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

Hi Union of Weequahicists, 

Phil Yourish (6/64) advises of passing of fellow graduate:

Our classmate Claire Knapp passed away in early December 2023. I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful day with Claire this past summer. She served on the committee that organized our 40th reunion in 2004. May her life and memory be a blessing. Her obituary can be read at Claire Knapp Obituary.

I also recently was made aware that our classmate Sam Mayer has been added to the list of our fellow graduates who are deceased. Phil

CAUTION – SPAM/SCAM:

Please be aware that you Weequahic Alumni ae receiving solicitation e-mails from AlumniClass.com promoting “lifetime alumni membership” for $35. The AlumniClass.com mailings are not sanctioned by the Weequahic High School Alumni Association or the editors of your weekly “WHS Note” newsletter. The AlumniClass.com promotion is “SPAM/SCAM.”

WHS Alunni Association invites nominations from graduates to honor graduates:

The Weequahic High School Alumni Association is seeking candidates for potential induction into the WHSAA Hall of Distinction

The criteria are:

• 10 or more years as a graduate of Weequahic High School
• An individual who has distinguished her/himself in their life after Weequahic on a local, state, national or international level.



If you'd like to submit someone for consideration, please send an email with their name and a brief summary statement. If selected, we will request a more detailed biography, along with contact information, later. If not selected, the candidate will go into the roster for future consideration. Deceased alumni will also be considered for posthumous honor.

Names should be submitted to the WHSAA via email to weequahicalumni@gmail.com. 

Correction to comment, below, which appeared on the December 15, 2023 edition of the “WHS Note;” Elaine’s correct email address is elarkr@aol.com:

Elaine Hersh Krusch (6/50) tells of a “Small Weequahic World” adventure and seeks an assist: 

At a luncheon hosted by a savings bank, I sat next to a woman from the 1960 class of WHS. We shared memories and books we are reading. I don’t recall her name or contact information. I would love to hear from her again. I want to tell

Her that I am now reading Indignation by Phillip Roth. My e-mail address elarkr@icloud.com. Elaine

Adding to Bill Pollak’s (1/53) notes about Weequahic Athletes: 

Norman Barr (6/54)

Art Novum played baseball for WHS, and was in the June 1954 class. Last I knew, he was living in the Palm Springs, CA area. Norman

Pam Scott Threets (66) 

Athletes no longer with us include from the Class of June 63, Ernie Bethea; nicknamed “Windy;” basketball, baseball, football. Timothy Screvens, also 6/63, played basketball and ran track & field. From the Class of 1964 there were footballers Neil Markowitz, Jerome “Jerry” Gold, and Bobby Marcus (also baseball).

In the Class of 1965, playing basketball, were Lucius Williams, Willis Dargon, and Richard “Ricky” Herring (also football). Leondis Perry and William “Brother” Thorpe (both ’66 grads) played football. From 1966, George Martinez, fencing and wrestling; Cliff Carter, basketball; Carl Gregory, football; Chris Jeffries, football; Ernest “Ernie” Thompson, football, and basketball. 1967 WHS graduate Leroy Cobb played basketball. 

All of these guys played sports during my years as a student at Weequahic. We had some success and some losses. The late basketball players from 65-66 were part of the State Championship Team under the coaching of Mr. Les Fein. Pam

Mel Lissner (53)

Billy Pollack names former Weequahic athletes and leaves me out! As a freshman, I was ready to play football. I noticed a cyst on my breast and a doctor told my mother I needed an operation. A second opinion by Dr. Cohen on Elizabeth Avenue said it was a normal gland because I was growing. Like a “jerk” I said “could I play football?” Jewish doctor, of course, said, “No!”

So, I first went out for football as a junior. Tried out for running back because it looked easier then line practice. The first time I ran with the ball, some big lineman, “Carl,” picked me up and carried me back to where I started. Senior year I thought they wouldn’t even give me a practice uniform, so I borrowed a freshman friend’s (Richie Roberts 6/56) Davega uniform. It was so tight it left marks under my knees. The helmet was a plastic nothing. 

This time I went out for end, my true position. In practice I scored the only touchdown I ever scored in my life. I also made about 4 or 5 quick tackles on defensive end drawing the attention of the coaches who bragged they had a new find. Arnie Taub complained I did not box, so when he went to block me, I wasn’t there.

I played Weequahic Park football. To make a long story not so long, they tried to coach me. I stopped being natural and started to think. I believe I had ADHD. From there I played end of the bench. Substitution rules being different then today, I only played against Union (as I remember). In only a couple of minutes of play, I tackled one of the best players in the area in old Weequahic Park style (saw who had the ball, no thinking, and tackled him. But the announcer in the booth credited someone else with the tackle.

I played some football at Upsala College where I even caught two onside kickoffs against Adelphi. Also pitched a good practice game as a junior against the Varsity being the make-believe great South Side High pitcher Ralph Fortson. Many fun and funny stories as an athlete. I’ll excuse you Billy for not including me, Mel

Fred Goldman (6/62)

Reading about some of the best athletes from Bill Pollak (1/53) brings me back to my days as some kind of a Weequahic athlete. I got to WHS it in the fall so I couldn't go out for baseball, my first love. But, because I was a really fast runner, I went out for indoor track. Running the 100 and 220-yard dashes were my specialties. Also tried running the hurdles, but I was so bad at it and got hurt when I hit them.

Going out for indoor track was very time consuming. We had no indoor track. Every day, after school, we had to take a bus to the Newark Armory and then back home. I did have a lot of wins and seconds and thirds. But no one cared since few came to view the meets and support the trackthletes. If anybody came to watch, they must have been lost.

Next, I went out for Track & Field where I ran the 100 and 220 and participated in what they now call the long jump. Once again, I did pretty good and earned my varsity letter. There were only to really fast Jewish runners in school other than me. David Flecker was superfast.

The next year I wanted to go out for football thinking I could be a good pass catcher. My 120lb body got so beat up one practice, I was done. Then came my biggest disappoint trying out for baseball. They tell me that I couldn't play because I failed two major subjects (it really was 3 with a minor). For everybody that Bill wrote about, there are a few stories like mine. Now that I have shared some highlights and those lowlights. I invite others who had athletic disappointments in high school to share theirs. Nevertheless, still good memories for me; with some thought, yours may be the same for you. Fred

Early 2024 thoughts about them years gone by, W-speaking: 

Jack Rudowsky (1/49)

I remember many of my friends at Weequahic, but of the few things I remember most was the friendship that our group of friends had as we roamed the halls of the school. Who could ever forget the “Guerra mobsters.” The guys would post on the class blackboard that our group had arrived in class. We consisted of Seymour Blinder, Jack Birnholz, Donnie Liebeskind, Ira Eglowstein and myself. We were led by our great leader, Dominic Guerra. Just a super guy.

We ate at the same table in the cafeteria every day. No one would dare sit at our table. It belonged to the “Guerra Mobsters.” Just a great time at school. Jack

Myron Lowenstein (WHS 64/West Orange 65)

Reading all the recollections, so, if this is repetitious or disputed, I’m old. This is what I remember of the Bunny Hop. The “Bunny Bomb” was a copy of a Jimmy Buff’s hotdog, only a lot healthier not fried in a pool of grease. Included were fried potatoes, onions, and peppers in a pizza roll! It was the piece de la resistance.

The “Jerry Bomb” was sliced charbroiled, delicious steak and a half pizza, bread with peppers, onions, and potatoes. Price was 95 cents. Delicious beyond your imagination today. The Wonder Years! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

These are the years I went to Weequahic, 1961-64. Memories include the Indian Pizzeria on Chancellor Avenue across from the Y. It was 15 cents per slice. Recall Syds in Bradley Beach and on Chancellor Avenue. MK (mustard and sauerkraut on hot dog) was 25 cents, French fries in a paper bag, 25 cents. Kartzman’s and Tabachnick’s was on Bergen Street. Myron