APRIL 19, 2024

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

Hi Gleaners of the Weequahic Crop of Memories, 

To all who observe the holiday, best wishes for a sweet Passover. May the joy of Passover be spread among all subscribers of the weekly “WHS Note” and their families.

Alumni Gone, but not forgotten:

Wayne Lerman (6/60)

Just a short note of the passing of my aunt, Elaine Lerman, Lincoln, Class of June 1960.Though being my aunt, we were the same age as she was the child of her father Jacob’s second wife. My father was the son of Jacob’s first wife. Hence, I was in the same grade with my Aunt. Surviving her are four children. She was a lovely woman. May she rest in peace. Wayne

Ruth Rosenstein

My mother, Harriet Honigfeld Rosenstein, class of 1947, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024. Ruth

Fred Goldman (6/62)

So sad that our class of June 1962 has lost another classmate. Larry Josloff passed away on April 12, 2024. I was a pretty good friend with Larry and over the years. Of course, that brings back a story about Larry, his father and me, but will relate the tale in a future newsletter. The Josloff family, as many already know, owned a glass store located on Meeker Avenue across from Weequahic Park. Larry’s obit can be read at Obituary for Larry Josloff.  Fred

Denis Estis (65), Poppy Braunstein Segal (65), Alan Winter (WHS 62/Livingston 65)

Norman Spindel, Weequahic Class of 1965, died on Sunday, February 25, 2024. He practiced law for many years with the firm of Lowenstein Sandler. 

Norman was a very warm friendly person, very family oriented. He recently went to Israel with his family. His wife fell and they all took good care of her so they could continue the trip. He loved being involved in community affairs evidenced by membership on the Board of the Poconos Environment commission. Norman loved golf and being with friends. His wife Sharon, who he knew since she was three years old, was the love of his life. 

Norman was a gentle soul, always with a kind word and a ready smile. Above all, he loved family and valued his friends. Our paths were linked in so many ways. The constant that bound us together was not the fact that we knew each other since kindergarten or that we went to college together or that we belonged to the same Temple, it was that Norman was Norman. He was loyal, a true friend without judgment, and someone who appreciated and valued life. He will be missed. Dennis, Poppy, Alan

CORRECTION:

The comment (below) appearing last week in the “WHS Note” was attributed in error to Meir Niederman (68). Howard Burakof (56) authored the article.

“I remember going to the Laurel Gardens in the 40s with my father to see Alie Stolz box and again in the 50s for the Friday nights wrestling with my friend Hymie Kuznets whose uncle was the Wrestling Commissioner. We got in for free with him.”

Apologies to the family of Meir Niederman and condolences on his passing a few years ago. May his memory forever be for a blessing.

Flood of Peshine Avenue School flashbacks continue:

Howard Spatz (Peshine 60/WHS 6/64)

Some more teacher names: Mr. Miller, Elsie Cavicchia was Principal, Mrs. Hart, Alma Flagg, and Mr. Coppola. Cannot recall shop teacher name. All good people. Howard

Sharon Rous Feinsod (66)

I attended Peshine from Kindergarten 1953 through fourth grade (1958). Elsie D Cavicchia, a very glamorous blonde, magnificently-dressed and coifed every day, led the staff and students as the Principal. During that time, I had Mrs. Miele for Kindergarten or first grade. Another teacher, Fran Lichter, who later married Hal Ginsburg, Phys Ed teacher and assistant basketball coach at WHS. When Hal came into the classroom, we would start to giggle because we had figured out that they were boyfriend/girlfriend. 

Betty Fonda was a terrific third grade teacher who introduced us to the history of the Lenni Lenape Tribe and ordered about 300 artifacts from the Newark Museum for the class to view. As the duster, I got to clean the artifacts and the long table in front of the windows and figured out that if I dropped the cloth out the window, I would be able to go outside to retrieve the dust rags. Today the parents would file law suits over the children dusting. She also gave us a science lesson on snakes. The Newark Museum delivered a king snake to our classroom, and we were forced to touch it so that we would learn about the dryness, not the sliminess of the skin. Ugh! To this day I cringe thinking about touching a snake, unless it's a pair of shoes or a bag!

I had Mrs. Montigel for one semester of fourth grade, and Alma Flagg for the other semester to round out my Peshine years. Mrs. Flagg was an elegant African-American teacher, the first I had experienced. Miss Weiner was our red-headed art teacher who taught us how to draw a bird and a still life, both of which made an indelible mark on me. Left me the only art projects I walked away with in the twelve years in public school.

Every week or two we attended "Auditorium" class with Zipkin and Mrs. Schimmel. We sang patriotic songs like "Yes I Like It Here," and a few songs with religious overtones including "We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing." In Phys Ed, Mrs. Sosnow ran the gym like a general, definitely not very friendly to a bunch of lower elementary school students. My much older brother and his posse used to pull major pranks on Mr. O'Sullivan, the men’s gym teacher. Agnes Kehrer taught the eighth graders. 

And that's a wrap-up from the memory that began on Custer Place and led me to trek up Meeker (more often than Custer) overwhelmed by the gorgeous white stucco house on the corner where two boxers roamed on what seemed like an estate. Trees and more gorgeous lush foliage were planted in the center islands up Meeker Avenue. The house remains there as I have driven back to see if it was as I remembered. Only the hot pink rose bushes were gone. Perhaps it was off-season. Sharon

A few more seeds and morsels of “challah:”

Sue Katz Bograd (6/55)

My mother, Bertha, worked for many years as a sales lady in Keil’s Bakery on Hawthorne Avenue. Therefore, our Friday night challahs and all baked goods came from there. I can still remember the wonderful smell of the breads and rolls as they came out of the huge ovens. As to the rye with black seeds, we called the seeds Chernishkes. Russian rye with black seeds is still my favorite and, luckily, available in our local Shoprite. Ah, the memories! Sue

Fran Katz Sekela (6/54)

My ziesen (sweet) momma prepared the most festive Shabbos (Sabbath) dinners for our immediate family of 5 that included her brother Izzy and his family, maternal bubbe (grandmother) Chayeh Ruchel, dad’s brother (my Uncle Moishe), different friends, our classmates, and the weekend Cantor at the Brisker Shul from Brooklyn. Momma benched licht (blessed the candles), dad blessed the Manishevitz wine and the delicious challah momma baked.

We loved the scrumptious meal and being together. Yes, there were several times that it wasn’t possible for mom to bake the challah and Mandelbrot (almond bread pastry), therefore, dad picked up the second best challah and desserts at Kiel’s Bakery on Hawthorne Avenue. Those were the days never to be forgotten. Fran

Elaine Sheitelman Furman (6/56)

Carnushka is Penzey’s, which I order online. Someone mentioned the seeds a few weeks ago mentioned, but did not know the name. I learned the name when Penzy had a store here in Jax, FL. Since then, the store is gone, but I just ordered it on line. I like adding it to eggs, or to breads that are packaged as rye but need some added zing. The spice is from India. Elaine

W-Memories still retained: 

Don Rosen (53)

To Nate Himelstein (South Side 1/55), Wiegler's Bakery was run for many years by Phineas Wiegler, my grandmother's younger 1st cousin. His father Jacob and other cousins settled in New Jersey in 1888. Phineas had four or five daughters, none of whom continued the bakery. Don

Mel Goldstein (57)

No one in our neighborhood Hawthorne and Hobson had carpeting. We had linoleum with an ancient Persian rug over it. Of course, right across the street was the beginning of Girard Place and the primo one family dwellings that had all the goodies including pianos and modern kitchens. My doctor, Dr F Dann had a practice/home on Girard as did a few friends. It was like Beverly Hills in Newark. Great homes and an oasis in that part of the city. Mel