MARCH 8, 2024

TO RESPOND WITH A COMMENT OF YOUR OWN, PLEASE WRITE TO OR CLICK ON WHSALUM63@AOL.COM

Hi Assembled “Weequahic Assembly” members,   

WEEQUAHIC HIGH SCHOOL IS SEEKING MALE ALUMNI TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING MEN'S DAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ON MARCH 27, 2024. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MEN TO SPEAK ABOUT CAREERS OR ANY OTHER TOPIC OF INTEREST FOR OUR MALE STUDENTS. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT MR. MORSE, VICE PRINCIPAL, FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. HIS EMAIL IS RMORSE@NPS.K12.US

Jacqueline Kaufer Klein (66) Responds to Larry Koenigsberg (64) call for recognition of notable alumni of Weequahic:

My recent and sad discovery on the internet the passing of two incredibly brilliant children of the Weequahic section motivated me to respond to the commentary of Larry Koenigsberg and others as to notable WHS alumni. My 1966 classmate, Lynn Beryl Katzmann McCoy Bennett and her brother Dr. Jerry Katzmann (6/63) both passed away within a short time period, February and June 2023 respectively. I like to think of them as “Children of Newark” who made a difference and representatives of a generation the likes of which we shall not ever see again. Truly, it is becoming a vanished world.

Lynn’s obituary highlights her career as an artist and her many notable accomplishments (Obituary for Lynn Mccoy Bennett). Although I met Jerry but once, his obituary is a testament to a well-known researcher and physician at the Mayo Clinic and receiver many accolades for his work that benefited so many (Obituary for Jerry Allan Katzmann).

Lynn was beautiful in every way. She and another girl in my graduating class were two of the most talented artists, who together, did the artwork for our class yearbook. Their work was exquisite. While in high school, they attended the Art Students’ League. Lynn was so sensitive, intelligent, interesting, talented, and funny. Being a gifted artist and being so aesthetic and pretty, she seemed perfect.  Some girls seemed to have an aura and Lynn surely did.

I spent a little time with her in high school and, if memory serves me right (which I am not so sure anymore), Lynn and another girl decided one day, right before school started, to cut school and go to the World's Fair. I never cut school in my entire life, but I decided to go with them. An adventure never forgotten. Somehow, with all of the buses and subways, we were back home by 5pm.

The Katzmann family was like the heart and soul of what made the Weequahic section so special. A place with so many amazing and inspirational families because of their hard work and accomplishments. I remembered Lynn and Jerry’s parents. I found that there was a special book written about Ludwig Katzmann, their father, and flight from Nazi Germany. Settling in Newark, he became a refrigerator repairman, perhaps a simple occupation, but, to his family, he was everything; the man who provided a home and shared values that formed the basis upon which Lynn and Jerry’s accomplishments were built. Here is the link for the book (Link to book on Amazon).  Jacqueline  

Gail Greenfeder Saks (6/62) shares a Weequahic “it’s in the genes” moment:

In Efrat, Israel, there are lots of speed bumps and my husband would have all the kids yell “Yeah Weequahic” when we went over them.

This is our youngest, who is now 12, with her Version. It’s our oldest granddaughter coaching her (Link to YouTube video). Gail

Peshine Avenue School on the minds of Marc Curtis Little (69), Joan Frieder Smith (67) and Ira Migdal (Union 6/64) :

After reading Mrs. Sosnow's name in recent newsletter comments, it brought back memories of Peshine Avenue School. Mrs. Sosnow and Miss Freeman (I'm not sure if Rose, her first name, was married) were my mother's good friends when my mother began her time as the school's PTA president in 1960. I would like to know if someone could name some of the teachers at Peshine from 1958 through 1965.

I have several in my head; Mrs. Bookbinder, Mrs. Holzworth, Mrs. Goldstein (she was the Music teacher until future Tony Award and Grammy Award winner Melba Moore, then Miss Smith, replaced her in 1960, I believe), Mr. Connolly, Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. O'Sullivan, Mr. Caruso, Mr. Bellot, Mr. D'Agostino, Mrs. Crawford, Mr. Chirico, Miss Lindsay, Mr. Geller. I was in the 8th grade at Peshine in 64-65 and the eighth-grade teachers were Geller, Crawford, D'Agostino and Chirico. I'm curious. Marc

To Maureen Morris Edwards (1/64) and her posting some weeks ago a photo of her 5^th Grade Class at Peshine Avenue School, the young man in the front row of the picture is none other than my brother, Ken Frieder (6/63)! He is seated in the row with Marcia Parnes and Jill Fox. Ken and I only went to Peshine for one year because the boundaries were changed and we then were transferred to Hawthorne Avenue School. Joan

When I was ready to start grammar school, I lived on Scheerer Avenue, three houses from Bergen Street. I was much closer to Peshine Avenue School, but somehow was in the Maple Avenue School district. This was somewhat important for a little kid who would walk to school. So, my mother and I went to see a Peshine Avenue official to ask for a waiver of the district lines. The waiver was denied and I walked the much longer distance to Maple Avenue until we moved in 7^th grade. In this day of notoriety over college and university applications I find it amusing that my application to Peshine Avenue School was denied. Ira

Matty Benoun (Peshine 58/WHS 6/62)

To Maureen Morris Edwards, great picture. Every student in the photo dressed properly and the guys had neck ties. Matty

Wall to wall:  

Elaine Sheitelman Furman (6/56)

As for the carpeting Esther Gordon (6/52) and others mentioned as sign of an upgraded Weequahic lifestyle, growing up on Schley Street we had beautiful hardwood floors. They covered with carpet in the living room and dining room. The carpet preserved these beautiful floors; I hope whoever lives there now appreciates them. 

I have lived in Jacksonville, FL in a home built in the 1960's and it has hardwood floors. I pulled up the carpet covering them and added molding all over because there wasn't a stitch of it anywhere. The carpet in the newer homes wasn't done to be rich, but it is cheaper for the builder to roll out carpet, than to piece together hardwood strips. Also, all that beautiful molding was omitted in the newer homes because of cost. The builders sold a bill of goods, that this is the modern way.  

In reply to another newsletter comment, Hebrew taught by Mr. Chasen (who was a true polyglot) has kept me using it at least weekly to this very day. I don't know whether the students of Spanish or French at Weequahic found their studies as useful. I also studied Latin in freshman year finding the language very useful in learning the English language.  Elaine

Rita Kravet Rzepka (1/55)

I enjoyed the articles about wall-to-wall carpeting. My family had a house on Sheerer Avenue and my parents traded in a beautiful, oriental rug for wall-to-wall carpeting; probably adding money. I do wish today that I had those oriental rugs. Rita

Esther Gordon (6/52)

Wall-to-wall carpeting, you say? Hmph! At about 8 or 9, I was invited to my classmate's birthday party on that boulevard of dreams, Girard Place. And, in that home, they had a carpet hanging on the wall! Yes, Marcia Belle Fine had a carpet just hanging up there on the wall. We didn't even have any on the floors at home.

And if that wasn't enough, Marcia Belle's mother told me, "The party is down in the basement." Still catatonic from the wall hanging, I imagined playing “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” in a dark, spooky cellar, surrounded by pipes and musty-smelling storage bins and furnaces burning coal. Well, that evening I learned about carpets on the wall, and also finished basements.

Marcia Belle moved away not long after, and I never heard from her again. I hope this reminiscence reaches her somehow, and we reconnect. Esther

Weequahic commentaries never ending

Jeff Golden (6/63)

Maybe the Weequahic team can help me with this memory. Thinking back to Bradley Beach (or maybe the Catskills), I have been informed that our weekly exchange of memories included references to staying with family at a "koch-aleyn." I think the literal translation is "cook alone." It’s a rooming house where your family gets a room, and shared kitchen facilities. Each family got a designated shelf in the refrigerator (or the ice box), and guests shared the stove. 

I think I have a very early recall (about 2 or 3 years old) of a place like this at the shore in Belmar, but I'm really not 100% sure and there's no one left for me to ask. I remember the beach, the front porch, the hucksters coming down the street offering vegetables, Dugan's Bakery, and the ice man. But here's what I'm trying to remember. When you stayed in a” koch-aleyn,” did you have to bring your own pots and pans? And did you bring your own bed-linens, or were they supplied by the boarding house owner? What other protocols for staying in a “koch-aleyn” were there? Jeff 

Elaine Hersh Krusch (6/50)

I remember all members of the Weiss family who lived on Keer Avenue. The father owned DuckyWucky Tomatoes. He did very well. Irene Weiss and I spent our after-school hours together riding our bikes or perfecting the Rumba at her house. Brother Sandy was a well-known athlete and there was an older brother who was politically active. I think the entire family is gone. I just happened to think of them while reading the notes. If anybody knows more, please provide an update.  Elaine

Helene Kohn Reiss (Union 64)

I also lived on Renner Avenue #226 from 1953 to 1962. I live on the right side of Renner Avenue and, therefore, I went to Maple Ave School. Sounds crazy. One side of Renner went to Peshine and the other side went to Maple. Graduating Maple in June 1960, I then went to Weequahic for two years. With my family moving, I attended Union High for the 1963 and 64 school years. Helene