60th Reunion Breakfast, October 27, 2024

 Bacall's, APA Hotel, Iselin, NJ

Ron Joffe:  "I was a young boy, an immigrant from Israel to Newark, NJ, who didn't speak a word of English.  Another boy, Paul Fisher, my new classmate at Maple Avenue School, befriended me.  He helped me, taught me English and especially to curse in English.  Paul became my lifelong best friend."

Paul Fisher listens as Ron Joffe tells the story of their friendship.

Maple '65 classmates listen to Ron Joffe's remarks, Matthew Lieff, Jeff Price, Robert McNally (guest), Eben Loewenthal, Sam Rivers, Mark Fellanto (guest).

Matthew Lieff shares a story that Eben Loewenthal enjoys:  "Frieda Schwartz was our diminutive, feisty teacher of music.  One day she was discussing some classically great composers.  Eben Loewenthal challenged her, questioning 'why we can't study the Beatles instead of Beethoven and Mozart".  Mrs. Schwartz patiently explained that we study Beethoven and Mozart because they have been proven great and then added, prophetically, that in 50 years if the Beatles' greatness is proven, they will be studied as well."

Listening to Matthew Lieff are Sam Rivers, Paul and Diane Fisher, Ron Joffe, Jane Weiss Kursh, Lu Foley

Sam Rivers:  "I felt very welcome in the community.  The way we were raised and educated in Newark was incredibly special in a special time.  I'm sorry that it isn't like that now for children growing up there.  By contrast, we had family living in the south.  I received a vision of the prejudice there when we went south for a visit.  My father and I were hungry and walked over to a restaurant and were told we were not allowed to eat there.  My mother was someone who could learn almost anything.  So she not only worked cleaning homes, but when she assisted at the Jewish senior housing she learned how to make Jewish foods.  Because of that she ended up cooking for many of the Jewish families as a second job."

Sam River's comments drew rapt listeners, Robert McNally (guest), Jeff Price, Robin Zeiger Fellanto, Matthew Lieff 

Neil Suss:  "I wanted to follow in my brother's footsteps, so decided to get involved in the school.  My idea was to join the patrol.  My friend Mark (Sarver) reminds me of the challenge I had getting up before 11 am back then, but if I made a decision to do something I would always follow through.  And I got to wear one of those cool belts.  Eventually, I became co-chief of the patrol along with Ron Joffe.  I learned a lesson during eighth grade that has carried to my future.  Part of our job as chiefs was to make sure the patrol team was at their posts on time so it was safe to cross the street.  One day, a patrol guard was not on time and I did not cover for him, leaving the street unattended.  I moved on to check on the other posts but did not report the lapse in coverage.  I was reprimanded by Mr. Grindlinger and put on the same corner for a few weeks as punishment.  It taught me a lesson about what someone in authority needed to do.  I did eventually make it back to being a chief and made sure this never occurred again."

Mark Sarver:  I do not fondly remember Georgianne Parker from my first half of second grade.  She had a raspy voice and was strict.  Billy Kesselman handed me a note that I didn't want and as I passed it back, she looked up and saw me and made me stand in the corner.  This seemed unjust to a six year old.  She created a Breakfast Club and we were supposed to start the day with a meal from all of the food groups.  Well, I was a little skinny kid who wore suspenders just to hold his pants up.  Breakfast for me was two slices of toast with pot cheese.  I desperately tried but couldn't do it, even throwing up one morning.  Mrs. Parker retired in 1963.  A few years later, at age 15, I moved to Millburn Township and was shocked to discover that she was my neighbor, only three doors away.  We didn't become buddies but were friendly when I saw her occasionally.  Fast forward 25 years to 1991 and my parents were moving to Arizona.  On my next to last visit, I'd loaded up my car and was about to drive away, a little sad.  Then I saw Mrs. Parker walking towards me.  She had to be at least 90 by then.  She said 'I have to move to the old fogey's home, the house is too much for me.'  Then she asked for a hug.  As I wrapped my arms around her, I couldn't help thinking that she taught well over a thousand pupils in her long career and I will be the last of them that she will ever see in her lifetime ... and I hated her!  As I got into the car and watched her slowly walk away, melancholy pervaded me, doors from my past were closing forever."

Robin Zeiger Fellanto:  I became a favorite of Mr. Robert Basch and this is how.  He was yelling at a female student as she fumbled with her boots and raincoat in the cloak room.  She became very upset and I tried to intervene and later called him out on it, saying he should never talk to anyone that way.  He acknowledged that his behavior was unprofessional.  That was my first time challenging authority and advocating for the underdog.  After that Mr. Basch took notice of me.  He asked me to read (for extra credit) a biography on Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the first famous female golfer.  He said that like her, I would be a leader, not a follower, in whatever I chose to pursue.  After I had moved from Newark in 1963, he kept in touch with my parents and even invited me and my former classmate Sharon Schiffman to the 1964 New York World's Fair. 

Mr. Basch followed my college years and career.  I sent photos of my graduations and accomplishments.  He had quite a collection of favorite student milestones pinned to a bulletin board in his den.  Through the years, I took his words to heart and became a respected nurse manager who successfully led a team of 10 nurses in the PACU operating room unit for 25 years.  Eventually we lost touch, but years later he was able to find me.  I received a heartwarming letter and we met for lunch.  It was a great time walking down memory lane and sharing what had happened in our lives.  He lived in Clark with a female friend, was a fixture at Clark Bagels, talking sports and sports trivia with the old timers who enjoyed his dry sense of humor.  When he was hospitalized, his friend contacted me but I was not able to see him before he passed.  I know some classmates did not like how he was gruff, tough and rough around the edges but I got to know the softer side of a man who loved to teach, who found ways to reach his students through sports and history.  He impacted my life significantly and in the most positive way, which I will never forget.  I treasured the life lessons that I gained by knowing him.  [Note from Mark Sarver:  Mr. Basch passed away at age 76 in August 2012.]

Harvey Mantel:  "Jean Cohen, my teacher for the second half of third grade, taught all subjects well but she was enjoyable.  She taught us cursive writing.  She was very creative, having us collect maple leaves off the ground, cover them with was paper on both sides and press to flatten them under books.  They decorated our classroom and then we were able to take some home.  We performed for our school assembly, singing old Irish songs with lyrics like 'some poor mother is waiting for her' and 'Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde'.  In those days we were supposed to be in bed by 8:30 am.  In the morning she would ask who had failed to get to bed on time, saying 'sleep heads get up', and would listen as we provided an excuse.

"I have a quick story about my second grade teacher Elizabeth Heistein.  While taking a quiz, I lifted the hand of my seatmate Jane Weiss, who was shielding her paper from anyone sneaking a peak, and whispered 'I'll only be a moment'.  Mrs. Heistein was very nice, but looked at me and said sternly 'don't you ever do that again' and repeated that warning.  I didn't do it again."  [Note from Mark Sarver:  Mrs. Heistein lived to age 99 and just before passing in 2007 celebrated her 74th wedding anniversary with husband Sam.] 

Lu Foley (formerly Lois Flagg):  "My fourth grade teacher was Grace Nolan.  My favorite biblical psalms are those I heard in her classroom, Psalms 1, 23, 24 and 100."

More on Grace Nolan from Matthew Lieff:  "Grace Nolan taught us about Mental Math [a group of skills that allow people to do math 'in their heads' rather than using pencil and paper or a calculator].  Doing these mental math quizzes every morning enabled me to review and solve problems.  I believe that these exercises prepared me for my eventual enrollment at MIT."  [Lu Foley also remembered Miss Nolan's use of mental math.] 

The Maple 60th Reunion is nearly over and Mark Sarver finally can take a breath.