32 Students Receive A fabulous decade $48,000 in Alumni Scholarships at the helm of the WHS Alumni Association

By Phil Yourish, 1964

Have you ever been presented with an opportunity that you never anticipated? Have you ever observed the circuitous paths we follow to explore new possibilities - and then discover Sparkle Moore Dekontee Gunone that sometimes those paths lead Ronald G. Stone Fund Sharon Nicely Boose Fund us right back to where we start- ed? At age 54, I didn't expect to return to Weequahic High School again - certainly not as the founding Executive Direc- tor of its fledgling Alumni As- sociation in 2001.

Many alumni describe their Weequahic High experience as “the best time in their life.” However, for me, my high school years were a struggle - Paris Solomon Felicia Davis a real challenge for an average Reida & Harry Jellinek Fund Walter Hastreiter Fund kid trying to survive in a highly competitive educational setting, while also adjusting to the precarious transition from child to teenager, and the social dynamics of everyday high school life.

As a shy, awkward kid with not enough self-confidence, I sometimes felt lost as I tried to navigate my way through a Cleopatra Jone s Jane Asante high school that was synony- Class of 1963 Fund ‘ƒŽ† ”‹ˆϐ‹ —† mous with academic achieve- ment and success.

With much consternation and some accomplishment, I sur- vived my Weequahic years - and soon returned in a more promising role as a student teacher. Then it took more than 30 years for me to step into the high school again - under new and exciting circum- stances - that provided me with Imani Taylor Christopher Wilkins the chance to do it better the Phyllis & Donald Kalfus Fund Carolyn Parm Fund second time around.

Weequahic’s Elite Eight for 2011 Continued on page 2 ALUMNI DIRECTOR America), I became the Director of Independence High School - a pri- continued from page 1 vate, nonprofit, alternative school in ALUMNI CALUMET Newark for high-risk youth. is a publication of the WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION This school, which was opened in 1971 by community organizers and Editor, Layout & Design: Vista volunteers, was located in the Ironbound. At age 30, I finally ar- Phil Yourish, 1964 rived at a place where I could imple- ment my philosophy and ideas about Proofreading: education. For me, it was my "dream Dave Lieberfarb, Hal Braff, come true" job - and for the next 10 Myrna Jelling Weissman, and years it consumed me in so many Marc Little wonderful ways. During my tenure, So as I enter the Medicare phase of the school was selected by the federal Our thanks for articles and photos from my life and write these reflections government as a National Exemplary The Star-Ledger, NJ.com, NJ Jewish sitting in the Alumni Office in the Youth Demonstration Project. News, and our WHS alumni and friends. Library/Media Center (which was once the school cafeteria), I contem- I never thought I would leave Inde- plate my world after Weequahic and pendence, but over the years the in- CONTACT US: how inexplicably I ended up “home” tense nature of the job finally took its once again. toll. With much ambivalence, I de- WHS Alumni Association parted in 1987 to seek new directions, P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 For more than 40 years, I have been a explore new pastures, and try to cre- (973) 923-3133 / (973) 303-5294 teacher, administrator, consultant and ate a better balance between my work volunteer. When it comes to career and personal life. [email protected] choices, I have been an extremely [email protected] fortunate individual. I have genuine- Since then, I have had a variety of www.weequahicalumni.org interesting experiences - some ly enjoyed all of the work experienc- Our alumni office is at Weequahic unique. In the immediate years to es in which I have participated - and High School, 279 Chancellor Avenue follow, I established my own small my work has closely reflected my in Newark on the 3rd floor in the business, Consultants For Non- beliefs and values about life. For me, Library/Media Center. - my work - has been my passion. Profits, where I offered technical assistance to non-profit organiza- In 1968, I received a BA degree from tions. For two years in the early 90's, Recent Donations: Paterson State College. With a teach- I relocated to Pennsylvania where I ing certificate in Social Studies, I was the founding administrator for a David & Lenore Beckerman applied for a position in the Newark substance abuse treatment program. Marilyn Bobrow school system. West Kinney Jr. High Steve Bogner, 1966 became my first teaching job at Then I went on the most fascinating Steve Dinetz, 1965 / Chancellor Foundation $6,800 per year. It made me feel like journey of my life - a five-month Denea Gittleman Greenstein, 1964 I had found the proverbial "pot of sojourn to Nepal, India and Thailand Gloria Hastreiter, 1946 Judy Herr, 1964 gold." The days of being young and to be part of group that was teaching David Horace, 1987 innocent. sustainable farming techniques. This Nancy Small, 1962 trip was highlighted by 19 days of Class of 1945 After three exciting years and two trekking in the Himalayas, a one- demoralizing teachers strikes - where week whitewater rafting excursion, I was called down to the Principal's living in an international community, WHS Archives: office more often than any student in and staying in the ashram of a famous the school to be admonished for my spiritual leader. Dennis Estes, 1965 - Yearbook "unconventional teaching activities," Arnold Sussman, 1949 - Calumet I moved on to become the director of Upon my return home, I went on a Marion Bolden - Sagamore Button a County school program while I remarkable three week trip - a bus Sue Bohrer Barr, 1960 - Yearbooks, etc. pursued my MA degree in Urban and ride from Vermont to Nicaragua - to Community Education at Montclair deliver the bus we were riding on to a Help Us! State College. performing arts group as a part of a sister-city exchange program. On the Write an article for the newsletter; In 1977, following a 6-month coast- send photos of Weequahic past and way, we spent time in Mexico, Hon- Weequahic items such as: yearbooks, to-coast jaunt across country with my duras, Guatemala and El Salvador. dog Beaujangles in a Volvo and pop- Calumets, documents, newspaper clip- pings, uniforms, programs, buttons, etc. up tent camper (a fabulous way to see Continued on page 3

2 ALUMNI DIRECTOR continued from page 2 2011 ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIPS from page 1

In 1995 I became the Executive Director of the New- ark Literacy Campaign, located at The Newark Pub- lic Library, a position I held for 5 years. What a joy it was to enter that majestic building five days a week.

On the volunteer front, I have served as an elected Newark Model Cities representative, and on the Board of Trustees of the Ironbound Theater Compa- ny, Cornucopia Network of NJ, Accountants for the La’Quan Alston Mark Barker Brieanna Blake Sheana Barnes Public Interest-NJ, Andy Cappon Community Action Masin Fund Attles Fund Bobrow Fund Attles Fund Project, Jewish Museum of New Jersey, and the Jew- ish Historical Society of MetroWest, among others.

It was at the Newark Literacy Campaign when I bumped into two guys named Hal Braff and Sheldon Bross in the lobby of The Newark Public Library a few days before the Alumni Association’s launching event in 1997. After eavesdropping on their conversation and hearing the magical name “Weequahic,” I introduced myself as a graduate and they proceeded to tell me about their ambitious plans Tammi Barron Hassanah Boykins James Bonds Antoine Butler to start an alumni association. Hample Fund First Alumni Fund Litzky Fund Attles Fund

My curiosity was piqued and I told them that if they were serious about creating an organization that would benefit the students at Weequahic, I would be interested in getting involved. I attended the affair on Friday evening at the Library. More than 300 people showed up. It was an amazing gathering. I was hooked. I joined the planning committee. The rest is Alumni Association history…

And now I find myself in the most “unlikely job” of Doron Bryant Demi Chisolm Livette Calloway Olivia Clarke all as the Executive Director of the Weequahic High 1964 Class Fund Boatwight Fund First Alumni Fund O’Connor Fund School Alumni Association. For the past 10 years, I have thoroughly enjoyed this alumni adventure. Maybe it's taking care of "unfinished business" for those earlier undistinguished years at the high school. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe its my own per- sonal irony. But whatever the reason, my "second time around” as an adult has been so much more productive and gratifying.

I cannot write about my 10th anniversary as Alumni Director without thanking Steve Dinetz, 1965, and Sabrina Collins Stephon Davis A’lexus Evans Josette Jackson the Chancellor Foundation. Steve stepped up to the Rous Fund Roberts Fund Attles Fund First Alumni Fund plate in 2001and every year thereafter to provide major funding to the organization. And without Steve’s continued generosity and strong conviction in what we are trying to accomplish, we would not be where we are today. He believed in us at a time when too many others were still unconvinced. His faith in our vision and mission is truly appreciated.

And then there’s Hal Braff, 1952 - our visionary, our leader, our relentless optimist - who has served as a mentor, taught me that there is no such thing as an Amirah Lovejoy Tyrone Mans Michael Nelson Keyana Peebles 1968 Class Fund McLucas Fund First Alumni Fund June 1960 Fund impossible dream, and has been a good friend.

Continued on page 4 3 The Schnitzer’s With the arrival of Heidi and then SCHOLARSHIPS from page 3 Beth, and later after they’d moved to Hanukka ritual South Orange, their ambitions grew. Thelma wanted to show her children Thelma & Herb that their own traditions could be just WHS 1954 as much fun as the Christmas celebra- tions in their friends’ homes. There’s By Elaine Durbach, NJJN still not much Hanukka stuff you can buy in the stores, and in those days Even before others had lit their first there was almost nothing,” she said, Hanukka candle, the Schnitzer family “so I decided to make it myself.” had celebrated a grand finale of their Dionn Ross Dominique personal Hanukka tradition. After 50 A grade school teacher by training who Manhoff Fund Williams-Bey straight years of hosting ever-larger sewed her own clothes, Thelma readily First Alumni Fund parties for their family and friends, took to designing, stitching, and paint- Thelma and her husband Herb had de- ing her creations. She still insists that cided to end things “on a high note.” she isn’t artistic, but the results are Not pictured above are: ingenious and charming. “I call Thel- Deborah Abdullah, Pearl Fund On December 18, some 90 people ma ‘the Jewish Martha Stewart,’” Jahnale Stokes, Attles Fund gathered at their home in South Or- Seligman said. ange, some from as far afield as California. In yet another tradi- Each student received a $1,500.00 tion, each family departed with a scholarship. They are attending the blue and white needlepoint decora- following colleges: tion made by Thelma. American International College, MA “You should see our home,” said Bloomfield College Estelle Seligman of West Cald- Caldwell College well, who, along with her husband and children, has been part of the Claflin University, SC Schnitzer celebration since it be- College of St. Elizabeth gan in 1962. “It’s filled with all Cumberland County College these beautiful things that Thelma has made” and given her guests as Essex County College At this last party, guests received a gift favors. Johnson C. Smith University, NC bag with a package of cookies - home- made and decorated, of course - and a Kean University A few days before the last hurrah, for all the preparations under way, every- decoration. Some received a needle- Lincoln Technical Institute thing was in pristine order. In the point hanging with a menora and can- NJ City University kitchen, with mountains of latkes and dle; others, as in past years, might have Norfolk State University, VA hundreds of pastry-wrapped hot dogs gotten a throw pillow, or a fabric dreidel, or a doll. Thelma has also Rutgers University readied, and a bakery’s worth of des- serts in preparation, all was tidy. Even made Christmas items for her Christian Southside Virginia Community College in Thelma’s small workroom upstairs, guests. Spelman College, GA with its shelves of albums, boxes, and Design and production, Thelma said, Union County College files, neatness prevailed. typically begin just weeks after the Virginia Union University And, of course, everywhere one looked previous Hanukka. “My hands are William Paterson University - from the front porch to the basement - always busy,” she said. And they still the already handsome decor was en- will be - though at a more leisurely hanced with celebratory blue, white, pace. and silver creations. Given the paucity of Hanukka decora- The party and decoration tradition be- tions in the stores, and the scarcity of gan when Thelma and Herb, now instructions in books and magazines in their mid-70s, were newlyweds. that carry volumes of Christmas craft They had recently moved from New- ideas, Thelma has faced a chorus of ark, where they both grew up, to voices telling her to go commercial Maplewood. Wanting to save their with her decorations, but that hasn’t lit first-born, Marc, from the infections her flame. “I make things for my own he’d caught in his first winter, they pleasure,” she said, “and for the pleas- decided to stay home for Hanukka and ure of seeing the response on people’s have everyone come to them. faces when they receive them.”

4 One season, two basketball championships in 1967 As the Weequahic Indians were making basketball history, the YMHA team across the street was winning a national championship

By William “Billy” Jacobowitz, 1968

N.Y., a perennial power and teams from New Haven and Bridgeport, Connecticut. We lost our first game at Bensonhurst, then went on to eighteen wins in a row including a win over Bensonhurst. We swept all eight games to win the Southern Division crown of our league. We then topped Northern Division champ Bayonne 63-46 to win the state title. It was then on to Canton for the National Championship crown. After a long bus ride that we shared with the team from Coney Island, we arrived in Canton. The tournament, sponsored by the National Jewish Welfare Board, in- cluded eight teams from around the coun- try and ran from March 30th through April 2nd. Our first round opponent was the defend- Standing from left: Ken Teitlebaum, Larry Fisher, Bill Jacobowitz, Jeff Fox, Jeff Tolvin, ing National Champion team from Cin- Jeff Rubin, ‘Y’ Physical Eduction Director Mike Diamond, and Coach Dave Cooper. Kneeling from left: Dave Haber, Richard Naftalis, Mark Steinberg, Ken Dychtwald, cinnati. Few gave us a shot to win. Right Mike Frank and Mel Narol. from the start we showed our Newark toughness and dominated the game. The 1966-67 basketball season was a Entering the season, the members of the We won going away and got ready to play memorable time for fans in the Weequa- team knew they were pretty good. I know Coney Island which had defeated the hic section of Newark. Many remember that because I was the starting center on team from Allentown, Pa. We knew we the great Weequahic High School team the squad. Every member of the team were more talented than our rival, but that was known as the “Dream Team.” except one was a student at Weequahic. physically they punished us. At the end They won the state Group 1V title and we won by four points our lowest win- The starters included Jeff Fox, a solid were acclaimed as national champions. scorer and fierce rebounder; Kenny ning margin of the year. I can honestly Led by Dennis “Mo” Layton, a future Teitelbaum (co-captain), a good ball han- say that game was the most physically NBA player, and Dana Lewis, a future dler and shooter; Jeff Tolvin, who was challenging I ever played in. NBA first round draft pick, the Indians our "Bill Bradley" because he was such In the finals we faced New Haven, Con- finished the season undefeated. With an accurate shooter; and Kenny Dycht- necticut, who had won their bracket that Coach Les Fein at the helm, they domi- wald, who could score and played tough included teams from Newport News, Vir- nated almost every game and were recog- defense. ginia, Canton and Albany, N.Y. We had nized as the best high school team in the Our super sixth man was Larry Fisher, beaten New Haven twice already that country. season and were confident we would do it who really liked to shoot and was good at again. They played their hearts out, but Fewer fans recall the great YMHA team it. The strong bench included Mel Narol, of the same season which won the Na- Jeff Rubin (co-captain), Richie Naftalis, we emerged victorious. tional Championship of all Jewish centers David Haber, Mark Steinberg and our Jeff Fox was unstoppable on the boards. throughout the country in Canton, Ohio. only non-Newarker Mike Frank from As usual, Teitelbaum, Dychtwald, Tolvin The ‘Y’, located just across from the high Hillside High. The team was coached by and Fisher contributed greatly to the win. school, was a hotbed for top-notch bas- the usually reserved but intense Dave I had the game of my life scoring 31 ketball players. For many years the ‘Y' Cooper. points. At the celebration dinner follow- fielded very competitive teams in a league ing the conclusion of the tourney, we Our league featured teams from Trenton, that had teams from Jewish centers all Camden, Highland Park, Plainfield, Eliza- were honored as the new National over New Jersey. However, the 1966-67 beth and our chief rival Bayonne. We Champs. It was a great time for a bunch season turned out to be very special. of kids from the Newark ‘Y’. also played games against Bensonhurst,

5 Czechs honor legacy culture, the Holocaust, and anti-Semitism. The museum is named for a Jewish boy of Robert Sochor’s from a neighboring town who hid from (WHS 1957) grandfather the Nazis and kept a diary. A copy of that diary is in the collection of the museum, a By Johanna Ginsburg, NJ Jewish News gift from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Robert Sochor of Verona knew that his Robert thinks the renovation and ceremo- grandfather, Asriel Günzig, was a rabbi. ny had a different meaning for him than it He also knew that his grandfather was a did for the townspeople. Most of the bit of a rebel who left his fervently Ortho- Jews who were deported from the town dox family for the allures of “haskalah,” were murdered. The Lostice residents or secular learning. “look at everything as honoring the Sochor even knew that for about 20 years, memory of my grandfather,” he said. his grandfather and grandmother, Amalia, “But I looked at it as also honoring the lived in Lostice, a small town in what was memory of the Six Million.” then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Re- public. What he didn’t know until last Family history fall was that Rabbi Günzig was the last Rabbi Asriel Günzig was born in Cracow pulpit rabbi at the synagogue in Lostice, in 1868 and had a traditional Jewish edu- serving from 1899 until he left for Ant- ing quarters. The Jewish community was cation. Günzig and his wife, Amalia, had werp in 1920. four children, Jacques, Sabine, Hilda, and beginning to diminish in Lostice when Regina. When the family left Lostice in On Aug. 28, Sochor, 72, an attorney, and Günzig left for Antwerp, and it did not 1920, they settled in Antwerp, where the his wife, Mimi, together with four of hire another rabbi. Shortly after the Nazis rabbi led the Tachkemoni School, owned Sochor’s cousins, sat among several hun- occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, the a bookstore, and became an editor and dred Czechs at what was billed as “the building was closed. festive Opening of the Restored Syna- writer. Asriel Günzig died in 1931. Its religious objects were confiscated and gogue in Lostice.” The ceremony culmi- Like most European-Jewish families, the removed. Some are now in the collection nated a process begun when the mayor Günzigs did not escape the Nazis. Two of the Jewish Museum in Prague. Some apparently convinced the town to restore of the four Günzig children were mur- of the Torah scrolls have been recovered what had become a dilapidated eyesore. and are in synagogues around the United dered - Jacques in Matthausen, and Sab- With help from many outside organiza- States. The interior retains some of its ine and her husband, Simon Sochor - tions, the town began the restoration in original features, including a high vaulted Robert’s parents - at Auschwitz. 2006 in cooperation with the Respect and ceiling and a women’s gallery. Tolerance Foundation, a Czech nonprofit. Regina and her husband survived, escap- ing to the United States, where they set- Edgard Günzig wasn’t aware of the reno- A stained-glass window was among the tled in Newark and raised not only their vation efforts when he went last fall to pieces restored in the renovation. It now visit the town where his grandfather once own two sons but also Robert and his bears a dedication to “Rb. Israel Günzig.” lived, in an effort to learn a little more stepbrother, Eugene (from their father’s (The family spells the name “Asriel,” but previous marriage). The four boys all about him. When he was asked the fami- it appears alternately as “Israel.”) graduated from Weequahic High School ly name and replied “Günzig,” he learned The dedication opened with a shofar blast that Asriel Günzig had been the syna- and attended Temple B’nai Abraham. and a non-Jewish choir singing Hebrew gogue’s last rabbi. Robert met his wife, Mimi (WHS 1957), songs. “When they started singing “The e-mails started flying around among when they were in high school, although ‘Shalom Aleichem’ a cappella in the syn- they did not date at the time. She grew up the cousins. It was really exciting,” said agogue, where the words of Jews were attending Oheb Shalom Congregation and Robert. He called the timing “manna sung for so many years, I was thinking of after they married, the couple returned to from heaven,” that they learned about the my grandfather having been there - but her synagogue. They raised their two history in time to contribute to the reno- also of my parents and all the other Jews children in Livingston, where they lived vation and attend the dedication together. who perished during the Holocaust,” said for 39 years before moving to Verona. Robert. Robert equated the renovation of the syn- Robert Sochor was three when his parents agogue in Lostice with the renovation and A cousin, Edgard Günzig, a retired pro- were killed. transformation of the old Newark Prince fessor living in Belgium, addressed the Street synagogue, Oheb Shalom (now in He was originally named Asriel Ammiel - crowd in Czech on behalf of the family. South Orange), into an environmental his first name in honor of his grandfather ‘Manna from heaven’ education center. - but his aunt Rachel changed his name to Robert when she hid him during the Hol- The current synagogue - the third incarna- The Lostice building will be a cultural ocaust. He changed his name legally to tion of Lostice’s shul, first built in the arts center, as well as home to a 1,000- Robert when he came to the United 1600s - was rebuilt in the classical style in volume museum library with interactive States. 1805-06. It included classrooms and liv- exhibits documenting Jewish history,

6 former On the 10th floor of the school board Marion Bolden, office, there is a 35-star American flag Newark superintendent, made by Barringer High School girls. goes back to school They gave the flag to the 1st Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers leaving the on a mission state to fight in the Civil War in 1861. The men who returned gave the flag By Barry Carter, Star-Ledger back to the school in 1899. Bolden had it refurbished and it’s now encased un- der glass. If she had only Newark public schools are gold mines of gotten there two history that Bolden says can’t be disre- days earlier, spected. Saving that past now starts Marion Bolden with everyone in the district paying at- could have saved tention to Bulletin No. 34. It’s a policy the historical the advisory board adopted in April, footprints of after Bolden and the preservation group Newark’s Fif- pleaded to have guidelines for principals teenth Avenue to follow when they come across dusty School. old items tucked away in their buildings. But by the time Of course everything can’t be kept, but she showed up, just about everything of the bulletin gives a good idea of what value spanning 116 years was gone. schools should hang onto. Things like Yearbooks, precious school records and yearbooks, school newspapers, pictures trophies. The hand-crank film projector and murals, rare textbooks, plaques, she heard about sounded priceless. videotapes and so on. Grandfather clocks, too. Whatever else got tossed in the dumpster, the former Pat Restaino just throws his hands in the district superintendent said, we’ll never air when he’s reminded of what hap- know. pened. “Please, please. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it,” he said. The disappointment runs deep for Bol- den when Newark public schools lose He’s co-chairman of the preservation another piece of their heritage. Shabazz committee, but more important, his High School did the same thing a few Newark high school alma mater is the years back, clearing out its past just as model the committee wants other other schools have done, with no schools to follow. Restaino was a stu- thought to its significance. “We know dent at Barringer, a teacher, and its prin- it’s not done with malice,” Bolden said. cipal for 10 years. But he never stopped “It’s just that they’re not aware of its being the historian of the third-oldest importance.” high school in the country, even after retiring in 1992. Under his leadership, To that end, Bolden has been on a mis- students, alumni and teachers have done sion to keep it from happening with oth- a curator’s job of safeguarding its histo- er schools. She and other preservation ry that began in 1838. buffs in the city formed the Newark Public Schools Historic Preservation They had an archivist, Sal DiGerlando, Committee two years ago. Since then, who collected the memorabilia for 45 they’ve been working on a plan to have years from when he was a teacher until schools hold onto their history and find a he retired last year. But he was back this home for other district treasures. past summer with Restaino and a host of faithful Barringer alumni to digitize the The cache on hand is startling. Central school’s historical collection. High School has a printing press from the 1800s. There are doorknobs from This is what the committee wants other In the basement of Barringer, alumni sit Brown Academy, board of education schools to eventually do if they set up in a hot archival room, cooled slightly minutes written in German, maps of archive rooms to house their findings. with a fan, sorting through pictures, neg- Newark schools in the 1800s, and on It’s all about saving what they have, and atives, manuscripts, posters and docu- State Street, the two-story building many finding what they don’t know they have. ments. don’t know was the school for “colored” children. Continued on page 13

7 beds on Lyons Avenue in the Weequahic Newark’s “Big 3” Department Stores: section of Newark. Such was the power and prestige of the Bamberger - Kresge - Hahne "Bamberger" name in Newark that, alt- hough Macy had owned the store since By the late Nat Bodian 1929, it did not change the Newark store name to "Macy" until 1986, fifty seven Shopping Downtown number of expansions on the same block, years after the purchase, and just six in 1912 he put up an entirely new build- years before the store's final closing. The Downtown Newark in the first half of the ing bounded by Market, Halsey, Wash- store closed in Newark in 1992. last century had something to attract ington, and Bank Streets. everybody - a variety of theatres, and a Bamberger's Clock wealth of shops of every type - five and By the mid-1920s, Bamberger's em- The famous Bamberger's Clock on the tens, specialty stores, clothing and shoe ployed 2,800 people and was ranked in corner of Market and Halsey Streets was stores, and other stores offering virtually the top five department stores in the a favorite Downtown Newark meeting country in terms of sales volume. I recall everything one could want. place for generations of Newarkers. At the Bamberger-owned delivery trucks (a But the biggest magnet for downtown the start of the twenty-first century, the 36-vehicle fleet) that would deliver any shoppers were the "Big 3" department famed Bamberger Clock was still in place purchase or order without charge. stores: L. Bamberger & Co., Kresge's at its original site, and still marking time Department Store, and Hahne & Co. An acquaintance of Louis Bamberger, for downtown Newark shoppers and recalling him in the days when he active- workers. ly operated the store, described Kresge's Department Store him thus: “He would come into the side entrance of the store on Kresge's Department Store occupied the Washington Street. He would downtown Newark block bounded by have a gray homburg, attired in Cedar, Halsey, and Broad Streets, and light gray or dark clothes, and a Raymond Boulevard. Its official address walking stick with a gold tip.” was 715 Broad Street. The Raymond He would catch admiring glanc- Boulevard side of the store was the for- es as he walked into his store. mer site of the Morris Canal. The Canal The Bamberger coworkers bed had become the Newark City Sub- adored him. When he died in way and was topped by a new street March 1944, he left money for called Raymond Boulevard. every employee that had worked there for a certain period of time. Bamberger, to the best of my knowledge, never married Between their wide range of merchandise and was extremely generous to offerings and their seasonal offerings and the City of Newark and its insti- colorful displays, including Santa Claus tutions. and the Easter Bunny for the kiddies, the He made a major capital gift to big three department stores were the the High Street 'Y' which ena- crown jewels of downtown Newark shop- bled it to open in 1925 in a mag- ping. nificent three-story Georgian All are now gone and remain only in the brick $500,000 building. memories of Newark old-timers, but the In 1926, Louis Bamberger gave paragraphs following open a window to the City of Newark a new $750,000 lime- Kresge's was a stop on the Newark City their past glory and a brief look into the stone building to house the Newark Mu- Subway and had decorated basement origins and lives of each of them and seum. He also was a major donor to the show windows at the station stop to at- their lasting impact on Newark. building of the New Jersey Historical tract subway riders. L. Bamberger & Co. Society in north Newark, and was a pa- tron of the Newark Public Kresge's Department Store, which in its Bamberger's was actually the newest of Library. later years called itself Kresge - Newark, the "big 3" in terms of longevity. Louis was known to its thousands of loyal cus- Bamberger had purchased the original In 1928, the year before he sold his store tomers as just "Kresge's." store at auction in 1892. It was on the to R. H. Macy, he became a major donor to the new Beth Israel Hospital, a 12 corner of Market and Halsey Streets. It Continued on page 9 proved an immediate success and after a story Spanish-style hospital with 350

8 THE BIG 3 continued from page 8 G. Bodian, former South Atlantic Corre- Its founder was Julius Hahne, a former spondent for 'YANK' MAGAZINE. You pocketbook maker, who employed his are invited to attend our broadcast of three sons in the store, Albert, August, Fun and Interesting Entertainment." and Richard. I later received a letter from the Kresge- By 1862, five years after Broad Street Newark Radio Editor telling me "Your was paved for the first time, the store was talk was extremely interesting and have dealing in general merchandise and the heard many favorable comments on it." Newark City Directory of that year had the business listed as "dealers in toys and The life span of the Kresge Department fancy goods." Store, which began in 1923, came to an end in 1964, forty one years later. In that Newarkers of the late 19th century took year, the Kresge Foundation, a charity of to the store and it expanded into 641 and Sebastian S. Kresge, sold all of the store's 643 Broad Street. Toward the end of the stock to David T. Chase. With that pur- century, the Hahnes board of directors, chase, the new name of the Kresge- consisting of Julius' sons, Richard, Al- Newark store became Chase-Newark as bert, and August, and the husband of his of June 1964. daughter Clara, William H. Kellner made plans for a grand new building. The Chase reign as a Newark department The store site was the oldest department store ended in January 1967 when Chase- They commissioned the architect Gold- store site in Newark. The store had origi- Newark Corporation announced it had win Starrett to design a building that nally opened in 1870, operated by the leased the Newark store to the "Two would stand out on Broad Street. The three Plaut brothers, Simon, Louis and Guys" chain. An auction was held on the four-story building, on 23 acres, which Moses. It built a huge following as New- premises to remove the Chase-Newark would later be considered a national ark's first and only department store as contents in March 1967. treasure, was completed and opened in "The Bee Hive" although customers liked 1901 at 605-625 Broad Street, with The Generosity of the Plauts to refer to the store as "Plaut's". 407,500 square feet of floor space. The store became the Kresge Department Like Louis Bamberger, the Plaut Brothers Store in 1923 when the Plaut brothers shared their financial sold their business to Sebastian S. Kresge success in Newark with for $17 million. their fellow Newarkers. Devout Jews, they were As the store continued to thrive, in 1926, associated with many Kresge replaced the old Plaut Bee Hive Jewish causes, among with a ten-story brown brick structure. them the Jewish Chil- While the new building loomed large on dren's Home, Plaut Me- Broad Street, it faced just across Military morial Hebrew Free Park from another new building erected School, United Hebrew that same year called the Military Park Charities, the High Building. At twenty one stories, it was Street 'Y', and Temple the tallest building in New Jersey at that B'nai Jeshurun where time. Simon Plaut was a trustee. During World War II, many Kresge em- ployees left for service in the armed forc- Among the non-Jewish es. The store maintained mail links with organizations the Plaut family supported At its opening, the Newark Daily Adver- them and regularly reported on their do- financially were the Red Cross, Navy tiser described the new store as "one of ings through its employee magazine, the Club of the United States, the National the largest and most elegant stores in K. D. S. News. and Newark Chambers of Commerce, the America." Its construction had consumed Newark Musical Festival Association, 7,000 tons of steel and 6 million bricks, Early in July 1945, newly returned from and the New Jersey Historical Society. and it contained nearly two acres of plate overseas military service in World War II, I visited Kresge-Newark, as it was Hahne & Company glass windows. then known, to be a featured guest on a The Hahne family lived in a fashionable Hahne & Company was Newark's first daily radio program broadcast from the townhouse residence at 45 Lincoln Park, department store. It actually began in store, called the Kresge-Newark Maga- at the other end of Broad Street, and were 1858 as a bird cage store at the corner of zine of the Air. recognizable as they rode in their horse- Central Avenue and Broad Street, a dirt- drawn carriage up Broad Street to their Advertisements in the Newark Evening covered 132-foot wide road that became a store in the early years of the 20th News and the Newark Star-Ledger the muddy swamp after every rainfall. day before the broadcast contained this century. notice: "Tomorrow's Featured Guest: Nat Continued on page 10

9 THE BIG 3 continued from page 9 “Class of 1971” Reunion Highlights During the Hahne family ownership of the By Karen Waters, 1971 department store, matching the generosity of the other two "Big 3" store owners, the Celebrating their 40th Reunion, the WHS “Class of 1971” alumni gathered at Hahne's supported many civic projects of Shabazz High School Stadium for our traditional Weequahic vs South Side the Federation of Women's Clubs, and (Shabazz) Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday, November 24, 2011 where contributed to numerous Newark social once again “The Indians” were victorious, 27-21. and cultural institutions. The celebration continued at Costa Del Sol Restaurant in Union on Friday, The Store November 25th. Celebrants enjoyed a cocktail reception and were entertained by vocalist/keyboard artist Herman Scott and guitarist Bob Gosier. Hahne & Company maintained a loyal and largely upscale following during most of The arrival of our beloved honoree Gwen McClendon (residing in Los Angeles, its 85-year history. In its earlier years, it CA) and adored teachers Yolanda Ford of Raleigh, NC, Leonard Moore, and was the store where Newark's wealthiest Lorraine White created much excitement and joy! families arrived in handsome carriages to Special honoree/recognition awards highlighted the evenings festivities. Gwen do their shopping. McClendon, Ileathern McLeod and Dave Lieberfarb were honored for their Unlike its two major competitors, Hahne distinguished leadership, profound commitment to education and excellence, & Co., despite two changes of ownership, loyalty, love and guidance. kept the same name throughout its life in Newark. Control of the company passed from the Hahne family to R. H. Macy on the eve of World War I. From the mid-1970s until its closing, it had been a division of Associated Dry Goods, a New York based holding company, which at that time also included Lord & Taylor. The store was closed by its own- ers in 1986 after it had become unprofita- ble. The two restaurants in Hahnes were a fa- vorite eating place for many downtown Newark shoppers and workers. Shoppers R-L: Ileathern McLeod, Loraine White, Leonard Moore, Gwen McClendon, Yolanda Ford favored the more upscale pine-paneled Karen Waters was honored for her diligence serving as the catalyst keeping the restaurant toward the back on the main “Class of 1971” reunions scheduled. She surprised committee members, Mary floor. Downtown workers, out for lunch, Dawkins, Darryl Rochester and Richard Jackson with special gifts for their out- favored the downstairs low-eating-counter standing contributions of service. luncheonette with the fixed chair swivel seats. DJ Thomas (Pookey) Zimmerman rocked the house and kept all on the dance floor. The House of Pancakes, in Irvington (owned by a WHS alumna) hosted My First Hahne's Experience breakfast on Saturday. And classmates attended Good Neighbor Baptist Church Just weeks after our marriage in June on Sunday to conclude our Thanksgiving weekend. 1947, my wife and I were fortunate enough “Kudos & Special Thanks” to the Class of 1971 Reunion Committee members to find an apartment and to vacate our fur- Karen Waters, Cathy Harris Steele, Mary Brown Dawkins, Darryl Rochester, nished attic room at 595 Hunterdon Street. Beverly Williams Jackson, Richard Jackson, Gale Mack Hunter and Sylvester Our first necessity was a bedroom set. (Lumpy) Allen for an outstanding, energetic, and memorable reunion weekend. We went to Hahne's after friends told us the store had an excellent furniture depart- ment. At Hahne's, my wife and I spotted a marked-down light-wood mahogany bed- room set that had been used as a display model. We both flipped over it and it was the first major purchase of our marriage. We finally replaced it in 1982, after 35 years of use. Still in reasonably good con- dition, we donated it to the Salvation Army.

10 As James Baxter Terrace is razed, NEWARK NEWS Newark loses a part of its history Prudential Center joins list of top By Mark Di Ionno, Star-Ledger James Baxter Terrace is in its final incarnation. The tear-down 10 grossing arenas in the world phase. A chain link fence surrounds the vacant 502-unit public housing complex. The heavy metal doors are welded shut, some The Prudential in three or four places after vagrants pried open the first welds. Center in Newark has The ground floor windows are not boarded up; they were filled joined Madison with cinderblocks and concrete. Through the second and third Square Garden, the story holes where windows used to be, you can see torn out light Staples Center in Los fixtures and collapsed ceilings. Angeles and the O2 Arena in London as On the courtyards and playground, grass is hay length. being among the top Macadam is broken into gravel in driveways. The playground 10 grossing arenas in equipment is rusted, the laughter of children a ghost in the wind. the world. The drug dealers took over at night, then took over all day. Now the dealers and the bag-of-bones addicts who drifted in and The Rock placed No. out of James Baxter Terrace have moved on, too. 10 on the list com- piled by Venues To- Trapped in the long, uncut grass is evidence of the societal de- day, a concert industry publication. London’s 02 Arena took the mise. Empty minis of Cruzan Spiced Rum, Paul Masson Bran- top spot for venues with seating capacities of between 15,001 dy, empty mini heroin and 30,000. The Staples Center ranked Number 3; Madison bags, and litter from Square Garden, Number 4; and Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Cen- Jonesing diets of candy ter, Number 7. and potato chips and cheap soda. A dirty According to the list, the 4-year-old Prudential Center hosted 66 couch, its fabric torn and events - not including Nets, Devils and Seton Hall games - that soaked with rain water, is attracted 488,325 spectators and grossed $30.3 million. The the last piece of furniture arena’s capacity is 19,500. The Newark site ranked 12th overall in James Baxter Terrace. last year and 20th the year before that. It will be gone soon, and The X Factor at the ROCK a new Newark Housing Authority development Do you have outstanding will be built. talent? Are you a star wait- But pieces of the wreckage are being preserved and sent to ing to be discovered? Do Washington to be included in the Smithsonian’s National Afri- you have that "x factor"? can-American Museum, because for all its blemishes, James As rain drenched Newark Baxter Terrace is a historic site. Thousands of commuters and on the morning of April college students who pass it on their way to Route 280 every 13th, nearly 20,000 people day don’t see it that way. They might not see it all. It became a lined up outside the Pru- part of the Newark history everyone wants to avoid. dential Center to receive a But it didn’t start out that way. It started out as a story of urban wristband to compete in optimism; a place where working people could find safe, livable Simon Cowell’s new American reality show The X Factor. The and affordable housing, as they worked their way up America’s line started to form around 2 a.m., with people camping out in economic ladder. It was place built with good intentions. their ponchos spanning down the 100 block of Mulberry Street. Doors opened slightly before 6 a.m., earlier than expected due to "This is part of the African-American urban narrative, the good the inclement weather. and the bad," said Clement Price, the Rutgers-Newark history professor, who suggested sending pieces of James Baxter Ter- The X Factor brings two relatively unique characteristics to its race to Washington. "It was a wonderful place to live and raise talent competition: During auditions, contestants perform in a family for many years, probably through the 1970s. But, as front of an arena full of people (who are also their competition); everyone in Newark knows, the facility became challenged with and the show allows contestants to compete in four groups - the ills often associated with America’s poor, inner city black young females, young males, older contestants and groups. communities." Judging the competitions are Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. It was among the first projects in a national housing initiative Reid and Nicole Scherzinger. The solo singer or vocal group signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt, as a public that wins the FOX show will be awarded a five million dollar works project. "These were designed by the best architects and recording contract with Sony Music. were built with very good materials," said Ulana Zakalak, Continued on page 12

11 ("Inception"), and Millburn’s own NEWARK NEWS Anne Hathaway will make her debut as Catwoman. The movie comes out in July 2012. BAXTER TERRACE continued from page 11 "It will be wonderful for the city and wonderful for the state," said Steven whose company is deconstructing an entranceway to send to Gorelick, executive director of the New the Smithsonian. "The designs of these early projects were to Jersey Motion Picture and Television give people yards and community Commission, which has been in talks open space. These were two- and with location scouts since January. "It’s exactly the type of three-stories high, not the high- excitement and publicity and economic development that you rises of the 60’s." want in an area like this." Early pictures of James Baxter An official said the city was incurring no cost and Warner Terrace show women with baby Brothers would be paying Newark $43,500 for the use of City carriages, children on tricycles and Hall as well as additional costs for police and fire personnel gardens in yards. Baxter, himself, that will be required on site. was a historic figure in Newark. "James Baxter, was the famous Negro principal of the First Adam Zipkin named Deputy Mayor of Colored School in Newark. He Economic and Housing Development James M. Baxter was an iconic figure in the black 1st African-American community," Price said. Adam Zipkin was in the South Ward recently when he realized Principal in Newark his world had come full circle. Zipkin, who was confirmed as It opened as a segregated apartment Newark’s new Deputy Mayor of Economic and Housing De- complex - the white section ran along Sussex Avenue and velopment, was raised in South Plainfield. Nesbitt Street, the black section was along Orange Street – but integrated during the repeal of Jim Crow laws. It was 1954 But walking around Homestead Park, he recognized one par- when New Jersey ended residential discrimination in public ticular house was where his great-grandparents had lived. housing. Both pairs of grandparents and his parents also lived and worked in the city’s South Ward. In its original incarnation, the project was built for low-income workers, who found jobs at nearby Westinghouse and the Bor- "I really had this overwhelming den Farms distribution plant and in Newark’s machine works feeling of recognizing that, in real- industry. The first residents moved in in 1941, when the war ly tangible ways, I am who I am - I kept Newark manufacturing busy. But those jobs dried up have the opportunity to have this after the war, and the city went into a tailspin. Fast forward 50 job (and to) become a lawyer - years, and the solid-built project became too far gone. because of the opportunities that Newark has given to my family As the buildings are being demolished, the original dedication over the course of the last three plaque, cornerstone and complete doorway are being donated generations," he said in a a recent to the Smithsonian by the Newark Housing Authority. interview. At the Newark Housing Authority there are renderings for a "I really look at this as my chance new project called Baxter Park. They show cityscapes with to give back, and to create those ground-floor stores, and mixed-income housing. They show same types of opportunities for the current residents of New- new, quiet streets and shrubbery and children playing on the ark," said Zipkin. streets. Phase 1 is already under construction. The history of urban optimism continues. In 1989, he moved to the city to attend Seton Hall Law School, and has lived in the Ironbound for the last decade. BATMAN! Filming of 'Dark Knight' in Newark In his new position, Zipkin oversees projects like affordable An eccentric billionaire came to Newark - and no, it was not housing, job creation and attracting new businesses and real Mark Zuckerberg. It was Bruce Wayne - aka the Dark Knight estate developers to the city. - who made an appearance on Broad Street last November, as He says his priorities range from programs that would clean up the latest film in the blockbuster Batman franchise took over the abandoned properties to the mega-projects of new residen- City Hall, the underground Military Park Station of Newark tial, commercial and industrial development in the downtown Light Rail and, some city streets. and port areas. "The Dark Knight Rises," with a reported $250 million budget, He is also focusing on enforcing the initiative that new compa- is the third film in director Christopher Nolan’s ("Inception") nies hire city residents first for available construction or per- reimagining of Batman. In the new film, Christian Bale’s Bat- manent jobs. And, he hopes to create a local, fresh produce man will battle baddie Bane, played by Tom Hardy system and expand the city’s sustainability efforts.

12 Distinguished African-American Scholar BOLDEN continued from page 7 There are trophies all around and shelves filled with Dr. James Oliver Horton, WHS Jan. 1961 issues of the Acropolis, the school newspaper, da- ting to 1899. There are yearbooks just as old. Born on March 28, Student journals, worn and faded, contain neatly 1943, in Newark, and written essays and penciled artwork from 1857 to a 1961 graduate of Weequahic High, 1885. Students chronicled their day in the books, James Oliver Horton writing creatively in script about life on the moon and is regarded as one of trips down the Morris Canal, where businesses an- the most important chored along the river. They talk about waving Amer- contemporary Afri- ican flags on Broad Street when Abraham Lincoln came to Newark and about the hermit chasing them can-American histori- away on a field trip to copper mines in North ans. He has brought new techniques to the Arlington. study of African-American history and has won recognition from his peers. If there was an event, a production or program, you can put your finger on some kind of record at A Benjamin Banneker Professor of American Studies and History at Barringer. The school has graduation programs George Washington University, Horton is the Historian Emeritus of the from 1899 to the present, complete with lists of Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. He served as the board chair on the National Park System Advisory Board, speakers and the music played at the ceremonies. also served as Senior Advisor on Historical Interpretation and Public Scrapbooks have all sorts of things like the Education for the Director of the National Park Service. Barringer pledge song, a 50-cent ticket to the 1911 class play. In rows and rows of boxes, transcripts Professor Horton was elected President of the Organization of American show student courses from 1899 to 1932. The sub- Historians, serving 2004-2005. Also in 2005 the Afro-American Muse- jects range from zoology and astronomy to Latin, um of Boston presented him with its “Living Legend Award” and he Greek and medieval history. Classes in freehand received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wagner Col- and commercial drawing more than likely helped lege. them with illustrations in the student journals. He was a Senior Fulbright Professor of American Studies at the Univer- “They didn’t have Nintendo, video games and tele- sity of Munich in Germany (1988-89) and Fulbright Distinguished John vision,” DiGerlando said. “This is what they did.” Adams Chair in American Studies, University of Leiden, in the Nether- lands in the fall 2003. He has held several presidential appointments, Fifteenth Avenue School, which opened in 1895, serving on the White House Millennium Council and as a member of the probably had much in common with Barringer. But Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, appointed by President its history, sadly, is history. William Clinton in 2000. “Not to have your history captured in this district is Recognized for teaching excellence, Professor Horton received the a tragedy,” Bolden said. “If we don’t do some- Trachtenberg Distinguished Teaching Award for George Washington thing, nobody will ever know we were here.” University in 1994 and the Carnegie Foundation, CASE Professor of the Year Award for the District of Columbia, in 1996. He has published ten books, most recently The Landmarks of African American History in 2005, Slavery and the Making of America in 2004, the companion book for the WNET PBS series of the same which aired in February of 2005, coauthored with his wife Lois E. Horton Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory. Professor Horton has been historical consultant to, and appeared in, nu- merous film and video productions including those seen on ABC, PBS, the Discovery Channels, C-Span TV, and the History Channel. For three years during the 1990s he was a regular panelist on The History Channel's weekly program, "The History Center" and his historical com- mentary on the Civil War is included in the DVD of the movie "Glory." In February, 2002 he hosted The History Channel special “A Fragile Freedom: African American Historic Sites,” based on his scholarship. He was also historical advisor for the 2005 History Channel series, “Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America,” which recently won the Emmy Award for best nonfiction TV series. In 2006 Professor Horton was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Sciences and received Principal John Tonero with sons, Patrick the George Washington University President’s Medal for scholarly on the left and Aidan under the hat at achievement and teaching excellence. Untermann Field

13 Brian Logan, WHS 1982 Indians in State Championship Game “We’re on our way to meet the foe” Saving Newark's youth as a police officer and Weequahic High School football coach By Phil Yourish, 1964 There were high hopes. Weequahic had a new football leader By Matthew Stanmyre, The Star-Ledger who was not only a graduate of the high school, but was also a state championship coach at West Side. With a new regime Brian Logan steers his behind the pigskin, optimism abounded. When the Indians Crime Stoppers van past solidly beat Orange 28-7 in the season opener, excitement the drug dealers on their reigned. Then they lost the next two games. The senior-laden stoops, the addicts search- team was mistake-prone and just couldn’t seem to put it all to- ing for their next fix, the gether. The prospects for the upcoming months were beginning feral cats skittering across to look bleak. At 2-3. another losing year was likely. the sidewalks. But naysayers beware. The season was still young and Logan As Logan drives through believed in the talent and potential of his gridiron squad. And some of the toughest then with little fanfare, the Orange & Brown ran off 8 straight neighborhoods in New- victories - including beating archrival Shabazz High School for ark, he pauses to point out the 3rd consecutive year on Thanksgiving day in the “Soul another place where one Bowl,” retaining the trophy as the best team in the South Ward. of his players was killed. Included in this streak were two playoff triumphs against Hobo- A Newark police detective and the new varsity football coach at ken and Lyndhurst. All of a sudden the team that was reeling Weequahic High School, Logan lives a life few can imagine, back in September was now heading to Met Life Stadium to trying to protect some of Newark’s most vulnerable teenagers play Cedar Grove (one of their earlier losses) for the North Jer- from every angle. He’s on the streets patrolling from 7 p.m. to 3 sey Section 2 Group I State Championship. On Saturday, De- a.m. out of the Crime Stoppers Unit, responding to shootings cember 3rd, there were 10 busses, including one for alumni, on and homicides and helping track the city’s most wanted. When Chancellor Avenue transporting students, staff, parents, and his shift ends, he heads home and watches game film until doz- grads to the Meadowlands for the title game. ing off, only to wake a few hours later to prepare for football At the home of the Giants and Jets, hundreds of Weequahic fans practice. were urging their team towards one more victory. In the first To put it another way: Logan, 47, has devoted his life, his mon- half there were more groans than cheers. Looking sluggish and ey, his soul to helping young people in Newark. Even if it slow, Weequahic gave up 21 quick points, After an inspiring sometimes feels like it’s never enough. In 14 years as a head halftime performance by the band and cheerleaders, the team coach at two Newark high schools, five of his players have been returned with a lot more fervor and started to slice into the lead. killed, and a dozens others arrested - at least seven by Logan Although the Indians outscored Cedar Grove 21-13 in the 2nd himself. half, it was just too difficult to overcome the first-half deficit “He wants to save all of them,” his wife, Shawn Logan, says. and a very questionable call by the officials (where was instant “Anytime they encounter him they stick to him and he tries to replay?). Weequahic lost 34-21 - just one good half away from save them all. I tell him, ‘You can’t.’ For as long as I’ve known winning their 2nd state title in the past five years. him, that’s just the way it’s been.” But what an outstanding season it was. The team finished 9-3, As Logan drives the streets with a black .40-caliber Smith & were ranked 9th in Group 1, and were the Super Essex Colonial Wesson on his hip, his radio crackles with the nighttime sound- Division champs. Wide receiver Keith Foster was selected All track of the state’s largest city. A home invasion. Shots fired. Essex First Team. With the success of this year’s group the A carjacking. Logan stares out the van’s windows as it rolls football forecast for next Fall looms very promising. A great through the West Ward, which feeds West Side High, his first homecoming for Coach Brian Logan - Weequahic alumnus - high school coaching job and the team Logan led to a state Class of 1982! championship four years ago. He thinks about that team - which won only the second Newark public school state title in 35 years. He thinks about those play- ers and the unlikely championship, and his eyes become wet. Every few months, Shawn Logan wakes up, heads for the kitch- en and trips over a teenager sleeping on the floor. Her husband can’t help but take in players each year to their three-bedroom home in the Weequahic section of Newark. Some stay for only one night; others as long as two years. They come because there’s no place else to go. Continued on page 15

14 LOGAN continued from page 14 Bravo to JOE HARVEY, a non-Weequahic Indian, Players stop by to wash their clothes. for funding WHS football activities They sidle up to the computer in the den Joseph Harvey didn’t go to to work on home- Weequahic, nor does he come work. Shawn Logan from Newark. A graduate of does her grocery Princeton University where he shopping as if she played on the football team, he is has a family of 10 currently the President and Chief because of all the Investment Officer for Cohen and unexpected dinner Steers in New York City. And he has been doing this work for 20 guests. years. There’s not much Logan hasn’t done for his players. He buys them school clothes when they can’t afford them. He hosts them So why are we writing about him in our alumni newsletter for barbecues and Thanksgiving feasts. They pile into his den to you may be wondering. watch football games on Sundays and they constantly dig through For the past five years Joe has adopted the football team at the refrigerator. Logan, who makes senior-level pay as a police Weequahic. This includes funding the annual awards officer, has spent thousands of dollars on his players over the banquet at the Newark Airport Marriott Hotel, purchasing years. Although he declines to estimate the total cost, his wife trophies, paying to videotape each Weequahic football said Brian has had to take out loans to pay for everything at times. game, sending football players to camp, making personal Logan began his career as an Essex County sheriff’s officer in highlight videos for each senior football player, and giving 1989 before moving to the Newark Police Department two years players books that have an inspirational message about life. later. He spent the first seven years there as a patrolman in the The Weequahic connection started when Joe’s Princeton South Ward, standing at the front lines for raids on high-rise pro- teammate, Jim Petrucci, who adopted Irvington High jects that have since been torn down and rushing dark hallways School, introduced him to former Weequahic football that had been doused with mace by the bad guys. During one coach Altarik White - and the relationship with the high response, he was hit in the eye with a glass bottle trying to break school developed. It now continues with current football up a domestic dispute. Another time, as he responded to a melee coach, Brian Logan. that spilled from a bar to the streets, a gang member blind-sided him with a ferocious punch, trying to take his gun. Weequahic High School and its alumni appreciate Joe Harvey’s kindness and generosity! Nowadays, after working his way up the ranks, Logan’s job is more tame, but still critical. He works out of the Crime Stoppers Unit, a hotline that allows people to make confidential tips for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest. Logan responds 55th Reunion - Class of Jan. 1956 to shootings or homicides, heading to the scene to distribute Crime Stoppers fliers to people in the neighborhood. He’ll also On September 10th and 11th, 2011, The WHS Class of get the identity of the victims to start making correlations between January 1956 held their 55th Reunion at the Hyatt Hotel gang members or other known associates. in Morristown. 60 people attended, including 39 class- mates. They had a fun-filled weekend renewing old He always wanted to be a cop because his father, Bill Logan, was friendships and sharing memories. Joel Dames, Eli a mounted Newark police officer. His high school coach at Hoffman, Paul Klein and Ray Mark were the Co- Weequahic, Burney Adams, always told his players it was im- Chairs of this memorable event. portant to give back to the community. He said he was an average football player at Weequahic, but played in college for three schools - Cheyney (Pa.) University, Georgia Southern and Kean University - which opened his eyes to the possibilities beyond Newark; the same possibilities he wants his players to see. One of Logan’s dreams was always to coach at Weequahic, which is a block from his house and in the part of the city where he’s lived his entire life. So when the job came open this year, he couldn’t pass up the chance to help kids from his own neighbor- hood. “This is where it all started for me,” Logan says. “This is what I know. This is what I am. I’m comfortable here. To some people outside of here, they think this is one of the worst places to be in. But to me, this is home.” Errol Meisner, Eli Hoffman, Joel Dames, Ray Mark

15 cost $3.5 million. It made room for Jew- The ‘Beth’ marks ish and African-American physicians denied positions elsewhere; in 1960 the 110 years as first black doctor officially joined the Newark landmark staff. Parsonnet’s connection with the Beth did By Robert Weiner, NJ Jewish News not end with his forebears. Beginning in 1955, he spent the bulk of his career there, serving as director of surgery and Victor Parsonnet, WHS 1941, accomplishing a number of medical grandson of the founders, recalls firsts, including performing the first hospital’s path from idea to institution coronary bypass surgery in New Jersey in 1971. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center cele- Original Beth Israel Hospital brated its 110th anniversary last October ‘Born at the Beth’ with a look back at the two Jewish immi- Today Newark Beth Israel Medical Cen- grants who were its founders. Some 100 ter is a state-of-the-art institution on celebrants gathered at the Beth’s Parson- Lyons Avenue. Although it was sold by net-Danzis Auditorium, as the grandson the Jewish community to the Saint Barna- of its namesakes recalled the “Beth’s” bas Healthcare System in 1996, it carries evolution from a 21-bed facility to one of on “the traditional institutional goals of America’s leading hospitals. high quality care, ecumenical care, and service to the underprivileged.” “By today’s standards, that first hospital was very primitive,” said Beth Israel Proceeds of the sale were used to estab- heart surgeon Dr. Victor Parsonnet, lish the Healthcare Foundation of New grandson of the medical center’s found- Jersey, which continues to offer grants ers, Max Danzis and the first Victor Par- for health care and quality-of-life pro- Dr. Victor Parsonnet in front of sonnet. grams in the Jewish community and portraits of his grandfathers beyond. The original building, the doctor said, “had open wards for adult and pediatric Recollections from Linda Forgosh care and iron beds, and the operating Speaking at the event was Linda Forgosh, room was far from sterile, with lights executive director of the Jewish Histori- hanging from the ceiling, windows open cal Society of MetroWest NJ. She spoke to the outside atmosphere, and caps and of the pride of area residents who were masks worn casually.” “born at the Beth,” a legion that includes But, Parsonnet noted, “education was novelist Philip Roth, comedian Jerry paramount, and from the beginning there Lewis, and poet Allen Ginsberg. was a nursing school and there were in- “The phrase ‘Born at the Beth’ is not terns.” He traced the hospital’s roots to new,” she said. It dates back to 1931, the shtetl in Ukraine that was the boy- when the members of the Newark Mater- hood home of his grandfathers. nity League originated the idea for a Ba- The Beginning of the Beth bies’ Alumni group and asked new moth- ers to enroll their children as Beth babies. Current Beth Israel Medical Center After moving to Newark, the two immi- “For years, youngsters received birthday grants “sadly discovered that Jewish pa- cards from the Beth,” said Forgosh. This tients could not gain access to the local was one way for families to stay connect- hospitals, and Jewish doctors could not ed to their neighborhood hospital.” find staff appointments.” Together, the two men raised $4,000 to purchase the She recalled the urban upheaval of the Pennington Mansion on the corner of 1960s, when the hospital’s board of di- West Kinney and High streets in Newark. rectors asked: “Should we stay, or should we go?” Within 20 years the facility outgrew its small quarters. In 1928, philanthropists “It was no secret that its patients had left Louis Bamberger and Felix Fuld donated Newark for homes in the suburbs and funds for a new hospital in a then rural that their doctors had no choice but to area called Lyons Farms. follow their patients,” said Forgosh. “But the decision was made to remain The Spanish-style building had 350 beds, and continue to expand its facilities.“ a school of nursing, and an outpatient service building. The entire complex Continued on page 19 Darrell K. Terry, Hospital’s COO

16 The Children of Weequahic Alumni Waldo Winchester This popular column first appeared Daughter of Craig Wilson, 1962 in the CALUMET in 1950 Emily Wilson on X Factor Excerpts from a Star-Ledger article Arthur Schechner, 1948, is the Chair of the Hebrew Free Loan of New Jer- Even before his daughter’s brush with superstardom, sey. After sixteen years since its reconstitu- Craig Wilson was a proud parent. The Warren, NJ tion in 1995, the Hebrew Free Loan of New resident had watched Emily, 15, star in several musi- Jersey has loaned out its one millionth dollar. cals as a sophomore at Watchung Hills High School, The agency offers modest, interest-free loans and for the past three years sing songs on You Tube for emergencies, medical expenses, starting and perform at the Bridgewater Mall with her friend, or expanding a business, and other purposes Austin Percario as the duo Ausem. for Jewish community members, spouses, and Jewish agency employees in the But Craig didn't MetroWest area and Monmouth County. know what to According to Schechner, “We recycle money make of the news so we can recycle people’s lives. The story is when Emily told not that we lent $1 million. The story is that him she and Aus- there are one million stories out there.” tin were heading to Newark to au- dition for The X Two New Scholarship Funds Factor last April. Fast Forward: Not only did Emi- Linda Marcia Small Memorial Fund ly and Austin earn the opportunity to Nancy Small, 1962, has established a sing on the show, scholarship fund in memory of her sister, but survived the Linda, who was a graduate of the class of first three rounds - 1963. The Fund begins with a $5,000 Emily Wilson with X Factor and in a very contribution. creator and judge unusual way. Simon Cowell Linda was a Weequahic cheerleader known for her captivating beauty, irre- They were actually eliminated after the 2nd round as pressible spirit, and caring ways, During just 32 acts advanced. Then they and others received her brief life, she became a dedicated so- a last-second moment of clemency from the judges cial worker, loving wife, and adoring who formed two new groups, one called InTENsity, mother, Although she died tragically at which included Emily and Austin. the age of 27, Linda lives on in the hearts The grueling 12-hour daily routine for the teenagers of the many people who knew and loved her. consisted of professional vocal and choreography lessons, publicity photo shoots - and three-hour aca- demic tutoring sessions, to keep them up-to-date with Dena Gittleman Greenstein Fund their schoolwork. Looming overhead was the mounting pressure to per- In December, Dena celebrated her 65th form in front of skeptical judges, packed arenas and birthday with friends. In her honor, they millions of home viewers. Under the tutelage of Pau- made donations to the WHS Alumni As- la Abdul, the members of the group honed their vocal sociation to establish a new scholarship and dance skills and made it as far as the final 12. in her name. More than $3,000 was raised. Dena is a class of 1964 graduate As for Daddy Craig, who just retired as a dentist after and makes a significant contribution to 40 years, he had a few seconds in the limelight when her class’ fund every year. The Alumni the cameras caught him backstage enthusiastically Association would like to take this cheering for Emily and Austin. opportunity to thank Dena for her ongoing generosity.

17 The Children of Two WHS Grads Join Weequahic Alumni Jewish Historical Society Board

Son of Tema Yeskel Javerbaum, 1964 Bob Singer, WHS 1961 Bob and his wife Ethel have two Bob, a resident of West Orange, children, Beth Krause and Jona- David Javerbaum authors has had an illustrious professional thon Singer, and two grandchil- The Last Testament, career after graduating from dren. Lafayette College as a history ma- Linda Zimmerman A Memoir by GOD jor and then Harvard Law School, cum laude. He passed both the Willner, WHS 1958 Excerpts from an article in NJ Jewish News New York and New Jersey bar and Linda was born in Newark (at the served as law clerk for an appellate Beth of course) and graduated from For David Javerbaum, it division judge in New Jersey. Weequahic High School. was moving from one Bob has demanding boss to anoth- After college worked as an er. First, it was serving and marriage, associate as the long-time head her husband attorney in writer and executive pro- Arthur and she law firms in ducer for The Daily Show lived in Maple- New York with Jon Stewart. But wood for many City and after working for four years and Newark, and more years than Jacob raised three as in-house did for Laban, he decided daughters there attorney for to see what else was out - Gail Willner- Automatic there. Giwerc of New York and Susan Data Processing, Inc. in Roseland Bargemann of Ohio, and Margie Javerbaum - who grew up for 25 years - most recently as Vice Levensen of Scotch Plains. Linda President, Assistant General Coun- in Maplewood and now has eight grandchildren. lives in New York City - sel in Real Estate and Assistant already had a few books Secretary. Remembering her days spent in to his credit, but it was Newark, Linda states that For the past 15 years, he served as during a promotional tour "shopping at the department Chairman of the Board of the ADP stores, going to the Library and a couple of years ago that Federal Credit Union, a financial Museum on Washington Street, the the idea for The Last Tes- institution with more than 10,000 Medical Tower on Clinton Avenue tament: A Memoir by members. Moreover, he served as across from Lincoln Park, piano GOD came to him, as he the Director of AECRE (Attorneys put it, “in a moment of auditions at the Griffith Building, and Executives in Corporate Real divine inspiration.” In preparation for The Last dance recitals at the Mosque, the estate) for six years. Testament, Javerbaum read “a fair amount” of “the bus routes -14 Clinton Place, 8 Big Three”: the Old Testament, the New Testament Bob has strong roots in Newark Lyons, 48 Maple -are all wonderful and the Koran. where his grandparents married in recollections indelibly stamped in 1913. His parents met at the Y on my memory.” “I didn’t want to get too obscure because if I did, High Street. He attended Weequa- She was raised in an observant no one is going to get it,” he said. “Readers would- hic High School and remembers Orthodox home and went to an n’t find it funny. So I just tried to basically write a that the history teachers were Orthodox shul, Rodfei Shalom on book and use my artistic ability about things people excellent. knew, either from ancient history or pop culture and Clinton Place, with her grandfa- try to create something like a very complete book. His travels have taken him to ther. However, she attended If you look at the index, it’s a pretty long list of ref- Western Europe, Russia, Scandina- Hebrew School at Congregation erences from every aspect of life.” via, China, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Oheb Shalom on High Street in Morocco, Mexico, Thailand, Newark and continues to be active Javerbaum, 40, was aware that some might find The Singapore, Brazil, Peru, and the in the same synagogue, now in Last Testament a bit disrespectful. So far the book Galapagos Islands. South Orange. has received a positive response, including a favora- ble review in The New York Times. Javerbaum is Currently, he is a member of the Linda has always been interested in keeping busy, working on a TV pilot, another book, Newark History Society, the what happened to the many shuls a screenplay, and a couple of award shows. He’s Greater Newark Conservancy, and in Newark - she knows some enjoying this new chapter of his professional life, the Weequahic High School Alum- merged into other shuls, but she which allows him to move from behind the scenes ni Association. Recently, he at- wonders what happened to the To- to “front and center.” tended the Senior Audit Program at rahs, memorial plaques, and other Newark Rutgers. items of Judaica.

18 BETH continued from page 16 INDIANS Inducted Into Newark Athletic Hall of Fame “In 1901 we had 12 physicians; today we have over 800 members of Darryl Black, WHS 1977 POP Warner football, leading them to the the medical staff,” said the after- league championship game two out of noon’s final speaker, Darrell Terry, Darryl was born and raised in Newark. three years. the medical center’s chief operating He attended Bragaw Avenue School and When he worked as a counselor for the officer. Weequahic High School. public schools in Paterson for a number of years, he also coached baseball. In 2008, “There were 24 nurses then. Now While at Weequa- he returned to Newark, was employed by we have over 1,300. In the past dec- hic, he starred in the Newark Public Schools, and continues ade we trained over 600 residents to both football and to work with youth. become physicians,” he said. track. In 1974-75, he was named the Noting the hospital’s state-of-the-art most valuable run- Dr. Henry Grant, WHS 1963 technology and advances in pediat- ning back. The rics, geriatric care, and heart trans- following year, he Henry was born in Newark and attended plants, Terry said the medical center was selected to the the following Newark schools: Eighteenth was committed to the Newark com- All City and All Avenue Elementary, Cleveland Jr. High munity. County football School, West Kinney Jr. High School and And, he noted happily, “I am one of teams. As a sen- Weequahic High School. 60 current employees to be born at ior, he was named During his four the Beth.” to the All State, All County, All City teams years at Weequahic, and to the 100 best athletes in the state. he ran track and Alumni Passings Darryl rushed for over 1,000 yards in all participated in field three seasons as a starting running back events. He spent his Milton Mitnick, 1941 and scored over 72 points in two of his higher education Sondra Rabinowitz Ferdinand Weisbrod three seasons. He also excelled on special years at Western Linda Goldberg Wertling, 1954 teams as a punt and kick returner, as well Illinois University, Alain Bourdeau de Fontenay, 1960 as starting at cornerback for the Indians. Montclair State Uni- Len Bolton, 1948 versity, Julliard He was named to the All State track team Morton Brandt, 1948 School of Music and NYU, where he in 1975-76 and ran the first leg on one of Ira Blumberg, 1963 earned a BA, MA and Ed.D. Annabelle Gelb Cohen, 1948 the six fastest 880 relay teams on the East Tobi Cotler Caro, 1960 Coast that year. Henry’s post-educational involvement cen- Danny Ehrenkranz, 1961 tered on working with the youth of New- On a full scholarship, Darryl graduated Seymour Zoom Fleisher, 1940 ark, specifically in the Ironbound section, Kansas State University with a degree in Elliot Flicker, 1955 with an organization that he and Barlow Edwin Fradkin, 1939 life science. While at KSU, he started all Hutcherson established - the East Side Richard Friedlander, 1952 four years as a punt and kick returner and High School Winterguard. These students Harold Friedman, 1960 at halfback for three of those seasons, rush- travel throughout the USA competing Susan Manchyck Friedman, 1963 ing for more than 2,000 yards. He was Warren Gelayder against other units that are involved in the named most valuable offensive player in Herbert Goldblatt, 1962 indoor guard activity. Susan Gordon, 1962 his junior year. Moreover, Henry is a professional boxing Philip Grand, 1958 Darryl tried out with the NFL's Tampa Bay Roselyn Israel, 1960 judge who has officiated over 300 boxing Buccaneers but, because of an injury, was Marshall Kasen, 1961 contests worldwide. He was inducted into was not able to make the team. He was Barbara Swift Knapp, 1955 the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Jack Krafchick, 1950 commissioned as an officer in the US Ar- Harvey Lowy, 1945 my and served in the Medical Service Henry has worked for the Newark Public Marian Gordon Mandel, 1962 Corps - three years active duty and seven Schools for over 30 years as a Speech and Irving Marcus, 1958 years Reserve. Language Specialist. He serves Newark's Nette Waranch Mitterhoff most vulnerable population - the students Roberta Nathanson He obtained an MA degree in counseling who are classified special needs. Betty Reiss Haiken Ram, 1945 from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Gladys Stein Ross, 1951 became licensed by the State to provide Under this classification, he provides Richard Roth, 1941 counseling in several areas. speech services for students that have both Seymour Schissler, 1963 physical and cognitive problems. The Lynn Schlosser, 1936 Darryl went on to start a youth mentoring highlight of his day is working with the Lewis Schneider, 1942 organization in Newark called, "In the autistic population at Central High School. Melvin Schwam, 1961 Company of Me." In addition, he also was Elaine Weissman Simon, 1955 head coach of the South Ward Eagles in Ruth Stein, 1935 Virginia Kerrian Tegnazian, 1947 Leo Tzeses 19 A Jewish Girl’s Black Roots Early Lessons in Devotion

By Evanne Schreiber Geltzeiler, WHS 1952

My favorite day of the week was Hazel's day off. I can still remember those Sun- days when Hazel and I, hand-in-hand, walked to the corner bus stop at Clinton Avenue where we boarded the bus that took us to Hazel's neighborhood, in the colored section of Newark. That “you can find something truly important in an ordinary minute,” (Ref. Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven) is so true. I can recall, even now, the surge of joy I felt when I saw the little girl, sitting on the wooden front steps, arms folded around her knees, waiting for me, her It was 1938 - the Joe Lewis and Max Sunday playmate. I don't remember her Schmeling rematch: The "Brown Bomb- name, but I can't forget the feeling of er," this time, beat Max Schmeling in the ed distance because when someone is in excitement in anticipation of a happy play first round. The black race reigned your heart, they are with you always. day. We got along perfectly. supreme that night. My brother Dickie and I were thrilled! Sunday dinners at Hazel’s were mid- We are all connected. That afternoon. The crackling sound of chick- you can no more separate one Boxer Joe Louis, beloved idol of Dickie en frying and the smell of pies baking life from another than you can and me, was an icon in the ring. But just permeated Hazel's residence. The family separate a breeze from a two years prior, in 1936, white audiences, sat around a long table in the living room wind." (Ref. Mitch Albom, rooting for Max Schmeling, were ecstatic where the meal became a ceremony of The Five People You Meet in when he gave a beating to Louis. He sharing food and conversation and love. Heaven). even received a congratulatory telegram What a contrast to my own family where, from Goebbels with "Heil Hitler by dictum, the children ate first so we I am forever deeply indebted to that won- Regards." would be "out-of-the-way." derful, loving, noble family whose gener- In 1938 Consolidated Edison had 10,000 osity and loving-kindness gave me an So warm and loving, my exposure to employees, but only 65 were Negro, and inner abundance of well-being and sense Hazel's family life allowed for a stirring the popular Negro radio characters, Amos of worth that continues to sustain me. interpenetration of affection and adora- and Andy, were played by white men. tion which deeply influenced me while I subscribe to the tenet that "we are who The only Negro playing a Negro part affording a clarity of understanding unen- we are because they were who they back then, was the beloved Rochester on cumbered by bias. I felt a lingering reluc- were." Hazel and her family untangled The Jack Benny Show. tance to return to my own neighborhood. my emotions and fired a rapacious love of A Yiddish word, "Balabusta," was the family life, reverence and respect. Hazel's family life was the welcome sal- highest compliment a Jewish woman vage of the shipwreck that was my own The legacy of Hazel is strong and poign- could receive back in the 1930's and '40s. family life. The unraveling of their mar- ant. Though not genetically related, the It meant she was an excellent housewife riage, and the constant arguing between heritability factor was highly heritable, and mother. my parents, was profoundly disquieting most particularly the culture of family. My mother, however, was very different. and frightening. If it is true that we are the sum of our A dynamic redhead (dyed), and an ag- Hazel's home was my perfect safe haven. memories, then Hazel and her family gressive businesswoman, her days and I surrendered, deeply and truly, to the were a profound contribution to the moth- evenings were spent at the Beau Mode, power of Hazel and her family's love and er I was to become. her dress shop directly across the street attention. from our small apartment on Belmont That the social and cultural divide Avenue. In my thoughts, I reinhabit that wonder- prevalent in the 1930's was not part of my fully warm experience, with Hazel and childhood experience, was a privilege and And so, when I was three and four years her family, securely embedded where I an advantage that has magnificently old, Hazel, our live-in maid, became my can embrace it. That relational experi- enhanced the richness of my life. surrogate mother. Our reciprocity of af- ence has outdistanced time and surmount- fection was very deep.

20 Gary Barr, 1952 .Lucius Williams, 1964 Pastor Williams was affiliated with the Ministers Conferences and Alliances, Weequahic Teacher & Swim Coach Pastor of Belleville Church Shiloh Baptist Association, General Bap- tist Convention of New Jersey, National Baptist Convention Inc. and United Chap- lain International Worldwide Outreach, Inc. He was a member of The Hillside Chamber of Commerce and also was on several boards, including Greater Life, Inc. of Newark, Lucius was preceded in death by his par- ents and two brothers, James and the Rev. Ronald Williams. Surviving are his be- loved wife and business partner, Patricia; daughter, Desiree and granddaughter, Gary Barr, 77, of Clark, beloved husband, Lucius Williams, Jr. passed away on Au- Denaje, all of Hillside; one sister, Dr. father, grandfather, brother and friend, gust 22, 2011. He grew up attending Evelyn McClendon (Dr. Clifford died Oct. 14, 2011, at Morristown Medi- Zion Baptist Church in Newark, under the McClendon) of South Carolina; a sister-in cal Center. pastoral care of the late Rev. M.Q. Buck- -law; Bettie Miller of Orange (Alonzo man. At the age of eight, Lucius accepted Miller). Gary was born in Newark to Herman and Christ and was baptized. Florence Barr. He served in the Army June Robins Kent, 1943 during the Korean War, was a lifeguard at Lucius attended the Newark public Bradley Beach, a teacher and swim coach schools and graduated from Weequahic at Weequahic High School, and a stock- High School where he excelled in basket- broker with Wachovia Securities before ball and track. Some of his college years retiring. were spent at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He later graduated from He is survived by Susan Bohrer Barr, Essex County College in Newark with an WHS 1960, his loving wife of 44 years, Associates Degree in Business Admin- along with his son, Jon-Henry, and istration. Lucius enrolled in the Eastern daughter-in-law, Lauren; daughter, Nicole Bible Institute and received his Bachelor's and son-in-law, Larry Becker; his adored Degree in Theology from United Bible grandchildren, Ainsley Barr, Leah Barr, College in Orlando, Florida. Zoe Becker, Sydney Becker, Gavin Beck- er; and brother, Alvin Barr, WHS 1956. On March 25, 1972, Lucius Williams and After 65 years of marriage to the absolute Patricia Gabriel were married. His wife Sue writes: love of her life, Albert Allen Kent, June They are the parents of one daughter, died on June 29, 2011 - just a day after Many heartfelt thanks to the Indians who Desiree Patricia. her 86th birthday. Her unwavering de- wrote and sent cards and tributes in He held positions at Curtis Wright Aero- voutness and love to her husband, chil- memory of Gary. He was a brave soul nautical Manufacturing and as an insur- dren and grandchildren were the heart and who fought a valiant battle never once ance salesman for Progressive Insurance soul of her precious life. complaining about his own pain. Instead, Company. He was the first Black Senior he cheered the pancreatic cancer patients Words provide mere glimpses of such an Assistant Assessor in the Tax Office for on in the weekly chemotherapy sessions extraordinary being. Her journey was the City of Newark. In June of 1976, he and support groups. embraced with that infectious smile, an established Crossroads of Life Inc. Chris- indelible refinement, an intense faith in He loved his Weequahic comrades and tian Bookstore with his wife Patricia at unconditional love, and a passion for life took great pleasure telling everyone of his his side. that just made her beauty glow that much memories. He printed every newsletter Lucius was ordained to the Gospel by the brighter from inside and out. and would read them several times during late Pastor Russell Coleman in May of the week, pausing to tell stories to anyone June was born in Newark on June 1979, was called to Second Baptist who would listen. 28,1925. She was the daughter of Julius Church in Belleville as interim Pastor in C. Robins and Ruth Robins. Her years in The battle to cure this disease that claims June, and was confirmed as Pastor in De- Newark were filled with the wonder of 100 percent of its victims is finally being cember of that year. Under his pastoral learning at Peshine Avenue School and of fought with funding from Pancan.org and watch, thirteen Ministers of the Gospel course, the “great and only” Weequahic Dr. Robert Fine at Columbia Presbyterian were licensed. Several Ministries were High School. Here she soared to the top Hospital. His family and friends have started at the Church as follows: Chris- of her class with honors and strutted with joined to pledge support for these groups tian Education, Prison Ministry, Eliza B. zeal as a majorette. that use every dollar for research. Goldston Scholarship, Valley CDC, Sis- ters Sharing, Praise Team and Dance. Continued on page 23

21 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 __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)

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

 ___$5.00 TOTE BAG: - (in orange or brown with logo)

 ___ $10.00 KNIT CAP: - (one size fits all in orange with brown “W” on front)

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

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

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

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

 ___ $40.00 HOODED SWEATSHIRTS: - (sizes M, L, XL, 2XL - dark brown or orange with WHS logo)

26 SCHOLARSHIP CHOICES: 11. $__ MiriamHample Fund * 22. $ __ Leo Pearl Fund * 12. $__ Walter Hastreiter Fund * 23. $ __ Richard Roberts Fund 1. $__ Avin Attles Fund 13. $__ General Alumni Fund 24. $ __ Sadie Rous Fund * 2. $__ Maxine Boatwright Fund * 3. $__ Morey Bobrow Fund * 14. $__ Reada & Harry Jellinek Fund* 25. $ __ Linda Marcia Small Fund * 4. $__ Sharon Nicely Boose Fund * 15. $__ Phyllis & Donald Kalfus Fund 26. $ __ Ronald G. Stone Fund * 5. $__ Class of June 1960 Fund 16. $ __ Hannah Litzky Fund * * In Memory 6. $__ Class of 1963 Fund 17. $ __ Bert Manhoff Fund * 7. $__ Class of 1964 Fund 18. $ __ Seymour Swede Masin Fund * Non-Scholarship Funds 8. $__ Class of 1968 Fund 19. $ __ Edwin McLucas Fund  $__ Les & Ceil Fein Fund 9. $__ Dena Gittleman Greenstein Fund 20. $ __ Marie O’Connor Fund *  $__ Class of 1945 Fund 10. $__ Ronald Griffin Fund * 21. $ __ Carolyn Parm Fund *

22 William Michael Phipps Music was not Bill’s only interest. He In Loving Memory had a continuing desire to learn new WHS Department Chair, things from history to zoology. He also Delano Gordon Prominent Jazz Musician enjoyed traveling on vacations with Bar- bara, his wife of thirty-eight years. Weequahic community leader Bill passed away on December 3, 2011. A native of Newark, his lifelong passion Bill was the father of Loren Phipps- Delano Gordon, devoted husband, father, for music, jazz in particular, started at an Cadwell and husband Thurber; Victoria son, brother, friend, leader, youth early age when he began playing the Dillard; Rodney Smith and wife Debo- advocate, community activist, mentor and clarinet and then the saxophone. As a rah; Kyle Bradby; Vincent Wright and entrepreneur, died Oct. 26, 2011. preteen, Bill studied music with his wife Tina; the late William Phipps, Jr.; Born March 24, uncle, a marching band director. He and Kurt Bradby. Also, the brother of 1966, in Charles- performed with the marching band at James Caines; Nathaniel Phipps and wife ton, S.C., he Ruppert Stadium during Negro Baseball Bertha; George Phipps and wife Vivian; attended Weequa- League games. Bill began his formal Mary Baker and the late Willie Caines; hic High School jazz training with his twin brother, and Margaret Harris; and father-in-law of and Malcolm X Nathaniel’s (Nat) Big Band. Misty Morse. He is also survived by many grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Shabazz, graduat- After serving in the Army during the ing in 1984. He Korean War, Bill resumed his formal from page 21 wore black and education, earning a degree in Music ROBINS KENT gold, but he bled Education from New York University Of course it was during these years that orange and brown. she met the love of her life, Albert Delano then gradu- Kantrowitz (later changed to Kent) at a ated from Alphatrain Technology and Temple party. He was playing the piano began a career as a certified systems and she was intrigued and smitten! They engineer and consulted for several tech- courted during the “greatest generation” nology firms. He also worked for the - dinner dates, parties, concerts and on Census Bureau, consulted for Newark’s every single date she was given a garde- Youth One Stop and CWEP programs, nia...that's love. was a parent school liaison, a classroom She went on to study art and design at aide, and a certified basketball official. Pratt Institute of Art in New York and He chaired the South Ward Community after raising three children, she complet- Collaborative - developed to prevent “When I’m on the bandstand and ed her college degree at Montclair State abuse and neglect of children. that downbeat comes, there’s College. nothing wrong in this world.” Delano created the successful Above the June spent the next thirty years dedicat- Rim organization, which organized and an MA degree and teaching certifica- ing her life to teaching home economics basketball tournaments; summer basket- tion from Jersey City State College. at Maplewood Middle School and ball and enrichment camps; and mentor- Columbia High School. Teaching was ing and job training programs. An educator for many years, Bill’s her dedication and designing was her accomplishments included teaching jun- creative passion. In Delano's 20 years of developing ser- ior high school in New York City and a vices for youth, he used enthusiasm, Jazz Artist in Residence at Essex County June was also a member of the Rum compassion, patience and tough love to College, where he established its jazz Papier Nephrosis Foundation and became show the youth of Newark a better way orchestra. Later, he served as Chairman its President. It was here that she spear- of life. He had a love for people, no of Fine Arts, Music, and Foreign Lan- headed bringing the first Renal Dialysis matter what their plight in life. He truly guages at Weequahic High School, from Machine to St. Barnabas Hospital. put hard work and dedication into every- which he retired. thing he believed in and never allowed Beautiful "Juney" is survived by the other the word “no” to discourage him. He A renowned jazz musician, Bill per- part of her heart, her husband Albert. will always be our HERO! formed with numerous luminaries includ- She is also survived by her three children, ing George Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Jeffrey Kent, Cathy Kent Fein (Dr. Ken- Delano was the devoted husband of Dizzy Gillespie, Jack McDuff, Irene neth Fein), and Andrew Kent (Daynah Rochelle Howard, and father of four Reid, Ray Charles, and James Moody. Kent); and three grandchildren, Jennifer, children, Susan Brown, 25, Jonathan He played at internationally recognized Danielle, and David Fein. Howard, 22, Alisha Anne Gordon, 12, jazz venues, such as the Newport Jazz and Delano Gordon Jr., 5. He leaves To all of June’s dear friends: Betty and Festival, as well as smaller jazz clubs Libby and Ruthie and Dolly; nephews behind his mother, Shirley Alston Gor- throughout the metropolitan area. He don; his father, Johnny Williams; mother- Mark and Dana; nieces Adrienne and performed with various jazz groups Adele; and all those who have touched in-law, Leanne Howard; eight brothers, throughout his career, more recently as a eight sisters, and a host of aunts, uncles, her heart and soul - she loved you all and member of the Newark Jazz Elders. Bill we will miss her forever. nieces and nephews. also performed on several recordings.

23 2012 REUNIONS Weequahic High School Alumni Association P.O. Box 494, Newark, N.J. 07101 Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 Class of 1962 50th Reunion, 6 p.m. Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, Woodbridge, NJ Contact: Marty Powers at [email protected] or (732) 536-2023

Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012 KUDOS! WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Class of June 1957 Our sincere thanks The WHS Alumni Association is and appreciation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization 55th Reunion, 12 p.m. Sam Weinstock incorporated in New Jersey in 2001 Cedar Hill Country Club Livingston, NJ Vivian Simons Phil Yourish, 1964, Executive Director Contacts: Miriam Perlman Larry Bembry Board of Trustees: Feldmar - [email protected] Dave Lieberfarb 1952, Co-President and Ruth Lerner Smith at Hal Braff, [email protected] for their many years of dedicated Mary Brown Dawkins, 1971, Co-President service as members of the Myrna Jelling Weissman, 1953, Treasurer Weequahic High School Tharien Karim Arnold, 1984, Secretary Alumni Association ALUMNI STORE Board of Trustees Ruby Baskerville, 1961 Judy Bennett, 1972 Sam and Dave were a part of Sheldon Bross, 1955 the original planning committee T-SHIRTS Marshall Cooper, 1969 when the Association began in 1997. Harold Edwards, 1966 GOLF STYLE SHIRTS Sam served as Treasurer of the Board and Dave Arnold Keller, 1952 REGULAR SWEATSHIRTS continues to edit this newsletter. Marc Little, 1969 HOODED SWEATSHIRTS Arthur Lutzke, 1963 Adilah Quddus, 1971 75 YEARS AGO ... ALUMNI HAT Gerald Russell, 1974 Congratulations to David Schechner, 1946 KNIT HAT r Orde Hilda Lutzke, Charles Talley, 1966 e TOTE BAGS on pag who at age 23, started teaching Pamela Scott Threets, 1966 22 English at Weequahic 75 years ago John Tonero, Principal ALUMNI PIN on February 1, 1937

HEART OF STONE - now on SHOWTIME The award-winning documentary about Weequahic High School, the late Principal Ron Stone, and the Weequahic High School Alumni Association can now be seen on SHOWTIME on the following dates:

Thu - 2/16 - 8:30 pm - SHO Fri - 02/17 - 6:30 pm - SHO Showcase Sun - 02/19 - 7 pm SHO 2 Mon - 02/20 - 2:15 pm - SHO Tue - 02/21- 5:35 pm - SHO Showcase Wed - 02/22 - 6:35 pm - SHO 2 Sat - 02/25 4:30 pm- SHO Sun - 02/26 - 8:15 am - SHO Showcase Wed - 02/29 7:00 pm - SHO Showcase Wed - 03/07 - 1:15 pm - SHO

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