FEBRUARY 9, 2024

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

Hi Sisters and Brothers of the Weequahic Family,  

Michael Kopin (1/61) advises of the passing of Eddie Klein (6/62) as does Barbara Dubin Blumenfeld Klein (6/62), his spouse, who provides the following thoughts:

Edward Klein of Whippany died Tuesday, January 23rd at Chatham Hill Care Center. He was 79 years old. Eddie had a stroke on March 28, 2023. He spent two weeks in the hospital, two weeks at Kessler Rehab and had been at Chatham Hills Subacute Care Center since April 27, 2023.

He leaves me, his loving wife, two children, Jeremy and Lindsay Klein and three grandchildren, Austin and Mila Klein and Brody Cohen.

Eddie grew up in Newark, NJ, graduated Weequahic High School and attended the University of Houston. He was involved in several businesses over the years. After retiring, Eddie played golf, loved to go to Monmouth and Freehold Race Tracks, and, most of all, loved being a volunteer pitching coach for various high schools in Montclair, Newark, and East Hanover. He was a dedicated father, grandfather, and husband.  

I went on a tour of Newark in 2010. I wrote about it in the WHS newsletter.

The following week I received an email from Eddie Klein. He wanted to ask me out. I panicked. I hadn’t been on a date since my husband, David Blumenfeld died fourteen years before. But my daughters encouraged me to go. Three dates later, we were in love and the rest is history. We had thirteen wonderful years together. Of course, I am devastated now losing him, but I’ve been told to think about all the good times we had. So, the WHS Newsletter brought us together!

Barbara

Paul Tractenberg’s (56) years of continuing advocacy on behalf of equal education opportunity for New Jersey’s school children was highlighted by the Star Ledger:

It's not at all an exaggeration to say that my whole long career of education advocacy was shaped by my Weequahic High School experience. The Ledger article appears at Link to article. Paul

Fred Goldman (6/62) highlights current WHS activity:

Last Sunday’s Star ledger contained an article on the observance of Black History Month at Weequahic High School. To article appears on the attached PDF document (LINK TO PDF). Fred

Barry Reiss (54) and Howard Schnitzer (51) reach out to friends of the W-Hood:

I have been receiving these Weequahic blogs for years, but never thought to ask a question. I graduated Peshine in 1950, and Weequahic in 1954. Would any of my friends or schoolmates please communicate with me? I would love to hear from any and from all of you. My email address is barryreissaz@gmail.com and live in the Phoenix, AZ area. Barry

I am a theoretical physicist who retired from teaching at Brandeis University. I just published my 230th paper. I had 60 different collaborators along the way including two Nobel Prize winners. My wife Phoebe is a clinical psychologist who also continues to do research. My son Mark is an applied physicist at Stanford University and my daughter is in Brand Management in NYC. I have lost touch with classmates and wonder if there are any in the Boston area? My e-mail address is schnitzr@brandeis.edu. Howard

Toby Stein Udine (62) shares some cross generational Weequahic moments:

Weequahic memories really do continue. I had three granddaughters born in the year 2000. We always twirled, marched, and sang Weequahic songs together as they were growing up. In December, when we were in Palm Court, we celebrated my birthday at the Boca Resort and the photos, below, highlight how they surprised me. The whole place was watching as the girls greeted me with WHS songs. I just think it’s really amazing that this new generation still knows about Weequahic! The girls, Carli and Lexi Udine and Jenna Waldman, were a huge success.  Toby 

 Sheldon Bross (55) advises of the Weequahic Heritage:

We “Weequahic Indians” should know about our roots and our heritage.  Here is something our history teachers at Weequahic were too embarrassed to teach us. According to William Nelson (The Indians of New Jersey; Paterson Press Printing 1894), “Weequehela (b. 1675 d. June 30, 1727) Lenape Leader. Weequahela (variously spelled) was an important sachem or leader of the Lenape/Delaware in central New Jersey during the early eighteenth century. His name translates into English as “one who is tired.” He first appears as a minor signatory of land deeds in 1696. Weequehela’s mark was the roman letter W. Contemporary sources called him an Indian king, and indicate that he lived an acculturated lifestyle. He owned a house, livestock, and two sawmills. In 1727, he shot and killed his neighbor John Leonard. It is not clear if the killing was accidental or the result of a confrontation with Leonard regarding land dealings. Weequehela was tried in Perth Amboy for the killing, found guilty, and hanged. His death became a sore point between colonists and the Delaware that persisted for decades.”   That is our heritage.  Shep

Memories that W-Linger:   

Arty Drucks (54)

Still believe it was a great honor for this Weequahic grad to have marched in President Eisenhower’s inauguration parade as part of his honor guard. We were stationed in Arlington Cemetery, the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Still bragging. Art

Bill Pollak (1/53)

Sunday morning touch football was a must for many former Weequahic and some South Side football players. However not all of the participants played for their schools. We played on the tarmac at Chancellor Avenue School after scaling the fence as the field was locked up on Sundays. 

The size of the teams ranged from 7 a side to 11. Usually, the quarterbacks were Len Geller and Harvey Posner. The players were Al Merkin, Andy Zupko Erwin Sloan, Red Barron, Irv Moskowitz, Art Drucks, Dave Coffey, Hirschorn, Steve Radin, Midge Geller, Al Lubetkin, Moish Goldfarb, Buddy Meyerson, Al Abramson, Amboy, Ed Roth, myself, and a bunch of other guys whose names escape me. There were many games played over many years until we aged out, I guess.

So very often, after the games we would wind up across the street at Syd’s for replenishment. For a quarter you could get a hot dog and Morty Bratters famous drink, The Cucamonga. Some of the guys that worked there were Mamoo Geller and Lenny Weiss. Lenny later opened a second-generation Syd’s in the Millburn Mall with his wife Betty. 

By the way, the Chancellor playground was run by Bucky Harris. His able assistants were Mr. Drexel and Mr. Barone. The playground was run like a tight ship. There was no fooling around. If Mr. Harris caught you riding your bike on the playground, he would issue you a suspension from the playground. This was like a death sentence because our lives were so entwined with playing ball there. Those were some great days.   Bill