OCTOBER 21, 2022

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

Hi OBAlumsters,

Changing W-alum locations:

Gottlieb, Michael (6/59)-- mgott1208@gmail.com (change)

Krueger, Norman(1/50)-- nrmkrueger@gmail.com (change

Esther Gordon (6/52) shares sad news of her brother’s passing:

Sadly, I relate the passing of my dear brother, Cantor Joshua Gordon (class of June 1958)). During his long career, he officiated at Congregation Melrose B'nai Israel Emanu-El in Philadelphia, PA. He also (now it can be told) was active in the JDL, Jewish Defense League. Joshua’s death notice read as follows, below. Esther

GORDON CANTOR JOSHUA H. October 5, 2022. Devoted husband of the late Marilyn Weiss Gordon for 50 years. Beloved father of Rachel Lichten (Jason) and Howie Gordon (Laurel). Brother of Esther Gordon. Cherished grandfather of Lucas Gordon and Sam, Jake and Sophie Lichten. Dear Uncle of Gary Blaustein (Antoinette) and the late Ron Blaustein. Cherished cousin of Ira Schafer (Tricia). Fiercely loyal friend. Contributions in his memory may be made to American Friends of Magen David Adom, www.afmgs.org or the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org/delval.  

WHSAA’s Hall of Distinction Program

November 10, 2022 at 7:00 pm

The Weequahic High School Alumni Association is proud to celebrate the high school's 90th year and to induct 12 alumni into its Hall of Distinction on November 10, 2022. For information on the candidates and to register, please go to our special website:

WHSAA 2022 HALL OF DISTINCTION WEBSITE

A wonderful and nostalgic Hall of Distinction trailer preview created  by Calvin Schwartz (6/63) can be viewed at the following link:

NOVEMBER 10 PROGRAM PREVIEW

Matchmaker make me a W-match:

Requests have been received from a few Jewish unmarried/single alumni (Classes of 1960's) seeking communications, referrals and introductions to other unmarried/single classmates or friends and families of these classmates. Those interested in participating or exploring a match for some of our Jewish alumni 70 + years of age, please respond to the "WHS Note," the weekly newsletter, at whsalum63@aol.com. Communications will not be printed in the "WHS Note," but will be distributed solely among those subscribers expressing an interest.

Jack Rudowsky (49) and Sheila Stein Farbman (57) reach out to classmates:

At the age 91, I wonder if any of my classmates are still around. I had a great time during my four years at Weequahic High. Our baseball team was not very good but we tried. I was the catcher on that team and loved the game. I was fortunate enough to have signed with the St. Louis Browns, now the Baltimore Orioles, and spent almost three years as a professional until my induction into the Korean War in 1952. To my surprise, I was asked to play baseball for the Army during my army stay. It was a shock to me to be asked to participate as a baseball player during that 2-year time frame. I was told that the morale of our soldiers was very important and if we could give them some enjoyment during their army stay. I was happy to participate in that endeavor.

Hope to hear from former classmates. My e-mail address is rochelletsr@gmail.com. Jack

For some time now, I have been getting notices on my email saying that a number

of old classmates are trying to reach me. I'm not signed in to classmates.com,

so, if any school friends would like to contact me, please use my email address

which is cricket60@juno.com. I would love to hear from them. Sheila

In response to Warren Bratter’s (6/60) summer memories:

Ira Melon (6/63)

Warren Bratter’s excellent musings about Bradley brought some of my own memories to the surface of the Bradley experience. My parents, sister Judy and I frequently spent a month in a large rented room in a “rooming house” with shared kitchen, refrigerator and bathroom privileges. On rare occasions, my sister and I were thrilled when family economics allowed for a full season’s rental.

Brinley, McCabe and La Reine were streets I knew well. So many indelible memories were forged in Bradley. How fondly I’ve recalled Bradley’s beaches; the roped off swimming areas; the Friday night dances and, among so many other spots, Mike and Lou’s. And fond recall of getting up early each morning to scour the beaches for glass soda bottles to redeem for deposit to satisfy my arcade “fix.”

However, my fondest memory is that of my father teaching me how to body surf. Some 65 years later, I am still at it, though with much less bravado and much more caution. The skills have diminished somewhat, but not the desire. I vividly recall that the best riders were right before a storm or directly after. Having spent the last 25 summers in Belmar, I still enjoy catching a good rider. My son, grandson, and I have our own family competitions during their annual August visit. They are quite skilled. I am usually soundly defeated. My only solace is that I won our final race. Tradition lives on and so do the memories. Thanks, Warren. 

The first photo is from 1955 with mother and sister Judy. I guess I was 9 years old. We stayed at 208 La Reine Ave. The second is a Bradley photo that was taken in 1954/55 or so. My best guess, my parents and sister Judy. Ira

Marcia Kaplan Zajac (59)

Just love the reminiscing. I still frequent the Bradley area and, in the summer, I  do beach  on Sunday mornings. Just being there brings back fond memories.

Marcia

Jayne Solomon Mackta (Hillside 62)

On behalf of the Bradley Beach Historical Society, I express appreciation to Warren Bratter’s sharing of his memories of summers down the shore. The Historical Society welcomes stories, photos and any memorabilia capturing time spent in our special beach town in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. As BBHS VP for Membership & Programs I invite you to ell, write or come on down. I can be reached at

jaynemackta@gmail.com. Jayne

Jac Toporek (6/63)

For the most part, summer days in Bradley were not memorable Weequahic moments. Do not recall meeting WHS classmates or friends for weekend or daily ventures other than playing hooky as a senior one day with WHS soccer team mates and driving down to Bradley on a chilly early spring day to walk the boards and smell the ocean. May have run into some Weequahic students on the beach, but it was a simple “Hi” and off for another dip in the Atlantic. If truth be told, was sort of socially awkward in high school which made for diminished interactions outside of school and on the Weequahic Riviera, Bradley Beach.

Days spent at Bradley were family gatherings, our own and the families of Holocaust Survivors who, like my survivor parents, were trying to build new lives in New Jersey, fit in and do what the mainstream Jewish community in Newark did on hot summer days, go to Bradley. And they did it all, beach, rooming house rentals, heating up that great Jewish delicacies my mother would bring in pots, etc. to sustain us through the longer stays, walking the boards in fur attire for some, dancing with bandstand music playing pleasingly in the background, taking the walk to Asbury Park and silently blasting the residents of Ocean Grove for their intolerance of outsiders (especially Jews), playing the arcade games in Bradley and Asbury, and; you know, fitting in. And, “catch up.” Oh yes, much of the conversations were in Yiddish or broken English with Jewish subtitles.

When I think about it, Bradley was less a Weequahic experience than a Jewish experience. But, must admit, that after graduation from Weequahic, more socially aware and active and the car keys in hand, and a lady friend or two, Bradley became a lot less of a Jewish experience and more of a leaning on the Weequahic connection experience. Jac

Hortense Greenwald’s Dancing School does a few more nostalgic steps:

Rita Kravet Rzepka 1/55  

I did not start the reminiscing of Hortense Greenwald’s Dancing School but I have something to add. Hortense Greenwald was a Mrs., married name was Shider. Her daughter’s name was Harriet. I had lunch with her about seven or eight years ago at Summit Mall. My cousin, Rena Greebel Birnbaum (6/53), had danced with Harriet in the 1940’s and kept in touch with her all those years. Hortense lived to be over 100 years old and just died about nine years ago.  Rita

Marvin Kaleky (Hillside 55)

Hortense Greenwald was married to Leon Shider. They lived on Williamson Avenue in Hillside, just a few minutes from her dance studio over the Mayfair Theater. I went to school with her daughter Harriet, who passed earlier this year. She had another daughter Helen. In later years, Hortense lived with Harriet in Springfield where I always visited them on my trips to NJ from Florida. The final time I saw Hortense, she had just celebrated her 103rd birthday. She passed shortly afterwards. Hortense was an absolutely amazing woman.

Memoirs in Orange & Brown:

Helen Metzger Schoenblum (6/57)

In high school, Mr. Seltzer was my favorite teacher. It was wonderful seeing his picture in Lew Kampel’s (60) commentary. He was the only teacher with whom I ever had a friendship. I took two of his science classes. He joked around with me and made me feel special. Helen

Janice Misurell (6/63)

This is an addendum to Herman Rosenfeld's (67) comments on Ronny Elberger 62) with whom I was in the band and marching band. He played an unforgettable jazz version of the Star-Spangled Banner on tenor sax. As a professional musician myself, his version was one of the best I've ever heard, after all these years! RIP, Ronny.  Janice

Maxine Feinblatt Kaplowitz (65)

In response to Alan Ginter’s (6/60) mention of him, my dad actually rented the downstairs apartment from Marvin’s (“Feinblatt of Indian Pizzeria fame”) mom. So, now there were two Feinblatt families in one home. My brother was Les Feinblatt and me, his younger sister. I just remember our mail always got screwed up between the families. It was 167 Lehigh Avenue. So many memories.   Maxine