. Eventually someone or something happen and I was transferred. It didn't affect Bernadette since she was already at WHS. Maureen

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Since I received advanced notice of the photo and your comment, Maureen, I enjoyed seeing many faces of youngsters that I eventually got to meet when my twin Norbert and I moved to the apartments at 225 Meeker Avenue and started Peshine in September 1957. Mike Gottfried and his brother Elliot lived in the apartments of Custer Place. Mike remains a friend to this day even though we are 1000 miles apart, NJ and Florida.

The sneak peek also gave me a chance to ID some of the question marks. I thought the girl in the second row on right was named Bonnie; think her last name started with a K, maybe Kaplan (still a ?). Bonnie, who lived in one of those apartments on Custer Place, as well, was pretty bright. She and I were Co-Valedictorians of the Peshine 6/59 class with both of us completing the 8^th grade with straight A’s. Was quite a competition. Don’t recall that Bonnie ever attended Weequahic, but certainly the competition at the high school academically was far different. No valedictorian future there for me.  Jac

A few more entries under the title of “Weequahic Sportsdom:”

Melvin Moschel (6/63)

I tried out for the baseball team, foolishly thinking it might be a first step toward my Major League career. I could tell right away that Mr. Schwartz, the coach, was pretty set on bringing back the previous year’s players who weren’t seniors.

My “tryout” was having two grounders thrown to me in the gym by another student. I cleanly fielded and threw them back. Coach Schwartz never even looked my way. It was just as well, as it was a reality check for me that I was not nearly as talented or compelling as I had thought. If he’s still out there (doubtful because of his age at the time), thank you Coach Schwartz, even if posthumously. Melvin

Art Drucks (54)

For those who are interested in the many Weequahic athletes whose whereabout recently have been noted in the weekly “WHS Note” newsletter, Arty Novom is living in California, is healthy so much so that he played ball up till two years ago. Art