In-Loving-Memory-3.Pdf

with Weequahic High after that. By that time, in The Indomitable fact, my deepest connection to Weequahic, one even deeper than the ties created during my four Sadie Rous years there, was broken by the death of my Social Studies Teacher mother, Sadie Z. Rous in July 1968. Weequahic and Newark were two of the great loves of my from 1934 - 1967 mother’s life. Her students and the high school where she taught for thirty-three years, were one By Paula Gilliland, from the of the main topics of conversation in our house, Star- Ledger on June 23, 1968 while many of her political passions in the 1950’s and 1960’s were rooted in her fury at the political Editor’s Note: Mrs. Rous passed away one month and economic interests and prejudices that were after this article was printed, In the original article, a threatening the stability of the high school, picture was included with Mrs. Rous talking to two neighborhood, and city that she loved. former students, Carl Gregory and David Wright, who were juniors in college. Today Mr. Gregory and are not basically changed, Mrs. Rous said. “The The Newark riots came as close as anything I ever Mr. Wright are both Principals in the Newark Public top students are as good as they’ve ever been,” witnessed to breaking her heart. It was, of course, Schools. she said. “The only difference might be that some typical of her that her response was not to give up of the students entering high school aren’t as on Weequahic or her city. Instead she created the It’s not difficult to understand why Mrs. Sadie Z. academically prepared as they should be.” She scholarship fund that was renamed for her when Rous is such a popular teacher in Weequahic High said the atmosphere in her classroom is the same she died suddenly at the age of 55. I think she School in Newark. Just to visit the warm-hearted as it was 33 years ago. “I’m a very strict teacher would be thrilled that three decades later the fund history teacher is an inspiration. During the 33 and I set very high standards for my students,” she continues to help Weequahic students and that an years she’s been at the school, she’s taught all said. alumni association has been created to keep alive types of history courses, established an alumni the interest of its graduates in their alma mater. scholarship fund and personally touched the lives She noted that some believe that there’s a split of thousand of students. between the community and the faculty at At the time I Weequahic High school and the assumption is a attended my 10th Her teaching philosophy is really quite simple. false one. “We have a great number of faculty reunion, I was “You have to love the students and your subject,” members, both Negro and white, who really care married, teaching she said. “No one should go into teaching unless about the community,” she said. “Most of the history at Pace he loves it.” students here are good children...it’s only the few University in New unruly ones who get the publicity.” She said the York City, and had She said if a person doesn’t get satisfaction from principal, William Monprode, was perfectly one son. Since then teaching, he shouldn’t enter the profession. marvelous and the faculty was inspiring. “Our I have divorced, faculty is as good as any in the country,” she said. moved to North “You can’t fool the students,” she said. “They “Weequahic High school is a great place to work.” Carolina, where I am know if you really care about them...if you know Professor of History what you’re doing.” For over a quarter of a She and her husband, Samuel, live in Newark (“we and Women Studies at the University of North century the students at Weequahic High School wouldn’t live anywhere else”), have one daughter Carolina at Chapel Hill, and remarried. My son, have known that Mrs. Rous does care about them (“who went to Weequahic”) and one grandchild. almost thirty-five, still lives in New York City. and does know what she is doing. “I’m always at The couple’s hobby is to travel and their chief love my desk each morning before eight o’clock and my is people. “My husband is as excited about helping The combination of living in North Carolina and my door is open,” she said. “The students know they students as I am,” she said. mother’s death made Weequahic High School seem can come to me with their problems at any very far away and relegated it to my memories of time...and they do.” In addition to teaching, Mrs. A native of Newark, Mrs. Rous received her the distant past. But two different contacts re- Rous was a guidance counselor for 20 years. bachelor’s degree from Montclair State College, her established that connection for me within the last master’s from Teachers College at Columbia few years. My closest friend and first cousin, Her role in seeking financial assistance for University and has done graduate work at the New Myrna King Malec, also a member of the class of deserving students hoping to go to college has School for Social Research in New York City. She 1959, joined the Alumni Association and told me been a major one. In 1962 she wrote letters to went into teaching because she’d never wanted to about it. In fact she bought me a Weequahic 100 alumni, requesting $100.00 each towards a do anything else. Except for one semester spent T-shirt, which I proudly wore when I celebrated my scholarship fund. She was told to expect no more at South Side, her entire career has been at 60th birthday with our families in the mountains of than a seven per cent response. Instead, 90 per Weequahic. North Carolina this past summer. cent of the alumni sent checks. The fund has now grown to $23,000 and scholarships are given on ******************************** The other contact was Sherry Ortner of the class of the interest and other gifts. Recipients are chosen 1958, who was a scholar at the National from applications sent to a scholarship committee Barbara Rous Harris, Class of Humanities Center in the nearby Research Triangle composed of faculty members. Park two years ago. As some of you may know, 1959, Writes About Her Mother Sherry has written a book about her class at When Mrs. Rous joined the staff at Weequahic, it Weequahic, which will be published, I believe, this was a predominantly white school. Today the I was a member of the class of 1959. I attended spring. I for one can’t wait to read about ourselves enrollment is about 70 per cent Negro, but things my 10th reunion but have had very little contact and our high school through anthropological eyes. which greeted commuters Esther Tumin, each morning as they Former Weequahic Teacher In Loving Memory passed the inn’s marquee. He was also proprietor of Esther Tumin, 84, several other motor inns passed away on In 1948 he received his law degree from Columbia and restaurants in the January 9, 2003 in University where he was editor of the law review. surrounding area Maplewood, NJ. Mrs. The following year, he went to work for the Solicitor Tumin was a physics General’s office in Washington, DC, helping to write An avid sports enthusiast, lab instructor at briefs and argue cases before the Supreme Court. he completed 10 Weequahic High School He argued his first case before the high court in marathons around the and a guidance March 1952. From 1956 to 1962, he was a world and countless local counselor at Livingston partner in the New York law firm, Proskauer Rose runs and triathlons. His High School before Goetz & Mendelsohn. He began teaching at interests ranged from fine art, music, literature, retiring in the early Columbia University Law School in 1962. With the horticulture and birding. A lover of language, he 1980’s. backing of Robert F. Kennedy, he was nominated to wrote for many local publications including The the federal bench and took his place in New York’s Speaker, Big Eye and The Women’s Newspaper of She graduated in 1938 from the New Jersey southern district in 1965. As a judge, he presided Princeton. College for Women in New Brunswick. Mrs. Tumin over a wide range of cases and was known for his was a founder and Sunday School teacher at Bet penetrating but literary style in his decisions. His philanthropic nature led to the creation of the Yeled and a member of the Habonim and Pioneer Levine Foundation for the Arts and generous Women, all of Newark. As a volunteer for EIES, a Judge Frankel surprised the legal community in donations to many national and local charitable foundation for the blind, she read the newspaper 1978 by returning to private practice, at Proskauer organizations. His intelligence, charm and humor aloud twice a week for people who were blind. She Rose, until 1983. From that year until his death he will remain a part of all that was also a member of the National Council of worked as a partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Jewish Women in Livingston. Frankel, a Manhattan law firm, where he was Leonard Kaplan, 1949 Grad, litigation director for many years. After leaving the Was President of Company Born in Lyubar, Russia, she lived in New York, bench, he quickly transformed himself into a human rights crusader, becoming chairman of the board of Newark and Livingston for 30 years before moving Leonard Kaplan, 72, of to Maplewood five years ago.

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