They created one of the largest, most active, and most successful high school alumni organizations in America - the Weequahic High School Alumni Association Weequahic Alumni will honor HAL BRAFF & SHELDON BROSS

with a Testimonial Dinner on Thursday, May 19th, 6 p.m. at the historic Robert Treat Hotel in Newark

Weequahic legend, NBA basketball player, championship coach, and executive Alvin Attles will be the Keynote Speaker

and Hal’s son, Zach Braff, star of the popular TV show, Scrubs, will join us

Proceeds will support scholarships and student activities at the high school

To order tickets ($100) or to place an ad in our Journal, call us at (973) 923-3133 ("tax deductible as allowed by law") BRAFF & BROSS: PLANNED GIVING ALUMNI CALUMET THE VISIONARIES Did you know that individuals are is a publication of the the largest source of funding for non- WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION It all began 14 years ago when the profit organizations? Giving USA Editor, Layout & Design: Weequahic High School Alumni stated that in 2008 charitable dona- Association was launched with a tions in the U.S. reached more than Phil Yourish, 1964 gathering of more than 300 alumni $300 billion. Of that amount 75% on a Friday evening in September at came from individuals. Proofreading: The Newark Public Library. The Dave Lieberfarb, Hal Braff, and vision for this endeavor came from Ensure the future of our Alumni As- Myrna Jelling Weissman attorneys Hal Braff, 1952, and sociation and its important work at Sheldon Bross, 1955. Weequahic High School by estab- Our thanks for articles and pho- They believed that the wonderful lishing a “planned gift” so that our tos from The Star-Ledger, memories and nostalgia of growing legacy can continue in the years to NJ.com, NJ Jewish News, and come. up in Weequahic could be trans- our WHS alumni and friends. formed to create new energy for bridging the older and newer genera- When you are doing your “life plan- ning,” consider “giving back” to the tions of the high school. And so the CONTACT US: vision took shape: high school that provided you with an outstanding education and so WHS Alumni Association It was not from our differences, but many countless memories. Below from the traditions that we have in are some options: P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 common, that gave birth to the Weequahic High School Alumni Some specific “GIVING” (973) 923-3133 / (973) 303-5294 Association in 1997 - a unique op- suggestions for Weequahic [email protected] portunity to bring people together - www.weequahicalumni.org people who seemed so far apart yet Association Life Extension who have shared something signifi- cant and precious: their lives were Make a gift that will help to ensure shaped in their Weequahic years. the longevity of the Weequahic High RECENT DONATIONS: School Alumni Association beyond Since that auspicious debut, Hal, as Steve Dinetz, 1965 this generation. Ceil Fein Co-President, and Sheldon, as Treas- Dena Gittleman Greenstein, 1964 urer for many years, have provided Scholarship Fund Walter Hastreiter (in memory) the dynamic leadership for our phe- Judy Herr, 1964 nomenal success, including the fol- Establish a scholarship fund in your Steve Bogner, 1966 lowing: name, the name of your family, or in Swede Masin Family the name of a relative, classmate, Thomas Boose, 1959  Created a diverse organization favorite teacher, administrator, Warren Kessler, 1960 with more than 8,000 alumni, coach, friend, or your class. Beverly Tepper Alves, 1960 spanning nine decades. Howard Schnitzer, 1951 Special Student Project Provident Bank  Raised more than one-half million Bank of America dollars and awarded $51,000 in Fund a special educational project at Newark Academy student scholarships in 2010. the school, such as tutoring, mentor- Class of 1939 ing, cultural activities, sports camps, Class of 1945  Sponsored student trips to Paris, educational trips, etc. Class of Jan. 1950 Montreal, and Washington, DC. Class of Jan. 1960 Facility/Programs Class of June 1960  Provided support for academic Class of 1963 programs, athletic teams, and the The high school is nearing eighty Class of 1964 marching band. years old. Fund a project that im- Classes of 1965 and 1966 proves and enhances the facility and  Participated in the making of its programs, such as mural restora- CORRECTION: “Heart of Stone,” an award- tion; new signage; attractive fencing winning documentary about the around the school; landscaping; new Our apologies to Linda Whittle high school. trophy cases; new technology equip- Reninger (6/63) whose name was ment; team, band, and athletic uni- incorrectly placed on the “In Loving  Established the Weequahic HS forms; musical instruments, etc. Memory” list. Alumni Hall of Fame.

2 Weequahic names new gymnasium after the late Principal Ron Stone

By Phil Yourish, 1964, WHSAA Executive Director

remember the old gym so well - tiny for today, but big enough then for our basketball I games. The wooden bleachers open on both sides hugging the playing court. The ropes and rings hanging high near the ceiling. The horses and parallel bars pushed to the side. The white backboards made of wood. The balls with leather covers. Students packed tightly into the stands - eyewitness to the action unfolding on the hardwood. The cacophony of collective voices. The vicarious pleasure of watching Weequahic basketball at its best. And the glorious memories of so many unforgettable moments in the 60’s. Three state champion- ships, an undefeated season, and the number 1 team in the country. Our heroes: Pervall, Friedman, Bembry, Talley, Layton, and Lewis to name a few with Coach Fein choreographing more than a decade of hoops success. Could going to school be any better than this! Read on...

gym was in 1971. That was 40 years ago. Since then, the bas- We’ve all been waiting so long. We began to think it would ketball teams have been playing at George Washington Carver never happen. Promises were made and promises were bro- School, an elementary school on the corner of Clinton Place ken. We always seemed to be on the bottom of the new con- and Lyons Avenue. And fitting for such an occasion, the girls struction list. We wondered how a school with such a stellar launched the new arena with a victory over Bloomfield, con- basketball tradition could be overlooked so often. For too tinuing their fine play and winning ways. many years, frustration and disappointment abounded - and Weequahic’s new athletic facility, constructed in Chancellor then we saw the blueprints and the rendering … Avenue playground, facing Goldsmith Avenue in the front, So you can imagine how emotional I was at age 64 in the year connected to the high school in the back, and adjacent to Un- 2011 when I entered the new building erected in a place where termann Field, is what they call a state-of-the-art building. It we used to play knock hockey, touch football and “HORSE” has a 2000-seat basketball court large enough to host tourna- on the asphalt and where generations of kids spent their after- ments; the Indian logo at center court; two professional- school and weekend hours. Then I heard the balls bouncing in looking electronic scoreboards; a huge gymnasium that divides the new gym... into three areas for physical education classes; locker, training, and exercise rooms; offices for the Athletic Director and Phys- On Thursday, January 20th, something spectacular took place. ical Education staff; a multi-purpose room for large meetings; I didn’t know it was going to happen, so I was surprised when booths for selling tickets and food - and so much more. In the announcement came. At 4 in the afternoon the Weequahic front of the building there is a parking area and another park- girls’ basketball team would be playing Bloomfield High at ing lot across the street. the Ronald G. Stone Community Gymnasium - the high school’s new athletic complex. Soon the banners will be hung and the basketball court (seeking approval) will be named to honor the memory of The last vestiges of waiting were over. After so many years of Weequahic’s greatest basketball coach, Les Fein, and a formal anticipation, the new gym was finally open. Yes, this was a opening will take place. Can being an “alumni” be any better remarkable day. To understand the grandeur of this moment, than this! you have to know that the last home game played in the old

3 Remembering the Weequahic Dream Team

From The New York Times, June 18, 1974

Weequahic High School in 1965-66 and 1966-67 had what some observers felt DENNIS “MOE” LAYTON was the finest schoolboy basketball team ever to play in New Jersey, and quite possibly in the entire country. Each of the five starters played college ball, and Phoenix two reached the National Basketball Association. "Yes, that was quite a ballclub," College reminisced Les Fein, then Weequahic coach. "Not only were the boys excellent Moe started his players, but they were gentlemen." college basket- The players were Dennis Layton, Dana Lewis, Leroy Cobb, George Watson and ball career at Bill Mainor. Layton, a 6-foot-2-inch guard, played with Phoenix and other teams Phoenix Col- in the NBA after a brilliant college career at Southern California. Lewis, a 6-101/2 lege and was center with a fine outside touch, was the Philadelphia 76ers' first round draft one of the top choice. Mainor, a 6-3 leaper, played at Fordham, and Cobb, 6-61/2, and Watson, players in the 6-8, played at Southern Cal with Layton. school’s histo- ry. He led the Cobb died of an embolism while undergoing team to a 35-1 surgery a couple years ago. "Atragedy,"Fein record and is still the all-time leading said sadly. "Istay in touch with the others. scorer with well over 1,434 points. Layton is living in Los Angeles and is studying acting. He's had bit parts in a couple of films. Southern California Lewis bought a house in Haverstraw, N.Y., and Moe then accepted a full scholarship to played with Hartford in the Eastern League. the University of Southern California Mainor lives and works in Long Island, and where he was awarded “First Team/All Watson is living in Los Angeles." PAC Eight, TV Guide All-American, Of the five, Fein perhaps was closest to Lay- Converse All-American and Kodak All- ton. "Hewas the heart of my ball club,"Fein American honors.” He led USC to their said. "Dennis was a complete player and a dy- best record of 26-2 and to USC’s first- namic leader. He could shoot, pass, penetrate, play defense. You name it, and he ever #1 ranking while averaging 18 could do it. I can't understand how he could have gotten waived out of the N.B.A., points a game. Moe once tallied 41 and I've done something I've never done before. I've written to Red Holzman points against Arizona State while mak- (Knicks coach) asking him to give Layton a tryout. There's no doubt in my mind ing 18 field goals, a record that still Layton easily could be the Knicks' third guard." stands. He played with Paul Westphal and Weequahic teammates George Wat- Fein, now 55 years old, gave up coaching after Weequahic swept through its 1966- son and Leroy Cobb. 67 season undefeated and won the Group 4 state championship. In the winter of 1968 he went to Israel to help coach the Israeli national team in preparation for the NBA: Suns, Spurs and NY Knicks Olympics. While there, Fein also conducted clinics, gave lectures about basketball and Moe was then drafted by the Phoenix taught at the Wingate School of Physical Education for three months. Suns and made the “All-Rookie” team. In 12 years of coaching Weequahic, Fein's team won eight city titles, six Christmas After two years, he played for the NY tournaments in six tries, two Essex County championships and three state champion- Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. ships. His secret for success: "balanced offense and superlative defense." When he While with the Spurs, he teamed up returned from Israel, Fein and his wife Ceil worked on developing the NJ Weight with Hall of Famer, George “Iceman” Watchers program which they had launched a couple years earlier. At the time he said, Gervin, and was instrumental in the "I have achieved all that I could as a high school basketball coach." team winning their first two Central Division titles in 1978 and 1979. In 2006, Moe was inducted to the Pac- 10 Hall of Honor and was honored at USC’s new Galen Center where his #34 is retired. He is active in sports officiat- ing and private basketball training and was a recruiter for Fleisher & LaRusso Sports Agency placing star college ath- letes into professional basketball teams throughout the world. He is currently residing in Newark and working at his alma-mater.

4 Separating fact from fiction in Philip Roth’s latest novel Character shares name, occupa- tion with figure from Newark’s past

By Robert Wiener, NJJN

When Linda Forgosh read a review of Philip Roth’s latest novel, Nemesis, something caught her attention.

“I saw the name Bucky Cantor, and I knew it was Roth’s mode of operation to THE “REAL” PHILIP ROTH and BUCKY HARRIS take somebody from his Newark neigh- borhood and recreate a story around Every Philip Roth novel sets off a flurry Sandy Goldberg, an insurance agent in him, whether right or wrong.” of speculation about the “truth” behind Livingston who attended both Chancellor the fiction. Invariably, Roth replies by Avenue School and high school with In the novel, Roth’s protagonist is a gym carefully asserting that he writes novels, Roth and said he has read “just about teacher at the Chancellor Avenue School, not autobiography. Yet for those who all” of Roth’s books, thinks Bucky Can- Roth’s alma mater, and its playground grew up in Jewish Newark, or share other tor shares more than his nickname with director during the summer. memories with the now 77-year-old New the real-life Bucky Harris. Jersey native, the impulse to match fact Forgosh, executive director of the Jewish and fiction is hard to resist. “In the book, Roth talks about Bucky Historical Society of MetroWest, recalled being the playground director, and that a man named Bucky Harris was a For example, Bucky Cantor is not the Bucky Harris was involved all over,” gym teacher and playground director first Roth character to share a nickname said Goldberg. (Goldberg cherishes his known by hundreds of kids who grew up with a real-life person from his old New- eighth-grade autograph album, in which in the Weequahic neighborhood. ark neighborhood. “He did that with Roth wrote, “Don’t suck lollipops, suck- Swede Levov in 1997’s American Pasto- cess.” Goldberg said he “laughed at the Forgosh sent Roth - a dues-paying ral, who he did base on a real person, time” he saw the inscription. “Of member of JHS - a letter asking whether Swede Masin,” Forgosh pointed out. course, Philip wasn’t famous or infa- Bucky Cantor was based on Bucky Har- mous at the time,” he added.) ris. She enclosed a photograph of Harris, Like the real-life “Swede,” who earned football in hand, coaching three young his nickname for his blond good looks, Louis “Bucky” Harris was also a star athletes in blocking techniques. the fictional Swede is a star athlete at football and baseball player for Newark Weequahic High in the 1940s. Unlike Central High School who went on to play The author responded promptly. Masin, the Roth character faces Job-like at Seton Hall University in South Orange trials as the father of a 1960s radical who and at Upsala College in East Orange. “No, this isn’t modeled on the Bucky kills a bystander in a bomb attack. To After his graduation in 1935, Harris be- Harris who supervised the Chancellor this day, long-time residents of Short came the football coach at West Side playground and coached at Weequahic Hills claim to know the real-life identi- High School, leading his team to a New- High,” Roth wrote. “I do remember him ties of the Patimkins, the nouveau riche ark City League Championship in 1943. playing ball with us on the playground family whose daughter dates the protago- one summer. I also remember him at nist in Roth’s debut novella, Goodbye He also served as head coach for Weequahic, when I vaguely recall him Columbus. Weequahic High and later became the substitute teaching our history class. recreation director of Chancellor Avenue In Nemesis, the character called Bucky Playground. In 2007 he was inducted “I gave my twenty-three-year old Eugene Cantor is a playground director whose into the JCC MetroWest Jewish Sports Cantor the nickname ‘Bucky’ because its poor eyesight keeps him from military Hall of Fame. associations to manliness were savagely service in World War II. A guilt-ridden ironic for a boy who winds up the way Cantor wages his own battle against a Continued on next page Bucky does. His every word and action polio epidemic that is rampant in his is my invention,” Roth wrote. largely Jewish neighborhood.

See the “Heart of Stone” movie - Wed. March 9th at 7 p.m. - at the Movies of Delray in Delray Beach, Florida - Sponsored by the All People's Day Diversity Festival - Call Susan Magezis Berkowitz-Schwartz, WHS June 1961, at (561) 495-9818

5 Alumni-sponsored BLACK HISTORY MONTH event at Weequahic February 9, 2011

African Discovery Through Music

A performance by WINCEYCO Written, produced, and narrated by Wincey Terry, who once lived on Vassar Avenue

Two 50-minute shows. A series of live musical stage plays that take students on a journey - highlighting the African and African-American experience with Negro spirituals, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Hip Hop.

He is a very honest person, a very honest intellectual, and he’s ROTH continued from page 5 a novelist. He is entitled to play with the facts any which way he wants to. Only a fool would try to learn history from some- Imagining a menace thing that is so obviously a piece of fiction. He’s aiming at truth about the human condition.” Roth also takes artistic liberties with the polio epidemic at the center of Nemesis. As he has pointed out in various inter- Undeniably real is the fear of polio captured in Roth’s novel. views, there was no polio outbreak in Newark in 1944, when According to Covenant of Care, in the summer of 1916 guards the novel is set. Roth told NPR that the outbreak was were placed at quarantined homes, public libraries banned “fictionalized but plausible.” children, and the Harry Lukens Wild Animal Show was or- dered out of town. Newark declared war on houseflies - a “In a way I was imagining a menace we never encountered in detail Roth borrows for his book. all its force,” he told radio host Robert Siegel. “I wanted to imagine what it would have been like, in our neighborhood, Forgosh said she is always ready to distinguish between the had the menace struck.” Newark of history and the Newark of Roth’s art. “You can read the fictionalized accounts of the lives of Newark’s Jews in In fact, two very real outbreaks of polio struck Newark, and Roth’s books,” she said. “But you can get the facts from us.” many other places in America, in the 20th century. The first came in 1916, when 26 states reported 27,000 cases of polio, with some 6,000 of them fatal. Fewer than 2,000 Newark chil- dren contracted the infection. The primary victims were Rus- sians, Poles, and Polish Jews “in the most congested part of the city,” wrote Alan and Deborah Kraut in their book Cove- nant of Care: Newark Beth Israel and the Jewish Hospital in America. A second epidemic hit its peak in 1952, killing 3,145 of its 58,000 young victims.

“In terms of why he made up the year 1944, I haven’t got a clue, but it sounds like he needed the polio outbreak to be dur- ing World War II,” said Alan Kraut, a history professor at American University in Washington, DC. “That’s what his- torical novels do,” said Kraut, who said he was in the process of reading Nemesis. “Roth is a novelist, not a historian. Weequahic High School football coach Bucky Harris, right, coaches three varsity football players in the art of blocking in 1949 - from left, Jerry Safier, Sandy Goldberg, and Herb Akelaitis. Photo courtesy Sandy Goldberg.

6 “Obama’s Rabbi” speaks at Newark shul Our newest alumni trustee Tharien Karim Arnold for Martin Luther King, Jr. event WHS 1984 By Andrew Silow-Carroll, Editor-in-Chief of the NJ Jewish News. Tharien Franklin Karim Arnold is Jewish population migrated and then fled Assistant Direc- our decades after their deaths, Martin west from the 1950s on. Congregants, tor of Neighbor- FLuther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham nearly all of whom commute from the sub- hood Services for Joshua Heschel still symbolize the high water urbs, are driven to keep this small ember of the City of New- mark of black-Jewish relations. The civil the city’s fabled Jewish community burn- ark. He was re- rights leader and the Jewish theologian ing and to build connections between two cruited to the walked arm in arm at Selma, prayed at Ar- communities - black and Jewish - strictly City of Newark lington National Cemetery, shared a pulpit at segregated by geography and socioeco- in 2006 and has served in several man- Riverside Church. “How is it,” asked Rab- nomics. agement roles. bi Capers Funnye, “that these two men from two different worlds were drawn to- A Full House, Many Backgrounds Prior to his leadership in Public Ad- ministration, Tharien established his gether in the struggle over civil rights?” All of which made for fascinating optics: career in education. After graduating an ornate bima at which sat New- Rutgers University in 1995 with a ark’s black power brokers, including Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal City Council president Donald Justice, he served as Vice Principal of Payne Jr., former council president Marist High School in Bayonne for Mildred Crump, and veteran lawyer four years. and civil rights activist Junius Wil- Eager to return to the college environ- liams. The big crowd, meanwhile, ment, Tharien became an Academic which spilled over into the Clinton Advisor at Rutgers University in New- Memorial AME Zion Church next ark. Then he provided leadership to the door, was a mix of older white sub- Rutgers Business School where he urbanites, Ahavas Sholom’s own served as Assistant Director/Assistant diverse congregation, and black Dean of MBA Student Services for church-goers from the city. Rutgers Newark and New Brunswick campuses. Like a Baptist Minister Tharien is a Newark resident, a district leader, and a former member of the Newark’s Congregation Ahavas Sholom Funnye himself preached in the ca- Newark Public Schools Advisory marked the King holiday Jan. 16 with a dences of the black church, quoting both Heschel and King, working himself into a Board. He is also the founder of the keynote address on King and Heschel by Newark South Ward Community Col- Funnye, who has become the nation’s most sweat and allowing his voice to swing from a quiet baritone to a shout. At the climax, laborative, a former Board member of prominent African-American rabbi thanks Project Re-Direct, a member of the in part to the fact that he’s Michelle he repeated the phrase, “What would Mar- tin say?” like a mantra and listed contem- Essex County College Advisory Board, Obama’s first cousin, once removed. Business Division, and a member of porary evils like anti-Semitism, Islamic 10,000 Mentors of Newark. He has terror, Islamophobia, and the suffering in But it’s not just the Obama connection that also served five terms as President of Haiti. “We must become one people for distinguishes Funnye: He has been the the Rutgers Alumni Association. truth, for justice, for righteousness, for all most prominent leader in building a bridge people,” he said, before reciting the Priest- Tharien served our country for four between his Hebrew Israelite movement ly Blessing in Hebrew and English. years in the United States Army attain- and Judaism’s white mainstream. He’s a ing the rank of Sergeant. He is current- member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis ly enrolled in a Joint MA/PhD program Blacks in the audience responded with and at one point underwent a halachic con- in Urban Systems at Rutgers University “Yes,” and “Amen,” and emphatic “Uh- version by Conservative rabbis to allay in Newark. mainstream Jewish suspicions of his move- huhs.” The Jews applauded heartily. The ment. folks sitting behind me, themselves black He is a recipient of the Greater Newark Jews, recited the Hebrew along with Rabbi Conservancy 2008 Nelson Mandella Freedom Gardening Award, and Grace Newark’s Last Active Synagoue Funnye. Black and Hispanic kids from the Robert Treat Academy Chorus sang “Hinei Reformed Baptist Church ‘s 2007 Ris- Sunday’s event stood at the juncture be- Ma Tov Umanayim” and a contemporary ing Star Award. tween the two worlds he spoke of. Ahavas song about King. Tharien is married to Tracy, a Central Sholom is among Newark’s two or three High grad, and they have two children, functioning synagogues - the only one still Taraja, 13, and Amir, 9. They both Continued on next page operating in its original building - after its attend the Pingry School.

7 Obama’s Rabbi continued from page 7

It was moving stuff, and worlds removed from the typical sermon in the typical synagogue. Blacks and Jews mixed in a way you’ll see at no other house of worship or - well, almost anywhere, actually. Just like the Ahavas Sholom project itself, it was beautiful and Martin Edelston, WHS 1946 a little sad, highlighting the absence of the very thing it sought to celebrate. Boardroom Inc. founder, teams with A more diverse Jewish community Rutgers Business School for a new course: Yes, the Jewish community is becoming more diverse, Love and Money: Valuable Lessons For Life thanks to conversion, adoptions, and mixed marriages, among other things. Funnye himself is a principal at the Institute for Jewish and Community Research in n 2010, Martin Edelston, San Francisco, which promotes racial and ethnic di- founder and chair of Board- versity within Jewish life. A number of Jews remain I room Inc., publisher of Ameri- deeply invested in Newark’s schools, colleges, poli- ca's largest consumer newsletter, tics, and community organizing. Bottom Line/Personal, teamed Lively discussion panel with Rutgers Business School to create a new undergraduate But no one denied the deep divide between city and course, Love and Money: Valua- suburb. In the panel discussion that followed ble Lessons for Life. Funnye’s remarks, Cornell Brooks of the NJ Institute reer and financial goals, and to for Social Justice noted that ours is among the most “My business is all about telling provide them with tools to better segregated states in the country. He spoke of the so- people what they need to know navigate challenges that they cial costs when people “don’t live near one another, to lead better lives,” says Edel- will face in life." don’t shop at the same grocery stores, or send their ston, a Rutgers alumnus. “The kids to the same schools.” Absent these interactions, idea was to give that same ad- The first 18 sessions of "Love and he said, “opportunities for ethical and moral dialogue vice to college students.” Money"will focus on such topics are diminished.” as financial planning, investment Rutgers historian Clement Price also spoke about the Convinced that college students strategies, budgeting, managing “racially Balkanized” state, and “the policies intended could benefit tremendously from credit cards and debt, and mak- to separate us. We’re paying dearly for that now.” such real-life lessons, Edelston ing major purchases. The subse- Sunday wasn’t a day for discussing political solutions, and his executives at Boardroom quent 10 sessions will examine but Price did speak of one way blacks and Jews can set out to underwrite a business the key ingredients for a ful- reach across the chasm. course unlike any other. filling life, such as choosing a rewarding career, personal fi- Keeping out memories alive Designed by economist Susan nance, successful negotiation “We need to keep our memories alive. Earlier Donald Feinberg, Associate Professor of and communication, achieving Payne spoke about swimming in a Jewish space Management and Global Busi- work-life balance, setting life (referring to the pool at Newark’s High Street YMHA)” ness at RBS, the course will goals, cultivating healthy rela- said Price. “We need to remember a time when this teach students important person- tionships, and preparing for and city was cross-fertilized in its public schools, when its al-finance and life-management managing major life changes. communities were remarkably safe and sound.” He skills through scholarly readings, remembered Newark as a “strivers’ row, where every- in-class exercises, and presenta- "As a native of Newark, I know as body was trying to move up.” He proposed the appoint- tions by distinguished guest much as anyone how valuable a ment of a deputy mayor of memory, who would be in speakers. course like this can be going into charge of recalling this “cacophony of people” and the real world from college. The fighting the “amnesia.” "Literally everyone I talk to who goal of my company's newslet- has heard about 'Love and Mon- ters is to help our readers make Funnye picked up on this theme. A one-man black- ey' tells me, 'I wish I'd taken a better sense of a complex world. Jewish coalition, an odd-man-out in both of the commu- nities in which he has chosen to live, he suggested what it class like that in college,'"Fein- It has always been my dream to would take to bridge those gaps, and keep King’s, and berg said. "We feel that it's im- bring the same kind of useful Heschel’s, dreams alive. “Until more of us are interested portant to not only educate stu- and practical advice to college in having more hurtful conversations” about race, he dents for their careers, but also students. said, “we are going to continue to speak past each other to empower them to make strate- in our own private groups.” gic decisions that will help them Continued on page 11 manage their own personal ca-

8 NEWARK NEWS array at its Fairfield, Calif. brewery, the company claims it is one of the largest users of solar power in the U.S. brewing industry. Anheuser-Busch entered into an agree- ment with Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) to host the solar power plant at the Newark brewery. PSE&G will offer renewable energy cer- tificates (RECs) to businesses or individ- Mayor Booker and Governor Christie uals to help offset their use of fossil fuel energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Museum,” the first exhibit in the muse- at the Prudential Center in Newark um’s new gallery dedicated exclusively to The Newark brewery also uses a Bio- NCAA hoops in Newark jewelry. The Lore Ross Jewelry Gallery Energy Recovery System (or BERS), is on the second floor of the Ballantine By Sara Portlock, Star-Ledger which has been in place for more than 15 House. years. The system turns the nutrients in State and Newark officials believe host- wastewater into biogas that provides up Many of the pieces on display are there in ing the NCAA East Regional men’s bas- to 15 percent of the fuel needed to power tribute to Newark’s often forgotten role ketball tournament at the Prudential Cen- the facility’s boilers. Currently, 10 of as a jewelry-making capital. The ter in March could be the biggest promo- Anheuser-Busch’s 12 U.S. breweries use Shanleys started their company here in tional pitch ever for the city, and they BERS technology to help fuel their oper- 1918, just when the jewelry industry be- hope what the world sees of Newark will ations. gan to boom in Newark. By the time of lead to future large-scale events. the stock market crash of 1929, Newark was home to 144 jewelry manufacturers. The city is planning for as many as City fathers boasted that 90 percent of all 50,000 visitors to Newark if big schools solid-gold jewelry made in the United make it to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games States came out of Newark factories, ac- on March 25, and 27, event organizers cording to the book produced by the mu- announced at a news conference yester- seum to accompany the exhibit. day detailing the city’s efforts at promot- ing itself and the economic benefits of Some of the 60 pieces featured in “The hosting the tournament. Which teams Glitter and the Gold” were manufactured play in Newark will be decided at other in Newark. Others were worn by notable playoff sites on March 19 and 20, and the New Jersey women, or represent pieces winner in Newark will advance to the Newark's past as jewelry- that raise fashion accessories to the level Final Four games in Houston. of art. Then again, “Jewelry is art by making center in exhibit definition,” according to Richard Kre- Revenue from ticket sales, hotels, restau- mentz, the president of Richard Krementz By Anthony Venutolo, Star-Ledger rants and travel could reach into the mil- Gemstones, the last jewelry-making firm lions of dollars, although the actual figure In a case at the Newark Museum’s Bal- left in Newark (moved to Springfield is "hard to calculate,"said Newark Mayor lantine House, a large diamond brooch three years ago, but maintains offices in Cory Booker. But the attention the tour- glitters. It’s beautiful all by itself, but it’s Newark). nament will bring to Newark - and poten- on display in the mansion-turned- tial for future opportunities - is as valua- museum for what it represents, as well as WHS 4th Multi-Reunion ble as any money that comes in. what it looks like. The diamond-studded piece, designed by Theodore B. Starr, Party, 60s - 80s Beer & Solar: an belonged to Julia Shanley - of the electrifying concept Newark Shanleys, founders of the Shan- Saturday, September 17th ley Jewelry Company, contributors to the 7 p.m at Newark Symphony Anheuser-Busch has installed a solar ar- building of the Pennsylvania Railroad and ray on the roof of its Newark brewery Hall’s Terrace Ballroom the namesake of Shanley Avenue. that will generate more than 523,000 kw Music will be by DJ Ross Entertain- hours of electricity annually. The array, “I’m interested in jewelry for the story it ment with Southern hospitality cui- consisting of more than 3,000 solar pan- tells,” said Ulysses Grant Dietz, the cura- sine. Donation is $40.00 els, covers 65,000 square feet, and at tor of decorative design at the museum, peak production will supply nearly five who selected the brooch and the other Contact Adilah Quddus, WHS 1971 percent of the brewery’s electricity de- pieces on display in “The Glitter and the at (973) 242-2346 mand. When combined with its solar Gold: Jewelry From the Newark 9 Weequahic 37, Shabazz 24 Turkey Day at Untermann Field By Mike Kinney, The Star-Ledger Taj Smith, WHS 2001 Altarik White hoped to keep his resignation a The journey from Weequahic surprise until after the season so that his to the Indianapolis Colts Weequahic team would not lose focus for its holiday tussle with Shabazz. What the spirited By Conor Orr, The Star-Ledger head coach failed to realize was that the surprise was the focus. For six months, Fueled by that information - which became ap- Taj Smith’s niece, parent to the players as the game progressed - Zayonna, had been and the brilliant running of senior Trevon Ellis, talking about the Weequahic rallied with three fourth-quarter iCarly doll. The touchdowns to a 37-24 victory before 4,000 at one from the tele- the Soul Bowl yesterday at Untermann Field in vision show on Newark. Nickelodeon, she Ellis rushed 27 times for a career-high 267 reminded him re- yards and scored twice in the decisive fourth peatedly in phone quarter to help Weequahic rally from a 24-15 deficit and close to within 15-11- call after phone 2 in this series, revived last year after a 16-year hiatus. And it also sent an call. emotional White out a winner after nine seasons on Chancellor Avenue. ``When we found out, we told him we were gonna give him a good game, send Smith wasn’t both- him out the right way,’’ Ellis said. ``Coach White is like a father to me. This ered at all by the means a lot.’’ endearing nagging of a 6-year-old, one of four nieces and nephews White wanted badly to keep the announcement a secret to avoid distractions. who have come to rely on Smith as a father He didn’t know that, equipped with this knowledge, his Weequahic club would figure after two of Smith’s brothers were killed uniformly demonstrate the same passion and iron-will White had always shown in the past six years. Whenever he returns as a star at Shabazz and William Paterson College and throughout his coaching home, just off Vassar Avenue in Newark, he tenure. makes sure to spend as much time as he can ``Halfway through the first quarter I started hearing rumblings on the sideline. with them. He takes them out to eat and to see I said, oh, no, guys, just focus on the game,’’ White said. ``When we got in at movies. halftime, they knew. I swear I saw it in their eyes, those boys were not going to quit.’’ But it wasn’t until December that the 27-year- Ellis launched the comeback with a 2-yard run that pulled Weequahic to within old Smith had finally ended up where he want- 24-23 with 2:23 gone in the fourth quarter. That was the third play following a ed to be - on the active roster of an NFL team, a blocked punt by Tyrone Mans that landed at the Shabazz 21. full-fledged member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Weequahic’s inspired defense set Zayonna was going to get that doll. up the go-ahead TD as well, a five-play, 26-yard move capped “It’s good, because ... I can do it now,” Smith by William Robinson’s 1-yard said of embracing his role as a family patriarch. carry and Duha Amin’s conver- “I’m always playing big uncle, and when they sion run for a 31-24 edge with ask me for something, I always try and be 7:13 to go. Raheem Hudson forced a fumble on a sack and there.” Andre Darby recovered for Weequahic. ``We got in the hud- Growing up in the Prince Street projects, Smith dle to start the second half and endured a hardscrabble path to the NFL. A said tighten up and just play multi-sport standout at Weequahic High football,’’ two-way lineman School, it seemed like Smith was destined for Gregory Corker said. ``I wanted this place long before now. us to express character. Charac- ter is what you do when nobody’s Continued on page 11 looking.’’

Continued on page on page 11

10 Class of June 1960 - 50th Reunion The Alumni Association and the students of Weequahic High School thank the Class of June 1960 for their donation of $1,800 from their reunion to establish an ongoing scholarship fund in their name. Reunion Committee on right: Harold Klein, Lois Blumenfeld Gilbert, Alan Halperin, and Miriam Span Nusbaum

it impossible for him to devote sufficient After so many chances, his faith didn’t wa- Edelston continued from page 8 time to the squad.``Coach White has done ver. He left Weequahic and spent two sea- great things for us and we know how bad he sons at Bakersfield Community College This partnership with RBS - one of Amer- wanted to win this game,’’ Robinson said. before moving on to Syracuse University. ica's premier business schools - is making ``We should have had a better season, but a He went undrafted in 2008, but latched on my dream possible." lot of things went wrong. We wanted to with the Packers that summer - only to be make sure we had a good day today.’’ cut when Green Bay set its final 53-man Marty Edelston founded his company, roster. Weequahic won its final two games to fin- Boardroom Inc., to solve a problem that ish 4-6, and did so with Ellis following the had been irking him for years: when it His agent, Wes Bridges, remembers a trip blocks of Corker, Hudson, Jaleel Johnson, the two took to Yankee Stadium together came to some of the most pressing life Nasir Lovejoy and Michael Watson. ``I about a month later. Bridges knew his cli- questions, it was often difficult to find told my linemen if they do their best, I’m ent could sense his anxiety. When the two clear, concise, authoritative answers. gonna give my best,’’ Ellis said. ``At reached the subway and said goodbye, halftime I said we can’t go out with a loss. Smith looked over at Bridges and told him Today, Boardroom publishes America's We’re gonna get on our horses and play not to worry. “God’s going to take care of tough football.’’ largest consumer newsletter, Bottom everything,” Bridges recalled Smith saying. Line/Personal, which has a monthly read- Shabazz grabbed its halftime lead behind By the time Bridges reached New York’s ership of well over 1 million. It offers no the aerial combination of junior quarterback Penn Station, he had a message from the -nonsense, expert advice on things like D.J. Williams and senior wideout Khalof Colts. “I called (Taj) back, and he was like, shopping for a mortgage, planning for Shareff. They hooked up on scoring plays ‘I told you,’ ” Bridges said. retirement, tips for a long-lasting mar- of 47 and 85 yards and teammate Devonte riage, and foods that can help keep sea- Artis scored on an 11-yard run. Fast forward two years, to Sunday, Dec. 6, sonal allergies at bay. 2010. Just a week after being re-signed by Weequahic put together long possessions in the Colts - they had cut him earlier in the that opening half behind the hard-running Football cont. from page 10 season - coach Jim Caldwell tossed him into Ellis, but penalties compromised its move- the mix on special teams against the Cow- Few were looking when White took over ment. ``We had three drives inside the 10, boys. With his team trailing in the fourth, the program in 2002. The team had won but we stalled because of a couple bad 27-21, and Dallas punting deep in their own more than three games only four times in breaks and too many penalties,’’ White territory, Smith whizzed off the left side and the previous 20 years and was mostly play- said. ``There was no doubt in my mind we blocked the kick. He chased the batted ball ing before scarce crowds at Untermann. could move the ball on them.’’ as it jumped from the 10-yard line down to The attitude changed quickly and profound- the 5. He eventually fell on it in the end ly. Weequahic won its only NJSIAA sec- Taj Smith cont.from page 10 zone. tional title in 2006 and White was honored that year as Star-Ledger Coach of the Year. Only after nearly seven years of detours did Smith estimated he’s received 500 or so One of the stars from that squad, current he find a niche with the Colts. With its messages since then, on Facebook, Twitter Temple linebacker Amara Kamara, was one receiving corps decimated by injuries, Indi- and his cell phone. There were too many to of many former players on hand yesterday. anapolis plucked him out of New Jersey a respond. Mostly because there were more ``The guys came out in the second half and little more than a month ago. And after important things at hand. Christmas was did just a wonderful job. I couldn’t be watching their Super Bowl run on television coming and Zayonna needed her doll. His prouder,’’ White said. ``I’ve enjoyed my last year, Smith will be active for the AFC goddaughter, Akyla, wanted “some sort of time as head coach here and now I’m really wild-card playoff game this Saturday. ball” he needed to find on top of that. going to enjoy this.’’ “I’m just excited for him because we’ve “I’m going to send it out this weekend,” Availability became an issue for White been through a lot,” Smith’s mother, Ber- Smith said of Zayonna’s doll, smiling. when he accepted a vice-principal position nadine, said in a telephone interview. “For me, nothing else matters but them.” at Shabazz several months ago. He also is “There’s just a lot that’s gone on in our in the process of beginning a charter school family and for Taj to be where he’s at right in Newark. He said those obligations made now, that’s just heart and desire.”

11 REUNIONS / GATHERINGS David James-White WHS 2006 in NEW JERSEY Alumni Scholarship Awardee Between Reunions, Class of January 1958 Gambols and Gambles at Big M Graduates from College By Gerry Beatty

Five years is too long to wait, especially for senior citizens. Mem- bers of the Class of January, 1958 have made camaraderie a rou- tine between reunions, enjoying dinners and even cruises. After a wildly successful and emotional 50th reunion Down the Shore 2 1/2 years ago, what was next? How about a party cele- brating all our 70th birthdays? Next question: another cruise, or dinner, or trip? Then someone hit the jackpot: a night at the Meadowlands Race Track. So it was that 29 people (including spouses and partners) gathered November 6 in a private room in Terraces Suites West, right above the finish line, to meet, greet, eat and spend a few dollars picking pacers. Attendance at The Big M is poor this season, but for one evening, our class helped alleviate the state’s budget crisis and the racing industry’s woes. Class members from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania showed up. Eric Alpert drove up from Georgia. Three attendees who missed the last reunion, or all our events, made a point of reconnecting. The outing was organized by the class’ longstanding reunion com- mittee, led by Sue Schilling Grand and Don Kalfus. Within a A 2006 graduate of Weequahic High School and an week, the word went out to “start putting your thinking cap on!” Alumni Association scholarship recipient, David for the 55th reunion. James-White graduated from the University of Predictably, the results of the wagering were variable. Several Maryland, Eastern Shore this past December - the same people walked away in the black. For the ninth race, most of the month that he became 22 years of age - with a degree group chipped in a buck apiece to bet on Hay Goodlooking, an 8-1 in Business Administration. shot (the name sounded nice). But as Kalfus noted, “by the end of He also made the front page of the Daily Times in an the race the horse was not looking good.” interview about his college experience. He hopes to be For hunch players, the best Weequahic name of the night was De- able to continue his education and receive a graduate lightful Syd. But that hot dog in the third race performed like our degree in Business Management. football team when we were in school. She finished dead last. Born in the South Ward of Newark at Beth Israel Hospital to Johnnie Mae James in December 1988, David is the older of two children. As a youth, he attended Urban League Essex County Day Care, George Washington Carver Elementary School, and Chancellor Avenue Elementary School. David is a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church located on Chancellor Avenue in Irvington, where he is a part of the daily activities and groups. He is much appreciative of the doors that the alumni association has opened for him by providing him with a scholarship and is proud to be featured in the alumni newsletter.

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12 Despite the wide difference in ages, the common bonds of grad- in ARIZONA - by Gil Lustig, Jan. 1960 uating from WHS, growing up in the Weequahic neighborhood, and recalling the Newark of their of their youth, encouraged the I would like to report on the AZ reunion held on January 16th in participants to share their memories and experiences. Some North Scottsdale. Ninety-seven people attended a luncheon discovered fellow classmates they had never known in school. held at the Jade Palace Chinese Those in attendance, by class, were: Bernie Rolston '38, Mar- Restaurant. The tin Block, '42; Bea Block, '43; Irv Sternberg, '47; Sandra weather was Levitt, '48; Elinor Miller Greenberg, '48; Inez Kasen Curiel absolutely beau- and Ralph Rothstein, '54; Carol Miller, '56; Perry Koonce tiful, in the low and Evelyn Wolf, '58; Bruce Kasen, 63; Arnold Kaplan, 70s under a Carol Kaye and Lisa Zimet, '64; and Jonathan Keller, '65. clear blue sky. The event committee consisted of Ellie Greenberg, Carol Over the en- Miller, and Irv Sternberg. trance to the outdoor patio Harvey Belfer, Luisa Unger, Gil Lustig hung the Weequahic High School Banner, which was borrowed from the Alumni Associa- tion, thanks to Phil Yourish.

As people arrived and entered the restaurant, they were greeted by this familiar banner which immediately made them feel like they were coming home again. Alumni from many different graduation years gathered to talk about Newark, NJ, the neigh- L-R: Bernie, Lisa, Irv, and Inez borhood, Weequahic High School, and the many connections between people that they knew. It was a melting pot of in FLORIDA - by Roni Slate Lewin, June 1960 strangers who shared the same heritage and history and which enabled them to mix and mingle easily and comfortably. It was There is an old saying that you cannot go home again, but in like a family reunion. December in Boca Raton and again in January in Boynton Some alumni drove two hours from Tucson to attend, and one Beach, eleven Weequahic girls proved that wrong. Sara Fried- came from Sedona, which is 115 miles away. There were also man Fishkin, Harriet Fein Waldman, Roni Slate Lewin, people from out of state who were visiting in Scottsdale and Adrienne Drucks Aberbach, Marcia Shindelman Trechak, wanted to attend. The highlight of the day was when Judith Ann Rosenblatt Patashnik, Vivian Confield Rausch, Bette Churgin, a history teacher at Weequahic in the 1950s, reunited Krupenin Kolodney, Lois Siegel Sandler, Judy Shara Shus- with her former student, Larry Pass, who graduated in 1954. ter, all from the class of June, 1960 and Judy Epstein Roth- Everyone had such a great time that many were asking when the bard, June 1958, gathered for lunch and a wonderful afternoon next one will be. of memories. Weequahic Alumni are a unique group of people. Notwith- Although most of us had not seen each other since graduating, standing the year we graduated, we tend to flock together with we re-connected last October at our 50th reunion promising to other alumni no matter what part of the country we live in. We get together again this winter. And so, this sisterhood of grew up in a fantastic neighborhood. We had the best education Weequahic girls came to be. We have decided to meet every with the most dedicated teachers that resulted in many of us month and no, we are not getting club jackets. We are wives, becoming very successful in our adult lives. I guess, as we get mothers and grandmothers. Yet, for one afternoon every four older, we need these reunions to remind us of our youth, who weeks we again became the teenagers we were, laughing and we are, and where we came from. We should be proud to be reminiscing about life as we knew it at a very unique high called Weequahic Indians. school. Weequahic is our common bond. It is hard to believe that it was half a century ago when we were classmates; and yes, you can go home again. in COLORADO - by Carol Miller, 1956 A six month effort to identify some 50 WHS graduates living in Colorado culminated in a first-ever gathering in Denver on Oc- tober 16th, attended by 16 grads and six guests representing four decades - including a 1938 grad living in California who flew in to join the gathering. The event was held at the New York Deli News, Denver's iconic deli, where attendees enjoyed corned beef or pastrami on Jewish rye, sour pickles, chopped liver and kishka and Dr. Brown sodas, among other traditional fare. L-R: (seated in front) Vivian, Adrienne, and Roni (standing) Harriet, Marcia, Ann and Sara 13 In 1944 - Front: Howie Winard (6), Francine We had lunch together at our home and Kahan (5), Aunt Harriet Winard holding then Uncle Lou took the kids..my sister, POLIO, 1945 Howie Sommers (2) - Back: Ronnie Winard (2) on friend’s shoulders the two boys, and me to Irvington Park Marcia Kahan Rosenthal, Jan. 1952 to play ball and enjoy the playground area. (My Aunt Harriet stayed behind I recently read Philip Roth’s latest nov- with my folks. At 37, she was entering el, “Nemesis,” about a polio epidemic her ninth month of pregnancy, expecting in Newark in 1944, and, as his books do, their third child). We returned from the this one, too, brought back some very park later in the day and the Winard stirring memories of growing up in family went home. Newark. His wonderfully descriptive It was the very next day that we were writing continues to keep my childhood told the shocking news that little Howie and adolescence alive for me, particular- Sommers was diagnosed with polio. ly the Weequahic section I knew until I We barely had time to try to take in was 18, when I moved to California. those terrible tidings when we found out I would have certainly forgotten by that Ronnie Winard was now exhibiting now, 58 years later, much about that symptoms. time and place and I am eternally grate- Within a day or so, following the confir- ful to Philip Roth, who, with his beauti- mation that he, too, had polio, his older ful words, has so vividly and brilliantly brother, Howie Winard, was diagnosed (and repeatedly...since “Goodbye Co- with it, as well. In a matter of several lumbus” in 1959), painted the landscape In addition to our Schley St. relatives, days, my three young cousins were all at of that little bit of heaven (and haven) we had other members of our family Beth Israel Hospital and were critically that was Newark in the 30’s 40’s and living in the area and we enjoyed a very ill. Howie Sommers, just 3 years old, close relationship with them. Two of 50’s. was partially paralyzed and in an iron my father’s sisters and their families “Nemesis,” however, also brought back lung. were within a few blocks of us. Harriet another memory...a painful and terrible and Lou Winard and their sons, Howie And....on October 21, 1945, exactly a memory of a tragedy that happened to and Ronnie, lived on Summit Avenue. week to the day since he had been at our our family in 1945, the details of which Lee and Harry Sommers and their two home and we had gone to the park to- I had buried deep within me for so many children, Howard and Susan, lived on gether, Ronnie Winard, 3 years old, died years. Wainwright Street, directly behind our of the polio virus. Four days later, on In May of 1945, a month before my home on Schley Street. October 25, his brother, Howie, age 7, 11th birthday, my parents, Rose and passed away. The two little ones had That spring of my move to the Weequa- Fred Kahan, little sister Frannie, and I, attended a neighborhood nursery school hic neighborhood soon gave way to moved to 234 Schley Street from 42 where, it is believed, they were exposed summer with its attendant fears of polio. Tillinghast Street. I do remember being to the deadly virus. However, though the usual vacation excited about moving to the Weequahic activities of swimming, going to the Miraculously, because he had been the section of Newark into the second floor movies (or wherever there might be sickest of the three children, Howie of the two-family house on Schley crowds) were curtailed, we managed to Sommers survived and flourished. He Street, which my paternal grandparents have some fun and got through that underwent years of painful therapy, re- had recently vacated when they moved summer unscathed. covered completely and now, 65 years to Florida. later, though he has post-polio syn- When the new school year started in Our home was above that of my aunt, drome, he continues to live a full and September,1945, my cousin Howie uncle and two cousins, Howard (11) and active life. Aunt Harriet and Uncle Lou Winard, who was almost 7, entered 2nd Sheldon “Butsy”(9) Kahan. My uncle, suffered the most tragic loss imagina- grade at Chancellor. His brother, Ron- Herman Kahan, my father’s brother, ble...within a few days, two beautiful, nie Winard, who was 3, and our cousin, was the rabbi at Schley Street Shul healthy, adorable boys were taken from Howard Sommers, also 3, were enrolled which was directly across the street them. in a nursery school, which my aunts from our new home (and where Philip were going to try out. For weeks we were all in shock, agoniz- Roth attended Hebrew School..as did I). ing over this tragedy that had befallen For several weeks all went well. Fall I entered Chancellor Avenue School in our family. We prayed for Howie Som- had arrived, the air seemed purified after the sixth grade (with only one month mers and we feared for the emotional those hot summer months and one Sun- left of the term) and soon made a few and physical health of our aunt and un- day, in mid October, the Winard fami- wonderful and, what turned out to be, cle and spent much of our time consol- ly... Uncle Lou, Aunt Harriet and the life-long friends, in spite of the 3,000 ing them as best we could. How would children came to spend the day with us. miles that, since 1952, have kept us they go on? separated. Continued on next page

14 POLIO continued from page 14 The family feared, too, since our cous- Waldo Winchester ins had been in our home just two days before they were diagnosed, that we, This popular column first appeared my parents, sister and I, surely had been in the CALUMET in 1950 exposed to the virus. At one point, soon after the first little cousin died, I devel- oped a sore throat and fever. I soon recovered, and we tried not to make Former NJ Governor Jon Corzine marries ourselves sick with worry...at least until the next summer’s epidemic would be 1963 Weequahic grad, Sharon Levine Elghanayan upon us. And so it went....summer after summer  Former Gov. Jon Corzine and longtime companion we lived in a state of anxiety, rarely Sharon Levine Elghanayan tied the knot in a leaving the house, never mingling with cozy pre-Thanksgiving ceremony at Corzine's Hobo- large groups of people. ken penthouse. They and their families then left on a Turkey Day vacation to parts unannounced. Ten years later, in April of 1955, the Salk polio vaccine, which would almost "This is an unbelievably happy day for me, Sharon, eradicate the dreaded disease in the and our family,"Corzine told The Star-Ledger in a United States, was introduced. It was prepared statement. "When you get to share this kind too late for my cousins and others who of joy with your kids and grandkids, you know that succumbed to it during the first 50 years you've been truly blessed. We are grateful for the of the twentieth century, but a miracle... many well-wishes we've received, and we wish everyone a happy and peaceful a blessing had taken place for all future Thanksgiving holiday." generations who would never again have to fear being afflicted by this hor- Corzine was married once before and has three grown children. This is the third mar- riage for Elghanayan, who has two grown children. rible scourge. Life did go on for my Aunt Harriet and  Norbert Gaelen, 1944, (formerly Goldstein) and his wife Audrey Laffer Gaelen Uncle Lou, as life must. A new baby celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary on August 20th with their son Marc & son was born a month later and, in daughter Meryl along with their children. Norbert graduated Penn State in 1947 and 1948, Aunt Harriet gave birth to a went to work in the family business, O.Berk Company, currently celebrating it's 100th daughter. They lived to see a lovely anniversary. The company, a distributor of rigid packaging containers, is in it's 4th granddaughter grow to young generation of family ownership and management. adulthood. Uncle Lou passed away at 95 years old, Weequahic Sweethearts never having missed a week, in over 50 years, visiting the graves of his two Channon and Juliette Green went to Peshine Ave- beautiful sons. Aunt Harriet died, in nue School, Weequahic High School, and Howard Univer- 2008, a few days after her 100th sity together. They graduated WHS in 1972 and 1973 re- birthday. spectively. Two years later they were married and soon will be celebrating their 36th anniversary. At Weequahic, Channon was a fencing star, played in the marching band and was drum captain in his senior year. Juliette played clarinet in the band and was the band secre- tary. In college, Channon majored in Physical Education and Juliette in Early Childhood, They reside in Largo, Maryland where Channon works as the district manager for McKee Foods (Little Debbie) and Juliette is a substitute teacher. For the past 20 years, Chan- non has served as the Asst. Director for the Boys and Girls Club basketball program and Juliette has served as cheer- leader coach and Brownie leader. Uncle Lou Winard (90), Marcia, and They have a son, Channon, Jr. a daughter, Chante, a daugh- Aunt Harriet Winard (85) in 1993 ter-in-law, Ishia, and a 3-year old granddaughter, Shannah.

15 ALUMNI VOICES Please know that your commitment to the students and former alumni is quite WEEQIAHIC impressive. Thanks for everything. Ted Slate, 1953 ALUMNI ON Just wanted you to know how much I Gary Prager, 1961 enjoyed reading the Fall 2010 issue of I've been observing for the past few the Alumni Calumet. I especially related years the stereotype that has been built to two of the articles in that I pitched my around Newark. Contrary to popular best game at City Stadium, beating Bar- belief, there are worthwhile activities ringer, 9-0, and I lived just three miles being performed by many former resi- from Mars, Inc. dents and WHS alums. Most suburban- ites come to Newark only to attend The Weequahic High The Weequahic Writers section was of School Alumni Association great interest. One comment: very often, NJPAC, go to the airport or to the Rock the title of a book will raise potential for an event. Well, much is being now has a FACEBOOK missed, changes are being made readers' interests because it may be pro- PAGE (a gift from Lew Kam- vocative while not revealing the book's Representing the North Jersey Section of pel and the Class of June contents. the American Institute of Chemical En- 1960 who created it and This was not the case with "Fart Without gineers, Ed Bergen and I, former scouts, Fear,"a book which I will gladly acquire are involved in bi monthly activities of have transferred it to us). and place next to my other flatulant Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts at The Beth- any Baptist Church and The Pilgrim opus, Kathleen Meyers' "How to Shit In All of our alumni from the Woods." I am now trying to decide if Baptist Church in Newark. these two how-to books represent the This includes merit badge implementa- 1933 to the present time beginning of a new theme in my book tion for scouts and belt loop mastery for are welcome to join us at collecting. cubs. Scouting values is also a high pri- this site. Invite others to ority element of the program. However, Larry Geller, June 1960 mastery of chess skills, mathematics, join. Keep in touch with science fundamentals and reading are friends and classmates, The Philip Roth Tour of Newark was a activities which are also emphasized. stroke of genius and I cannot thank you post photos, videos and list and the tour guide enough for what be- The satisfaction of helping kids master events. Create ongoing came the most memorable and fascinat- chess fundamentals or learning how to conversations with other ing part of my 50th high school reunion. use a slide rule is truly gratifying. The same feeling is exhibited when cubs as- alumni. Share your grow- When the bus driver detoured to take a semble crystal and transistor radios and pass by my grammar school (Maple), he ing-up experiences and upon completion have something they also drove past my former family home- have assembled themselves and can keep your life after high stead at 394 Clinton Place (both coming as their own. and going). Naturally, not being the school. Become a regu- quiet, shy or retiring type, I became quite So if there are Weequahic Alums who lar visitor. ENJOY! vocal while alerting the entire busload of are former scouts, why not give this a passengers of its significance. try? E-mail Gary at [email protected].

16 IN LOVING MEMORY Deborah chapter of West Orange, B’nai B’rith Women of West Orange, and the Founder of Cohen’s Knishes Sara Slifer Organization. “The most important memory that one would re- - a Weequahic landmark member about Pearl was that she was truly a very giving and loving person Pearl Cohen Kasoff who always wanted to better any situa- tion,” Grossman said. By Lori Silberman Brauner, NJJN

Pearl Cohen Kasoff, a former Newark Elsie Selikof, 1936 resident who launched a kosher frozen Elsie Selikoff, beloved mother, sister, hors d’oeuvres empire, died at age 101 grandmother, and great-grandmother in June 2010. her own recipes, granddaughter Gail passed away at home on Jan. 15, 2011. Cohen Kasoff, who started her business Grossman told NJ Jewish News. “It with a single storefront on Newark’s Originally from Newark and West Or- was because of her dedication, perse- ange, Elsie lived in Long Branch for the Hawthorne Avenue, died in West Or- verance, and spirit that her company ange, where she resided. past 40 years. She was the owner of became a nationwide name and she a Herculite Mason Supply Company in Born as Pearl Fishman in Seattle in national icon,” she said. “She allowed Hillside and Wall Township and a 1908, she lived in Newark and Elizabeth people to have faith in her,” said Barba- foundering member of B’nai Shalom of before moving to West Orange in 2003. ra Cohen. “Whoever had contact with West Orange. her knew that she was an honest wom- Kasoff, the founder and owner of Co- an.” Elsie is survived by her son, Mark and hen’s Famous Knishes in Newark, his wife Barbara; daughter, Judy Mayer Cohen, who worked as a waitress at the opened the first U.S. government- and her husband, Robert Levine; broth- family’s Irvington restaurant, also re- inspected plant for kosher frozen foods, er, David Steiner and wife Sylvia; and called her mother-in-law hand-rolling and expanded her store to other loca- sister, Gertrude Nudel. She is also sur- knishes into her 50s and riding on the tions, including Irvington, Livingston, vived by nine grandchildren and nine back of a motorcycle in her 70s. and West Orange. According to the great-grandchildren. Lakewood-based Cuisine Innovations, Another of Cohen Kasoff’s nine grand- which now manufactures frozen food children, Cindy Cohen Zolchonock, Other Passings: products sold under the Cohen’s label, noted that her grandmother foresaw the by 1983 Cohen’s Famous was a major importance of the company’s obtaining Ruth Barron, June 1941 food company with distribution in su- kosher status. “It was all gut instinct,” permarkets around the country. said Cindy, whose father, Sidney Cohen, Jon Eric Bauman, June 1958 The brand was sold in 1997 and the res- worked with his mother for over 45 Franklin Chenitz, Jan. 1940 taurants were closed long before that years. “How pioneering she was in the Mickey Coppick, June 1969 after the family’s focus shifted to na- day.” Ruth Dorman, 1947 tional distribution. “They concentrated “My grandmother had a phenomenal Harriet Hirsh Eisenberg, June 1940 on the frozen food aspect” and manufac- life,” she added. “Not many women Martin Freedman turing, said daughter-in-law Barbara could have a resume even close to her.” Cohen, who also credits Pearl with pa- Seymour Grossman, June 1942 tenting the potato dog, a hot dog deep “She never took ‘no’ for an answer,” Bernice Kamm, 1936 Grossman said of her fried in a potato Eileen Oxman Kobitz, June 1952 knish skin. grandmother. “She should be an inspira- Roy Lebovitz, Jan. 1951 “Three thousand tion to all women.” Leatrice Robinson Kessler, June 1952 calories and boy, was it good,” said She received recogni- Joel Levinson, June 1955 Barbara Cohen, tion for her contribu- Arthur Newman, June 1960 tions to the industry, whose husband, Ed- Ronni Fern Goldberg Porbin, 1958 ward, worked close- including a nomina- Stan Pressman, 1949 ly with his mother tion in 1960 as “Small and brother Sidney Businessman of the Steven Schwarz, Jan. 1954 developing the busi- Year” by the Small Jeffrey Reiber, June 1960 Business Administra- ness. Herman Tenenbaum, 1937 tion in Newark, and a As a young wife and letter of congratulations on her 80th Sandra Belfer Tobias, June 1956 mother Cohen Kasoff opened up a small birthday from Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Meyer Traberman, June 1944 knish store on Hawthorne Avenue in Elaine Tepper Weiner, Jan. 1956 Newark, preparing the delicacies from Cohen Kasoff was also a member of the

17 MEMBERSHIP / MERCHANDISE / SCHOLARSHIP FORM

Mail: WHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 / Call: (973) 923-3133

Please print clearly: Date______Total Amount $______

2 Payment Choices: 1. __ CREDIT CARD (by mail or phone) __MC __VISA __ AMEX __ DISC. - Amount ______Credit Card #: ______Exp. Date: ______Signature: ______Zip Code ______2. __CHECK: Make out check to WHSAA - Amount $______

5 MEMBERSHIP CHOICES: ___check if change in postal address __$25 Alumni __$50 Orange & Brown __$100 Ergo __$500 Sagamore __$1000 Legend Class (Month & Year): ______Current or Past Occupation:______Name: ______Last name at WHS______Street: ______Town: ______State: ____ Zip:______Home Phone: ( )______Cell Phone: ( )______E-mail address:______

8 MERCHANDISE CHOICES: (add $5.00 for shipping & handling / Circle your size and color / Larger sizes can be special ordered)

1. ___ $5.00 ALUMNI PIN: - (in orange & brown in the shape of the WHS logo)

2. ___ $5.00 TOTE BAG: - (in orange or brown with WHS logo)

3. ___ $10.00 DVD: “Tribute to Mr. Fein Video” - (21-minute video on Coach Les Fein - player interviews and basketball footage)

4. ___ $12.00 T-SHIRT: - (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL - (dark brown, orange, khaki with WHS logo)

5. ___ $15.00 HAT: - (one size fits all in khaki or dark brown with Weequahic alumni lettering)

6. ___ $20.00 SWEATSHIRT: - (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL - dark brown, orange, khaki with WHS logo)

7. ___ $20.00 GOLF SHIRT: - (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL - orange with Indian Head WHS alumni lettering)

8. ___ $20.00 BOOK: “Swede: Weequahic’s Gentle Giant” - (soft cover book about one of Weequahic’s greatest athletes)

25 SCHOLARSHIP CHOICES: 9. $__ Class of 1968 Fund 18. $ __ Bert Manhoff Fund * 10. $__ Les & Ceil Fein Fund 19. $ __ “Swede “ Masin Fund * 1. $__ Avin Attles Fund 11. $__ Ronald Griffin Fund * 20. $ __ Edwin McLucas Fund 2. $__ Maxine Boatwright Fund * 3. $__ Morey Bobrow Fund * 12. $__ Miriam Hample Fund * 21. $ __ Marie O’Connor Fund * 4. $__ Sharon Nicely Boose Fund * 13. $__ Walter Hastreiter Fund * 22. $ __ Leo Pearl Fund * 5. $__ Class of 1945 Fund 14. $__ General Alumni Fund 23. $ __ Richard Roberts Fund 6. $__ Class of June 1960 Fund 15. $__ Reada & Harry Jellinek Fund* 24. $ __ Sadie Rous Fund * 7. $__ Class of 1963 Fund 16. $__ Phyllis & Donald Kalfus Fund 25. $ __ Ronald G. Stone Fund * 8. $__ Class of 1964 Fund 17. $ __ Hannah Litzky Fund * * In Memory

Weequahic HS Murals Restoration Fund: $______General Contribution: $______

18 IN LOVING MEMORY eral Clean Water Act, and took courses in public interest top- ics. While working at NJPIRG, she investigated NJ’s no fault auto Eleanor J. Lutzke Lewis insurance system and the composition of the New Jersey Blue Cross board of trustees. Insurance Commissioner Richland June 1959, Advocate for Social Justice McDonough responded to Eleanor’s Blue Cross investigation by changing the Blue Cross board composition to include more women and minorities. Eleanor J. Lewis died in her Princeton home Friday af- In 1973, Eleanor was hired by Brendan Bryne’s gubernatorial ter battling ovarian cancer campaign. After Bryne won, she worked on the transition for almost a decade. She team. She was then hired by Insurance Commissioner James was 68. J. Sheeran to serve as the Assistant Commissioner of Insur- ance for Consumer Services, where she supervised investiga- Born in Newark on De- tions of consumer complaints and hearings. The Department cember 9, 1941 to Maurice levied more fines in 4 years under Commission Sheeran than Lutzke, a grade school it had in the previous 50 years combined. Insurance company principal, and Hilda G claim files were examined for fair consumer treatment, and Lutzke, a high school Eng- consumer education materials were prepared and distributed. lish teacher, Eleanor gradu- ated from Weequahic High Eleanor left the insurance department in 1978 after graduating School in 1959. from law school, and practiced law on her own in Princeton and then with Yvette Weiss. In 1991 she moved to Washing- She spent 2 years at Cornell ton, DC, and resumed working with Ralph Nader as director University studying indus- of the government purchasing project, which promoted the trial and labor relations, purchase of environmentally safe products and services such and then transferred to Sara Lawrence College, where she as recycled paper, energy efficient light bulbs, and natural received her Bachelors of Arts degree. She earned a master’s cleaners. She also served as director of the American Associ- degree in human development from Harvard University, and ation of Legal Publishers, fighting West Publishing’s copy- received her doctorate in psychology and education from the right of legal citations. University of Michigan. She earned her law degree from Se- ton Hall Law School. In 2000, she returned to New Jersey and resumed practicing law focusing on consumer fraud. She stopped practicing law Her mother was one of the founders of the American Federa- in 2005 after her illness reoccurred, but continued her life- tion of Teachers Union in Newark, and Eleanor was raised by long work supporting individual rights and consumer advoca- her parents to be conscious of social injustice, an influence cy through various volunteer efforts. She also spent her final that would shape her for the rest of her life. In fourth grade, years enjoying time with family and friends, reading her be- she was already very conscious of civil rights issues, and loved New York Times every day, following various intellec- when her teacher tried to force her to do something she did not tual pursuits and taking stand-up comedy classes, which she want to do, she informed the teacher that her civil rights were looked forward to every week. being violated. She is survived by her 97-year-old mother Hilda G. Lutzke of As a graduate student at the University of Michigan, Eleanor Verona, her brother Arthur and sister-in-law Nancy Lutzke of became very involved in the women's movement and worked Amagansett, NY, and nieces Jessica Lutzke and Melissa with an organization to improve the status of women there. Turowsky, both of New York City. She is also survived by She soon became a part-time consultant to the federal govern- many first cousins and their children and grandchildren, and ment for affirmative action on college campuses. After re- by countless good friends who added significant meaning to ceiving her doctorate, she moved to Washington, DC, to con- her life. tinue working for the government. Eleanor set a priority on enjoying vacations, activities and Shortly thereafter, she visited Ralph Nader’s office and asked conversations with the friends she maintained from each dec- to work with him. They determined it would be best for her to ade of her life. With her commitment to social justice, those become head of a state PIRG (Public Interest Research relationships with family and friends formed the core of her Group). She was hired as the first executive director for life. She is missed and will continue to be missed by all the NJPIRG in 1972. During its initial year, students working people who loved her and benefited from her activities. with NJPIRG operated a consumer complaint center at Rut- gers, did clean water testing of NJ streams under the new fed-

SUNDAY MORNING GROUP - 20th Gala Get-Together Call Len Alpert at (201) 868-7135 for tickets and more information Thursday Evening, May 26th, 7:00 p.m., at the Maplewood Country Club 19 2011 REUNIONS Weequahic High School Alumni Association P.O. Box 494, Newark, N.J. 07101 PRESORTED STD. U.S. POSTAGE Saturday, April 30, 2011 PAID Permit #1427 Class of Jan. & June 1961 W. Caldwell, NJ 50th Reunion, 12:30 p.m. Hilton Hotel, Short Hills Contacts: Jill Grafer Watkins at (973) 226-1559; Barry Warner at (908) 380-2766; Fred Marra at (412) 559-5983; Phil Meadows at (561) 641-9357. Sunday, May 15, 2011 ALUMNI STORE WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Class of Jan. & June 1946 65th Reunion, 11:30 a.m. The WHS Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Maplewood Country Club. incorporated in New Jersey in 2001 Contact: Dave Schechner at (973) Phil Yourish, 1964, Executive Director 763-9232 / [email protected] Board of Trustees: Friday, July 22, 2011 Hal Braff, 1952, Co-President Class of 1986 Mary Brown Dawkins, 1971, Co-President 25th Reunion, 7 p.m., Samuel Weinstock, 1955, Treasurer Myrna Jelling Weissman, 1953, Secretary Grand Chalet, Wayne. Tharien Karim Arnold, 1984 Contact: Arlene Williams-Lampley Ruby Baskerville, 1961 at [email protected] Larry Bembry, 1966 / (570) 369-4789 Judy Bennett, 1972 Sheldon Bross, 1955 Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 Marshall Cooper, 1969 Class of January 1956 Harold Edwards, 1966 Arnold Keller, 1952 55th Reunion, 7 p.m., Marc Little, 1969 Hyatt Hotel in Morristown. Arthut Lutzke, 1963 Brunch on Sunday at 9 a.m. Adilah Quddus, 1971 at the hotel. Gerald Russell, 1974 David Schechner, 1946 Contact: Ray Mark at (561) Vivian Ellis Simons, 1959 445-5009 / [email protected] Charles Talley, 1966 www.whsjan56reunion.com Pamela Scott Threets, 1966 John Tonero, Principal

Class of 1990 20th Reunion Committee

Stanton Washington, Matoka Boone, Faith Bryant, Lance Mann, Nashonda Hutchins, and April Washington

Group pic on right

20