21-Weequahic Newsletter Summer 2007
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Coach Les Fein A Weequahic Legend Passes Within a span of five years in the 1960's, Les Fein's basketball teams won three state Group IV basketball championships and the 1967 squad was the best in the nation By Phil Yourish, 1964 I thought he was invincible. totally absorbed, always to Ceil, his coming to Newark, And why not? After all, he was wanting to hear more. tales about his kids, his coach- the COACH. When I heard in ing career, and the success he February that he had a heart To a Weequahic guy who grew and his wife had with Weight attack and a stroke, I believed, up in the bleachers of our tiny Watchers. even at age 88, this would be gym watching the magical just another challenge that he moments of basketball unfold It needs to be noted that Les would overcome. on the court before me, his was more than just sports and stories about his teams and his basketball. He was a very As the Executive Director of players were riveting - and he well-rounded individual with a the Weequahic High School provided the emotion with the wide variety of interests who Alumni Association, I got to details. was an avid reader, enjoyed know Les Fein over the recent music, art and theater, and was years in a way that I never As an ardent fan, the highlight very knowledgeable about local knew him when he was my of my high school years was the and world affairs. physical and health education Weequahic basketball team. teacher at Weequahic in the Could there be a finer moment Recently, he sent me an article early 60's. than when Weequahic beat that he wrote and wanted me to Westfield to capture its first critique. In it he stated that for For the past few winters, when I state basketball championship him the most important factor made my annual trek to Florida, in 1962? in coaching was "relationship." I always looked forward to And his life reflected that having lunch with Les at his For a man in his late 80's, Les' credo. country club. Although he memory was sharp and his thought the attraction for me recall of facts was remarkable. He knew his players well was the huge and tasty buffet, it Considering that he left beyond the basketball court. was really only about being coaching and Weequahic in He could recite their exper- with Les Fein. 1967, there wasn't much that he iences and achievements in life couldn't remember. during and after Weequahic. I always enjoyed getting He always had their names, together with him. My time Not only did he speak about the addresses, and telephone with him was very precious. I highlights of his 12 golden numbers nearby, and even after could sit and listen to his stories years at Weequahic and the all these years, he made a con- for hours. He was mesmer- exploits of his exceptionally certed effort to stay in touch by izing. In his soft-spoken and talented teams and players, but telephone, letter, and an occas- expressive manner, he could he shared with me the more ional lunch when they came to relate a story in the most personal side of his life - his visit him in Jersey or Florida. engrossing way. I would be growing up in Brooklyn, his time in the Army, his marriage go to page 3 LES FEIN MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 1:30 PM, Sunday, June 24, 2007 Jewish Community Center, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange FUND RAISING 18TH GALA GET-TOGETHER The ALUMNI CALUMET is a publication of the The Sunday Morning Group organized WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mural Restoration their “18th Gala Get-Together” at the Maplewood Country Club on May 17th. Editor, Layout & Design: Weequahic High School is home to one of More than 300 persons attended. Many were Phil Yourish the most important installations of public art Weequahic athletes from the 40’s and 50’s. in New Jersey: the "Enlightenment of Man," The committee members were: Stubby Proofreading: a New Deal-era mural painted by Michael Barris, Iggy Berger, Ed Berman, Phil Dave Lieberfarb, Vasco Lenson, who was the director of NJ mural Barone, Sid Dorfman, Art Drucks, Zoom Jardin, Hal Braff, activities for the Federal Art Project of the Fleisher, Sam Fromkin, Eddie Fradkin, Burt Geltzeiler, Rich Halpern, Herbie Myrna Jelling Weissman Works Progress Administration. Jacobson, Marty Karzmur, Dan Klein, Our thanks for articles from After 67 years the mural is seriously in need Ted Kurtz, Morty Leiwant, Stan Levy, the Star-Ledger and our WHS of repairs. The estimate to restore the mural Kalf Maltz, Norton Millman, Don Mopsik, alumni. is $45,000. So far, we have raised more than Bill Pollack, Stan Rubin, Mike Scher, Jeff Printing: $8,000. We urge you to begin making Schullman, Sam Solomon, Nat Stokes, Village Press of Orange, NJ donations NOW so that we can quickly raise Dave Suitovosky, Phippy Siegel, Mal the funds that are needed for this restoration. Sumka, Artie Walsh, Len Weiss, Sandy When the work is done, we plan to apply for Wischne, Marty Zwillman, and Micky CONTACT US local and state historic landmark status. Edelston. Help us accomplish our goal. Weequahic High School 1952 CLASS REUNIONS Alumni Association Make out your check payable to WHSAA P.O. Box 494 and mail it to the WHS Alumni Association, On May 20th two Weequahic reunions, Newark, NJ 07101 P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 (write representing the classes of January and June Mural Restoration in the memo area) or use 1952, celebrated their 55th anniversaries. (973) 923-3133 your credit card by filling out the form on The January reunion was at the Somerset page 18 and mailing it to us. Marriott Hotel, Somerset, NJ. Norman [email protected] Hinkes and Paula Tischler Goldfein were www.weequahicalumni.org the organizers. The June reunion was at the ALUMNI GATHERINGS Somerset Hills Inn, Basking Ridge, NJ. Lois Berg Jacobs was an organizer. HELP WRITE HUNTERS RUN, FLORIDA THE NEXT ISSUE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LUNCH Send us letters, articles, On March 18th, 38 Weequahic graduates stories, memories, poems, and their spouses met for the 3rd Hunters In early February, Fran Katz Sekela, 1954, recipes, photos, cartoons, Run Reunion. Hunters Run is a community put together a reunion lunch at the trivia, obituaries, reunion in Boynton Beach. The gathering took place Belle-Fleur Restaurant in Carlsbad, information, etc. with perfect weather at the home of Alvin California for some Weequahic gals from the Schneider, 1950. Los Angeles to San Diego area. They were: Beverly Bank Feiger, 1955, Rhoda Gold SEND US YOUR For two hours stories were shared about their Canter, Anita Goldstein Blutinger, 1954, WEEQUAHIC / NEWARK days at Weequahic and Sandy Guritzky, and Marlene Sattler Bartel, 1955, Adele MEMORABILIA 1953, challenged aging memories with trivia Gordon, 1954, Ina Marcus Gelfound, We are creating an archive questions from the past. The camaraderie 1961, and Barbara Fishman Stein. of all items relating to was just amazing. Two grads volunteered Weequahic and Newark for their homes for future reunions which will BRAGAW SCHOOL GET-TOGETHER exhibitions at our events. be every year or every two years. Since kindergarten, a small group of friends If you have old photos, With $250 left over from the event, the from Bragaw Avenue School have been newspaper articles, year- books, films, Calumets, Ergo group decided to donate the money to the meeting throughout the years. Recently, magazines, books, schedules, WHS Alumni Association’s Scholarship they celebrated their 50th year since Fund in the name of Hunters Run. The rosters, certificates, letters, graduating from Bragaw. Some of them are: hats, jackets, sweaters, WHS committee members for the affair were Bruce Rosenthal, Lois Blumenfeld athletic equipment and Sanford Guritzky, Ruth Huberman Gilbert, Natalie Rich Eisenberger, Maxine uniforms, or any other Bogen, Sandra Feins Ehrenberg, 1946, Wasserman, Stuart Glucksman, Alan interesting memorabilia, David Holder, 1939, Alvin Schneider, and Schuman, Cliff Botwin, Ronnie Slate, please call us before you Don Stickler, 1951. Janice Lipsker, and Lester Barnett. discard any of these items. and I guarantee a lot of people felt the Les Fein, 88, same way. There was a goodness from WHS Legend Passes WHS Basketball Coach him." from page 1 Mr. Fein met his wife, Cecile, at a Sweet By Laura Johnston, Star-Ledger - 03/10/07 This past September, at our Scholarship 16 party in Brooklyn. Cecile was 15 1/2; Fund Raising Dinner, as he spoke he was a year older. "I told my sister I eloquently about Alvin Attles (whom he was going to marry that guy," Cecile Fein did not coach), he took time to introduce said after 63 years of marriage. "I felt it." his 17 basketball players who were The couple dated all through New York present. Les Fein was always about University, where they earned bachelor's creating relationships. and master's degrees and doctoral equiva- lency in physical education and health. Three of the qualities that I admired in Les were his authenticity, modesty, and After they married, they moved to sense of humor. When you were in his Woodridge, N.Y., until Mr. Fein was presence, you felt like he was genuinely drafted into the Army Air Force during interested in who you were. He made you World War II and stationed at Fort feel comfortable and special. In addition, Jackson, S.C., Cecile Fein said. After the his success in sports and business was war, they moved to Union, where Mr. Ceil and Les Fein always kept in perspective.