MAY 2, 2025

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Hi AMPers of the Weequahic Vibe,

Ellen Karasik Rowland (6/63) has changed e-mail location to err1occa@yahoo.com. 

Correction:

In the April 25th edition of the “WHS Note,” the Weequahic graduation date for J. Paul Blake should have read “68,” not “58.” Further, his signature on the commentary should have read “J. Paul,” not “Paul.

Arthur (6/63) and Ira (66) Grindlinger share news of sibling’s passing:

We sadly report the passing of our sister, Sybil Grindlinger Prugh (Class of January 1962) who died this past January after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Sybil was the valedictorian of her class. She also was the O.B.A. Treasurer and a Weequahic cheerleader. After WHS, Sybil went to Skidmore College in upstate New York, and then got her MSW from Rutgers.  

Sybil settled in Somerset, NJ where she had a successful counseling practice specializing in family and relationship counseling. She had two daughters and six grandchildren. Prior to her battle with Parkinson’s, Sybil and her husband Dave were active members of the Mohawk Canoe Club and they greatly enjoyed whitewater kayaking and canoeing together. Art & Ira

Barbara Daniels (6/67) is grateful for helpful alumni and the weekly “WHS Note:”

Just wanted to say thanks for posting my ask to provide info on Jim Leen’s (53) whereabouts. I received quite a few responses, unfortunately, Jim passed away in 2019. It was interesting to see how many people knew him and responded. One was a reporter in the past and actually sent me a picture of Jim. Of course, he is much older in the picture than when I last saw him, but just as handsome as I remember him.

I also received an email from a girl with whom I graduated. We used to live in the same street, too. I wrote her back and we are going to stay in touch. I did reach out to each person to thank them for their help. Barbara

Phil Yourish (6/64) reaches out seeking support for event honoring WHS notables:

Congregation Ahavas Sholom, the oldest continuing active synagogue in Newark, is hosting the “2025 Tikkun Olam Awards” event on Sunday, May 4th, 2 pm. Among the awardees are Weequahic grads Warren Grover (55) and Paul Trachtenberg (56). Marion Bolden (South Side 64), Newark's former Superintendent of Schools, will also be honored. For those who would like to attend and/or support one or more of the honorees, please click on the following link: Link to Program or contact me at philyourish@gmail.com. Phil

Sharing a few more thoughts on WHS vs Hillside memories: 

Hal Lipton (1/55)  

Mel Lisner (53) is right that WHS did play Hillside in basketball in the 1950s. In that game, Weequahic was behind but staged a furious rally to score about 12 points in about 12 seconds. It was pass/intercept/pass intercept. Hillside could not get the ball into play and kept throwing the ball to an Indians’ player. The crowd went wild. I was about 8 or 9 years old at the time. I think we beat Hillside in that game; but I am not positive. Hal

Robert Cipriano (1/63)

Frank Chachorsky was an All-State basketball player for Hillside. They lost to Central High School in the State Finals in 1963. Mel Witherspoon outplayed Chachorsky in the finals. Bobby

Steven Epstein (6/63)

To Hal Lipton (1/55) and others who recall that Weequahic played Hillside in basketball, my knowledge of WHS basketball started much later than 1954. Then in 54, at age eight, I was still riding my purple three-wheeler with my buddies, Alan Lebowitz (6/63) and Stanley Rems (6/62). We rode around the block of Summit Avenue and Hobson Street. I apologize for misinformation as to Weequahic playing basketball against Hillside. I was a 63 grad of Weequahic and had little knowledge of prior basketball rivals other than those teams that played in the City League. 

I do remember that playing Hillside on Thanksgiving Day was almost a futile effort. Previously someone mentioned sitting on the billboard on the empty lot on Chancellor Avenue. Growing up at 51 Summit Avenue in that apartment house, I spent many a day on the billboard and roof of the apartment house watching Weequahic and other City League games in Untermann Field. Saw the games and avoided paying the entrance charge! Boy, that was a long time ago, but great memories. Proud to be a Weequahic grad of 63. Steve

Jac Toporek (6/63)

Since I used my feet, rather than my hands as in basketball, baseball, or football, my WHS vs. Hillside memories naturally relate to the annual competition between the schools on the soccer field. In my freshman year, though not a starter at the outset of the season, I do recall playing on their home field (cannot recall name; today named after local political figures) where then senior Maurice Assayag, with his finesse (teammates likened them to dancing feet), scored the lone goal. Cannot recall anything of the game in my sophomore year, even if we won or if, in fact, there was one.

The junior year match was truly memorable. Sorry if I am sharing a game stat that I previously shared with you in the newsletter, but love repeating it. My twin brother, Norbert, scored all of our goals in a 5-1 victory lakeside at Weequahic Park. Not so lucky in our senior year confrontation. Thanks to the wonderful goal-tending of Hillside’s Marty Bierbaum, Weequahic was only able to score one goal, while Hillside netted two. It may have been the first loss against Hillside in many a year. Yup, an upset. 

The silver lining in that disappointing game was that I made friends with Marty and his wife Joan and several other Hillside grads when we all attended Rutgers Newark College of Arts and Sciences from 1963-67. Marty and I were members of different fraternities, so the athletic competition continued and a friendship developed which was solidified in the 70s and thereafter through frequent contact. as Marty and I had positions related to the administration of NJ State Government. Marty, unfortunately, passed away not too long ago, leaving a wonderful legacy of dedicated service to the Garden State.  Jac

Keeping up with W-past:  

Barry Gruber (1/54)

So sad to hear about the passing of Edie Shafer and Lucie Prinz. Edie was one of my favorite people at Weequahic. We had lots of laughs together and had a blast when I took our class up to my family’s place (the farm) near High Point State Park. We were driving around up there in our Jeep station wagon when Edie said “turn here.” I did, jumped a rock, and busted the rear right springs.

Rabbi Prinz was not just our rabbi but a family friend and our neighbor. I met Lucie a couple of times when I would be at her house to play with her brother Jonathan. We grew up together and were Chief (Jonathan) and Asst. Chief (me) on the Avon Avenue Crossing Patrol. Her other brother, Michael, l worked for a short time in my father’s camera store, Gruber Camera, downtown in the Prudential Building. RIP my friends. Barry

Burt Abramson 6/48).

In reply to Mel Lissner’s comment about attending Upsala and mentioning his fraternity brother Don Kirschner (also of Rock n Roll Hall of Famer), I went to Upsala in 1954 on scholarship and knew Don well. By mistake, I was enrolled in Coach Walker’s Remedial English class and he had me stay and tutor all the athletes in the class. Among them was Kirschner, a basketball player. 

Don used to write jingles for Wilderotter’s stores and would sing them in class. I saw him periodically on the train to NY as he lived near me. We laughed about his success far beyond coach Walker’s class. Coincidentally, he and his wife were married the same day that I was, June 14, 1959. Burt

Rita Kravet Rzepka 1/55

What a wonderful “WHS Note” on April 11th. With the Thanksgiving Day parade and the football rivalry between Weequahic and Hillside, I was taken back to my teen years in Newark. I tried to attend every football game in my four years at Weequahic. So many names of the WHS squad were people I knew. Those certainly were “my good old days.” Thanks to the “WHS Note’s” hard workers who put in so many hours every week. Your dedication is greatly appreciated. Memories are a wonderful thing for us “oldies” to have. Rita

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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