OCTOBER 13, 2023

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Hi W-Blog Participantquahics:   

WHS Football Update:

The Weequahic Football Team raised its record to 6 wins, no losses on October 6th defeating Boonton 63-0. The team followed with a 58-2 victory over West Side on October 12th . Shutout streak broken, but points were not against the defense which still has not been scored upon. Still undefeated!

For those who have so many fond memories of Untermann Field, check out the

new turf field, below. Thank you, Phil Yourish (6/64) and Nor Toporek (6/63) for

taking the pics this week during visit to the school.

Bill Freedman (55) and J. Paul Brandt (68) remember classmates:

Stan Markowitz, our dear 1955 classmate and lifelong friend. died September 3, 2023 and went, if anyone does and if benevolence is what gets you there, to that better place. Stan was kind, loyal and a font of humorous and somewhat nutty entertainment to his friends, for whom nuttiness was a gold membership card and prime virtue.

More importantly, he was a committed social activist, who taught American history to college classes not merely as a conduit of information, but as an impassioned proselytizer working to awaken his students to the nation’s anguished, too hidden history of enslavement and ongoing oppression of blacks, and the slaughter, land-theft, and confinement of Native Americans. And he woke them-at Howard, to which he was drawn for obvious reasons, but mainly, for 28 years, at Essex College, whose students, almost all white, were not primed for his message; not a few resistant. But as he was told often, he’d had an inspiring, life-changing effect on many, some following his lead into social advocacy and activism.

We’ll miss him. More intimately, perhaps, but no more profoundly than those with whom he rode the arc, bending it, grindingly but unmistakably, toward justice. Parkinson’s, that knows nothing of justice in its choice of victims, drained and increasingly limited Stan for 15 cruelly enervating years. He held to life so doggedly for so long, we thought he’d outlast us. But fortune, that had been so brutally unkind to Stan those long last years permitted an entirely fortuitous farewell that could hardly have been more perfectly planned and scripted. After an especially alert, lively and jovial (nutty was a little out of reach) evening with family and very close friends, Stan watched, on request, his favorite John Wayne movie, Rio Bravo (even the name seemed chosen) and slipped gently into sleep and away from us all.

His official obituary can be found at Stanley Markowitz Obituary. Bill

On the topic of friends and loss, I received notice of the passing of Laura Melon who would have graduated Weequahic with the Great WHS Class of 1968 had she not moved to West Orange while in high school. But that's not the end of the story. Ann Brenoff Johnson (68), an accomplished writer (yes, another WHS author/journalist), wrote a wonderful story about Laura and her second husband Larry Wasser and their reuniting and marriage after a 40-year separation. The Huffington Post story can be found at Link to Huffington Post Story. Paul

 

Invitation to view NY stage presentation “Humanity Denied” by Alberta Handelman (61)

In songs angry, playful, proud, sad, and profound, HUMANITY DENIED explores the roots of fear and hatred. For information and tickets, go to New York Theator Festival "Humanity Denied'. October 17, 18 & 21 at Theater Latea, 107 Suffolk Street, NYC. 

Bill Pollak (1/53) follows up a recent posting in the “WHS Note” with more on WHS athletes of yesteryear:

To start, all living in the Boca Raton area of Florida are Art Drucks (64), basketball; Barry Markowitz, basketball; Barry Weirnick (6/58), baseball; and Gordon Rubin (53), football. Below is a partial list of past Weequahic athletes and where they are now:

--Al Attles, basketball; played in the NBA with Wilt Chamberlin and later was coach and GM for San Francisco

--Bob Poznak (6/5), baseball pitcher living in Essex County, NJ

--Len Karp (1/51), baseball pitcher and later an owner of Best Provisions which supplied Syd’s with their hot dogs; lives in in north Jersey area

--John Postol (50), baseball and basketball; played basketball at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ; living in north Jersey area

 -Rich Roberts (6/56), football at Weequahic and Upsala College in East orange, NJ; famous detective who was played in American Gangster movie by Russel Crowe; later became attorney and wrote a book currently available on Amazon entitled “American Maverick”

--Ed Burns (1/53), baseball; living in Florida; owned car dealerships

--Larry Sosnow (1/53), All-city football; Owned nursing home support businesses

--Len Strauss (6/53), baseball: lives in north Jersey area

--Mort Stenzler, All-City baseball; lives in the St. Pete area of Florida

--Jorge Garcia, All-State baseball; living in Jupiter, FL

 -Alvin Lubetkin (1/52), All-State football and All-County basketball; former owner of Abercrombie and Fitch and Oshman Sporting Goods; now living in Houston area

--Chuck "Tutty" Lubetkin (6/49), basketball, former owner of Brick Church Appliances; now lives in Boca area of Florida

--Arnold Taub (54), baseball, All-State football; played college football at Brandeis and was 5 times lineman of the week in his college conference; now a stock broker living in NY

--Andy Zupko, All-City, State and All-Metropolitan football; now living in Pt. Pleasant, NJ

--Buddy Meyerson, football and baseball, now lives in Monroe, NJ

--Norm Hinkes (1/52), All-City football quarterback and starred at Upsala; also ran track: lives in Princeton, NJ

That’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed finding out where they are today. Bill

W-Reminiscing on and on:   

Harlod Kravis (Chancellor/W. Essex 74)

This photo from the Jewish News, Dec 14 ,1962, was taken at the “Y” in Newark and highlights its Junior Charm Class. The article’s headline reads, Newark Y Designs Program Tailored to 6th Grade Girls. See if you recognize anyone?  One looks like my sister, Jill Kravis; in center, white blouse and head band. She would have graduated WHS in 1969 but we had moved out of Newark, NJ in the summer 1968 to Roseland, NJ

Elaine Hersh Krusch (50)

Highlighting the promotional comment on the Joint 6oth reunion for WHS 1962-64 was the following, “We are on our way," the opening words of the old Weequahic Fight Song. As soon as I read the words “we’re on our way,” it came back to me in total. You’d think I was singing it every day. Thanks. Elaine

Ira Melon (6/63)

To David Cohen (6/56), your mention of driving down Rte. 35 in Belmar brought up many memories of long ago, as well as some current thoughts about both Belmar and Bradley Beach. For starters, Vic’s Pizzeria is a landmark still operating in Bradley. I also fondly remember Mike and Lou’s, the boardwalk arcade, and the Friday night dances. My parents rented on McCabe, LaReine, and Brinley Avenues mostly for a month and on a few occasions for the summer. What great memories were forged then and there in Bradley! A quick recommendation if you are in Bradley in the near future; Del Ponte’s Pizzeria and adjoining bakery on Main Street should not be missed.

In my college years, a number of older TEKE fraternity brothers rented a large one family house in Belmar. Some worked as waiters or played in local summer bands. Other weekenders from up north, affectionately known as “touristas,” paid a weekend fee to crash there. I fondly recall Pat’s Diner on Rte. 35 in Belmar where many of our group would first go at 1 or 2 AM after a night of partying.

I have enjoyed owning a condo in the North End of Belmar near the Shark River Inlet for the last 25 years. Walking on the boards at 6 AM in the morning provides me with immense pleasure as does body surfing. In my opinion, Belmar, Asbury Park, and Avon and many other shore towns have become so gentrified that an average person cannot afford to purchase a shore property near the ocean. In Belmar specifically, weekly rentals are almost nonexistent and monthly and/or full summer rents are exorbitant. Very sad. Real estate costs are through the roof.

Another recommendation if you do not keep Kosher is Mr. Shrimp Seafood located at 16th Avenue and Rte. 71 in Belmar. They also have a take-out fish market. Ira