Weequahic Captures 1st State Football Title

By Mike Kinney, Star-Ledger scrappy Raritan, 6-0, in the Kamara, who had 12 tackles NJSIAA/Gatorade Central and a sack, tackle Dominick Weequahic was gritty and Jersey, Group II championship Brown and end Obadiah resourceful, it was rugged and game at Rutgers Stadium in Dykes. Brown and Dykes had unyielding. Its execution was Piscataway. seven tackles each and kept not especially pretty in spots, constant pressure on Raritan but there were enough pleasant It was not only the first crown quarterback Brian Kalarjian. little surprises to keep the for Weequahic, which earned mission intact. its 11th straight victory, but "It was all about not giving up also the first for a Newark team any kind of big play. No How fitting that Weequahic's since Barringer won in 1975. matter what, we were going to first state sectional title would "We knew if we scored once we keep fighting," Kamara said. be claimed with a performance were going to win the game Weequahic had no alternative that bore a striking resem- because we weren't going to let because Raritan wasn't giving blance to the city it represents. them score," senior quarter- anything away for cheap. back Jamaal Perry said. "Our Linebacker Chris Mooney Lineman Phillip Smalls defense is real strong." (11 tackles) and tackle Jerome pounced on a fumble in the end Dean anchored a defensive unit zone to cap the opening drive, Perry, also a safety, had an that was well-prepared and then linebacker Amara Kamara interception to help keep brimming with confidence. and the hard-hitting defensive Raritan's offense at bay. But corps carried the rest of the day the Monmouth County school's Continued on page 14 as Weequahic, No. 17 in The most troublesome figures were Star-Ledger Top 20, edged no doubt the omnipresent

Please Contribute To Our Second "French Class Trip to Paris Fund"

Help us support this exceptionally significant project. Mail your check payable to WHSAA to Weequahic HS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 (indicate French Trip on the check) FROM THE HIGH The ALUMNI CALUMET is a publication of the SCHOOL ON THE HILL Alumni Gatherings WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Editor, Layout & Design: WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE Class of 1976 Reunion Donation: Phil Yourish The class of 1976 had a fabulous 30th Proofreading: Reunion at the Marriott Hotel at Newark 2nd French Class Dave Lieberfarb, Hal Braff, Liberty International Airport in late Myrna Jelling Weissman Trip to Paris November. Alumni Director Phil Yourish

was invited to speak about the alumni Our thanks for articles from Two years ago, French teacher Lavinia association and the class presented him with the Star-Ledger, NY TImes and Rogers organized a trip to Paris for 13 of her a generous $500.00 donation for the Alumni our WHS alumni. Football students. Funds for that excursion were Scholarship Fund. photos from the Star-Ledger raised by the participating students and the and James Giles, Allpropix. WHS Alumni Association which donated Alumni Board Celebration: Printing: more than $23,000. Each of those students are now in college. On Sunday, January 14th, Alumni Board Village Press of Orange, NJ member Arnold Keller, 1952, hosted a party For the Spring of 2007, Ms. Rogers is for more than 50 people at Ristorante de planning another trip to Paris for 10 Benito in Union to celebrate last September's CONTACT US deserving students. Fund raising projects are successful Scholarship Fund Raising Dinner Weequahic High School taking place at the school and in the honoring Alvin Attles and the unique Alumni Association community. accomplishments of the alumni association during the past 10 years. P.O. Box 494 As we did so generously in the past, let's Newark, NJ 07101 support this worthwhile endeavor through Somerset Run, New Jersey (973) 923-3133 alumni contributions. Make out your check Alumnus Norman Siminoff organized a payable to WHSAA and mail it to the WHS luncheon at Somerset Run for the 55 and [email protected] Alumni Association, P.O. Box 494, Newark, over crowd. Alumni were invited from www.weequahicalumni.org NJ 07101 (write French Trip in the memo Canal Walk and Renaissance to celebrate the area) or use your credit card by filling out classes from 1943 to 1966. Arnold Keller, the form on page 18 and mailing it to us. HELP WRITE a Board member of the Alumni Association, THE NEXT ISSUE spoke of the importance of supporting the Mural Restoration current students at the high school. Send us letters, articles, stories, memories, poems, Weequahic High School is home to one of Delray Beach, Florida recipes, photos, cartoons, the most important installations of public art trivia, obituaries, reunion An alumni breakfast for 130 men took place in New Jersey: the "Enlightenment of Man," information, etc. Sunday, January 14 at Gleneagles Country a New Deal-era mural painted by Michael Club in Delray Beach, Florida. Ray Lenson, who was the director of NJ mural Kirschbaum, 1946 and Daniel Stacher, activities for the Federal Art Project of the SEND US YOUR 1946, were the organizers. Works Progress Administration. WEEQUAHIC / NEWARK MEMORABILIA After 67 years the mural is seriously in need Boca Raton, Florida We are creating an archive of repairs. The estimate to restore the murals 1946 grad Marty Edelson hosted an alumni of all items relating to is $45,000. We urge you to begin making luncheon for 270 people on Saturday, Weequahic and Newark for exhibitions at our events. donations NOW so that we can raise the January 13 at the Marriott Hotel in Boca funds that are needed for this restoration. Raton, Florida. If you have old photos, When the work is done, we plan to apply for newspaper articles, year- local and state historic landmark status. Tampa Bay, Florida books, films, Calumets, Ergo Help us accomplish our goal. magazines, books, schedules, WHS grads Mike Warner, 1953, and Rita rosters, certificates, letters, Make out your check payable to WHSAA Bech Ehrenpreis, 1954, residents of the hats, jackets, sweaters, WHS athletic equipment and and mail it to the WHS Alumni Association, Tamp Bay area, are interested in organizing uniforms, or any other P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 (write a Weequahic reunion for those who live on interesting memorabilia, Mural Restoration in the memo area) or use Florida's Gulf Coast. For more information, please call us before you your credit card by filling out the form on contact Rita at [email protected] discard any of these items. page 18 and mailing it to us. In recent years, the Alumni Association disciplined and able to accomplish Weequahic begins has raised hundreds of thousands of something, and that opens possibilities," dollars for everything from new band Braff said. "Show the kids the to soar again uniforms and instruments to a trip to Paris possibilities. Now we just have to work for the French class to college scholarships real hard to get all the kids to see that the Sectional championship for deserving students. culture can change, and that education can help them and that feeling good about signals triumph for the entire Perhaps more importantly, according to yourself is possible." Weequahic community - Bill Belfer, it has present and past helped bring together two groups of people whose only common Excerpts from two articles by Bridget reality was the name Wentworth, Star-Ledger, 12/04/06 of their high school. Belfer, who lives in The brown football-shaped balloon, meant Holmdel, attended the to signify "the Weequahic party is here," game with other had taken off into the sky, and Hal Braff graduates of the class was worried people might not be able to of 1963. "The com- find his tailgate get-together in the parking munities after the late lot outside Rutgers Stadium. But soon '60s were divided," enough, fans began gathering, wearing the Belfer said. "Today, orange and brown of the Weequahic there is more Indians. Black and white, young and old, involvement and they greeted each other warmly, and attachment, and a sampled the coffee, donuts and bagels willingness to help Braff and his wife, Elaine, had set out on a and a willingness to table next to their car. Just another accept the help. The successful outing for the Weequahic High people from my generation still have a A QUARTERBACK'S School Alumni Association. profound attachment to Weequahic High REDEMPTION School and the city of Newark. It's great When the Indians defeated Raritan, 6-0, in to be able to have the opportunity to give Jamaal Perry's lost week seems like the Central Jersey, Group 2 football state back and be accepted, even though we ancient times. The Indians' starting championship game to earn their first-ever come from different communities now." quarterback grew up in his grandmother's title and the first in 31 years for a Newark apartment in Felix Fuld Court, a Newark school, it was a triumph not just for the Sandy Scheps, another member of the housing project controlled by the Bloods team itself but for the larger school class of 1963 who also lives in Holmdel, is and beset by the drug trade. community. the vice president of alumni at Bloomfield College, which gets its share of today's The three-story brick apartment buildings, The Alumni Association is a major part of Weequahic graduates. He's begun to hear known as "Li'l Bricks," cover one block in that. Braff, a 1952 graduate and the co- of the turnaround at the school. "At first, it a blighted area of the Central Ward. The president of the group, wanted to tap into was - 'I'm glad to get out of there.' And complex is bordered by vacant, overgrown the enthusiasm for the school he felt at now I'm hearing that things have gotten lots, the backside of a supermarket and a class reunions and find a way to help his better," Scheps said. "And when they get stretch of abandoned, burned-out apart- alma mater. Before the Newark riots of to know you, they want to hear the stories. ments. There is garbage everywhere. the late 1960s, Weequahic had been an It's like telling your children your stories. Perry's mother does not live with him, and academic jewel in a predominantly Jewish And they can't believe that's actually their his father left the family seven years ago. neighborhood. By the time Braff helped school." establish the Alumni Association about 10 When Perry was 14 and a freshman, he years ago, it had succumbed to the During the Braffs' tailgate party, skipped football practice for a week and struggles of the poor, black neighborhood Weequahic principal Ron Stone made an spent the hours after school getting drunk. around it. Test scores and morale were appearance before heading to the Indians' When he finally showed up, White low. locker room to give a pre-game speech. shocked him by handing him the starting Above all, Stone wanted them to job. The coach also told Perry he knew "I found out the faculty had no idea of our "remember who you are!" Weequahic what he had been doing for the past week. history," Braff said. "And I thought we Indians. That was the moment Perry's life hit a could take our energy from the past and crossroads. bring it up to the needs of the kids living in Just like the people in the stands, black the houses we lived in." It was a poignant and white, who watched them win and fall mandate, and it has been realized. all over each other in their celebration as Continued on Page 4 champions. "It shows they were Continued from page 3 lieutenant with the State Police and the

team's academic coach. "How to order AMARA KAMARA If I never played for the football team, I'd from a menu. Why we left more money Defensive Player of the Year probably be doing the wrong thing right than was requested. What a tip is. How to about now," he says. "I think about it a conduct yourself." By Mike Kinney, Star-Ledger lot. I could have been locked up, probably dead. So this football team has meant a lot Perry admits he felt stared at, but the Amara Kamara could to me. They're not just my teammates, lessons stuck when it came time for barely understand they're my family. And I consider Coach another dinner, with Chicago Bears English, except for a White my father." defensive line coach and Weequahic 1972 few repetitive inquiries alum Don Johnson at the Hyatt of classmates and the Regency in Jersey City. "We're used colorful catchphrases to chicken shacks," Perry says. "All at Pop Warner those forks and knives? But I knew to practice. But Kamara eat from the outside in." Now Perry understood the wants to treat his own family and universal language of friends to such a meal. approval. So when the ball was snapped and he swooped in from defensive end to "We wanted to stretch the realm of promptly immobilize its temporary owner, possibility," says Hines, a 1978 the seventh-grader knew he had succeeded. Weequahic alum. "We wanted to get the genie out of the bottle. It's hard All that hollering and helmet slapping is to put it back once you do that." exactly what had followed his first hard tackle. Then his second and third, and no SEEKING A BALANCE one even took him out of the game for it. "I was so quiet and shy in school, I never Football isn't the only sport at tried to say anything. I wasn't picking up Weequahic. The basketball program the language too well," Kamara said. "I has become a state powerhouse in didn't know what I was doing in football, either. I'd never saw it before." Perry is looking forward to attending a recent years. So it's no surprise the school junior college in Pennsylvania and maybe plays host to that age-old American high transferring to a Division I school. His school drama in which the jocks get all the Kamara, now an All-Star senior at coach says: "I'd love to see these young attention while the scholars fight for Weequahic High School in Newark, had men go to college and come back and do recognition. Naomi Adjei is ranked No. 1 moved with his family from Guinea to flee things for the city. "I don't do this for the in the Class of 2007. She has applied to the civil strife in that West African nation. money. I do this because I get a chance to Harvard, Princeton, Johns Hopkins and He generally avoided social contact at first, see a young man like Jamaal, a great Columbia. In July, she won a gold medal but found himself drawn to another type of young man who was thrown some curve in mathematics at a national competition. contact at the Pop Warner field across the balls in life, swing at those curve balls and street from Morton Street Middle School. maybe even make contact." Asked whether that was ever announced, Adjei shakes her head, laughing. "Oh, "I went over there and got introduced. I GENIE IN don't go there," she says. "I think Mr. joined but had no idea what I was doing," Stone announced it during a faculty Kamara said. "Every time the ball was A BOTTLE meeting. Teachers have asked me why it snapped I just moved to the ball. The hasn't been announced (to students), and I coaches and all the other players seemed Last year, Joe tell them I don't want it announced. If it to like what I was doing. I spent two years Hines (assistant was going to happen, it would have of Pop Warner just chasing the ball." football coach) happened a long time ago." took Perry and Kamara is now so proficient and so another player to Maybe if Adjei was the placekicker on the athletically advanced, the ball seems to a fancy restaurant football team, she would have gotten her come directly to him. When he lined up at during a gather- due. "When athletes do well, you hear an inside linebacker - a new position for him ing of top high announcement every day," she says. But this season - guards and fullbacks seemed school players in she also admits being thrilled by the to slide off his chiseled 6-2, 210- pound Texas. "We sat success of the football team. She serves as frame to give him and unimpeded shot at down and showed a student trainer, helping players with their halfback. When he lined up on the them how to eat rehabilitation and treatment before outside, Kamara looked like he made dinner," says practices and at games. "I know athletics previous all-access backfield arrangements Hines, a is a major part of the school and I love with the opposing coach. doing this," she says. Continued on page 5 when we needed a huge play he was right ALTARIK WHITE there in the middle of things picking us NJ High School up. He's just a wonderful player."

Coach of the Year View a tape of a Weequahic playoff game and one might guess that number By Mike Kinney, Star-Ledger 80 was digitally inserted into scrums. He made 21 tackles in the first round, a 34-7 In retrospect, Altarik White may not have victory over Rumson, recorded 19 actually promised a state championship tackles and 2 sacks and stopped a pivotal when he took control of Weequahic's two-point conversion try in the semi- beleaguered football program in 2002. finals, a 14-12 victory over Rahway, and What he promised was the passion and had 12 tackles and a late-game sack in diligence he felt was required of a coach the final against Raritan, a 6-0 triumph. of a successful and highly respected outfit. "I want to be involved in as many plays as possible. I will do anything I can to Somehow, White must have sensed that worked out all season while Untermann help my team," Kamara said. "When I this glowing enthusiasm, in concert with started playing football I played just to his football experience, could translate Field was being refurbished. "So many great athletes have come through play. I was curious. Now I play because into a title, which was achieved Dec.3 I love it. You can tell the difference when Weequahic defeated Raritan, 6-0, Newark, but it takes a great man to lead them to their fullest potential," between someone who likes it and at Rutgers Stadium in the NJSIAA someone who loves it." Central Jersey, Group II final. It was the Weequahic assistant Irvin "Poochie" Hill (WHS 1979) said. "Newark has had first championship in school history for Temple and Akron are two of the schools Weequahic which had constructed only Frank Verducci (Barringer), Burney Adams (Weequahic), and Jesse Jones to have made that distinction and want three winning seasons in the 23 years Kamara to star in their future game films. prior to White's arrival. (Vailsburg). This year we see the coming of another great Newark coach in Altarik Kamara's GPA is a solid 3.2, but he must White." raise his SAT before he can accept a Anyone who knows White, or even scholarship offer. "I'm focusing on that merely watched him run with the SAT now. I'm still going to be lifting to football, understands that passion and Coaching a consistent football winner in Newark is one of the hardest jobs in high be ready for football, but my SAT is the diligence have been his backfield mates most important thing right now," Kamara since his Pop Warner days. Dave school sports. Guaranteed, a quick run- through of a team roster each season will said. "I don't want to be redshirted or McCombs, White's coach at Shabazz in anything. I want to play next year." the late 80's, knew as soon as White produce a dozen impoverished children accepted the job, that he would quickly of broken or unstable homes and too many victims, witnesses and, sometimes, Kamara's impatience is understandable. resurrect the Weequahic program. His He broke into the starting lineup as former rushing star recognized only one even participants of the city's gang epidemic. freshman defensive back and struggled direction, and that was forward. through a 1-9 season along with then A coach in Newark is not just the man freshman quarterback Jamaal Perry and "Altarik won't accept losing," McCombs Weequahic's other youngsters. The new said in 2002. "He doesn't understand the who blows the whistle and designs plays. The idea is you first rebuild a young pride of brick city has gone 23-8 since meaning of it." William Paterson fans that 2003 season. "When our class came and teammates sure could relate. They man, then you get to the part about victories and losses. in everybody was small. I was about 5-9 watched the irrepressible halfback set and real scrawny," Kamara said. "But practically every rushing and scoring even then we talked about winning a from page 4 record during his career from 1990 KAMARA state championship. We wanted to put through 1993. White considered it a Weequahic on the map." personal shame to be tackled. "I wanted He was in on a staggering 193 tackles to get to that end zone real bad," White this season, helping post three shutouts, said. "I've always been just a fierce and guided Weequahic to its first competitor." sectional championship in Central Jersey, Group 2. Kamara recorded 53 tackles Anyone on the Weequahic staff, and five sacks in three playoff games, in hand-picked by White for sharing his which Weequahic allowed just 19 points. ideals, also notices that passion and "No other kid in the state could possibly diligence accompany him each day he have the impact on big-time games that struts onto the field for practice - or tiny Amara did," Weequahic coach Altarik slice of vacant lot where Weequahic White said. "In all our big situations creases the length of his left jaw from ear to Ron Stone, WHS chin. Mr. Stone, a divorced father of twin Principal Leads a 15-year-old boys, is often described as a disciplinarian, and Weequahic’s hallways Team, and a School, are calm and orderly, though its classes are to New Heights lively.

By Ronald Smothers, But he is not a disciplinarian in the same NY Times, 12/03/06 vein as another urban school principal from New Jersey, Joe Clark, who was immorta- Late in the fourth quarter Sunday lized as a bat-wielding practitioner of tough afternoon, with his team up 6-0 in its state love in the 1989 movie “Lean on Me.” For championship game, the principal of one thing, as a former college football Newark’s Weequahic High School, Ronald running back, a black belt in tae kwon do G. Stone, began shouting from the stands. and a former wrestler with a 105-5 record, "Nine minutes to history!” came Mr. Mr. Stone has no need for a bat. Stone’s hoarse scream, barely audible amid Jahquill’s expression softened as he 3,000 cheering fans at Rutgers Stadium. casually cast sports as a metaphor for life, “He’s not the Joe Clark kind of tough,” saying, “So if they win, we all win.” said Eugene Brown, principal of the nearby Weequahic’s brown-and-orange-clad Chancellor Avenue School and a longtime Indians indeed made history Sunday, By student, faculty and administration friend. “He doesn’t strong-arm kids. He beating Hazlet’s Raritan High School accounts, Mr. Stone’s leadership of the knows that you have to show them that you Rockets to become the first team from school has brought them from worst to care about them and won’t give up on Newark to win a football championship in first, or at least to being a contender. Not them, and every kid, no matter how big, 31 years. For Mr. Stone, the history lesson only did the football team post an 11-1 wants to feel safe. Then you just have to be began five years ago, when, as a new record this season, but in the spring, on the consistent.” principal, he squeezed $40,000 out of an most recent statewide proficiency exams, already tight budget to open a weight- 62 percent of Weequahic 11th graders were Raised in Newark’s largely Italian North training room for the Indians, which had proficient in language arts. That is an Ward, Mr. Stone met his father for the first been the Rodney Dangerfield of teams in increase of 18 percentage points from the time when he was 15, and afterward had the city, and hired a storied former high previous year, and while it is still below the only fleeting contact with him. He said that school running back, Altarik White, as statewide average of 85 percent, it tops his stepfather abused both him and his coach to lead them. Newark’s citywide score of 61 percent. mother, a prominent local Democratic leader, and that school was his “haven” In the 1950s and ’60s, Weequahic was from difficulties at home. among the state’s top schools academically, “The whole culture of the school with alumni that included the writer Philip A serious student who played trumpet in Roth. But in recent years its test scores has changed...Ron Stone is a the band at Barringer High School, plummeted to the lowest of any school in wonderful leader who has turned 17-year-old Ron Stone got that intimidating Newark, and its classrooms were plagued the school around.” - Marion scar in 1968, amid the tense racial after- by violence, drugs and gangs. Students Bolden, Superintendent of Schools math of the Newark riots. He said he had cutting class brazenly shot craps in the intervened to stop some black youths from hallways, sometimes holding the dice up so beating up one of his Italian-American they could be seen on security cameras. Despite still lagging math scores, classmates at Barringer. After flooring his Weequahic’s progress in the state exams opponent, Mr. Stone said, he hoisted him As he sought academic reclamation, Mr. during the last three years means that in the up and dropped him at the feet of a Stone, a former football and wrestling star coming year it will be the only compre- policeman. But the boy had a razor in his himself, went on a quest for athletic glory hensive high school in Newark not deemed coat and came up slashing. “I learned from and school spirit to match. The lesson, Mr. “failing” under the federal No Child Left that to never ease up on an opponent until Stone said after Sunday’s victory, was that Behind Act, Mr. Stone said. “The whole you knew you had him beaten,” said Mr. Weequahic’s underprivileged students culture of the school has changed,” said Stone, conceding that the scar, like some would have to sharpen their natural talent Marion Bolden, Newark’s schools superin- talisman, symbolized street credibility to and speed with the hard work of weight tendent, who was at the game Sunday Weequahic students and frequently training to prevail against larger, better-off afternoon cheering the Indians on. “Ron forestalled confrontation. teams, like the Rockets. Stone is a wonderful leader who has turned the school around.” Mr. Stone earned a bachelor’s degree in “There was so much criticism, so much physical education and a master’s in public negativity about us, our team,” said Mr. Stone, 56, is part Zen master, with his administration at Kean University in Union, Jahquill Turner, a 17-year-old senior who measured, assured and thoughtful approach N.J., where he was a running back on the does not play football but was among 300 to students, and part streetwise homeboy, football team. students who showed up Friday at a with his shaved head, muscular physique hip-hop pep rally before the big game. and stylish suits, not to mention a scar that Continued on page 7 STONE from page 6 “Plus, they all now understand that there is only one O.G. at Weequahic,” said Mr. A former classmate, Earl Brown, now a Baraka, using the initials for Original financial adviser who lives in Montclair, Gangster, a title often adopted by a gang recalled that Mr. Stone was often behind a leader. “And that’s Ron Stone.” lackluster line, relentlessly taking a battering but consistently eking out yards trying to go off tackle or up the middle. No Principal's Salute To the Team matter what, Mr. Stone kept going, Mr. Brown said, a determination he later (Prior to the championship football witnessed when they played tennis game, Principal Ron Stone spoke to together. the football team)

“He got more out of tennis than anyone I Across the centuries, great men, great Principal Ron Stone ever knew, and there was a cerebral side of thinkers, and some great leaders stood Cheering On His Team him that needed to break down and analyze before an assembly of men such as you, the physics of putting topspin on a shot,” to offer words of wisdom and and you have to accept that reality and Mr. Brown recalled. “He could verbalize it encouragement in times of struggle - meet them there.” There is nothing wrong in a way you could understand, and it and in times of celebration. with their brains, Mr. Stone said, but their showed an awareness of the often murky thinking is often skewed by the “external Today marks such an occasion. I do mental aspect of the grossly physical.” conditions and the code of the streets. not posture as a great man, or a great You have to connect with them thinker. However, as it happens this It is a short step from that focus to Mr. emotionally,” he said. “Then you have to day, I find myself standing in your Stone’s decision to create the weight room provide them with a safe place with consis- presence as the Principal, the leader of for Weequahic’s football team. He said he tent rules where they can be kids. Then you Weequahic High School, and what I hoped it would demonstrate that you have have to use better pedagogy and better want to say to you before you take the to work hard and prepare yourself in order instructional practices. Only then have you field, is that no matter the outcome to get results. And then you realize, Mr. made inroads into their personal lives.” today, you have already won. You are Stone added, that “you can’t be successful already CHAMPIONS! on the football field and then be afraid to One controversial aspect of Mr. Stone’s tackle math.” Today, you are here where none from time as principal is his approach to gangs, Newark has been in 31 years. Today, which are not banned, but blunted, inside Speaking of math, while Weequahic on you represent all that is good about Weequahic’s walls. With the help of a Sunday earned the title “state champions,” you, your hard work and your prowess vice principal, Ras Baraka, the school it was actually one of 28 teams competing for the game. You represent the pride walks a fine line with gang members: in 14 sectional games played over three of your family, your loved ones and It prohibits displays of their colors but days during the past weekend at either your friends. You also represent all benignly acknowledges their existence. Rutgers or Giants Stadium. New Jersey those others who in different ways at does not have a state football tournament. different times struggled so that you “We couldn’t ignore them because they Instead, the top playoff games were the might have this opportunity. won’t allow you to ignore them,” said Mr. sectionals; Weequahic, technically, is Baraka, a former Newark councilman and a champion of Central Group 2, the first Honor their sacrifice! So when you son of the playwright and former state poet Newark team in a generation to achieve take the field today - laureate Amiri Baraka. “We set rules, give that honor. them a place to resolve problems, and have ...rush with certainty, the way Harriet achieved a détente. We did it by Tubman walked to freedom Mr. Stone talks frequently about the fears demystifying them.” and insecurities bred in homes with young ...pass magnificently, the way Dr. King black single mothers, homes that many of preached, During Friday’s pep rally in the school Weequahic’s roughly 1,000 students come auditorium, Mr. Stone stood off to the side ...tackle tenaciously, like Thurgood from. He deplores the absence of a home as a group of young men on stage, to much Marshall practiced Law, atmosphere that encourages hard work cheering, did a dance associated with the everyday, much less academic excellence, ...punt purposefully like Gerald Levert Crips. Then another group came and did its and the lure of the street gangs that provide sang a love song, dance, a Bloods dance. Mr. Stone said that rules and structure. Asked if he was initially he had been against such displays, ...sack officiously the way Muhammad positing a “culture of pathology” among but was convinced by Mr. Baraka that it Ali boxed some blacks that has persisted for two or was all right to “let them represent, but more generations, Mr. Stone’s expression but, most of all, stay on your game and only in a way that the school allows them to softened. remember Who You Are! If you feel represent.” me...IP (Indian Pride) holla’ back...IP. He said the harsh lives that some Weequahic students faced “is what it is, ALUMNI PROFILES In addition to describing Newark, the to get their attention, she wrote the lyrics novel also describes the experience of to Rob Base's rap song: "It Takes Two" her Jewish faith as the daughter of on the chalkboard and asked them to Jane Statlander, Jan. 1961 Holocaust survivors. punctuate it. "I taught them grammar by showing it to them in their mind frame, 'What Philip Roth Never Told The book is a magnificent discovery, it and it worked," she said. "It made me You, The (True) Story of a has varied elements like poems, letters, realize my calling as a teacher." Newark Girl' and diary entries mixed in with the prose that make one feel that they have Barnes, who lives in Newark, earned her stumbled onto a treasure trove of a life. BA degree in literature from Stockton The novel It opens with a list of the cast of and her MA in linguistics from Temple "What Philip characters in the story that remind one of University. For the past 13 years, she Roth Never the character descriptions in plays. The has been teaching developmental English Told You, The time line is blurry jumping back and at UCC. "I like the challenge behind (True) Story of forth effortlessly between her childhood teaching developmental English. It lets a Newark and adult life, but the result creates a me use my creative ways to get students Girl," written world that is both carefully observed and to understand a verb or a metaphor," by Dr. Jane beautifully felt. Like all good stories it she said. Statlander, is a echoes the way the best stories can courageous trigger memories in the listener that may During Poetry Month in April, she look at her not follow rational thought patterns but encourages professors to engage their own life, filled touches on deeper truths nonetheless. students with artistic assignments. "In with loss, 2004, posters were hung on doors and disappointment Dr. Jane Statlander is a highly educated students expressed themselves through and joy. She tells the story of a girl and well-traveled woman who received poetry," she said. "It was called 'Poetry growing up in Newark, her difficult her PhD in American Literature and for the People,' and they really enjoyed marriage and the blessing of her four Culture at the University of New it." Barnes holds events where children, Stefan, the twins Daniel and England in Australia. In addition to her professors and artists speak about poetry Joshua, and youngest daughter Rachael. latest book, she has also published short and the arts. This year's lecture was Readers will be drawn into the descrip- stories, poems, plays and literary called "All I Need Is One Mic." a cross- tions of Jersey City and Newark, which criticism. "What Philip Roth Never Told cultural dialogue about the globalization depict the small emerging cities of New You, The (True) Story of a Newark Girl" of hip-hop in Cuba and Greece. Jersey as melting pots of immigrants by Dr. Jane Statlander is available at: striving to honor their culture and www.llumina.com. Barnes has also been involved with the heritage while embracing the new. Sacred Circle Cafe, a spoken-word and urban theater, and Planet Hip-Hop, a The book took the author four years to Marjorie Barnes, 1985 four-day festival showcasing local talent write. It was published this past in dance, music, theater, poetry and September by Llumina Press and is Professor takes poetry fashion. She has also been an honorary categorized as a "bio-fictional novel" to the streets poet for the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry because it can't easily be put into just one Foundation since 2001. As a Dodge genre. It has passages about Philip Roth, By Kathy Marques, Star-Ledger poet, she goes to schools and conducts with whom the author shares a love of poetry workshops. writing and a Jewish faith. Marjorie Barnes was still in college when a Passionate about helping her community Newark and the surrounding towns are rap song inspired her through the arts, Barnes was awarded in described in such a way that they are to become a teacher. 2004 and 2005 with "The Art Start very real characters in the novel, at a She's since become a Grant" for a neighborhood program time when neighborhoods were com- poet, hip-hop artist, called "The New Ark Mobile," sponsored munities and supported each other. published author and by the Puffin Foundation and the Arts college professor. Council. Using a flatbed truck parked on Although she no longer lives in Newark, various street corners in Newark, Statlander says that a part of her will Barnes, now an English professor at children using an open mic expressed always belong. "You can take the girl Union County College's Elizabeth themselves through song and poetry. out of Newark, but you can't take Newark campus, was a junior at Richard Stockton She also taught a weekly hip-hop poetry out of the girl." She says that even now College in 1989, student-teaching a workshop at the Essex County Juvenile when she meets someone she can tell if sophomore English class of mostly Detention Center and became known as they are from Newark. underperforming students. In an attempt the "Poetry Lady" by the inmates.

Visit our web site at WWW.WEEQUAHICALUMNI.ORG ALUMNI PROFILES attorney in the Essex County Prosecutor's for the black Office before going into private practice. godfather True to his reputation, Crowe has put character in the WHS Jan. 1956 intense preparation into the role, seeking to "Shaft" movies Richie Roberts match Roberts' manner of speaking and his of the 1970s. body language. He even requested tape After Johnson's recordings of Roberts. death in 1968, From Foes To Friends Lucas became and Now On To Fame Roberts said he was summoned in June to the most a rambling estate in Nyack, N.Y., that was powerful By William Kleinknecht, Star-Ledger once owned by the late actress Helen heroin dealer in Hayes. Crowe is renting the property Harlem. He Richie Roberts is a during his stay in the New York area, and bypassed the respected attorney it was there that he began his observation Mafia and in Essex County, of Roberts. Sitting on a terrace over- linked directly but four decades in looking the Hudson River or wandering with suppliers courtrooms have around downtown Nyack, the two men in Southeast hardly made him chatted over two days, and Roberts said he Asia, some- famous. He knows had the distinct feeling of being studied. times smuggling heroin into the U.S. in the what it is to schlep "He wanted to know what kind of pants I coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. to work every day, wore in those days, what kind of belt," scrape up alimony Roberts said. "He saw a Star of David I Roberts, who was an assistant county or make a mortgage wear around my neck. They made an prosecutor and head of the Bureau of payment. exact duplicate if it. He got into my Narcotics in the mid-1970s, obtained an Judaism. He wanted to know why I felt the indictment of Lucas for his role in a He could easily have gone through life way I did and what it meant to me." Newark heroin ring headed by his brother, without so much as 15 minutes of fame. Roberts said he found the scrutiny Vernon Lucas. As the trial got under way But the Newark native is now living a unsettling. in Superior Court in Newark, Roberts fantasy. He lunches with Russell Crowe learned that Frank Lucas had put a contract and Denzel Washington. He sits on a "It's a very, very strange feeling," he said. on his life. movie set with his name printed on the "I'm not one to talk about myself and the back of his chair, giving tips to Hollywood past. It makes you very introspective when But he said he director Ridley Scott. you look back at your life and you think of believes the all the things you did wrong and could trial was a Roberts' prosecution three decades ago of have done better. It's very disconcerting." turning point the legendary Harlem heroin kingpin Frank Roberts said he has come away with great for Lucas. Lucas is the subject of a major motion admiration for Crowe, and not only After a woman picture being filmed in New York City, because of his dedication to his art. Last testified about and suddenly the world is a lot bigger than week, Roberts said, Crowe gave every finding her son the Essex County Courthouse. "This is so member of the cast a hooded sweatshirt dead of a unreal, it's surreal," Roberts said recently with the words "American Gangster" on heroin as he sat in a hallway at the courthouse. the front and "Weequahic High School" on overdose, "I'm just a regular guy from Newark. Why the sleeve. "He said he put Weequahic Lucas five Academy Award winners would want High School on it because he knew it summoned to make a movie about me is beyond my would mean something to me," Roberts Roberts to his comprehension." Hollywood was said. "He's a good guy. He really is." cell. There, he was in tears and told attracted to the story because of the drama Roberts that he had never looked at his behind Roberts' pursuit of the larger-than- In an interview at the Essex County crimes in that way. life organized crime figure, but also Courthouse, Lucas, now in his 70s and in a because an unlikely friendship sprouted wheelchair, said Washington has also been The trial ended with Lucas' conviction, and between the two men after Lucas began doing his homework. He said the two men he became an informant helping authorities cooperating with authorities. have met several times, and the actor in Essex County and New York City arrest quickly picked up Lucas' Southern accent. other drug dealers and crooked police In the movie, to be titled "American "Mr. Washington is a great man," Lucas officers. "He flipped to our side," Roberts Gangster," Washington plays Lucas, said. "He's got it down. He is Frank said. "He made a lot of cases for us here whose criminal reign in Upper Manhattan, Lucas." and in New York. Our judges, as a result with occasional forays into North Jersey, of his cooperation, cut his sentence." ran from the 1940s to the 1970s. And Lucas was a North Carolina native who Despite facing nearly 70 years in prison, Crowe is playing young Richie Roberts, a came to New York penniless in 1946 and Lucas was released in 1981 after serving former Weequahic High School football ended up as the right-hand man to just six years. player who was both a detective and Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the Harlem numbers kingpin who was the inspiration Continued on page 14 ALUMNI PROFILES New Jersey Notable Book for 1995-2005 Jerusalem. Ruth took this cause to heart along with Philp Roth's (WHS 1950) after injuring herself on a trip to Israel in American Pastoral and Sandra West's 1994 and receiving treatment at the Sibyl E. Moses, 1967 (WHS 1964) Encyclopedia of the Harlem Jerusalem hospital. ‘‘I came back with a Wrote Book on African American Renaissance. tremendous pride in their work,’’ she said. Although Ruth would not say Women Writers in NJ Sibyl E. Moses, Ph.D., a native of precisely how much money she has Newark and a 1967 graduate of raised for the medical center, she said, ‘‘I Weequahic High School, is the Reference have met all my goals. I love the work Specialist in African American History Hadassah does. I have had a lot in this and Culture at the Library of Congress in life. I believe, with all my heart, we must Washington, D.C. She resides in Silver give back.’’ Springs, MD. Ruth keeps busy, not just with Hadassah, but also with organizations including the Ruth Marech Shipman, 1948 Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, the National Council of The Hadassah Woman of Year Jewish Women, the Jewish War Veterans Ladies’ Auxiliary and various teachers By Carly Rothman, associations. Then there are her daily Star-Ledger workouts, plus her regular bridge and mahjong games. But Ruth says her As a child, Ruth favorite activity is the Yiddish club she African American Women Writers in New Shipman relished the attends at a nearby synagogue. There, Jersey, 1836-2000 by Sybil E. Moses is ‘‘yiddishkeit,’’ or sharing Yiddish songs and jokes with the first and only reference book to ‘‘Jewishness,’’ of her friends, she keeps alive her memories of identify and document the lives, neighborhood in her childhood in Weequahic. intellectual contributions, and public- Newark’s Weequahic ations of over 100 African American section. ‘‘We loved Ruth graduated from Weequahic High women writers in the Garden State from the sense of belonging, of being a part of School in 1948 and Rutgers University in 1836 through 2000. a vibrant culture,’’ said Shipman’s Newark in 1952, earning her teaching husband, Richard (WHS 1946), who certification the same year. She taught in Many, such as Jessie Redmon Fauset, grew up nearby. ‘‘Especially around the the Hillside schools for 31 years, first Alice Perry Johnson, Sharon Bell Mathis, holidays,’’ she added. teaching second and third grade and later Ntozake Shange, Claudia C. Tate, Ruby serving as a basic skills teacher in read- Ira Williams, and Marion Thompson Although she left Newark more than 50 ing and math. She and her husband Wright, were born in the state. Others, years ago, Shipman, 75, has retained her Richard married in 1953, spending two like Amina Baraka, E. Alma Flagg, rich sense of Jewish community through years in Orange before moving to Helen Jackson Lee, Gertrude Williams organizations like the Hillside-Union Springfield, where they joined Temple Pitt, and Dorothy Porter Wesley, Chapter of Hadassah, the Women’s Beth Ahm. The Shipmans, who have although not born there, were residents of Zionist Organization of America. Last three grown children and four grand- New Jersey for more than 15 years, and month they named her Woman of the children, lived in Springfield until mov- made significant contributions during Year. ‘‘Oh, I was shocked!’’ Shipman ing to a West Orange apartment in 2004. that time. said. ‘‘There are so many other members who are so wonderful and active.’’ ‘‘I grew cactus, flowering cactus, in New This volume contains biographical Jersey!’’ she said, recalling her large information about each author, several of Chapter president Ilse Frank said Ruth's garden in Springfield. ‘‘I had lilacs, whom discuss the individuals who contributions as past president, fund- tulips, peonies, and lilies of the valley. fostered their interest in reading and raising vice-president and chairwoman of Those are the things I miss.’’ The writing. There are photographs of the several committees made her an excellent Shipmans’ apartment is full of artwork - writers as well as citations for their candidate for the honor. Ruth, who lived much of it her own, including a colorful published pamphlets, books, reports, and in Springfield for nearly a half-century painting of a music band and a large articles. Sibyl E. Moses has enhanced before moving to a West Orange apart- framed needlepoint of a bouquet of the text with characteristic excerpts from ment two years ago, was honored at a flowers. Other pieces reflect their Jewish the poetry and prose of selected writers. brunch on Dec. 10 at the Short Hills heritage - delicate Stars of David The two appendixes highlight the Caterers, where she received a pin. crocheted by an Arab friend, a crystal distribution of African American women Much of Ruth's work with Hadassah has dreidel and a small painting of a bearded writers in New Jersey by city, town, and focused on raising money to support the rabbi poring over a Torah scroll. ‘‘I am by genre. The book was selected as a Hadassah University Medical Center in in support of anything pro-Jewish,’’ she said. ‘‘I love being Jewish.’’ ALUMNI PROFILES education. He established, and became the first director of, the Rutgers-Newark Institute on Education Law and Policy WHS June 1956 (IELP), an interdisciplinary action research Paul Tractenberg center. Since then, IELP has been heavily engaged in research projects and ongoing technical assistance to the New Jersey Urban Education Department of Education, the state Advocate Extraordinaire legislature and many other agencies. Its main emphases have been on school funding and related tax reforms, school At WHS, Paul (better known to many as accountability and especially state “Yogi”) was an all-state baseball pitcher, grant from the Ford Foundation and intervention in local school districts, co-valedictorian of his graduating class and became its first director. In 1980, ELC school choice, and the replication of president of the OBA. The Legend became the legal advocate for the students unusually successful urban schools. yearbook quote under his picture was “A in all of New Jersey’s poor urban school man so various that he seem’d to be not districts, now numbering more than Rutgers University’s governing body, the one, but all man’s epitome.” 350,000. Board of Governors, recognized Paul’s extraordinary record of public service in Although he had some offers to play In early 1981, it filed the case of Abbott v. 2002 by naming him the Board of professional baseball, Paul decided to go Burke on their behalf. Building on the Governors Distinguished Service directly from WHS to college. After earlier Robinson case, for the past 25 years Professor. The law compiling an outstanding academic record Abbott has been the driving force behind school had at Wesleyan University and the University our state’s unprecedented effort to increase previously named of Michigan Law School, he spent several educational funding for students in poor him the Alfred C. years each at the Wall Street law firms of urban districts and to convert that funding Clapp Distinguished Sullivan & Cromwell and Fried, Frank, into equal educational opportunities. Public Service sandwiched around two and one-half years Newark alone has received several billion Professor of Law. as a lawyer in the Peace Corps’ General dollars (yes, that is billions with a “b”) in Counsel’s office in Washington. additional state education aid and tens of Somehow, Paul has millions of dollars in facilities aid during managed to find In 1970, Paul returned home, accepting a the past eight years as a result of the Abbott time for other professorship at Rutgers Law School in case. activities. He has Newark. Immediately, he became been an avid involved in the effort to equalize Deservedly so, Abbott has received long-distance educational opportunities of urban students extraordinary recognition. In 2001, New bicyclist for throughout the nation, but especially in Jersey judges and lawyers overwhelmingly decades, six times New Jersey. The differences between the voted Abbott to be the most important state completing the WHS Paul had known in the 1950s and the th court decision of the 20 century. A year Longest Day ride, a WHS of the 1970s were startling and may later, the New York Times said of Abbott one-day, 200-mile well explain his career-long commitment that it “may be the most significant ride from High to that effort. education case since the Supreme Court’s Point to Cape May, desegregation ruling [in Brown v. Board the full north-south Beginning in late 1970, Paul, and a team of of Education] nearly 50 years ago.” length of New law students working under his direction, Jersey. He also became involved in the case of Robinson v. th Having recently attended his 50 WHS plays in a weekly Cahill, representing the NAACP Newark class reunion, Paul continues to be heavily poker game that has chapter education committee and the involved in Abbott and a variety of related survived for more than 30 years. ACLU of New Jersey. By 1973, the New efforts to improve the education provided Jersey Supreme Court issued its first to students in poor urban school districts. Paul is a proud member of the Weequahic decision in the Robinson case, ruling that Over the years, he has argued before the High School Alumni Association and the state’s system of funding public New Jersey Supreme Court 14 times in served on the honorary committee for the schools was unconstitutional because it Abbott and its predecessor case Robinson. spectacularly successful Al Attles dinner. under-funded urban school districts, He chairs ELC’s Board of Trustees and Al and Paul are old WHS friends and including Newark, and failed to provide works closely with David Sciarra, ELC’s teammates (Paul rode the bench in their students with a “thorough and executive director, to safeguard Abbott’s basketball and Al rode the bench in efficient” education, the state constitutional fiscal and educational victories for baseball). requirement. That has been the law of Newark’s and New Jersey’s urban New Jersey ever since. students. Most importantly, Paul’s wife Neimah, son Ilan and daughter-in-law Dina, and Also in 1973, Paul founded the Education In 2001, Paul launched another related, but grandchildren Daniel and Avigayil, keep Law Center (ELC) in Newark with a large differently-focused effort to improve urban him young and on his toes. 2006 Weequahic Inductees several years and was the Ombudsman of Syd was invited to try out with several the NJ Department of Banking and Major League Baseball teams including in the Newark Athletic Insurance. He has also served on the the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Hall of Fame panel of Real Estate Commissioners and Pirates, but because his mother wanted practiced as an insurance defense attorney him to go to college, he chose to attend LARRY BEMBRY, 1966 for the firm of Timinis, Beachham and Montclair State. After graduating he Hughes for four years. began teaching and coaching. which has Larry Bembry spanned 32 years. He taught at Broadway co-captained with In his commitment to give back to his Jr. High, Clinton Place Jr. High, West Dennis "Mo" Layton community, Larry has worked with Side Evening Adult School, and Bergen the Group IV State several private non-profit organizations St. School, where he spent 14 years. Championship including Newark Fighting Back and the Since 1994 Syd has been at Malcolm X. basketball team Urban League of Hudson County. Resid- Shabazz High School where he teaches coached by the ing in West Orange, he is married to Construction Technology, one of three legendary Les Fein Sandra Bembry and is the proud father of curriculums that he assisted in developing. in 1966. He was two children, Najee and Mya. selected on the His coaching career began at Arts High All-Newark and All SYD HAYNES, 1968 School in March 1975 and he is currently Essex County basketball teams and was head baseball coach at Malcolm X selected on the 1st team of the All Metro Mike Sheppard, a Shabazz High School. Syd's success and Basketball Team of the NY Daily News. baseball coach at high level of competitiveness are well Seton Hall University, documented. But if you ask him what are Following graduation, Larry attended states that Syd Haynes the most important things in his life, he Belmont Abbey College on an athletic was "one of the responds “the love of God, the strength scholarship. He was chosen as the greatest ballplayers of and guidance from his parents, John and captain of the basketball team, and his time.” Alma, the birth of his daughter Nichole, averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds, per and the greatest gift of all, grandsons, game on a team that was 19-5 during his Sydney Haynes was Jalen, Justin, and J’hvier." last year at the college before transferring born in Englewood in 1969 to Rutgers University-Newark. but moved to Newark via Hackensack in TED KURTZ, 1950 There Larry led the basketball team to a 1957. He started his athletic career at the winning season and averaged 21 points age of eight when he became involved Ted Kurtz, while and 13 rebounds per game. with the Newark Boys Club on Littleton pursuing a college Avenue. He excelled in basketball, prep curriculum, He received recognition as one of the gymnastics, swimming, and of course was very active in most outstanding college players in New baseball and played all these sports very sports in high Jersey by the NJ Sports Writers well. Competition was always something school. He was Association. He was named as honorable he welcomed, never backing down from a Co-Captain of mention on the NCAA All-American challenge. His mom, Alma, always knew Weequahic’s Basketball Team, Division III. Following where to find him. He would be at the baseball team and college, Larry played on the pro circuit playground or the park playing ball. He made All-City. He for a number of years before pursuing his played Little League baseball and in 1963, was among the top 25 hitters in Essex goal of becoming an attorney. earned the MVP award. County during his senior year. He also played two years of varsity football as a Currently, At Weequahic, Syd participated in quarterback and guard. Larry is cross-country, fencing, basketball, employed as an bowling and baseball. However, baseball Ted started his amateur boxing career at Assistant was his passion and he was an outstanding the Newark Boy’s Club on Morton Corporation pitcher. In his sophomore and junior Street. He was champion of the boy’s Counsel of the years, he was named to the 1st Team All club from 1946-1950 and represented Law Depart- City. He hit his stride in his senior year, them in local competitions and had an ment in Jersey when he was 11-2, earning honors undefeated record. On a boxing City. He has including 1st Team All- City, All-County, scholarship, he attended the University of served as staff All-Metro, 1st Team All-State, Group IV, South Carolina where he boxed three counsel for the and 3rd Team All-Groups. Syd credits his years for the varsity and played two years NJ Department Weequahic Coach Harold Ginsberg for of baseball. He also fought professionally of Banking and teaching him the psychological side of the in South Carolina. Insurance and game and how to win. He also was in the the NJ Real YMCA Youth & Government and was Estate Com- class president as a senior. Continued on page 12 mission for KURTZ from page 11 aerospace, aviation, medical and utilities industries throughout North America. Ted received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of South Zoom’s business accomplishments seem Carolina in 1955 and became a registered secondary to his civic and community pharmacist in New Jersey. He practiced activities. In civic, professional, charit- pharmacy for 40 years, owning his own able and service organizations, he partici- store in Montclair for 30 years. Ted was pated on numerous Boards of Directors. a member of the New Jersey At NJIT, Zoom served on many Advisory Pharmaceutical Association. Boards and was active in fund raising efforts for the University. He and his He retired and moved to Florida and has wife, Estelle, endowed numerous remained active by playing golf and scholarships and are recognized by the tennis. Ted has been married for 47 naming of the “Estelle and Zoom years, has three children and four Fleisher Athletic Center” in their honor. grandchildren. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of SEYMOUR FLEISHER, 1942 Fame at N.J.I.T., received the Out- standing Alumnus Award and the Edward Seymour “Zoom” F. Weston Medal for Distinguished Fleisher grew up Service by an alumnus. He was named in Newark, Corporate Citizen of the year by Wayne attended Peshine Township and received the United Way he earned CACC All-Conference Honors Avenue School of Passaic Valley Benefactors Award. and NAJA Honorable Mention All and then American. In 1991, David was inducted Weequahic High Zoom has been blessed with much into the Bloomfield College Athletic Hall School where he success and happiness in family, friends, of Fame. participated in education, athletics, military, business, track, basketball, organizations and health. He attributes David received his certification in baseball and much of this to an adage, paramount in Elementary Education from Upsala football. his life, written by Mark Twain. “Always College and a BA degree from do right; this will gratify some people and Bloomfield College in Sociology. He Distinguishing himself in basketball, astonish the rest.” received his Masters in Psychology and Zoom achieved All-City, All-County and Certification in Administration from Honorable Mention All-State honors. DAVID WRIGHT, 1966 Rutgers-Newark and Kean University. With the advent of World War II, Zoom left college and enlisted in the U.S. Army In 1977, he utilized his basketball Aviation Cadet Program where he experience to launch his coaching career. became a B-29 Bomber Pilot. He served After serving as an assistant coach at as a pilot then Airplane Commander and Montclair State University for one year, Squadron Operations Officer. Zoom and David assumed the helm as head basket- his crew flew ten missions from the ball coach at Rutgers-Newark. He served Island of Guam to bomb the oil refineries as the leader of the Rutgers team until in Japan. 1984. He also was the head basketball coach at West Side High School. David Returning from World War II, Zoom David Wright participated in varsity ended his coaching career at Bloomfield attended Newark College of Engineering basketball, football, and track and field at College as an assistant coach for the where he played 4 years of varsity Weequahic. In 1966, not only did he basketball team. basketball and captained the team for 2 assist his team in capturing the Group IV years. He earned a BS degree in State Championship in basketball, but David's professional career began as a Mechanical Engineering in the Honor’s also was selected on the All City team in teacher at South 17th Street School. Option Group in the class of 1951. In football as a halfback. There he became the Basic Skills 1956, he and his wife started a manu- Coordinator, Vice Principal, and Principal facturing company with one employee After high school, he furthered his for 9 years until his retirement in 2006. that became the Pilot Technologies education during the next two years at Presently, he works as a mentor for new Corporation which grew to employ Shaw University where his athletic administrators for the State of NJ. On the almost 300 people making precision prowess earned him a football home front, Dave is very proud of his components and assemblies that served scholarship. He then transferred to wife Sharon, children Kristan and Keisha, the electronics, telecommunication, Bloomfield College where his athletic and grandchildren Jahson and Brianna. talents were recognized in basketball as STATE CHAMPS from page 1 Raritan's opening possession resulted in a punt on a fourth-and-13, and its final play A Weequahic Documentary Weequahic did end up rushing for 194 was an incomplete pass on fourth-and-26 yards - led by junior Rashon Vines with from its two with 1:40 to play. Have you been noticing camera crews 109 yards on 20 attempts - but Raritan was at our events like the Scholarship essentially able to neutralize Weequahic's Kamara and Kareem Phelps put their Fund Raising Dinner, Homecoming superior speed. Such a noble effort was signatures on the victory by sacking 2006, and the football championship hardly a shock to Raritan or anyone else in Kalarjian on first-and-15 from the 13. "We game? Filmmaker Beth Kruvant of the section. Weequahic allowed only 19 knew this wasn't going to be an easy game Good Footage Productions in total points in three sectional games and for us. We just had to come out and play Montclair is currently working on a closed its season with three shutouts. our A-plus game," Kamara said. "Our documentary about Weequahic and defense was all about keep making plays." how the Jewish and African-American "Offensively, we didn't get it done today, communities have influenced each and we could have done a better job other's lives. probably from the special teams' stand- She has already interviewed alumni, point," Generelli said. "But again, when ROBERTS from page 9 former and current staff, admin- you play great competition, a lot of times istrators, and students. If you have a your performance is a reaction to their The film, which is scheduled for release story, ideas or thoughts about Newark performance." late this year, has been a long time in the and Weequahic that you would like to making. In 2000, Universal and Imagine, share, please contact her at Other than its missed PAT, Weequahic the Hollywood production company, [email protected]. (By the way, Beth's was surprisingly efficient on special teams. purchased the rights to "The Return of dad, Martin Gelber, was a 1939 Senior Dawud Hayes was the star of the Superfly," a New York magazine piece Weequahic grad). day with seven punts for an average of about Lucas. 30.7 yards. Only one was returned, for just 7 yards. "Everybody helped out. It Steven Zaillian, who wrote the screenplays A Weequahic Exhibition was an overall effort," Perry said. "It's just for "Schindler's List" and "Gangs of New that the defense happened to help out with York," was hired to do the script, all but Linda Forgash, Curator and Outreach a bit more authority than anyone else." ensuring the film would be made. But the Director for the Jewish Historical project hit some snags along the way. In Society of MetroWest, is seeking your "That's the way championship football is 2004, after $100 million had been spent cherished memories for a major supposed to be," Weequahic coach Altarik and the movie was about to begin filming, exhibition about Weequahic in the White said. "And that's what we do. We Universal Studios pulled the plug, blaming Jewish era to the present time entitled play good football in Newark." director Antoine Fuqua for cost overruns. Weequahic: Newark's Legendary At the time, Washington was already cast Neighborhood which will open in I'll take that defensive effort from us every as Lucas and Roberts was to be played by 2008 at the Alex Aidekman Jewish day, to hold Weequahic with Division 1 Benicio Del Toro. Then Del Toro was out, Community Campus in Whippany. kids and how explosive they are," Raritan and Fuqua was replaced by Scott, whose Would you like your family name and coach Bob Generelli said. "I guess it took credits include "Black Hawk Down" and Weequahic address to be included in a little while for our kids to assimilate to the cult classic "Blade Runner." The Great Weequahic Map that will the speed of the football game. But that be featured in the exhibition? Send was it." Like Roberts, Lucas was paid an this information along with your undisclosed sum for his life story, current name and current address to Generelli was speaking of Weequahic's including details of his criminal [email protected]. first drive, an eight-play, 70-yard march organization, known as the "Country that featured the speed of both Thomas and Boys." He will not discuss whether he Linda is also requesting that you take Vines and the alert instincts of Smalls. personally killed anyone, although he a look at your shoe box collections for Thomas lost the ball charging in from the boasted of at least one murder in the New photographs, memorabilia, and 5-yard line, but Smalls dived as it bounced York magazine article, and a defense artifacts such as restaurant menus, away from his teammate to score with 5:14 attorney that he had a quarrel with in a synagogue souvenir journals, prom left in the first quarter. "I really thought I Rikers Island visiting room in the 1970s pictures, football programs, letter had crossed the line, but my offensive line was shot on a Manhattan street the same sweaters, school jackets, or any items did a terrific job of cleaning up my mess," week. pertaining to the Jewish neighborhood Thomas said. "Everybody took care of of Weequahic for purpose of everybody today. This is the first time Roberts said people have asked him how exhibition. Please give her the everybody did everybody's job." he could be friends with someone who opportunity of first right of perusal, almost certainly has blood on his hands. before refusal. If you can scan, that That did seem to be true, though it was His answer, he said, is that Lucas is a would be a perfect way to forward clear that the defense was working changed man. "What do we do, hate these photographs. Make sure you scan at overtime at its job. It held Raritan to a people forever?" Roberts said. "Maybe 300 dpi and save it in a tiff file. total 93 yards and just five first downs. some people do. I don't." Grads back from the armed services in 1946 WALDO WINCHESTER (sent in by Eugene Blackman) This popular column from the Calumet first appeared in 1950.

Dr. Julian Orleans, 1942, recently returned from a 300-mile bike trip through Israel, from Jerusalem to Eilat. A physician for more than 50 years, he was one of more than 325 cyclists mostly from the U.S., Canada and Israel, who raised nearly $2 million for the Alyn Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Jerusalem for the care of children with congenital and acquired deformities and diseases. Dr. Orleans, who retired two years ago, has biked in 15 foreign countries and 22 different states, including a "coast to coast" tour in 1991.

Helen Silver Levine, 1945, is the President of the Atlantic City Chapter Front Row: Harold "Heshy" Cohen, '42; Charles "Buddy" Herman, '44; Herbert "Jasco" Jacobson, '41; of Brandeis University Women's Committee for the past five years. She Sidney "Sid" Zimey, '40. Back Row: Lou "Shoe" Klein, and her 155 members keep busy in 13 study groups and by raising funds '42; Herbert "Hat" Levine, '42; Sidney "Duke" Weiner, for the library at the University in Waltham, MA. By the way, 1963 '42; Eugene "Red" Blackman, '43; Jordan "Jordie" Weequahic grad Jehuda Reinharz is the President of Brandeis. Wasserman, '42; Samuel "Sammy" Eblonk, '40.

Sandy Slotnick, 1953, received the Distinguished Service Award from The Theater Projects' performance of "A Step in a the Long Beach Island (NJ) Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. She is a Stranger's Shoes" for the New Jersey Theater Alliance lifetime member of the Board of Trustees and most recently served as its Family Week presentation on Saturday, March 3rd at President. Union County College in Cranford. More information is at http://www.thetheaterproject.com. Charlotte Angert, 1953, of Monroe Township, NJ, was recently surprised when an orange post card arrived at her home inviting her to join the Weequahic High School Alumni Association. What startled her Paula Borenstein, 1967, is interviewing Jewish was the postmark on the card - December 2003. It took three years for Holocaust survivors who settled in Newark after World her to receive it. So what was her reaction to the post office's ineptitude. War II with a focus on their relationship to the existing What else? She became a member. Jewish community. She is interested in hearing from people who would like to be interviewed, or have Herb Segal, 1959, celebrated his 65th birthday by running the National documents, pictures, letters, diaries or other information Trail Marathon Championship in Hendersonville, NC. He is a retired relating to this period of time. Contact her at (908) Army physician living in Raleigh, NC and is active in Habitat for 289-3584 or at [email protected]. Humanity and various retired military and religious organizations. Phyllis Hope, 1980, was elected to the Broward David Levinson, 1964, the President of the Berkshire Publishing Group County, Florida, School Board District 6. She is the in Massachusetts, recently contributed two books that he wrote/edited to first Black and the first woman ever elected to that seat. the Weequahic library. They are: Sewing Circles, Dime Suppers, and W. E. B. Du Bois, A History of the Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church Bo Porter, 1990, a baseball, football and basketball star and African American Heritage in the Upper Housatonic Valley. at Weequahic, is the new 3rd base coach for the Florida Marlins major league baseball team. Sandra King, 1965, was nominated for four Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards as co-host of the show, "Due Process" on the New Jersey Network (NJN). The program, which explores legal and justice issues, has investigated the war on drugs, the lawsuit to legalize gay marriage in NJ, gangs, and racial profiling at airports. Sandy already has eight other local Emmy awards and many other journalism awards.

Alumni Board member Charles Talley, Jr. (1966) and Diana Morrison Talley (1966) celebrated their "40th Wedding Anniversary" on November 24, 2006. Diana, known as Daaimah, is associate producer for The Theater Project, Union County College's Professional Theater Company. She played the gypsy/fortune teller in their production "The Skin of Our Teeth" which was recently named one of the 10 Best shows of 2006 in New Jersey by The Star Ledger. Daaimah will be directing Diana & Charles Talley / Daaimah performing knew his father, even the captain who gave Mention honors and helped establish the ALUMNI VOICES him mouth to mouth when he was blown Weequahic athletic tradition. away in Vietnam. Ellen Bratter Hulme, Jan. 1963 He remained interested in Weequahic sports (to Principal Ron Stone) John and I returned to the place he was killed and I remember going to the Thanksgiving in 2000 and had a meaningful memorial Day game with him for many years even service. In 2004, HBO bought John's movie before I attended Weequahic. At 89, he still I am sitting in my and every Memorial Day month and Veterans remains interested in Weequahic football. office reading the Day month, the movie is aired. John has been Now that he and my mom have moved back to Star-Ledger article invited all over the country to show the film; NJ after almost 30 years in Florida, he about the Weequahic veteran groups, college and universities and occasionally gets together for lunch with an High School football high schools. The topic is relevant today with old friend and rival from South Side to talk team and the work that the Iraq War and the young men and women about the Good Old Days and some of the you and Coach White who are dying and leaving families devastated games and their teammates. have done to bring as ours was 37 years ago. respect and excellence Fred Scocozza writes about his to the young men on the team. I am I was hoping that John and I could come to overwhelmed with emotion. My name is Weequahic at an assembly or a class and show brother Frank, the WHS Band Ellen Bratter Hulme and I spent 20 years of his film (80 minutes) and have a Q&A with Director in the early 60's my life in Newark, and graduated Weequahic the students and offer some hope. I'm sure in 1963. I lived on Clinton Place and my there are those students who don't have fathers Frank was doubtless the brother and I played in the playground in back nor the kind of mother that I was, and they most talented and loving of Chancellor Avenue School every summer. might be able to see that it is possible to person one could imagine. succeed if you surround yourself with the He graduated from My family was not amongst the affluent, yet right people. To keep your dream alive, or to Barringer High at age 16 we gained from the social milieu that we lived even begin to dream. in 1944 and was president in. My brother, Warren, was a star athlete; of the National Honor football, baseball and track, and my father a John did the entire film on his own by Society. He received a star football and track athlete at the once enrolling people to support him. He would scholarship and went to South Side High School. My uncle owned not give up. We would like to help inspire Oberlin. He then received SYD'S, the local hot dog/hamburger "joint" others to do the same. Even if one student a scholarship to Juilliard where he studied across from Untermann Field. My Mom found this helpful, I believe this would be violin under the world renowned teacher Ivan worked all of our life at the Newark Museum, worthwhile. Galamian, who also taught Perlman as well as and my father was an Assistant Housing many other eminent violinists. Manager at the Newark Housing Authority. Ken Frieder My parents never wanted to move, yet in 1968 Frank was invited to Tanglewood where he it was no longer safe to walk from Lyons My dad, Jake Frieder, was studied conducting with Serge Koussivitsky. Avenue to Chancellor Avenue so they had to Leonard Bernstein was there at the same time. leave. It was a very sad time. the first football hero for the Indians. When the school He was offered the opportunity to join the opened in the early 30's, Boston Symphony, the Minneapolis I became a psychotherapist, and my brother a Symphony, as well as other fine orchestras. professor, and we often talked and told stories WHS was already evolving its athletic tendencies. He did not take these opportunities because about the old days. Now that the Weequahic coming from an incredibly close knit Italian Alumni Association is so active, the old days While the basketball program was able to have family made it very difficult for him to not are alive again. I always wanted to do observe my parents' wishes. something to make a difference for the young KEN - 1963 some early success, the football team under coach men and women who came to Weequahic When Bill Weiss who was Frank's music without the luxuries that were afforded my Art Lustig had a tough time competing with the more teacher at Barringer became chairman of the peers. Through the Alumni Association, I can school system's music department, he asked contribute financially and that is good. My established programs of the existing city schools and Frank to go into teaching in Newark. This is son came to the school last year and bought how and why Frank was a faculty member at me a sweatshirt for Mother's Day. some of its other rivals including the Thanksgiving Weequahic. He put his heart and soul into opponent, Hillside. They working with the kids and I know that he had I continue to ponder what I can do, and as yet a major impact on the music department. have not come up with an idea. Today, JAKE - 1935 went winless and scoreless during their first full season! Prior to Weequahic, Frank was busy in New though, after reading the article an idea York where he made recordings which were popped into my head. My husband was killed conducted by Leopold Stowkowski. in Vietnam three weeks after our baby was According to the newspaper accounts of the day, Jake made up in heart and skill what he born. After many years of emotional Frank taught me how to drive and also taught suffering and grief, I finally pulled myself lacked in size. As a triple threat back, during the next two seasons, he scored the first me how to be a man. We shared a deep love together and started on a path to find purpose for each other which will endure forever. in life. My real purpose was raising my son. touchdown in the school history, scored the touchdown that gave the Indians their first Frank was modest and might be uncom- I remained a single parent until he was 19 fortable in light of this praise, but be that as it years old. Today he is a book and film writer victory (over Bayonne, I believe) and scored the touchdown that gave us our first ever win may, I can't think of anyone more deserving. and I am very proud of him. Six years ago he I've been very proud of him throughout my set on a journey to find his father. He spent over Hillside on Thanksgiving Day! He received All City and All County Honorable life and his memory enriches me every day. the next four years finding everyone who Frank passed away in February 1997. From that low point events and education graduate of Barringer High school, who I ALUMNI VOICES turned a page. Newark slowly and met at a public meeting two years ago, came painstakingly started the healing process. by my office to give me a copy of the article. Irv Newman, 1939 Neighborhoods attempted to bond together. He remembered and thought I would be Civic authorities did the best they could in interested in reading about my alma matter. tough situations. Critically, families I was not in attendance regrouped and recognized that education for I am extremely proud of the work that you at the Scholarship their kids - black and white - was a vital are doing in the high school and I wanted to Fund Raising Dinner, necessity. The community cared about send you a note of encouragement and but I was certainly affirmative change. Corrective action support for your efforts. As a former there in spirit. While included the board of education and the football player (1970-1974), I was very absent from the gala teachers rededicating themselves to pleased to see the accomplishments of "our" event, the (Alumni) educating the children, greater parental input, team. I played right guard and linebacker CALUMET did an the alumni installing modest improvements. next to Al "Bubba" Baker, a 1974 former absolute stellar job in Scholarship and grades began ascending, Detroit Lions Rookie of the Year and All presenting the details improved graduation rates, and aim for that Pro. Coach Burney Adams was our head and spirit of the celebration. A tremendous college diploma. coach at the time. Congratulations again, occasion by all measures. Absorbing every and continue to be a positive role model for delightful story in the (Alumni) CALUMET, Best of all (to me) is the skill and our inner city youth. May God continue to it didn't take too much imagination to segue understanding the (Alumni) CALUMET bless you and keep you going. into my own productive time matriculating at displays in harmoniously connecting one era Weequahic High in the Depression years of with another, solidifying the bonds of 1935-39. As time goes by, the recollections Herb Schon(wetter), Jan. 1950 disparate generations, and continuing to get better than the actual experience. contribute to Weequahic's excellence in Last summer as I ended education. On reflection, I got to thinking (perhaps my cycling year with just erroneously) that my high school experience over 8,000 miles on the was the greatest to be had. But reality set in Joe Romero, 1962 bicycle computer and with and I realized alumni, especially at reunion a 75th birthday coming up time, consider their education and reunions As a member of the 1959, in December I gave the best in the land. Every high school class '60 and '61 teams, I cannot thought to celebrating the has its valedictorian, the more likely to tell you how proud I am diamond anniversary of succeed, the most popular, best athlete (I'll of everyone on the current my birth. Being an avid stack up Swede Masin and Al Attles against team and to those who cyclist since before moving to Santa Fe in anyone), the class clown, (we skirted with played before them. 1997, I knew it had to deal with the sport of Jerry Lewis) etc. What's the distinction that Playing for the Indians cycling. I went home after my ride and puts a high school and its reunions in that was one of the most looked up biking tours, found a cross- rare pantheon of the best school around? rewarding experiences of country one with America By Bicycle which my life and I will cherish those memories covered nearly 4,000 miles from San It hit me. There's one mark, one word forever. I honestly believe that the lessons I Francisco to Portsmouth, NH in 48 riding (among others) that validates a school's super learned as a member of the football program days (plus four rest days) at about 82 miles specialness. It was uttered by Zero Mostel at Weequahic have served me well in my per day. I signed up and can't wait. playing the role of "Fiddler on the Roof." chosen profession. That magic, encompassing word that My only concerns are my two torn rotator qualifies Weequahic High as incomparable is As a former coach, teacher and school cuffs, my torn anterior and medial knee TRADITION. The Weequahic tradition has principal in Michigan and now teaching in ligaments and the flaming neuromas on my lived through circumstances that are unique Naples, Florida, I am indebted to my left foot. But since braces have kept me to our school and perhaps unmatched in the coaches, teachers, teammates, and classmates going on the 100 mile plus rides of recent nation while being nationally recognized for for all their support and direction. To the years, I figure they'll serve me well for 82 producing many doctors, Woodrow Wilson members of the current football team, Joe mile days. Living at 7,000 feet and being scholars, lawyers, writers (Philip Roth the Romero (#16) congratulates you! You have surrounded by mountains provides a great standout). made the Orange and Brown proud! training ground for endurance sports. I first turned to serious cycling after a lingering We have also had a student inversion that Benjamin J. Quattlebaum, II, 1974 groin tear kept me from running marathons. would be hard to equal - predominantly (to Principal Ron Stone) white Jewish kids to a predominantly The ride next summer covers California, African-American student body. Add a Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Congratulations to you and the Weequahic destructive race riot so memorable in scope Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New High football team for winning the NJ state that a significant part of the Newark York, Vermont and New Hampshire. I'd championship! I am a 1974 graduate of population fled to the suburbs. This flight love to have anyone interested in doing one WHS. I was reading the article in the NY resulted in huge economic displacement, day with me on the tour for good old Times about the tremendous work that you lower employment opportunities and Weequahic to check out the web site are doing at the high school. It was very excessive family stress. For sure these www.abbike.com for the towns we stay at ironic how I came to get a copy of the news circumstances didn't promote excellence in and maybe you could e-mail me at article. I am currently the Executive youthful scholarship or lofty academic [email protected]. to make arrangements. Director of the Wilmington Housing achievements. Undeniably, standards and By the way, 12,000 is my mileage goal for Authority in Wilmington, NC. An Italian education scores plummeted. the 2006-2007 year. MEMBERSHIP / MERCHANDISE / SCHOLARSHIP Form Send to: WHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 or make your purchases with a credit card at www.weequahicalumni.org - Please Print Clearly -

DATE: ______TOTAL AMOUNT: $______

2 Payment Choices: 1. ___ CREDIT CARD (mail or telephone): __ MC __ VISA - Amount $______

Credit Card #: ______Exp. Date: ______Signature: ______

2. ___ CHECK: Make out check to WHSAA - Amount $______

5 Merchandise Choices (circle size of T-shirt and sweatshirt):

1. ____ $5.00 WEEQUAHIC ALUMNI LAPEL PIN 2. ____ $15.00 T-SHIRT (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL - khaki with big W in orange & brown) 3. ____ $15.00 HAT (one size fits all - khaki with orange & brown lettering) 4. ____ $25.00 SWEATSHIRT (sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL - khaki with big W in orange & brown) or white (large only) 5. ____ $3.00 each BACK ISSUES OF THE ALUMNI CALUMET (issues 1 through 19)

2 Special Fund Raising Projects:

$______Weequahic High School French Class Trip To Paris $______Weequahic Murals Restoration Project :

19 Scholarship Choices: 21

10. $______MIRIAM HAMPLE Memorial Fund 1. $______ALVIN ATTLES Scholarship Fund 11. $______READA & HARRY JELLINEK Endowment Fund 2. $______MAXINE BOATWRIGHT Memorial Fund 12. $______PHYLLIS & DONALD KALFUS Fund 3. $______MOREY BOBROW Memorial Fund 13. $______HANNAH LITZKY Memorial Fund 4. $______CLASS OF 1945 - Academic / Performing Arts Fund 14. $______BERT MANHOFF Memorial Fund 5. $______CLASS OF 1963 SCHOLARSHIP Fund 15. $______SEYMOUR 'SWEDE' MASIN Memorial Fund 6. $______CLASS OF 1964 SCHOLARSHIP Fund 16. $______EDWIN McLUCAS Athletic Fund 7. $______COLLEGE WOMEN’S CLUB OF ESSEX Fund 17. $______MARIE E. O’CONNOR Fund 8. $______GENERAL ALUMNI Fund 18. $______LEO PEARL Memorial Fund 9. $______RONALD GRIFFIN Memorial Fund 19. $______SADIE ROUS Memorial Fund

5 Membership Choices: ___ Check if change in postal address

___ $25 ALUMNI ___ $50 ORANGE & BROWN ___ $100 ERGO ___ $500 SAGAMORE ___ $1,000 LEGEND

Class (Month & Year): ______Current or Past Occupation: ______Name: ______Last Name at Weequahic: ______Street: ______City/Town: ______State: _____ Zip: ______Phone: ( ) ______Business: ( ) ______Cell: ( ) ______e-mail: ______Shipman of Ossining, NY; and Judith William is survived by his wife of 53 In Loving Memory Shipman of Gaithersburg, MA; five years, Florence; two sons and daughters- grandchildren; one greatgrandchild; and in-law, Steven and Anita of Union and Marvin L. Phinazee his brother Richard Shipman, a 1946 Robert and Mona of Cedar Knolls; four Jan. 1963, Newark educator Weequahic alumnus. grandsons, Zachary, Craig, Jeremy and Derek; his sister-in-law, Berna Berger, Marvin Phinazee was and seven nieces and nephews. born in Newark on Sanford Rever March 26, 1945, to the June 1955, Auditor late Walter L. and Dr. Elias Levinson, Faculty Lucille Phinazee. Sanford "Sandy" Rever, also known as Dr. Elias Levinson, Ph.D., 87, of "Red," passed away on October 12, 2006. Sarasota, Fla., and Palentown, N.Y., He was educated in the Born in Newark, he lived in Union before Newark public school formerly of Newark, passed away on moving to Neptune five years ago. Mr. Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, in Ridgewood. system and graduated from Weequahic Rever was employed as an auditor for the High School in 1963. After graduation, He was the beloved husband of the late NJ State Division of Taxation. A Irma (Grunewald) Levinson. Marvin attended Union County Bloomfield College graduate, he also was Community College and Emporia State a Little League baseball coach in Union. University in Kansas, where he was Born in 1919, in Jersey City, Dr. awarded a bachelor's degree in history. Levinson was an educator for 40 years in According to his wife Lorraine, he the Newark public schools, where he was He utilized his education by teaching in attended his 50th class reunion and was the Newark public school system. an English teacher, department supervisor very proud to be a Weequahic graduate. and a vice principal at Vailsburg High He enjoyed his years there! He is After living in California for a period of School. He also taught at Weequahic survived by his wife; a daughter, Lisa High School in the early 1960's. time, Marvin returned to Newark and Sanderson of Hadley, MA; two sons, worked for Dorf Feature Service that Scott of Basking Ridge and Ryan of He received a B.A. from Montclair State covered high school sports for over 23 Westfield; a brother, Herman of years before retiring. He was an avid University in 1940 and an M.A. and California; a sister, Estelle Kaslow of Ph.D. in English from New York tennis player and an active member of the Maplewood; and eight grandchildren. Screen Actor's Guild. University. He saw active duty during World War II with the 8th Fighter Command Group of the U.S. Army in Marvin leaves to cherish his memory, his William Goldstein sister, Sharon Phinazee; aunt, Johnnie Europe, where he met and married his Jan. 1945, Temple President Mae Corker; uncle, Charles Passmore and wife. He was involved in community his wife, Betty; cousins, Patricia Wilkins, and Jewish organizations and was a William Goldstein, 79, of Bloomfield Carl Horton and Thomas Byrd, and a host fervent supporter of theater, ballet and passed away on September 25, 2006, of relatives and friends. musical performance throughout his life. following a long illness. Born in Newark, William was an Eagle Scout, and a He is survived by a son, Dr. David Jerome S. Shipman graduate of Weequahic High School. He Levinson (WHS 1964), and his wife, June 1940 attended Hamilton College and New York Karen Christensen; a daughter, Judith University before joining Famous Levinson, and her husband, John Horan, Jerome Saul Shipman Comfort Shoes in Newark. and by his grandchildren, Michael Horan, passed away at his Emily Tenhundfeld, Tom and Rachel home in Potomac, William later became a proprietor of Ideal Christensen. Maryland on October Hardware in Newark on Bloomfield 27, 2006 at the age of Avenue, where he worked until he retired Alma Berkowitz Goldberg, 1945 82. He was a proud 20 years ago. During his retirement, he June 1940 graduate of was a volunteer at a hospice and at Albert Gross, 1945 Weequahic High Mountainside Hospital. Betty Lee Braunstein Katz, 1945 School and a loyal and active alumnus. Jerome was a A World War II veteran, William was a Helene Bacatselos Klein, 1945 mathematician who worked on the Saturn staff sergeant with the 78th Army in Frank Charles LaMota, 1945 and Apollo space missions at IBM. He Germany. Following the war, he played also wrote jazz criticism. trumpet in the Army Band. Active on Marcia Avergon Lehrhoff, 1945 local business and civic committees, he William Lieberman, 1945 He is survived by his four children, David served as President of Temple B'nai Zion of Bloomfield and was a member of the Shipman of China, Maine; Deborah William San Giacoma, Jan. 1961 Shipman of Lancaster, MA; Jonathan Jewish-American War Veterans. Brett Scott Ryans, Sr., 1978 CLASS OF 1966 40TH REUNION Reunions 2007:

May 20 Jan. 1952 - 55th Sunday, 11 AM, Brunch, Somerset Marriott Hotel, Somerset, NJ. Contacts: Norman Hinkes at (732) 549-6254 / [email protected] and Paula Tischler Goldfein at [email protected].

May 20 June 1952 - 55th Sunday, 11 AM, Somerset Hills Inn, Basking Ridge, NJ. Contact Lois Berg Jacobs at (973) 731-7402. WHS ALUMNI STORE WHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION June 10 See page 18 to order Established in 1997. The WHS Alumni Jan. & June 1947 - 60th or order from our web site Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in New Jersey. Sunday, 11:30 AM, Crestmont Country Club, West Orange, NJ. Contact: Janet Goldstein Phil Yourish, 1964, Executive Director Chernus at (973) 992-0684 / [email protected]. Harold Braff, 1952, Co-President Judy Bennett, 1972, Co-President Sam Weinstock, 1955, Treasurer: September 8 Myrna Jelling Weissman, 1953, Secretary Multi-Class: 1966 to 1974 Board of Trustee Members: Saturday, 7 PM, Robert Treat Hotel, Newark. Larry Bembry, 1966 Contacts: Adilah Quddus (1971) at (973) Sheldon Bross, 1955 372-9849, Willie West (1972) at (201) 978-1293, Marshall Cooper, 1969 Gerald Russell (1974) at (908) 419-2916, Charles Vaughn Crowe, 1998 Talley (1966) at (908) 753-1926 & Joseph Mary Dawkins, 1971 Foushee at (908) 205-1581. Arnold Keller, 1952 Dave Lieberfarb, 1965 Arthur Lutzke, 1963 September 9 Sharon Price-Cates, 1972 Jan. 1957 - 50th Adilah Quddus, 1971 A reunion is being organized. Site to be Gerald Russell, 1974 finalized. Contact Frances Letzter Malkin at Dave Schechner, 1946 (201) 704-5064 /[email protected]. Vivian Simons, 1959 Ron Stone, Principal Charles Talley, 1966 October 6 Jan. & June 1962 - 45th Join Us For Saturday, 12 PM, Ocean Place Resort, Long Branch, NJ. Contact Bonnie Zunk Vogel at HOMECOMING 2007 [email protected]. October 20, 2007, 10 AM

October 28 Weequahic High School Alumni Association First Class Mail P.O. Box 494, Newark, NJ 07101 U.S. Postage June 1957 - 50th PAID Permit No. 205 Sunday, 12 PM, Maplewood Country Club. A Orange, NJ 07050 Weekend of Fun. Contact Bea Austrager Chaiklin at (973) 992-3650 or e-mail at [email protected].