APRIL 26, 2024

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

Hi Alums and Chums of Whatever Comes in the Weequahood:  

Barry Kolton (1/50) eulogizes a friend and notable Weequahic alumnus:

I am sad to announce the passing of a dear friend and classmate, Martin Greenberg, Class of January 1950, on March 22, 2024 in Palm City, FL at age 92. He was an usher at our wedding in 1954, and was my long-time attorney. A 1954 graduate of Rutgers University, Marty received his law degree from Rutgers Law School in 1956. He served as Assistant Legal Counsel to N.J. Governor Robert Meyner, and was an Assistant Essex County Prosecutor. Thereafter, Marty was a law partner of future Governor Brendan Byrne at Teltser, Bryne & Greenberg. He later the founding partner of Greenberg Margolis Ziegler & Schwartz.

In 1987, he was elected State Senator for the 28^th district, a position he held for six years. Among his major accomplishments as a State Senator, he sponsored legislation on Pinelands preservation, affordable housing, the Casino Control Act, and the state criminal code. After resigning from the Senate, Martin became General Counsel and then President of The Golden Nugget Casino.

He subsequently served as Judge in the NJ Superior Court, and later the Presiding Chancery Judge in Hudson County. When he reached mandatory retirement age in 2002, Marty was a mediator and arbitrator for many years. 

He is survived by his first wife, Sondra Parent, Class of June 1951, with whom he had four children. Also surviving him is his current wife, Ginger Provost, to whom he was married for 35 years. Marty was a wonderful man who loved golf, all things Sinatra, Broadway theater, and travel, and was known for his incisive wit, dry humor, and storytelling prowess. Barry

Wonderful to hear from new generation of WHS grads and feel the connection continuing as to “we are family:” 

Merytsheena Pean (2023)

Recently reading Paul Moskowitz’ (6/59) eulogy on an alum-friend of 60 years, Norman Siminoff, Class of 1958, I am certain that it is devastating to hear such news about a close friend of many years. I may have not known anyone before my year whose names appear weekly in the newsletter, but high school alumni are also family in a way and I do understand what it’s like to lose a friend, family, a loved one. They will be missed and so I grieve along with you. I send my condolences to those who are hurting and to let everyone know there are brighter days ahead. Sheena

A few more visits to the W-doctors called for:

Arnie Kohn (56)

My mother used to take me to Drs. Klosk and Green, who had offices

near Lincoln Park. I had severe asthma as a you. These two physicians

cared for me and even made house calls when I was really ill. Once I left

home for college, I never, ever had another asthma attack. Maybe it was the reward, my mother gave me; mun cookies from Bergen Bakery? Arnie

Joan Gonzer Samitt (6/57)

I, too, remember Dr. Klosk. He was our family physician during my growing up years on Vassar Avenue. I distinctly recall that day in 1958, while in class at Rutgers, Newark, I became extremely ill. Somehow, I managed to take the bus home and Dr. Klosk came to my house late that afternoon. I had acute appendicitis needing surgery. The doctor made all of the arrangements; off I went. As I recall, Dr. Klosk was a schoolmate of my late father, Leonard Gonzer.  Joan

Jack Lippman (60)

In recent comments regarding Dr. Emanuel Klosk, it was mentioned that someone had to go “downtown” to get meds he had prescribed in an evening house call. In those days, the only 24-hour pharmacy in Newark was Petty's on Broad Street, somewhere around City Hall, but on the other side of the street. My family had to make an occasional midnight trip there, too. I don't know if that is still the case in Newark, but 24-hour pharmacies are still pretty rare. Jack

Steve Epstein (6/63

If I recall correctly, my mother’s doctor was Dr. Lohman. I am a retired dentist (retired now going on 31 years due to a medical setback. The reason I went into dentistry was Dr. Maurice Teitelbaum. His office was in his home on the corner of Clinton Place and Vassar. I think he had two children who attended Weequahic. His son who was younger and Nancy, his daughter, was my age.  Steve

Peshine Avenue School once more is a focus of attention: 

Sharon Rose Uchitel (64)

My Peshine teachers included Mr. Miller (Science) and Dr Miller for 8th grade. Mrs. Miele 1st grade; Mrs. Zipkin, and Mrs. Schimmel for Auditorium and then Mr. Freed came there, too. Mrs. Clarke and Mr. Morello taught Art, 

I have my report cards, so I could find other teachers. The principal was Mrs. Cavicchia. I graduated in January 1961 and, similar to the posting of Jac Toporek (6/63), received a dictionary for graduating as 8th Grade Valedictorian

Remember the “CCC? The Clean City Club! was a service club. As secretary it was my job to go into each classroom and write on the blackboard the next time and date for the following meeting. Don’t remember the advisor but it was for more than just the 8th graders. Fun memories! Sharon

Howard Burakof (56)



When I lived at 41 Lehigh Avenue and went to Peshine, my friend Mike Unger, who lived at 42 Lehigh, across the street, went to Maple. It seems that Lehigh was the boundary. At least, we both went to Weequahic together.  Howard

Ann Silverstein Souto (67)

I went to Peshine K thru 2nd with Ms. Mentz, Ms. Kitchen, and Ms. Bookbinder. My father, dad jokester of all-time, would often ask when I was in 1st grade, “How's Ms. Livingroom?" Then we moved and I went to Bragaw 3rd through 8th. It was at Bragaw that I met my 3rd grade crush Dennis Souto, (67) football captain, now my husband of 45 years.  Ann

Jack Cobin (Peshine/Linden 60)

I remember the same teacher as those mentioned by others in writing about Peshine teachers. Didn't Mrs. Zipkin have another woman named Schimmel teach Auditorium with her? We did the Mikado for our 8 the grade show in Auditorium.  Jack

Jeff Golden’s (6/63) inquiry about summer family cooking garnered a few more comments:

Mel Rubin (56)

I was told that the expression koch-aleyn meant "cooking in a line.” In both the Catskills and down the shore (Bradley Beach, of course) the stoves would be "in a line," hence "koch-aleyn." We all shared refrigerators, and each family had their own shelf. We stayed on 5^th Avenue and I was a life guard at Asher’s. That's how they were set up. I know about the latter as the mothers would always keep me well-fed. All the mothers were cooking at the same time. They went to their designated tables. One of my fondest memories was the aroma of all those dishes being prepared simultaneously.

Every morning, I had a unique way of removing the bugs in the pool. I would do a belly flop off the diving board and all the bugs were driven into the gutter. My cousin Bernie Cohen (Irvington 52) stayed in the Catskills and that's how he described it to me. The families would bring their own pots, pans, and beddings. On 5^th Avenue we had the third floor. In the summer it was like a sauna; air conditioning was a future luxury.

In the summer of my junior year, I worked the grill at the restaurant on 5^th and Ocean Avenues. Now there is a pavilion marking the location. It was run by the Klein family who had a luncheonette on Bergen Street, as well. I will always remember the pungent aroma emanating from the can of sauerkraut I opened almost every morning. On my lunch break, I would join the gang on Brinley Beach. One day a fly landed in the French fryer. I grabbed a plastic spoon to remove it. Of course, both the fly and the spoon disintegrated. That day I stayed away from the French fries. I'm sure that the statute of limitations has long run out. In the late afternoon I would help serve ice cream. What a great time! Mel

Jac Toporek (6/63)

To Mel Rubin, my first response was that the word aleyn (pronounced a-lain) in Yiddish means "alone." Basically, the families cooked their food alone and ate their food as a family alone. Nope, did not mean “a line.” Yiddish was my first language and the family tongue when we came to the US. 

But I gave it some additional thought and perhaps there is truth in your reference to "koch aline" given differing Yiddish dialects. Galitzyaner Jewry (Poland/Eastern Europe), like my parents, pronounced the Yiddish word for "alone" as "ah-line." The Litvak Jews' (Lithuania; where my wife Vivian’s family originated) pronunciation for the word had a wide "a" or "aleyn (ah-lain)." So, could be that the Catskill and Bradley Beach summer residents were Galitzyaner Jews and called the summer rental cooking experience as "koch aline."

Koch aleyn has been the subject of commentary in the weekly “WHS Note” numerous times over 25 years. I have no recall of any description of the summer vacation tradition as “a line,” only as families only cooking and eating alone. Jac