The Weequahic High School Alumni Association

Cordially invites you to celebrate with us the High School’s

and our first Alumni Hall of Fame Ceremony Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 3 p.m.

Buffet - Scholarship Fund Raising Event - $75 donation

Temple B’nai Abraham 300 East Northfield Road Livingston, New Jersey

TAKE A TOUR OF WEEQUAHIC HIGH SCHOOL

When was the last time you visited Weequahic High School? It hasn’t changed too much in 75 years. For this milestone birthday celebration, the high school will be open for tours on Saturday, November 1st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Step back into the glory days of Weequahic once more. New WHSAA Members The ALUMNI CALUMET Weequahic’s First Class of Jane Alpert, 1955 is a publication of the Tharien Karim Arnold, 1984 WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Hall of Fame Inductees Janice Sprei Balicer, 1945 Leonard Belfer, 1948 Editor, Layout & Design: Len Belfus, 1939 Martin Blume, 1964 Phil Yourish, 1964 Alvin Attles, Class of June 1955 Joel Braverman, 1958 Proofreading: Noted career as NBA player, coach Arthur Buckner, 1948 and executive Doris Solondnz Casper, 1944 Dave Lieberfarb; Hal Braff; Sheila Chasen, 1954 Myrna Jelling Weissman; Betty Brebberman Cooper, 1941 Vasco Jardim. Fran Levin Cooper, 1958 Sid Dorfman, Class of June 1937 Joseph Diament, 1967 Our thanks for articles from Award-winning sports journalist Marjorie Rubin Drubner, 1958 The Star-Ledger, NJ Jewish News, William Eagle, 1948 and other publications, and our WHS Michelle Lissek Enochson, 1955 alumni. Robert Epstein, 1957 Printing: Village Press of Orange Les Fein, Faculty (deceased) Robert Feinberg, 1968 Miriam Perlman Feldmar, 1957 Legendary basketball coach, 1955 to 1967 Fran Fried, 1958 Harold Friedman, 1960 Lew Fromkin, 1958 CONTACT US Dr. Max Herzberg, Faculty Norman Frumkin, 1948 Zella Reisman Geltman, 1956 Weequahic High School (deceased) first Principal, 1933 to 1951 William Ginsburg, 1958 Alumni Association Robert Goldberg, 1955 Sam Goldberg, 1950 P.O. Box 494 Sandra King, Class of 1965 Neal Goldman, 1958 Newark, NJ 07101 Celebrated host and reporter on Esther Blaustein Gordon, 1952 Irene Graham, 1956 (973) 923-3133 New Jersey Network Judith Redlus Greenspoon, 1957 Eugene Grossman, 1944 [email protected] David Halfen, 1942 www.weequahicalumni.org Class of 1976 Murray Heller, 1958 Benilde Little, Hugh Henig, 1946 Best-selling author and journalist Rita Meiseles Hepner, 1948 HELP WRITE THE NEXT ISSUE Myra Lieberman Hoffman Erwin Jacobs, 1942 Send us letters, articles, stories, Robert Lowenstein, Faculty Carol Ades Kaye, 1964 memories, poems, recipes, Martin Karp, 1938 photos, cartoons, trivia, obit- Longtime educator in Newark, Chair Lois Gottfried Karpel, 1958 uaries, reunion information, etc. of WHS Foreign Languages Dept. Hank Katchen, 1952 Robert Kaufman, 1944 Edie Finn Keller, 1958 Hilda Lutzke, Faculty June Robins Kent, 1943 SEND US YOUR WEEQUAHIC / Robert Kerner, 1955 NEWARK MEMORABILIA Popular English teacher at Weequahic Michael Kessler, 1960 from 1937 to 1975 Warren Kessler, 1960 We are creating an archive Louis Kleiman of all items relating to Weequahic Nina Koenigsberg, 1961 and Newark for exhibitions at Seymour “Swede” Masin, Perry Koonce, 1958 our events. If you have old Class of June 1938 (deceased). One of Marilyn Israel Kravetz, 1963 photos, newspaper articles, year- Weequahic’s greatest all-around athletes Henry Lane, 1976 books, films, Calumets, Ergo Vivian Lane Legette, 1970 Myra Hudley Lawson, 1970 magazines, books, schedules, Erwin Lehr, 1946 rosters, certificates, letters, hats, Dr. Victor Parsonnet, Class of Susan Leon, 1958 jackets, sweaters, WHS athletic June 1941. Pioneer in cardiology at Newark Rose Lee Leong, 1958 equipment and uniforms, or any Beth Israel Medical Center Pauline Levine, 1948 other interesting memorabilia, Donald London, 1938 please call us before you discard Milton Luria, 1939 any of these items. Kelly Nancy Shack Lustig, 1956 Philip Roth, Class of Jan. 1950 Judy Cohen Lutz, 1958 Our appreciation to Lou Pulitzer Prize winning author Toby Schuckman Marks, 1958 Kleiman, Donald Shachat, 1952, Robert Masin Mel Sacharow, 1947, Irv Shirley Blackman Masin, 1936 Newman, 1939, Eugene Jerry Max, 1958 Blackman,1943, Norman Faculty (deceased) Ruth Scholder Meisel, 1949 Ron Stone, Bierbaum,1944, and Seymour Phyllis Adler Metz, 1958 Beloved Principal from 2002 to 2007 Heck for their recent additions to Continued on page 7 our archives. ...some tasty morsels from Weequahic’s 75 years field received a $5 million The Architect makeover. James Oscar Speaking In Tongues Betelle headed the architectural For many years, the high firm, Guilbert & school offered more Betelle, which foreign languages - French, created many Spanish, Latin, German, significant Russian, and Hebrew - than public schools any other high school in and civic structures in New Jersey, New 1964, it had more National Merit Scholars the city. In the 70's, Swahili was taught. York and Delaware. Weequahic High than any high school in the tri-state area. School was designed in the “art deco” style “Eleanor” Visits WHS Historic Murals by this firm. They also were architects for In 1951, Eleanor other notable buildings in Newark such as The high school is home to Roosevelt addressed the Essex County Hall of Records, the one of the most important more than 1,500 students Robert Treat and Alexander Hamilton installations of public art in at an assembly in the hotels, the Essex Club (now home of the NJ. The Enlightenment of Weequahic auditorium. New Jersey Historical Society) and the Man, a New Deal-era She was introduced as Chamber of Commerce Building. mural, was painted by the “First Lady of the Michael Lenson, who was World.” In 1948, she First Day Of School the director of NJ mural played a major role in getting The Universal The construction of the high school was activities for the Federal Declaration of Human Rights adopted. completed in 1932 and it opened on Art project of the Works September 11, 1933 with 2,056 students. Progress Administration. Top Hoop Team In The Country The murals were installed The 1967 basketball team, coached by Les What’s A “Weequahic?” in 1939. Today, the Alumni Association is Fein, went undefeated, was the number raising funds to restore them. Is it an animal, plant, vegetable or mineral? The one team in the country, and was nick- name Weequahic refers to the “head of The Albert Einstein Connection named the “ Dream Team." Over a 2-year the creek” - the high ground that served as period in 1966-67, the squad won 40 games a boundary between the lands of the In 1934, Professor Albert in a row. Hackensack and Raritans and later as the Einstein sent a letter to Best Band In The Land partition between the cities of Newark and Weequahic High School Elizabeth, which became Weequahic Park. entitled “Thoughts on Education Throughout the generations, the high The school was named Weequahic to and on American Schools in school has always had an outstanding honor Newark’s native American roots. Particular.” It was published marching band under the leadership of in the Calumet and printed Henry Melnik, Frank Scocozza, Vernon Founding Principal by 1300 newspapers all over the world. Ross, and Michael Page. Max Herzberg was the first Principal of World War II Alumnus And Principal, Too Weequahic High School. After 18 years, he retired in 1951. In 1920, he became Many Weequahic students contributed to Claude Scott Bey, a 1964 WHS grad, literary editor of the Newark Evening the war effort in the 1940’s by joining the returned to his alma mater in 1980 as the News and edited the Sunday Book Page. armed services. On the home front, school’s Principal. He passed away in 1958. students, faculty and families raised nearly one million dollars selling war bonds Career Academies Number 1 High School in NJ through rallies, drives and shows. A Today Weequahic has three career related plaque outside the high school auditorium academies: Allied Health Science; Political For nearly 35 years, Weequahic had an memorializes 57 Weequahic students who outstanding reputation for academics. In Urban Leadership; Business and Fine Arts; lost their lives in World War II. th 1950, the high school was rated by the also a 9 -Grade Success Academy and a Commission of Secondary Schools of the An Empty Lot special afternoon/evening program for Middle Atlantic States as “one of the most underachieving students. What was once an empty lot near outstanding high schools in the country.” Who Says We Can’t Play Football In 1960, they praised Weequahic’s college Chancellor Avenue School became program and in 1963, Weequahic was Weequahic's home field for football, Not known for its pigskin prowess, ranked 1st in NJ and 56th in the nation in soccer, track and field, and baseball. In Weequahic, under the leadership of Altarik the number of graduates who had earned a 1949, Untermann Field opened and was White, won the Central Jersey Group II Ph.D during the preceding five years. In named in honor of William Untermann, a State Championship in 2006 - first time in Newark attorney and judge. In 2007, the the history of the high school. when you are able to get a hold on from the voices of some of our scholarship recipients . . . things, jump back into the thread and continue that great masterpiece,” or Appiffany Boston: able to further our education so that in the from Mr. Timmons, a computer teacher, near future, we will be able to assist future who instilled in me that it is never too late “It’s so hard to be an Indian, so hard to be an generations of Weequahic students, to fight for what is right...Along with the Indian, so hard to be a Weequahic Indian.” because once an Indian, always an Indian. wisdom and teachings from the staff at This memorable tune races through my WHS, your scholarship will help me to mind when I think of what I had to Barbara Crentsil: attain my dreams. It, too, is a needed step endure in my high school career. The on my ladder to success. appreciation I feel for these experiences is I would like to thank you for donating the funds towards my scholarship award. difficult to describe in words. The James Harris: numerous opportunities I have had were This means a lot to my family and me. given to me through not merely the My mother works and attends school I have dreamed of attending college ever wonderful faculty and staff, but through throughout the year and I have jobs in the since I was young and now that I have the outstanding Weequahic Alumni summer, but I don’t believe that both our been named as the recipient of the Morey Association. If it were not for your care incomes combined could see me through Bobrow Memorial Scholarship, my dream and support of the school and its students, college. As I begin my journey through is becoming a reality. I am glad to have I would not be where I am today. college, I see myself breaking through the this opportunity to thank you personally norm in our society. I see myself in this for your generosity. Without you I would not have the list of global society addressing today’s larger various activities and events that I have issues and contributing to make the world Tiara Montgomery: a better place. participated in because they would not Art is my sanctuary, my soul, and most exist without your funding...I cannot thank Allen Murray: importantly, my life...Not only did art you enough for what you have done for assist me in the rise of my self-confidence, me in my three years at Weequahic High ...My Principal Mr. Stone always told us to it motivated me in the scariest of times. School. I am extremely proud to be an Graduate, Graduate, and continue your Art is, and has always been my escape, Indian and can now say that I too am a education and he will be proud. Mr. from a world where I have little control to Weequahic alumna who in the future will Stone, you have inspired me and I am a world where I am in control. While I help make a difference in other students' following through with the charge. Again, am engaged in my art, I am free. I am free lives, just like you have done for me. Weequahic Alumni Association, I say to express myself in ways I have never Thank you. THANK YOU for your support and imagined. My art has freed me from the belief in me...I look forward to Brandon Sessoms: clutches of those who have shown contributing back to the Alvin Attles negativity towards me, in hopes of seeing I want to start off by saying thank you for Scholarship Fund and making a difference me give up. Art has helped me do the giving me this scholarship. I know you in someone else’s life. exact opposite; it has encouraged and had to work hard to find all that money Alisha Roger: motivated me to never give up as long as I for 32 future college students to help live. Art is a versatile chameleon that has towards their college materials, books and One day I hope to become a part of the remained by my side. Without art, I would tuition. You didn’t have to do this, but Weequahic High School Alumni have nothing, not even my sanity. you all did it out of the kindness of your Association and hope that I can help heart. You wanted to see another group another student like you helped me. I Cameron Marshal: of men and women succeed and you want to be able to see the look on I dream of being successful. I sometimes wanted to help us in any way possible. students' faces when I give them a chance picture myself as a doctor, lawyer, or And I’m just so thankful for that and I to go after their dream like you all helped successful businessman. While I may have believe all the recipients feel the same way. me go after my own dream. doubts about whether it’s a doctor or Shantaie Green: lawyer that I want to be, there has never Syntyche Dennis: been any doubt that success is a necessity, I am honored to be one of the proud I would like to start off by stating that my and for me there’s no other option. Since recipients of the 2008 Weequahic High past 4 years at Weequahic High was truly I was a child, my parents tried to instill School Alumni Association scholarships. an experience. It was a great experience within me the love of knowledge and Thank you very much for your generosity. that will continue to walk with me through respect for myself and others. My parents Living in a community such as Newark my life. Over these past 4 years, I can weren’t the only people to teach me life has presented me with a great deal of honestly say that I have learned something lessons. My teachers have had a great financial difficulty. This pushes me to from each and every teacher, whether it amount of influence on me and it’s strive to get an education above high came from Mr. Hylton, an English teacher because of the things they taught me that I school. I also would like to thank the who always states “Never burn any bridges am able to succeed today...To me life is association on behalf of my other with those who are there to help you,” or Mrs. overcoming challenges. One after another colleagues. We have all endured the Saunders, a Fashion Design teacher, who they come, and I try to overcome them. challenges thrown at us by our community taught me that “when the stitching gets rough, It’s this idea that keeps me motivated and thanks to the association we will be sit down, sit back, and analyze the problem, then enough to continue striving for greatness. Our 2008 Scholarship Recipients - 32 awarded for $48,000

Adrian Alisha Allen Almond Anniyah Appiffany Barbara Brandon Dorset Rogers Murray Hill Smith Boston Crentsil Sessoms Attles Fund Attles Fund Attles Fund Attles Fund Masin Fund Jellinek Fund Women’s Attles Fund Club Fund Kean University Essex County Bloomfield Univ. Maryland, Essex County Montclair State Alabama College College Eastern Shore College University Dickinson State University College

Cameron Erica Essence Hasan Ibrahima Iesha James Jayson Perry Marshall Priest Abdul- Folks Bayo Harris Brandon Benbow Boatwright Fund McLucas Fund Alumni Fund O’Connor Fund Kabeer Litzky Fund Sessoms Attles Fund Bobrow Fund North Carolina Seton Hall Shaw Georgian Court Osterweil Fund Essex County Essex County Essex County University University College Alabama State Wesleyan College Kean University College College College

Love LaTisha Melisa Naekena Rafiat Samira Shaniqua Shantaie Brooks Prophete Singh Green Busari Campbell Robinson Green Stone Fund Attles Fund Manhoff Fund Attles Fund 1964 Class Fund Hample Fund Griffin Fund Alumni Fund St. Elizabeth Essex County St. Elizabeth Essex County Dickinson William Paterson Essex County Bennett College College College College College College University College for Women

Sharmayne Steevel Syntyche Tanazah Terrell Tianah Tiara Tiffany Fontaine Corielan Dennis Eason Hearns Chambers Montgomery Hill Roberts Fund Alumni Fund Alumni Fund Rous Fund Alumni Fund Pearl Fund 1963 Class Fund Kalfus Fund St. Peters St. Joseph Rider Essex County Essex County Kean Hampshire College College University College College University College NJPAC's president, Lawrence P. Goldman, medical training, he joined his father's Dr. Victor Parsonnet thinks of Parsonnet as a role model. “ He practice in Newark in 1955. WHS June 1941 has this openness to new ideas and this inquisitive quality, like he was an under- Newark Beth Israel Hospital could be called Music From The Heart: graduate looking at the world seriously for the Parsonnet family business. The the first time,” Goldman says. Parsonnet is surgeon's grandfathers, Max Danzis and He gives his life to an orchestra defined by his caring, friends and family say. Victor Parsonnet, founded the hospital in and a hospital in Newark 1901 and his father worked there from 1923 He is in constant contact with his three to 1986. In the mid-1950s, 16 members of By Peggy McGlone, Star-Ledger children and five grandchildren, who are his family - father, uncle, cousins, wife - scattered in California, Colorado and New were on the hospital's staff. Parsonnet's first The first things you notice are the polished Hampshire. And since he remarried in 2004, memory of the hospital is really a memory of black dress shoes. When Victor Parsonnet he has assumed a central role in his wife his father. Eugene Parsonnet, then a staff walks into Cath Lab No. 3 at Newark Beth Jane's family. They live in Whitehouse surgeon, brought him to the operating room, Israel Medical Center in dark green scrubs, Station, near her three children and five and Parsonnet remembers being lifted up so his shoes are in stark contrast to the grandchildren. “He loves to care for other he could peek over the swinging louvered prevailing choice of sneakers and clogs. people and to make sure bad things get doors and see the surgeons working inside. fixed,” says daughter Julie Parsonnet, 50, a Parsonnet may be the last person who Parsonnet is about to perform a standard professor of medicine at Stanford knows the inside story of the 673-bed pacemaker procedure. Tall and thin, the University. “If things are not as they should facility. 84-year-old surgeon chats with cardio- be, he works to make them better.” vascular technician Bob Pritchett as he He points out a door at the end of a puts on his blue sterile booties, slides a hall that was once the hospital's main scrub cap over his balding head and ties entrance. In one corridor, he stops to a surgical mask around his neck. The knock on the sheet rock, noting that it procedure is straightforward - like the covers the original marble walls. Over simple sonatas he practices on his grand there - he points to a wing of the piano - but Parsonnet is all business. cafeteria - was the nurses' lounge. “It Never chatty, he praises nurse Eleanor had a fireplace and a piano,” he says Alcudia for her work and thanks with a chuckle as he waits to pay for Pritchett for his assistance. “He's old his lunch - a diet lemon Snapple and school,” says Pritchett, explaining to his strawberry yogurt. colleague why she needs to tuck her hair completely under her cap. “ He's a He didn't exactly stumble onto cardiac giant.” care so much as he was in the right place at the right time. It was a new Parsonnet's reputation far exceeds field, and techniques that have become medicine. He also is an amateur pianist commonplace were cutting edge in the whose love of music and loyalty to 1950s. He was eager to learn. “I was Newark fueled his volunteer work for intrigued by it, I loved the the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, excitement,” he says. “As a field, it which will honor him Friday night for his He's also demanding, opinionated, didn't exist. I grew up in it.” He was the two decades of leadership. His support of sometimes judgmental. (Though his first in New Jersey to implant a permanent the orchestra prompted him to become an impeccable manners often blunt the sting of pacemaker, the first to perform an early champion of the New Jersey his words.) His standards are high, his aortocoronary bypass and the first in the Performing Arts Center. The arts center's expectations great. “He has the state to do a kidney and heart transplant. He Parsonnet Room is named for him and his quintessential surgeon's personality,” says holds five patents, has published five books wife, Mia, who died in 2002. friend and fellow NJSO board member and more than 600 articles. Robert Waggoner. “He's very decisive, very He is a man of many interests and few firm in his views. He's a forceful He could have left Newark, moved on to words. He plays tennis at least once a week personality, a natural leader willing to take a bigger or more prestigious positions, but he - singles because doubles doesn't get his strong position, to take risks to get chose to stay. “I have lived here all my life,” heart pumping - and follows the Yankees something done.” he says. “Walking down the corridor, down and Tiger Woods. He's a lifelong Democrat, the street or across town, I have memories an avid reader, an impulsive record buyer. The Family Business of previous days.”

He is too polished - too genteel - to be Parsonnet was born in Newark on Aug. 29, considered a regular guy, but there's nothing 1924, the older of two children of Eugene “He's the only one left,” says his son, Jeff, smug about him, either. and Rose Danzis Parsonnet. He attended 54, a professor at Dartmouth Medical Maple Avenue School and Weequahic High School. “ There was a tremendous exodus “You forget, because he's so involved with School before enrolling at Cornell of longtime physicians from that hospital. the orchestra, you forget you're talking to a University. He completed his medical To his credit, he decided that he was not world-class surgeon,” says Andre Gremillet, degree at New York University in 1947 while going to leave.” the orchestra's president and CEO. serving in the Navy. After completing his Continued on page 7 Italian instruments,“ a bold move that burdened PARSONNET continued from page 6 New Members - from page 2 the orchestra's finances but did not boost Parsonnet is still active there. A former chief of audiences or donations. The orchestra sold the Jill Koenigsberg Miller, 1961 surgery, he heads the hospital's Pacemaker instruments last year, though it retains the right Lurine Lane Moore, 1966 Center and its surgical research department. He to play them. “It preoccupied him. It was a Robert Moss, 1950 announced his retirement last summer, and then source of satisfaction and tremendous anxiety, Howard Nacht, 1958 changed his mind a few weeks later. He still goes struggle and disappointment,” says Jeff Donna Norstadt, 1969 Richard Peck to the hospital most days, but his shifts are Parsonnet about the acquisition and subsequent Alan Pressman, 1958 shorter and patients fewer. “The workload has sale. Certainly, his dedication has come at a great Linda Pollack Rapp, 1958 dropped. People are suspicious of sending their cost.” Herbert Retsky, 1950 patients to a senior citizen,” he says. Still, several Edward Rosengold, 1958 times a month he is asked for a consult, usually In 2002, Mia, his partner of 52 years, died of Harold Rudnick, 1954 problem cases that others can't solve. David Schrob, 1956 biliary cancer, and the orchestra mourned with Phyllis Schenkel Schwartz, 1958 him. They had been a power couple for decades; Ruth Cohan Schwartz, 1948 A Musical `Love Affair' now alone in his NJPAC box, Parsonnet seemed Beverly Lerner Schuhalter, In terms of passion, music always has rivaled smaller, sad. He never stayed away, though, and Amy Seidman, 1946 now he's usually accompanied by Jane, his Helen Solondz Shane, 1948 medicine. Parsonnet's mother taught music in a Ruth Fein Silverman, 1956 small school just off Lincoln Park, and musicians former office manager, a widow who re-entered his life after Mia's death. “He introduced me to Howard Smith, 1954 were always in the house. While he never Rona Karp Snyder, 1950 considered music as a career - “I hated to the music, opened up a new world to me,” she Joseph Sobota, 1953 practice, like every kid” - his knowledge and says. Gary Solomon, 1958 talent are above average. His father served on Marilyn Hatoff Spector, 1966 Ruth Fairberg Sperber, 1958 the orchestra's board, and his parents would Robert Steck, 1943 host after-concert parties for the musicians Saul Steinberg, 1956 and friends. “He plays the piano beautifully. Anita Waldman Strauss, 1956 He has an understanding of music that very Regina Davis Thomas, 1972 few non-professionals have,” says Gremillet, a Patricia Gilmore Taylor, 1968 former concert pianist. “He knows what it Jack Usdin, 1949 Irene Weiss, 1950 takes to be a musician, and that's why he Gloria White, 1969 admires our musicians. He knows how Barry Wiernik, 1958 dedicated they are, and he really respects that.” Norman Willis, 1958 Evelyn Feld Wolf, 1958 For years after World War II, the young Silka Carol Kirschner Wolk, 1953 doctor was a regular page-turner for pianist Norman Zegas, 1940 Myra Hess, a friend of his mother who performed with Tchaikovsky and Isaac Stern. WHS Arena Groundbreaking His piano was central to their home life. He and Assessing his own achievements with the Mia would play four-hand pieces - once even orchestra, Parsonnet points to his efforts to performing together at a medical conference. elevate the role of the musicians within the Each of his children plays several instruments. institution. Several musicians serve on the board “As a kid growing up, I went to sleep every night of trustees and on key artistic committees. “We to him playing the piano. Chopin, Brahms, work for (the musicians),” Parsonnet says. “We Mendelssohn,” says Brian Parsonnet, 51, an are working to keep them playing. That concept engineer and entrepreneur who lives in Fort is difficult to get across. We have a love affair, Collins, Colo. me and musicians,” he says. The musicians are quick to credit Parsonnet for improving the When Parsonnet's father died in 1986, Parsonnet orchestra's finances and culture. “There was a was asked to fill the vacant seat on the orchestra lot of turmoil, a lot of anxiety, and he calmed board. Randy Hicks, the symphony's principal everyone down,” says bass player Martin Sklar. timpanist, remembers the new trustee inviting “He opened up the secret processes. We got to several musicians to meet him for lunch in his know everybody, and he made all that possible.” office. They talked about the orchestra over It’s been a long time since the tuna sandwiches. “He really wanted to connect Their mutual admiration was on view last May, Weequahic basketball team played with the musicians on a personal level," Hicks when the orchestra invited Parsonnet to perform on their home court. Soon all of says. “I sensed a seriousness in him in terms of during a special, on-stage rehearsal. With Järvi that will change. This summer not underestimating our importance.” conducting, Parsonnet played several movements marked the groundbreaking of a from Mozart's Piano Concertos No. 21 and 23 new 2000-seat arena for the high Parsonnet took on the chairman's role in 1991, a before an invited audience of 50. Parsonnet was school and community. The sports job he held until this year. During his tenure, the critical of his playing - “I made several technical facility will be built on the site of orchestra moved into a new, state-of-the-art glitches” - but he conceded it was a high point of Chancellor Avenue School play- concert hall and saw its artistic profile rise under his life. “I looked around and I could see some ground and the entrance will face the baton of current music director Neeme Järvi. of the musicians smiling,” he says. “I could hear Goldsmith Avenue. Construction It also purchased a collection of rare, antique them thinking, 'He can really do it.'” is to begin this Fall.

us before. We Weequahic Writers LaTisha Prophete need to put aside WHS 2008 all our differences Ed Balyk, 1963 and help one Gerald Beatty, 1957 Remembers Principal another.” Beryl Lief Benderly Yvonne Bolling, Seymour Bernstein, 1945 Stone as Award is Given the regional Esther Gordon Blaustein, 1952 program director Beate Sondhelm Block, 1943 By David Holmberg, NY Times, 6/29/08 Martin Block 1942 of Pathways to Wayne Chen, 1964 College who Helen Grossman Colton, 1934 LaTisha Prophete stepped into the spotlight presented the Ken Dychtwald, 1967 at Weequahic High School when the school’s award to Ms. Prophete, said the eulogy was “a Martin Edelston, 1946 principal, Ronald G. Stone, her mentor and factor but not the factor” in the award, which Norman Frumkin, 1948 friend, died suddenly seven months ago. Ms. recognized “determination, tenacity and Marcia Prince Freedman, 1956 Prophete, 17, a graduating senior at Elinor Miller Greenberg, 1949 creative action in the face of obstacles; Gary Goss, 1964 Weequahic with ambitions for law school and empathy and active concern and caring for Stuart Grover, 1962 beyond, was selected to speak on behalf of others,” and a “commitment to excellence.” Warren Grover, 1955 the student body of nearly 1,000 at a Ms. Bolling noted that Ms. Prophete had Enid Hinkes, 1960 memorial for Mr. Stone in November of last maintained a grade point average of 4.0 James Horton, 1961 year. Mr. Stone, a dynamic educational throughout high school, and was a member of Erwin M. Jacobs, 1942 Arnold Kantrowitz, 1958 presence who was revered at Weequahic and the National Honor Society. credited with turning the school around, died Seymour Kamm, June 1944 Richard Karlen, 1947 of a heart attack on Nov. 4, 2007; he had Ms. Prophete will attend St. Elizabeth College David Levinson, 1964 celebrated his 57th birthday the day before. in Morristown in the fall on a full scholarship, Jay Levinson, 1966 majoring in pre-law. She was also admitted to Rabbi Michael Lerner, 1960 Ms. Prophete spoke about her mentor when the University of Chicago, but decided she Benilde Little, 1976 Paul Lyons, 1960 she accepted a medal and $500 award last would fit in better closer to home and family. week from Pathways to College, an Jesse Mapson, Jr. 1963 She summed up that decision, “How am I Sibyl Moses, 1967 organization based in Englewood that helps going to move from what I’ve known here?” Irv Newman, 1938 college-bound minority students. The school She said that she might consider law school at Stuart Oderman, 1957 “felt different” after Mr. Stone’s death, Ms. the University of Chicago, but that she could Sherry Ortner, 1958 Prophete said in an interview before the make a greater contribution as an under- Dr. Victor Parsonnet, 1941 awards ceremony. “Something was missing.” graduate at a smaller school. “I want to make Carl Prince, 1953 Mr. Stone, she said, “was like a father, a Philip Roth, 1950 a mark wherever I go,” she said. Alan Saperstein, 1961 mentor, to all of us.” Calvin Schwartz, 1963 She has specific career goals already: She David Shapiro, 1964 In her eulogy for Mr. Stone, which was would like to be general counsel for the Cantor Donald Slonim, 1952 reprinted in the school newspaper, The Newark public school system, and then Jane Statlander, 1961 Calumet, Ms. Prophete asked: “What now? superintendent of schools. Later, she said, Irv Sternberg, 1947 What will we do now that Mr. Stone is gone?” Arlene Chausmer Swirsky she might consider going into politics. When Jean Rae Turner, 1938 Her answer: “As students at Weequahic High she thinks of her goals, she said, she thinks of Ted Slate, 1953 School, we are going to stand up and do what her mother, who has worked hard to help her Roderick Sells Twyman, 1972 we know is right. We are going to create an and her 14-year-old twin stepsisters through Donald Weckstein, 1950 environment where the students have an school. “I want to help my community,” she Sandra West, 1964 understanding that we must continue to said. “And I want to accomplish something Komozi Woodward, 1967 Sharon Levine Yedwab, 1967 accomplish the education that was denied to that my mother couldn’t.”

David Ginsburg \Ç __Éä|ÇzÉä|Çz of Springfield, `xÅÉÜç a 1966 WHS `xÅÉÜç grad, has been Phyllis Miller, June 1948 wailing away Elisa Kriegsfeld Norris, June 1954 at the Tuesday Richard Strauss, 1956 night jam sessions Robert Steinwiess, 1956 at Crossroads Restaurant in Richard Thayer, 1960 Garwood Ronald W. Schwartz, 1961 since 2000. Mills Johnson, 1970 Dr. Clifford Janey, Ina Rudman Golub, WHS June 1956 Newark’s New Superintendent of Schools The Fiber and Beads Serve Jewish Spirituality Dr. Clifford B. Janey, a former superintendent in By Dan Bischoff, Star-Ledger Washington, D.C. and Rochester, N.Y., was selected as the new The Newark Museum’s “Completing the Circle: The Fiber and Superintendent of the Beaded Art of Ina Golub” is an exhibition of more than 30 Newark Public Schools this beaded and woven textiles by a Newark native who has been past summer. Dr. Janey making art out of fabrics since the 1960s. headed the 55,000-student school system in Golub, who was born in 1938, specializes in Judaica, art made to Washington for nearly enhance Jewish spiritual life in both the home and synagogue, three years and this show highlights her sometimes rakish updates of Torah mantles, wedding canopies, tapestries and wall hangings. The new superintendent succeeds Marion A. Bolden, a longtime Newark math teacher who rose to become the head of the system. “We have “We’ve shown Golub’s work in the museum before, but this will definitely moved the district forward,” said Dr. be her first one-woman show here,” says decorative arts curator Bolden, who pointed out that the district’s Ulysses Dietz. “She’s lived in Mountainside for almost 40 years, graduation rate rose to 79 percent last year from 47 and she’s won national attention for her work, but she went to percent when she took over in 1999. “We’re hoping Weequahic High School, and this will be sort of a homecoming that my successor will continue the trend. The for her, which is why we call it ‘Completing the Circle.’ quality of life for our young people is very much enhanced, but there’s still a lot to do.” “Much of her work involves take-offs on traditional forms, but State education officials, who also oversee the primarily she’s a colorist,” Dietz continues. “She started beading school districts in Paterson and Jersey City, in the early 90s, and while she’s very much influenced by Matisse announced in July that Newark had improved and the Modernists, her work often has a deeply textured, jewel-like quality. There’s enough to be given control over day-to-day really no one quite like her in the U.S., or in Israel, for that matter.” operations like maintaining its buildings and addressing student conduct, health and safety issues. Golub has completed more than 40 synagogue installations here and in Israel, including nine monumental ark curtains and more than 450 traditional fabric Janey states that “his vision sets forth a direction for ensembles, as well as rabbinical garments and tallit (prayer shawl) sets for lay worship. future success, challenges false principles of the The Yeshiva University Museum in New York mounted a retrospective of her work present, seeks guidance from the past... with a in 1996, and she won the Spertus Judaica Prize in 1998. She has also completed a compelling agenda for educational reform.” major Holocaust memorial in fiber. John Tanero , WHS Interim Principal Golub studied in the Art Education program at Montclair State University and went to graduate school at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she discovered John Tanero, a former textiles as a form of fiber art. She graduated from IU in 1965 and began a career as mathematics teacher at the an adjunct art teacher at New Jersey colleges, but all along she pursued her own high school for 8 years, is the new Interim Principal at concept of fiber art. “I was raised in a Jewish family, but we were very secular,” Weequahic. He has worked Golub says. “I had very little sense of Jewish art growing up, but I think there was for the Newark Public something that I needed in the tradition. My work is Modern, based very much in Schools for the past 36 years. contemporary art, but everything I do harks back to the texts in the Bible; they are what really motivate my art.” He follows Elizabeth Haden, who as Vice Principal was One example of Golub’s freedom with tradition would be the “spice containers” she elevated to Interim Principal last year, providing makes for Havdalah, a ritual that marks the end of the Sabbath on Saturday evenings. strong leadership in a most difficult situation, when The ceremony is synesthetic, with prayers (sound), candles (light and warmth), taste the school and community was stunned by the (wine) and smells, particularly the smells of shaken spice boxes. In Eastern Europe sudden death of Principal Ron Stone. Mrs. Haden is serving as one of three Vice Principals this year. the spice box often assumed the form of a masonry tower, while in the Middle East it was often a fish. Golub has examples of both types here, but made of beaded wire Prior to returning to Weequahic, Mr. Tanero was the and thread, including one based on Leviathan, the fish that swallowed Jonah and Chair of the Math Department and Vice Principal at became a symbol of divine protection, that won the Spertus prize. (Devout families West Side High School. He has also taught at eat a traditional Sabbath meal of fish to this day.) Vailsburg and Barringer Prep. In addition to academics, Mr. Tanero coached cross-country and Many of Golub’s objects take the form of a pomegranate. Jews say the pomegranate indoor and outdoor track. His teams won 13 state was the fruit eaten by Adam and Eve in the garden before expulsion, and compare its championships. many seeds to the 613 blessings mentioned in the midrash (commentaries) on the Mr. Tanero is excited about being back at Weequahic. Bible. To Golub, it’s a symbol of femininity and fertility and a measure of God’s One of his many goals for the high school is to create abundance for his people. “a culture of caring” among students, teachers, counselors and administrators. Correction: For those who Doris Lew Beck purchased copies of Jews of Weequahic WHS June 1946 there is a correction on page 8 in the fourth paragraph that should read: Drum majorette “Dr. Murray Belsky, who grew up in is the ‘cover girl’ for Weequahic and still practices Internal “Jews of Weequahic” book Medicine at the hospital is fond of saying that the Beth, or Newark Beth By Robert Weiner, NJ Jewish News Israel Medical Center, and Weequahic High School are two of the proudest A picture of drum majorette Doris Lew, institutions in Newark's South Ward.” right, adorns the cover of “Jews of Weequahic.” She co-led a World War II war bonds parade in 1945 with her Weequahic High School In memory of Regina, classmate Eunice Sender. Some 62 years after she graduated from high school, Doris Beck picked up a book about Newark and felt “quite a shock” when she spotted a photograph of herself on its cover. There she was, in sepia tone, dressed as a drum Because she spoke no English when she majorette, leading a parade supporting a moved to Newark at the age of eight, Beck World War II bond drive. was placed in first grade. For awhile, she was teased by her younger, smaller classmates. The book is called “Jews of Weequahic,” and “Then I skipped a few grades, and later on, I its author is Linda Forgosh, curator and wound up becoming an English teacher,” she one of God’s angels, who outreach director at the Jewish Historical said ironically. accidentally fell to earth and I Society of MetroWest. Forgosh wrote the book in connection with a JHS exhibition She met and married Felix Beck, moved to had the good fortune to find “Weequahic Memoirs.” Livingston, and raised three sons. One of and live with for the 51 best them is Bruce Beck, the WNBC-TV years of my life. Beck - then Doris Lew - was in her senior sportscaster inducted into the MetroWest year at Weequahic High School when the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on June 25. cover photo was taken in the fall of 1945. Through the years, she has been an active LouLouLou Kleiman “We were too young for the war, but we supporter of State of Israel Bonds and a West Palm Beach, Florida were all very involved in the war effort,” she member of Temple Beth Shalom in 1936 grad of Hawthorne Avenue School recalled in a telephone interview from her Livingston. current home in West Orange. Her Thanks For Your Recent Donations involvement in the war effort was an Her life of civic activity extended beyond the extension of her talents at entertaining the Jewish community. Beck was president of Alvin Attles, 1955 crowds that came to watch the high school’s her local chapter of the League of Women Atlantic Business Products “terrible football team and good basketball Voters, a board member of Orange Savings Class of 1943 team. I started as a baton twirler, but when Bank and Saint Barnabas Hospital, and an Class of 1945 I became head of the whole squad, I was a arbitrator at the New York Stock Exchange. Class of Jan. 1958 majorette,” she said. Involvement with the LWV gave her the urge Class of June 1958 to run for office. In 1974, she was elected Class of 1963 Her partner on the book cover, on the left mayor of Livingston. The town had been a Columbia HS Student Council side of the picture, was fellow majorette GOP stronghold, but Beck was part of a Simona Chivian Chazen, 1945 Eunice Sender. “Eunice married a doctor Democratic landslide after the Watergate Steve, 1965, & Lauri Dinetz and moved to Philadelphia. That’s all I scandal that toppled Richard Nixon and Florida: Glen Eagles Alumni Brunch know,” said Beck. Growing up in the many other Republicans from office. Dena Gittleman Greenstein, 1964 Weequahic section of Newark during the war Keith Henry years left Beck with memories of “a wonder- “My three sons campaigned for me, and there Judy Herr, 1964 ful neighborhood to grow up in. You knew were many Weequahic people in Livingston David Horace, 1987 everybody. It was 90 percent Jewish.” who encouraged me to run,” she said. Beck Lou Kleiman remained in office for eight years, alternating Arnold Keller, 1952 But Beck’s earlier days - especially those she between the mayor’s office and a seat on the Swede Masin Family spent in her birthplace - were not always city council. “I was the first woman mayor in Union Chapel AME Church pleasant ones. Born in Chehanovietzer, all of Essex County. Men’s groups and Poland, she can still recall watching several businesses began taking notice of women, HAPPY 95th BIRTHDAY Jews being tortured by some of the town’s saying, ‘Gee, they can do something.’” local anti-Semites in the mid-1930s. Hilda Lutzke

Much of the connection between Weequahic gala bridges today’s Weequahic residents and area’s past and present those of yesterday has been through the alumni association that Braff helped form in 1997. By Robert Wiener, NJ Jewish News Providing links between the Jewish and African- American In an evening packed with laughter and communities and the current nostalgia, past residents of Newark’s student body, the association Weequahic section gathered in West offers scholarships and other Orange to remember one of America’s assistance to those who “frankly, most notable Jewish neighborhoods. did not have the advantages and Former “Indians” smiled with recognition opportunities we had,” Braff told at the high school athletic jackets, Exhibit curator, Linda Forgosh, with vintage his audience. restaurant menus, vintage street signs, and street signs of Keer Avenue and Clinton Place old photos - one from the Weequahic “It is a great relationship,” he High School Class of 1950 senior prom community and the Jewish community in added, “What distinguishes a Jew if it is not includes novelist Philip Roth - on display in Weequahic,” said the mayor. “She told me that he or she reaches out to help people “Weequahic Memoirs,” an exhibit making she still believes - despite the difficulties in who have not had the opportunity we’ve its first stop at the Leon & Toby the ’70s and the ’80s - that such days are had? If we don’t do that, I guess we’re like Cooperman JCC, Ross Family Campus, in still in our grasp.” all the other people who don’t do that,” he West Orange. Casting aside planned remarks, Booker said said. And while the exhibit, sponsored by the he would “prefer to speak from my heart,” One person who Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest, and proceeded to compare his “roots in a embodies much of celebrated the Jewish Newark that was, black church and a black family” to his the connection is Newark Mayor Cory Booker and others “being blessed” in adulthood by his 95-year-old Hilda spoke at the June 18 grand opening about opportunity “to study Judaism at length.” Lutzke, who taught the predominantly African-American city it English at Weequahic is today - and efforts to bridge past and During his year as a Rhodes scholar at High School between present. Oxford University in England, Booker studied and became friends with Chabad 1937 and 1975. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach - who has since Lutzke received a Hilda Lutzke “What distinguishes a become a well-known author and TV standing ovation from at 95 still enjoys Jew if it is not that he personality - then carried his interest in the audience. She attending alumni or she reaches out to Jewish culture through his law school years called her career “38 events and class help people who have reunions “ years of joy and hard not had the oppor- at Yale University. I discovered a deeper understanding of humanity, a deeper work,” even as she tunity we’ve had? If remembered times tinged with tragedy. we don’t do that, I appreciation of the divine, and a deeper During World War II, life was “more guess we’re like all understanding of myself,” he said. “There the other people who are Jewish values and principles that to me serious and somber. Some students don’t do that.” are unique and distinct.” dropped out to enlist. Soon we were hearing of former students who were killed. It was really very sad,” she recalled. Hal Braff, co-president of the Weequahic Newark Mayor High School Alumni Association, reminded Cory Booker She mentioned more sad moments during Booker, who was the featured speaker, of said the the McCarthy era of the 1950s, “when the cheer once heard at Weequahic High suburban people I knew lost their teaching jobs” School games: “Ikey, Mikey, Jake, and Sam. Jewish through the infamous communist witch We’re the boys who eat no ham. We play connection to hunts. “But overall,” Lutzke said, “life was Weequahic will football, we play soccer. We keep matzos so good and pleasant that it seems like a help his city to in our locker.” “Believe it or not,” he told dream compared to today’s world and the survive. the mayor, “that is part of the culture of problems we face.” your city, a culture that is disappearing, evaporating, and in many instances, aging.” Booker said he was pleased that those principles have helped forge a link between Earlier, Linda Forgosh, JHS curator and Weequahic’s past and present residents, “be outreach director, told the audience it had In his remarks, Booker told his taken her two years to plan the program predominantly Jewish audience that “the they still living in Newark or spread out in a and collect the material on display. power of the Weequahic neighborhood has diaspora, be they swinging canes or “All we had in our archives were two not died. It still endures.” As he toured swinging golf clubs, these Newarkers - still Jewish community population surveys, a Weequahic after a power outage the connected to their city, still connected to few personal collections, and two copies of previous week, Booker said, he their history, still involved, still active, still Weequahic High School’s yearbook, The encountered a woman who told him hers keeping alive the calls and the songs of Legend,” she said. was the first black family to move onto her Weequahic High School - they will help us street. “She talked about the glory of the as a city to heal, to grow, to manifest God’s neighborhood and her pride in the black justice here on earth.” Continued on page 12 Weequahic Memoirs from page 11

“Everything else is courtesy of individuals who have held on to their Weequahic memories,” which were stashed away in such faraway places as Berkeley, Calif., and Tempe, Ariz.

“Since there are no formal histories of Weequahic, we relied on your stories and memories to help us put the pieces together,” she said.

again be able to sneak on the fields of ALUMNI VOICES nearby Hillside farms to run off with a pumpkin? Would I ever again have so Dottie Richards Fornoff, many empty lots to build fires in for WHS 1946, Texas roasting “Murphy's?”

Dear Phil, Alas, the movers came and I was deposited at 44 Harding Terrace, bereft I appreciate the of old friends. But, “Eureka.” That one time you spent block street that ran from Parkview letting me Terrace to Bergen Street was filled with reminisce about my more kids of all ages that I was soon years at Weequahic able to choke back my tears, grief and High when the happily remained on Harding through family brought me Maple and Weequahic. back there recently in celebration of my 80th birthday. It Now, to my chagrin, I return to the was a real treat to actually visit inside the Bergen Street article in the last Calumet. The story behind a scholarship school which I doubt would have I quote,....“neighborhood needs on a fund from the 60’s revealed happened without their advance plan- five-block strip of approximately 100 ning. Your gifts of Weequahic tee shirt, small businesses, starting at Lyons Recently, June 1952 grad, Donald Shachat, sent us sweat shirt, pin and alumni newsletters Avenue (No. 1079) and proceeding the above brochure about a Weequahic High School Alumni Scholarship Fund that was established in are very much appreciated as well. I'm north past Lehigh, Mapes, Shepard, 1962. Donald is listed as Treasurer. To our spreading the word of the excellence of Scheerer, and Renner to just beyond pleasant surprise, Hal Braff, the co-founder of our the education I got back there. Thanks Custer Avenue (No.943).” current alumni association, and Sam Weinstock, the for your part in making my birthday Treasurer of our alumni Board, are listed as celebration very special. Congratulations I panicked. Was Harding Terrace no Trustees. There are also names of other alumni. on the success of your alumni group. longer between Lyons and Lehigh? Were the two corners that originally According to Don, the first deposit to the Herb Schon, WHS Jan. 1950 , housed Tabatchnick's and Piltz's scholarship fund came from the class of June 1952 Santa Fe, New Mexico Grocery demolished? Who could I call? at their 10th reunion. He also remembers having meetings at the apartment of teacher Sadie Rous on Who could tell me what happened to the Elizabeth Avenue. Loraine White, 1964, recalls car As always, receipt of street that was home to Nuppy and washes to raise funds. Jimmy Schwarz, June 1958, the Alumni Calumet Herbie, Mel and Danny, Ray and related that Mrs. Rous asked him to become is dearly anticipated Lance(?), Eddie and Dave, Marvin and President of the Fund in the middle 60’s. for news of both past Bobby, Siggy and Sheldon? Why, even and present. Being in the same story there was a reference During the intervening years, Jimmy, who is in the 2,000 miles away, to Bro-darts book covers (where I was investment business, was the custodian of the Fund items like the Alumni employed part-time). Had I imagined and put the money into bonds. With higher interest Calumet and the that the Brodys lived across the street rates back then, the principal accrued. He then between the Appels and the Schleins? made arrangements with the Jewish Community WHS ‘63 e-mails are Foundation of MetroWest to have them disburse my link to school and the old the funds to the high school. neighborhood. So, please, please, since I know of no one who still haunts the old nabe, tell In the past, six $500 scholarships were awarded each As a kindergarten kid with scores of me that Harding remains. Tell me that, year. A faculty committee at the high school friends on Leslie Street, I cried when the though faded, the monuments to my selected the students. Today, the Alumni folks found a cheaper (this being 1937) youth continue to exist. Life and Association chooses deserving students for five apartment on Harding Terrace. Didn't journalistic omissions can be cruel. $1,000 scholarships every year. This fund has been they know I had roots? Would I never active for 46 years and it looks like it will continue for many more. WALDO Sam Weinstock, Alumni Treasurer WINCHESTER This popular column from the Calumet Sam Weinstock, Jan. 1955, is the current first appeared in 1950. Treasurer of the Weequahic High School Alumni Association. He has been a board member since 1997. Sam has spent most of Hal Braff, June 1952, Co-President of the Weequahic High School his life involved in the Newark and Essex Alumni Association, will be honored by the Union Chapel AME County community. Church on Friday evening, November 16th at the Robert Treat Hotel. His family moved to Hansbury Avenue in Marshall A. Kasen, Jan. 1961, CPA, CFF, with offices in NYC and 1939 and he attended Chancellor Avenue Coral Gables, Fla., was elected to the Board of Directors of Mayim Chayim Wazzar Holding, Ltd., a company developing a new hybrid all School and then Weequahic, where he was natural “fermented champagne-like” soft beverage to be distributed the President of his class. “Moose” or “Big worldwide. He continues as a corporate officer and CFO of the Sam” as he was called by his classmates was a holding company. very popular student who was involved in Amy Toporek, the daughter of Jac Toporek, 1963, has hit the big many high school activities. He was also a time, landing the lead role in a popular musical show. A few months member of a few sports clubs known as the ago, the 23-year-old was tapped to play the vulnerable and spunky Cobras, the Jokers, and the Ramblers. He Tracy Turnblad in the national touring company of the smash musical even played “JV” basketball for Coach Art Lustig. But most of Hairspray. his athletic career took place at the Chancellor Avenue Dr. Larry Feinsod the husband of Sharon Rous Feinsod, 1966, was playground or Untermann Field playing baseball, basketball, appointed by Gov. Corzine as the Essex County Executive football and softball with fond memories of playground directors Superintendent of Schools. Bucky Harris and Joe Esposito. Daaimah (Diana) Talley, 1966, was featured in a production at The Theater Project at Union County College in Cranford NJ. The show Following Weequahic, Sam went to the University of Michigan, Defying Gravity by Jane Anderson is the story of the Challenger and was became President of Phi Sigma Delta fraternity and graduated presented as a tribute to teachers. with a BBA degree in June 1958. After college, he returned to Newark and joined his family business located on Prince Street in Keon Lawrence, 2006, a first-team All-State basketball team selection the Central Ward. In 1923, his father Max started a wholesale in 2005-2006, will be entering Seton Hall University after two seasons at the University of Missouri. Keon led Weequahic with a 31-point distribution company selling plumbing and heating supplies. For scoring average and 24-3 record. 80 years, the business serviced contractors in Newark and northern New Jersey. Sam vividly remembers the riots in Newark Dave Lieberfarb’s Smoke Signals in the summer of 1967. While many businesses left the area, his family stayed until 2003. Occasionally, Sam is asked to speak about his recollections from that period of time.

In 1959, Sam married his Weequahic sweetheart, Ellen Ertag, a 1956 grad. They raised four children, Jill, Cheryl, Steven, and Melissa, and have six grandchildren. They have been happily married for 49 years.

Throughout most of his life, Sam has put his energy into volunteer endeavors. He is the former President and lifetime L-R: Harry Katz, Poppy Braunstein, Bobby Braunstein, Gerald Leroy, Aron Wallad, and Ari Niederman - Photo by Dave Lieberfarb member of Congregation Oheb Shalom, originally in Newark, and now in South Orange. For 12 years, he served on the Board of A group of alumni who call themselves the Weequahic Irregulars Trustees of the Mental Health Association of Essex County and detoured from their usual monthly watering holes to hold their July also on the board of the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest. get-together at the wonderful "Weequahic Memoirs" exhibit at the JCC in West Orange. Aron Wallad (1965) is the leader of the pack, Sam has worked all of his life to assist the disabled and less and he was joined by classmates Gerald Leroy, Arie Niederman and, privileged. In particular, he has always had a special passion and just so alumnae wouldn't be entirely excluded, Poppy (Braunstein) commitment to Weequahic High School and Newark with its Segal. Poppy was accompanied by her brother, Dr. Bobby Braunstein (1962). Harry Katz represented the class of 1964. Arie wonderful memories and experiences. Feeling that he has lived a was joined by his younger brother, Meir, a graduate of Chancellor good and productive life, Sam believes in giving back to those Avenue School before the family moved out of Newark, and Meir's who have not been so fortunate. He strongly believes that sons Bryan, 29, and Brett, 26. education with the appropriate supports can only be a benefit to lift one’s spirit and hope. Now semi-retired, he and Ellen share A few fellow Weequahic alums were sighted on an August walking tour time at their homes in New Jersey and Florida. Currently, Sam is of Newark's Central Ward. Alvin Blumenfeld (1948) couldn’t be co-chairing our upcoming Diamond Jubilee event. missed because he was wearing a Weequahic T-shirt. Alvin was accompanied by his wife Elaine Einhorn Blumenfeld (1952). On behalf of the alumni association and the students at Arnold Cohen, (1965), Paula Borenstein (1967), and Janet Parhams Weequahic, we thank Sam for his service, dedication, and efforts. (1972) also took part in the tour, as did others. graduation and nearly every five years REUNIONS IN REVIEW ever since then. When our numbers started to decline, the late Bert Manhoff of the class of January 1938 Jan. 1958 Hits 50 suggested that we combine our With A Bang groups. The number of graduates from our combined classes was By Gerry Beatty approximately six hundred and although attendance at the reunion Five years ago, when the class of January, was small, it was very gratifying, with classmates coming to be with us 1958 celebrated its 45-year reunion, the L-R: Gerry Beatty, Sue Schilling Grand, Sam McCloud, Judy Karetnick Rufolo, surprise appearance of our award- winning Bunnie Jacobson Slovikowsky, Ann Klein, Phil Grand, Phyllis Schenkel from all over the country. Weequahic High School band stirred deep Schwartz, Betty Jane McCloud. emotions no one present is likely to forget. The Alumni Association supplied the Many have retired out of state, some For the 50-year event this May, the whole school banner, proudly hung as the are no longer driving so although they are weekend was a high. decorative centerpiece, and stacks of not too far from Essex County they were “Alumni Calumets” and membership cards not able to be with us. Of course, illness Attendees from Vermont and California - word was that a half-dozen people filled and death has also diminished our numbers. and 11 states between hugged and talked them out and sent in their checks. A class But the fun and delight at meeting and and talked. Part of the formal program was directory was distributed. It reported “our greeting each other made up for the smaller abandoned so classmates could continue to typical class member is married; with 2.3 size of our group. swap remembrances. Several who ignored children and 3.0 grandchildren; lives in New previous reunions decided 50 was too Jersey (46 percent; 19 percent in Florida); The committee members were Shirley important, and were thrilled they came. retired from teaching (every level from Rubin Rabinowitz, Chairperson, Esther When the weekend ended, many were pre-school to five professors); and keeps Raznikov Cohen, Stanley Gilbert, Myron reluctant to leave, and continued to write busy with grandkids, friends, exercise, mah Woller, Evelyn Friedrich Reinhard, for days afterward. jongg, travel, reading and cultural activities.” Jerome Lieb, Ruth Maltz Hendlin, Irene Maroukis Stampoulos and Shirley More than a year ago, some on the planning More than two dozen people helped plan Tepper Sarasohn. committee who remain avid beachgoers the weekend. Regular committee pushed for a return Down the Shore. members included Don Kalfus, Judy We met approximately every six weeks over Accordingly, the celebration consisted of Karetnick Rufolo, Syma Scher Herzog, the last year and a half. Committee Saturday dinner at Rooney's ocean-view Larry Orlans, Sue Schilling Grand and meetings were the extra “perk” of work restaurant in Long Branch and the Sunday Phil Grand, Gerry Beatty, Fran involved in organizing the reunion. Since reunion at the Oyster Point Hotel, with its Kimmelman Fried, Sheila Scherer Krell, many of our committee members either scenic riverside setting in Red Bank. Arnie Kantrowitz, Jay Amdur, Herb vacationed out of state, or live a distance Several made the weekend complete by Gomberg, Lynda Koenigsberg Gordon, from where the meetings were held, they driving around (where else?) Bradley Beach Al Levine and Jeff Schram. were not always able to attend. Saturday afternoon. Our on-site committee chairperson, Shirley, The committee thought perhaps 75 really did a yeoman job of pulling all the classmates, spouses and companions would details together that resulted in a wonderful participate. Ultimately 96 people signed up day for all of us. Needless to say, we do not (four became last-day dropouts because of project a 75th anniversary of our graduation. illness and travel problems). Translation: We will continue our intermittent among 146 people pictured in the “Legend” committee meetings. We will advise those and 20 who skipped to graduate the who are interested, of the date and time of previous June but retain close ties, nearly one of the meetings so that they can join us. half the living classmates joined the By Florence Brockman Seglin Not a formal situation. festivities. In closing, I wish to express the feelings of “Three score and ten years” to quote Abraham my classmates about our alma mater. We In reality, the party began with check-ins in Lincoln, represents how many years ago we were fortunate to be able to attend a new the three chosen hotels' lobbies with shouts, graduated from Weequahic High School. and modern school for the four years of hugs and camera flashes. Saturday night Our 70th reunion took place on Sunday, our high school career. The faculty, chosen was for talking and one table's rendition of September 14th at Nero’s Restaurant in for this new school, were especially dedi- “All Hail to Maple's Colors.” Sunday Livingston. Fifty-six classmates attended cated and motivated us to continue our highlights included a warm, funny remini- the party, one of whom traveled from Jeff Schram studies. Many of us remained in the area scence by class president of California to be with us for the first Don Kalfus' and served our community. Some of us are life in the '50s; slide-show reunion he had ever attended. tribute to 23 classmates who've died; and still participating through the alumni Phyllis and association to continue the ongoing success the donation of $500 to the The June 1938 class has been celebrating Donald Kalfus Scholarship Fund of Weequahic High School. . reunions since 1953, the fifteenth year after

Weequahic alumni make donation to MetroWest Sports Hall of Fame the families of 4 in school slayings inducts alumni for ’08 By William Kleinknecht and Jonathan Schuppe, Star-Ledger Ron Kaplan, NJ Jewish News

The MetroWest Jewish Sports Hall of Fame just got a little more crowded with the induction of five new members. More than 250 family members and friends attended a dinner on June 26 to honor Bruce Beck, Aaron Chernus, William “Doc” Pollak, and the father and daughter “team” of David Klurman and Danielle Klurman Hall for their athletic accomplishments in a sports-related field. • Chernus, (WHS June 1946) who has won several medals in senior Olympic competition, did not become involved in competitive sports until he hit middle age. In his acceptance A year after the shootings of four college students in a Newark remarks, he said he would “keep on doing what I’m doing schoolyard, the one surviving victim, Natasha Aeriel, is still until my body fails me - or they test me for steroids.” waging a battle to recover from the brutal attack, her family said • Pollak (WHS Jan. 1953) gave up a chance to play yesterday. The 20-year-old, who is being kept in hiding as the sole professional baseball to become a dentist, but the eyewitness to the slayings, still faces several major surgeries before septuagenarian continues to play as a member of the she can achieve her goal of living a normal life and returning to Livingston Dodgers, defending state champions of the U.S. college, the family said. And paying for college will not be easy, Over Thirty Baseball League. Since high school, he has won since the gunshot wound to her head cost her the ability to play more than 1,000 games as a pitcher. the saxophone - and with it her musical scholarship. “She can no longer play the instrument she has played since high school,” • Klurman was selected as one of the outstanding basketball said Sherry Bradshaw, who is married to Aeriel's father, Troy players of the 1950s by The Star-Ledger. His daughter, Bradshaw, “because of the muscle damage from the bullet.” Danielle, was named NJ State Tennis Champion three times during her high school career, winning 100 of 101 matches. On the anniversary of the massacre in the playground of Mount • Beck, a Livingston resident, is a multi-award-winning sports Vernon School, family members of the four students appeared broadcaster. He told the audience his personal highlight was at a downtown Newark law firm to accept a donation from the getting an exclusive interview with Gal Friedman, Israel’s first Weequahic High School Alumni Association. One of the Olympic gold medalist, by belting out his bar mitzva haftara to association's members is Richie Roberts, the former Essex suspicious security guards to prove he was a fellow Jew. Beck County drug prosecutor depicted in the film American Gangster. praised his parents for “setting the example for their sons to Although the association's fundraising usually goes toward embrace a sense of responsibility.” His mom, Doris Lew scholarships for Weequahic High School students, Roberts Beck, is a 1946 Weequahic grad. arranged for a private screening of the film earlier this year to raise money for the schoolyard victims. Klurman and Pollak are both enshrined in the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame. Many of the guests had attended “It's beyond a donation,” James Harvey, the father of shooting Weequahic High School. Klurman related the extent of his victim Dashon Harvey, said as he thanked the group for the alma mater’s reach. “When Danielle represented the girls in donation. “It's what's in the heart of individuals like you that the Maccabiah games [in 1985], I was jogging in Tel Aviv, and keeps us strong.” Family members of Iofemi Hightower and I had my Weequahic T-shirt on…. A guy comes over; I Terrance Aeriel, who also were killed in the attack, and Natasha thought I was being mugged.” The man was an alumnus from Aeriel, Terrance's sister, also received checks. Shalga Hightower, the Newark school. “He was a retired doctor living [there], Iofemi's mother, asked the group not to remember the victims and he wanted me to tell him about Weequahic and to tell me only for what happened to them on the night of the killings. what the school meant to him. Weequahic has a tremendous “They were role models,” she said. “They had goals and tradition.” ambitions.”

Roberts told the families that his role in the movie has had many benefits, but he said none had significance when compared with the need to help victims of violence in Newark. “I speak from the bottom of my heart when I say that nothing is more meaningful and more important than being able to donate money to you people,” he said.

Among those joining Roberts in presenting the four checks - for undisclosed amounts were - Hal Braff, his wife Elaine, Mary Dawkins, Phil Yourish, Sam Weinstock, Myrna Weissman, L-R: Aaron Chernus, Bruce Beck, William ”Doc” Pollak, Arnold Keller and Larry Bembry. David Klurman, and Danielle Klurman Hall. Roth’s “INDIGNATION” WEST COAST REUNION Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Interviewed by John Freeman, Star-Ledger New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Philip Roth may have become famous for Wyoming. East Coasters are also welcome. the exuberant carnality of “Portnoy’s Complaint,” but he still remembers a very It’s on Valentines Day different sexual America. When Roth was Show your love for Weequahic in college in the ’50s, female students had a curfew. Men were not allowed in their rooms. Dances were chaperoned. “That Saturday, February 14, 2009 little world was replicated on one campus 11 a.m to 3 p.m / Buffet - $50.00 after another,” says Roth, comfortable in khakis and a checked shirt at the offices of San Luis Rey Officer's Club, his New York literary agent. Camp Pendleton Marine Base, Those days are on Roth’s mind again because they are the topic of his Oceanside, California, (Near San Diego) 29th book, Indignation, a short novel set in the ’50s about a Jewish man named Marcus Messner, who flees the oppressive anxieties of For more information, contact: his family in Newark for a small liberal arts college in Ohio called Fran Katz Sekela, June1954, Winesburg. Marcus should feel liberated, but he discovers he has merely traded the illogic of his parents’ surveillance for that of the [email protected] / (760) 944-7384 college administration. “He goes from one overseer to another,” Roth Please supply your e-mail address when you mail your check. says. Marcus clashes with roommates, rages at a college dean and manages to turn his one blessing - a date with a woman sexually ahead of the times - into a source of towering anxiety. Bringing The Talking about the changes that came to universities after students like “WEEQUAHIC MEMOIRS” Marcus left, his legs crossed and his tone professorial, Roth is acting Exhibit to Newark less like a literary Gulliver than a man who has watched America change far beyond his own wildest expectations. “The old system For November 2008, the Jewish Museum of New was just discarded: Sexual freedom, personal freedom, all the Jersey, located at the historic Ahavas Sholom freedoms that have been extended to the generations after mine are synagogue in Newark, is in the process of making extraordinary.” One of the key freedoms Marcus lacks - which most arrangements with the Jewish Historical Society of American college students enjoy today - is the freedom from fighting. MetroWest to bring the “WEEQUAHIC In 1951, the U.S. was at war with North Korea and the draft was on. MEMOIRS” exhibit to the Museum. “With the draft, everybody was involved,” says Roth. Marcus’ fear of being expelled, called up and sent to die on the battlefield, provides If arrangements are completed, this will be a the book with a taut windup - even though Marcus essentially wonderful opportunity to visit the synagogue, a state narrates the book from beyond the grave after this very sequence of and national landmark, and view this outstanding events occurs. exhibit about the city's Jewish community, once the largest in the state. Like Marcus, Roth is feeling the pull of history, the press of time More information will be available soon. running out. “I want to have a big, long project that will occupy me until my death,” says the 75-year-old Roth, his big eyes shining, his expression so deadpan it may or may not be ironic: “I’m ready for it. I have a 25-year book. And when I’m 100, I will hand it in and then South Florida East Coast Reunion lie down in darkness.” Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.

OUR LOVE TO LINDA FORGOSH Sugar Cane Island Bistro 353 S. US Highway #1 Jupiter, Florida Executive Director and Curator of the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest Mix, Mingle and Dance - $60 Thank you for a magnificent job commemorating Hors D’oeuvres, Hot Buffet, Beverages & Desserts the high school and neighborhood in the “Weequahic Memoirs” exhibition and with your For more information, contact: book,“Jews of Weequahic.” Your effort and enthusiasm are June 1963, appreciated by all of our alumni. It is with great pleasure that we Gayle Frankel Sokoloff, bestow upon you the title of “honorary” Weequahic alumna. [email protected] / (772) 286-0347 You are now one of the tribe.

chapter of the Young Men's Hebrew Links. She was predeceased by Sushi Association, now known as the JCC Edelman, her beloved shih-tzu. Donations \Ç _Éä|Çz `xÅÉÜç MetroWest. may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Dr. Sanford Lewis, 86 Dr. Lewis loved tennis, and was a longtime Suite 1400, NYC, NY 10122. member of Orange Lawn Tennis Club in By Jeff May, Star-Ledger South Orange. He also was a subscriber to Eugene Heller, Jan. 1954 the New York Philharmonic and would Dr. Sanford Lewis set regularly visit Tanglewood in the some kind of example. Eugene “Gene” Heller, a Berkshires with his wife to see summer Most of the things he prominent real estate performances. “His real love outside of tennis loved are reflected in the developer, died at his home was classical music,” John Lewis said. Later careers of his children. in Palm Beach Gardens, in life, he took up sculpting, working in He was a medical doctor Fla., at the age of 72. Mr. marble and wood. with a fondness for Heller was diagnosed with classical music and a melanoma in January 2007. In addition to his two sons, John and devotion to Jewish Mark, Dr. Lewis is survived by his wife, causes. Mr. Heller was born in Carol, a psychologist; a daughter Lynn, and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and moved to Newark three grandsons. Tributes may be sent to One of his sons became a dermatologist. at an early age. He graduated from the JCC MetroWest or to Doctors Without Another is an attorney who plays piano Weequahic High School and attended Borders. professionally. And his daughter teaches Rutgers University. He later served as a preschool at the Jewish Community Center trustee of Rutgers University and of MetroWest, a group he led several Doris Daun Edelman, June 1955 Hackensack Hospital. decades ago. “He was Type-A, put it that way,” said his son John Lewis, the lawyer. Doris Edelman, an Mr. Heller was involved in a family “He liked his fun, too. I guess you can say he amazing wife, mother, business with his brothers. He then left didn’t waste a lot of time.” grandmother and friend, and went on to pursue a career in real died on September 8, estate development. He joined with Born in Newark, he graduated from 2008, surrounded by her Leonard Stern to co-found the Hartz Weequahic High School and went to the loving family. Mountain Real Estate business. At Hartz, University of Pennsylvania. His father was he had the vision for the transformation of a dentist, and Dr. Lewis was leaning Born in Newark, Doris the Secaucus Meadowlands from swamp to toward the same profession when he lived in Union before moving to mixed-use development consisting of enrolled in New York University School of Springfield. She was a member of the residential, hotels, retail, industrial and Medicine. He went on to become a inaugural class of the Hebrew Youth offices. Under his leadership, Hartz medical doctor, specializing in internal Academy of Newark. She was a graduate developed 40 million square feet of space medicine. and proud alumna of Weequahic High throughout New Jersey. School and attended Newark State He opened a practice in Newark, then Teachers College. She enjoyed many In 1991, Mr. Heller went on to establish moved to East Orange and eventually friendships with her contemporaries from his own company, G. Heller Enterprises. West Orange. During World War II, he these associations. He is credited with being the driving force served for a time as chief of radiology for behind the rebirth and revitalization of the Pacific Theater. Back stateside, Dr. Doris was a longtime active member of Edgewater, which is part of NJ’s Gold Lewis picked up work doing forensic Temple Beth Ahm in Springfield and their Coast, as well as other projects in New medicine for insurance companies and Women’s League, as well as Hadassah and Jersey. offering expert testimony in workman's ORT. She was past president of the Park compensation and medical cases. “He was Place Association and an active participant Mr. Heller became a Florida resident in very verbal, articulate, clear-thinking and ethical,” in the community’s development. She and 2006, and enjoyed golf, traveling, spending Mark Lewis said. “That combination was her late husband, Sam, also enjoyed time with close friends and was an avid St. perfect for that kind of work. He could look at a membership in the Couples Club of the Louis Cardinal fan. His greatest joy was case, dissect it and report his findings impeccably.” JCC in Whippany. being with his family.

Dr. Lewis later became chairman of the Doris was the beloved wife of Sam He will be deeply missed by his beloved state Board of Medical Examiners and was Edelman, devoted mother of Abbe and wife, Penny; his son, Todd, and daughter, also a member of the New Jersey board of Robin Edelman of Livingston; Alan and Bonni Konefsky and her husband Steve. hospital supervisors. His busy schedule Janie Links of Springfield; loving sister of He was also a devoted grandfather to didn't stop him from taking on other Charlie and Joy Daun of Florida; and Marisa, Jennifer, and Jordyn. Mr. Heller is duties, though. During the Arab-Israeli devoted aunt to Dana and Michael Zuller also survived by his former wife, Ticia Six-Day War in 1967, he raised a large and Donna and David Lester; the adored Heller. Donations may be made to Yale amount of money for Israel in a single grandmother of Sydnie and Noah Edelman Cancer Center Melanoma Unit, Clinical night by feverishly working the phones. and Zach and Alexa Links, and grand-dog Research Program, 2333 Cedar Street, He later became president of the local mother of Mo-Jo Edelson and Sumo New Haven, Conn., 06520. Membership / Merchandise / Scholarship Form

Mail to: WHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 You can also make your purchases with a credit card by calling us at (973) 923-3133 or using our web site at www.weequahicalumni.org - Please Print Clearly -

DATE: ______TOTAL AMOUNT: $______

2 Payment Choices:

1. ___ CREDIT CARD (mail or telephone) : __ MC __ VISA - Amount $______

Credit Card #: ______Exp. Date: ______Signature: ______

2. ___ CHECK: Make out check to WHSAA - Amount $______

5 Merchandise Choices (circle your size if applicable:

1. ____ $20.00 BOOK: JEWS OF WEEQUAHIC (add $5.00 for shipping & handling) 2. ____ $15.00 T-SHIRT (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL - now in khaki or orange with the WHS logo ) 3. ____ $15.00 HAT (one size fits all - khaki with orange & dark brown lettering) 4. ____ $20.00 GOLF SHIRT (sizes S, M, L, XL - orange with Indian head and WHS alumni wording) 4. ____ $25.00 SWEATSHIRT (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL - now in khaki or orange with the WHS logo)

Weequahic Murals Restoration Project : $______

20 Scholarship Choices: 21

1. $______ALVIN ATTLES Endowment Fund 11. $______PHYLLIS & DONALD KALFUS Fund 2. $______MAXINE BOATWRIGHT Memorial Fund 12. $______HANNAH LITZKY Memorial Fund 3. $______MOREY BOBROW Memorial Fund 13. $______BERT MANHOFF Memorial Fund 4. $______CLASS OF 1963 SCHOLARSHIP Fund 14. $______SEYMOUR 'SWEDE' MASIN Memorial Fund 5. $______CLASS OF 1964 SCHOLARSHIP Fund 15. $______EDWIN McLUCAS Athletic Fund 6. $______GENERAL ALUMNI Fund 16. $______MARIE E. O’CONNOR Fund 7. $______RONALD GRIFFIN Memorial Fund 17. $______LEO PEARL Memorial Fund 8. $______LES & CEIL FEIN Endowment Fund 18. $______RICHARD ROBERTS Fund 9. $______MIRIAM HAMPLE Memorial Fund 19. $______SADIE ROUS Memorial Fund 10. $______READA & HARRY JELLINEK Endowment Fund 20. $______RON STONE Memorial Endowment Fund

5 Membership Choices: ___ Check if change in postal address

___ $25 ALUMNI ___ $50 ORANGE & BROWN ___ $100 ERGO ___ $500 SAGAMORE ___ $1,000 LEGEND

Class (Month & Year): ______Current or Past Occupation: ______Name: ______Last Name at Weequahic: ______Street: ______City/Town: ______State: _____ Zip: ______Phone: ( ) ______Business: ( ) ______Cell: ( ) ______e-mail: ______Though he was best known for his Union Counties. He was always active with television coverage - he was a two-time various nonprofit organizations and served \Ç _Éä|Çz `xÅÉÜç winner of the New Jersey Press Association a term on the Irvington Board of Award for Critical Writing, and was named Education. He was an active member of Jerry Krupnick, Jan. 1943 the 1990 Television Columnist of the Year Trinity Lodge #33, Prince Hall Affiliation, Star-Ledger TV critic by the International TV Society. Mr. Golconda Temple #24, Prince Hall Krupnick also spent 15 years as Sunday Shriners; Oziel Grand Chapter, Order of By Alan Sepinwall, Star-Ledger editor for The Star-Ledger. He was the Eastern Star #43, Ruth Court #5, as responsible for assembling all but the well as many other houses. Sports and Real Estate sections for each Jerry Krupnick, who Sunday's paper, often with the help of only He was always doing whatever he could to wrote about television a single assistant. help those around him. When he made a for The Star-Ledger promise - he kept the promise. He loved almost as far back as Mr. Krupnick's newspaper career - and his God, sports, reading, dancing and having a there was television to relationship with Phyllis - began at good time - and had a huge sense of humor write about, died Aug. Weequahic High School, where he was and compassion. Gene listened, guided, 14 of complications editor-in-chief of the school paper. Phyllis’ advised, and held dear everyone he knew. from congestive heart father and brother also worked in the As a result, he was loved by many. Gene failure. He was 82. newspaper business. (brother Robert Kalter headed the WHS Class of '70 Reunion worked for The Star-Ledger for 50 years.) Committee and he organized the 10, 20, 25 After serving in the Army in World War II, and 30 year reunions. He was also Mr. Krupnick came to The Star-Ledger in Mr. Krupnick enlisted in the Army at age involved with the formation of the high 1950, and within a few years was the 17 and became a staff sergeant in the 69th school’s alumni association. He really paper's go-to man for coverage of that Division of the infantry, doing combat loved his alma mater! newfangled medium called television. He patrols in France and Germany during created TV Time of the Week, one of the World War II. He also wrote for the Gene leaves his legacy through his family nation's first Sunday TV magazines, and Army's Stars and Stripes newspaper, and and friends, most especially, his wife, wrote about TV for the paper up to, and re-enlisted after the war to become public Elmira, and sons Eugene, Jr., Viktor, Mikal even after, his retirement in August 1998. relations director for a series of “soldier and Bandit, granddaughters, Hannah, Kiara, “Jerry loved TV and he loved his work, shows” in Europe. and Kennedi, brothers, Ali, Albert, and which he executed with charm, wit and Anthony, sisters, Cynthia, the late Catherine wisdom,” said Susan Olds, The His sons all recall their father working long and Luvada, nieces and nephews, Cynthia, Star-Ledger's assistant managing editor for hours, particularly while putting out the Jamillah, Rahmiece, Taheerah, Louis, Jr., features. “It was an incredible career to be Sunday paper, but never complaining. Stephen, Jaquayah, Shamsuddin, Maryum, sure - for its longevity, yes, but more so for Though he missed out on family time, he Najee, Nyja, and Bryce, mother-in-law, Liana, the energy and sense of purpose he made it up to the boys with special trips, or stepmother, Carrie, daughters-in-law, Kelli and delivered day in and day out. The with VIP treatment courtesy of having a Aliyah, brothers-in-law, Leighton and Patrick, Star-Ledger is richer for his years of TV critic for a dad. sisters-in-law, October and Corliss, cousins, service.” Esther, James, Gwen, Maurice, and Andre,

and many other close family and friends. Mr. Krupnick had a distinctive flair for Eugene Lawson, 1970 language. He referred to public television pledge drives as “begathons” and was fond Eugene (Gene) Lawson Arthur Cartwright, 1970 of explaining the distinction between was born February 10, “trash” (genuinely bad television) and 1953, in Jersey City, NJ, Arthur T. Cartwright “supertrash” (so-bad-it's-good television). the 3rd child of the late passed away on He wrote using the royal “we,” and was Willadean Burrell and August 9, 2008. He fond of inserting his wife of 58 years, Louis Lawson. Gene was the beloved son Phyllis, (WHS Jan. 1945) into the column, graduated from of Gladys and the referring to her as "Our Favorite Wife," or Weequahic High School late Booker T. “OFW” for short. “He always wrote I was in 1970 and then enlisted Cartwright; loving his `OFW,” said Phyllis Krupnick. “Every- in the US Air Force and after serving his husband of Helen body called me that, because they read his country, he received an Honorable Cartwright; cherished column and they got a kick out of it.” Discharge. Constantly expanding his father of Nicole, knowledge, he received his Associate of Arthur T. Jr. and “One of Jerry's favorite words to describe Arts Degree from Essex County College Harold W. (bad) shows was ‘wallow,’” recalled Star- and his Bachelor of Science degree from Cartwright, and Ledger copy editor David Lieberfarb (WHS Rutgers University. caring brother of 1965), “which was probably less negative Pamela, Bertha and than it sounds. He also used to love to run During his life, Gene worked for the City Cybelia. He is also survived by a host of words together, as in something of Newark, taught and coached in the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, ‘camethisclose' to being one of his top Newark school system and, most recently, other relatives and friends. picks.” worked for Joint Meeting of Essex & REUNIONS 2008 2008 Scholarship Recipients at Senior Awards Ceremony ☺ September 12, 2008 1938 - 70th Sunday, 12 P.M., Nero’s Restaurant, Livingston, NJ. Contact Shirley Rubin Rabinowitz at (973) 736-2637.

☺ September 21, 2008 JUNE 1958 - 50th Sunday, 12 P.M., Maplewood Country 2008 Alumni Scholarship Recipients at Senior Awards Ceremony Club, Maplewood, NJ. Also inviting members of the class of Jan. 1959. To include Philip Roth Tour of Newark and tour of high school on Saturday. WHS ALUMNI WHS ALUMNI Contact Judy Epstein Rothbard at (973) STORE ASSOCIATION 467-1037 / [email protected]. See page 18 to order, Established in 1997. The WHS Alumni ☺ OCTOBER 5, 2008 or order from our web site Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in New Jersey. 1943 - 65th Sunday, 11 A.M., Essex House, Phil Yourish, 1964, Executive Director West Orange, NJ. Contact Selma Rosenstock Cohen at (973) 731-4170; Hal Braff, 1952, Co-President Sheldon Denburg at (973) 515-6949; and Mary Brown Dawkins, 1971, Co-President Arline Gersten Marantz at Sam Weinstock, 1955, Treasurer: (973) 763-5824 Myrna Jelling Weissman, 1953, Secretary

☺ OCTOBER 19, 2008 Board of Trustees: 1953 - 55th Ruby Baskerville, 1961 Larry Bembry, 1966 Sunday, 11 A.M., Shackamaxon Country Judy Bennett, 1972 Club, Scotch Plains, NJ. Contact Beverly Sheldon Bross, 1955 Greenfeder Levine (914) 693-1266 or Marshall Cooper, 1969 [email protected]. Harold Edwards, 1966 Arnold Keller, 1952 ☺ NOVEMBER 1, 2008 Monroe Krichman, 1955 Dave Lieberfarb, 1965 1968 - 40th Arthur Lutzke, 1963 Saturday, 7 P.M., Sheraton Hotel, Adilah Quddus, 1971 Eatontown, NJ. To include tour of Gerald Russell, 1974 high school. Contact Helen Perlman Dave Schechner, 1946 Siegel at [email protected]. Vivian Ellis Simons, 1959 Charles Talley, 1966 2009

☺ OCTOBER 18, 2009 Weequahic High School Alumni Association First Class Mail 1959 - 50th U.S. Postage P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 PAID Saturday, 7 P.M., Hamilton Park Hotel, Permit No. 205 Orange, NJ 07050 Florham Park, NJ. To include Philip Roth Tour of Newark and tour of high school. Contact Lillian Friedman Weinstein at [email protected].