Bob Masin Writes a Book About His Father
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Bob Masin writes a book about his father - Successful a Weequahic sports legend from the 30’s “Heart of Stone” movie fundraisers Seymour “Swede” Masin was known as the “greatest athlete” to ever graduate from The movie received good Weequahic High School. He excelled in foot- reviews. It won awards at ball, basketball and track and field. His major film festivals through- reputation transcended the generations. Last out the country. The story is year, he was inducted into the first class of the timely and compelling. And WHS Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Swede it’s about Weequahic - the passed away in 2004 at age 85. past and present. All of the ingredients needed for a Now his son, Bob, has written a book, SWEDE - Weequahic’s successful alumni association Gentle Giant, “as a memoir to a great father who happened to be a fundraising activity. humble, legendary New Jersey athlete.” He relates that “there was something very special about him, especially some of his contra- On a beautiful Monday dictions: strong yet gentle; frugal yet generous; individualistic yet a evening in early June, more great team player; a worry wart yet with a great sense of humor.” than 830 people attended the two showings of “Heart of For Weequahic folks who love to Stone” at the South Orange remember the lore of days gone Performing Arts Center. by, the book strolls you down memory lane and amuses and Continued on page 3 entertains you with many won- derful tales from the past. Some of the chapters are: Growing up Weequahic; Seymour’s Family; 33 Scholarhips Swede’s Contemporaries; The Awarded Dirty Rotten Stinking Masin Kids; Idyllic South Orange; At the 2009 Graduation, the Swede and the Newark Greats; Alumni Association awarded and so much more. For those 33 scholarships totaling who have Orange and Brown nearly $50,000 to deserving running through their blood- students at the high school. stream, this book is a must read. The Scholarship Committee is Journalist Sid Dorfman, a WHS 1937 grad and also a Weequahic led by Art Lutzke, 1963. alumni Hall-of-Famer, recently wrote about the “SWEDE” in his Members are: Judy Bennett, weekly column in the Star-Ledger. They were lifelong friends who 1971; Harold Edwards, 1966; had lunch on a monthly basis with legends Les Fein, Bert Manhoff, Dave Schechner, 1946; and and Richie Regan. According to Sid, “Swede, arguably the finest Myrna Weissman, 1953. athlete to attend a Newark high school - I’d give at least equal standing to Lonnie Wright of South Side - went on to anchor some of See our presentation of the those great Panzer College basketball teams, which won a mere 44 scholarship recipients on games in a row.” pages 4 and 5. See page 3 for more on Swede ALUMNI HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2009 Friday, October 9th - football game between Weequahic and Cedar Grove High School at the newly renovated Untermann Field. Saturday, October 10th - tour of high school, brunch, slide show, merchandise sale, Principal’s chat, neighborhood parade... and more. Sunday, October 11th - Jazz at the Key Club in Downtown Newark. Bob Masin writes a book about his father - Successful a Weequahic sports legend from the 30’s “Heart of Stone” movie fundraisers Seymour “Swede” Masin was known as the “greatest athlete” to ever graduate from The movie received good Weequahic High School. He excelled in foot- reviews. It won awards at ball, basketball and track and field. His major film festivals through- reputation transcended the generations. Last out the country. The story is year, he was inducted into the first class of the timely and compelling. And WHS Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Swede it’s about Weequahic - the passed away in 2004 at age 85. past and present. All of the ingredients needed for a Now his son, Bob, has written a book, SWEDE - Weequahic’s successful alumni association Gentle Giant, “as a memoir to a great father who happened to be a fundraising activity. humble, legendary New Jersey athlete.” He relates that “there was something very special about him, especially some of his contra- On a beautiful Monday dictions: strong yet gentle; frugal yet generous; individualistic yet a evening in early June, more great team player; a worry wart yet with a great sense of humor.” than 830 people attended the two showings of “Heart of For Weequahic folks who love to Stone” at the South Orange remember the lore of days gone Performing Arts Center. by, the book strolls you down memory lane and amuses and Continued on page 3 entertains you with many won- derful tales from the past. Some of the chapters are: Growing up Weequahic; Seymour’s Family; 33 Scholarhips Swede’s Contemporaries; The Awarded Dirty Rotten Stinking Masin Kids; Idyllic South Orange; At the 2009 Graduation, the Swede and the Newark Greats; Alumni Association awarded and so much more. For those 33 scholarships totaling who have orange and brown nearly $50,000 to deserving running through their blood- students at the high school. stream, this book is a must read. The Scholarship Committee is Journalist Sid Dorfman, a WHS 1937 grad and also a Weequahic led by Art Lutzke, 1963. alumni Hall-of-Famer, recently wrote about the “SWEDE” in his Members are: Judy Bennett, weekly column in the Star-Ledger. They were lifelong friends who 1971; Harold Edwards, 1966; had lunch on a monthly basis with legends Les Fein, Bert Manhoff, Dave Schechner, 1946; and and Richie Regan. According to Sid, “Swede, arguably the finest Myrna Weissman, 1953. athlete to attend a Newark high school - I’d give at least equal standing to Lonnie Wright of South Side - went on to anchor some of See our presentation of the those great Panzer College basketball teams, which won a mere 44 scholarship recipients on games in a row.” pages 4 and 5. See page 3 for more on Swede ALUMNI HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2009 Friday, October 9th - football game between Weequahic and Cedar Grove High School at the newly renovated Untermann Field. Saturday, October 10th - tour of high school, brunch, slide show, merchandise sale, Principal’s chat, neighborhood parade... and more. Sunday, October 11th - Jazz at the Key Club in Downtown Newark. students will take you around the building. It The ALUMNI CALUMET Coming Home really hasn’t changed that much in 76 years. is a publication of the See the WPA murals in the lobby. Walk the WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION To Weequahic hallowed halls (the tile floors and walls are still the same). Sit on the wooden seats in the Editor, Layout & Design: By Phil Yourish, Class of 1964 auditorium. See if you can find where you Phil Yourish, 1964 carved your initials. Visit the office. As a It’s Friday evening on October 9th. student, how much time did you spend there? Proofreading: Want something fun to do? Head on over to If you listen carefully, you might be able to Dave Lieberfarb, Hal Braff, and the newly renovated Untermann Field. It’s hear the voices of our venerable leaders - Myrna Jelling Weissman. never looked so good.Go to the big rock Herzberg, Bernstein, Weingast, Epstein, monument. See the new plaque installed by Our thanks for articles from Barrett, Stone and others. the alumni association. Sit with other alumni The Star-Ledger, The Jewish State, in the bleachers and watch an exciting football NJ Jewish News, NJ Monthly Search for your locker. See if you can find Magazine, and our WHS alumni. clash between Weequahic and Cedar Grove. your homeroom. Did you know that It was only a few years ago when the Indians Printing: Village Press of Orange Weequahic had an elevator? It’s still in use. won the state championship. Root the orange Visit the classrooms.Muse about some of the and brown to victory. wonderful teachers you once had - Melnik, CONTACT US Tumin, Boatwright, Martino, Rous, Lutzke, On Saturday, October 10th get up early Weequahic High School Lanier, Pearl, O’Connor, Jenkins, Lustig. and take a journey back to the old neighbor- Alumni Association Play an imaginary game of hoops or kickball hood. The magical kingdom of Weequahic in the gyms. The bleachers are gone but P.O. Box 494 awaits you. Bring your family and show them otherwise it’s very much the same. And Newark, NJ 07101 where you grew up. Drive on the memorable where’s that fabled swimming pool that’s streets of your past - Renner, Hawthorne, (973) 923-3133 become so much a part of Weequahic lore? Aldine, Lyons, Grumman, Keer, Bergen, and [email protected] Elizabeth to name a few. Stop to see the Break bread with us. Join us for a tasty www.weequahicalumni.org houses you once lived in. Ride by the schools buffet brunch in the cafeteria. Mingle with you attended as a kid - Peshine, Bragaw, classmates and alumni from many different Hawthorne, Maple, Chancellor, Clinton HELP WRITE THE years. And don’t forget to buy a memento. Place Jr. High, Bergen, Avon, Madison. NEXT ISSUE On sale will be hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, alumni pins, books on Swede Send us letters, articles, Masin and theSheldonJews of WeequahicBross, 1955, stories, memories, poems, and the Tribute to Mr. Fein video. If recipes, photos, cartoons, you haven’t already done so, become trivia, obituaries, reunion a member of the alumni association. information, etc. Locate the synagogues and churches where Then come up to the Library/Media Center WEEQUAHIC ARCHIVES you worshipped. Were you born at the Beth? for a slide show of Weequahic past. Hear Recent donations to our archives: Stop by and take a look at their magnificent Principal John Tonero speak about the wall of history.