50th Reunion Dinner, June 25, 2015

 Hotel Woodbridge at MetroPark Ballroom, Iselin, NJ

Reunion Committee, Ellen Rader Brick, Jane Weiss Kursh, Neil Suss, Jane Kalfus Maine, Jeff Price, Mark Sarver, Bob Goodman, Eben Loewenthal

Jody Dubman McNally, Ira and Cathie Brief, Ellen Rader Brick

Jane Kalfus Maine, Sylvia and Ron Hale, Mark Sarver

Shelley Solomon Diamond, Marsha Malamud Eben, Gerry Eben (guest), Lu Foley (Lois Flagg), Lonnie Austin (Alonzrea Stewart), Von Austin (guest)

Edie Liebowitz (guest), Jeff Price, Jane Weiss Kursh, Bob Goodman, Denise Summer

Nina Mariani Biondi, Ward Biondi (guest), Ellen Rader Brick, Jody Dubman McNally

Scott Seligman, Denise Summer, Matthew Lieff, Lu Foley, Wendy Rothman Goldblatt, Jane Weiss Kursh with Scott's graduation autographs.

Scott received some poetry from Jane Weiss for posterity.

Robert Cherkiss (guest), Gail Exler Golinsky, Claudette Stawicki Knox, Frank Knox (guest)

Eben Loewenthal, Bill Katcher, Randy Fisher, Donna Sparacio (guest)

Mark Sarver, David Fogel, Janet Fogel (guest)

Amy Arons (guest), Barry Arons, Hal Wiener, Francine Katz Wiener (guest)

Von Austin (guest), Lonnie Austin (Alonzrea Stewart), Pamela Wright (guest), Arthur Clerk

Jane Weiss Kursh, Jane Kalfus Maine, Donna Sparacio (guest), Randy Fisher, Ronald Cohen, David Fogel at the Memory Table

Mark Sarver, Shelley Solomon Diamond, Barry Arons

Lu Foley, Denise Summer and Jane Weiss Kursh looks through a Maple autograph book.

Two pair of Maple best friends, Marilyn Maines and Judy Feins, Shelley Solomon Diamond and Marsha Malamud Eben

Ronald and Jacquelyn Cohen, Claudette Stawicki Knox, Nina Mariani Biondi

Marilyn Maines, Lynn and Mike Sakowitz, Ellen Rader

Tita Mantel (guest), Jerry Rabinowitz, Harvey Mantel, Edie Liebowitz (guest), Matthew Lieff

Neil Suss, Hal Wiener, Bob Goodman, Mark Sarver, Ira Brief

Jody Dubman McNally, Ira Brief, Harvey Mantel

Marc and Pam Grodman, Jeff Price

Mark Sarver flanked by his two best friends, Neil Suss and Jerry Rabinowitz

Class president Eben Loewenthal welcomes his childhood classmates.  "This Maple Avenue Class of 1965 is a wondrously gifted and developed group of adults, who embody an impressive collection of disciplines, experiences and achievements. I doubt any reunion class can boast of, or present a wider range of quality human beings than we have in attendance here tonight.  What I observe about us is not self-serving hyperbole or reunion grandiosity.  It has a clear and simple explanation:  We were all blessed to have grown up in Newark, NJ and to have attended Maple Avenue School.

Maple Avenue School has closed its doors.  A great era has ended.  We were among the fortunate ones to have grown up in its heyday.  I remember special people, teachers and others whose life calling was to make mine richer.  I hope someday there will be people who fondly remember us in that way."

Eben Loewenthal introduces Mark Sarver and hands over the microphone.

Reunion coordinator Mark Sarver addresses the reunited Maple Class of '65:  "This is a dream come true, for me and for many others. Being raised in Newark and attending Maple for nine years from kindergarten on was an experience I would not trade. As our years apart grew to decades and finally a half century, I have always felt a sense of loss. 

"Though I had long thought about a reunion it seemed unlikely. Then, last Thanksgiving I emailed some Maple classmates proposing that the 50th anniversary of our graduation might be the time for us to finally reunite. Seven classmates answered the call, embracing a seemingly impossible challenge. A grammar school reunion? After 50 years? It was kind of an audacious idea and there were only six months to pull it together – but we did it. 

"I wish to express my profound gratitude to the 50th Reunion Committee, in Maple-alphabetical order, Bob Goodman, Janie Kalfus Maine, Eben Loewenthal, Jeff Price, Ellen Rader Brick, Neil Suss, Janie Weiss Kursh. 

"They were a boundless source of energy, ideas, advice and determination, each taking on major planning responsibilities and executing with precision, dedication and joy. It was complicated, at times challenging. We had to come together out of the mists of Maple past and figure out how to work in concert to make this happen. We were a reunion unto ourselves. But we were drawn together by our love for each other and by our love for you. 

"There were others who contributed in major ways. First and foremost was Scott Seligman, who was indefatigable employing his genealogical research skills to find many of you. Robin Zeiger Fellanto provided very solid advice. Many others helped in ways large and small. Each of you has my heartfelt thanks. 

"For me, the most exhilarating aspect of the reunion may have already occurred. Through months of a painstaking search, I had dozens of phone conversations and email exchanges with you, my Maple classmates. Once your shock wore off – “Maple Avenue School? Oh, my goodness!” –such communications provided a rich mixture of nostalgia, a lifetime of experiences and questions about long lost friends. You confessed old crushes, reminisced about teachers you loved or hated and admitted to embarrassing childhood moments. You intimately shared your life’s accomplishments and times of hardship or sadness. The graduation photo sheet of faded cardboard images came alive as never before, revealing the complex and extraordinary human beings that you had become. 

"And now, it is here: our 50th reunion. A time to rekindle old friendships and create new ones that can last for the rest of our lives. We spent half a century apart. Now that we have once again found each other, let us never let go. Have a great reunion!"

Lynn Sweigman Sakowitz, Mike Sakowitz (guest), Robin Zeiger Fellanto, Judy Feins listen to the reunion speakers.

Matthew Lieff, Edit Liebowitz (guest), Scott Seligman, Lu Foley

Shelley Solomon and Marsha Malamud Eben laughing it up as Judy Feins enjoys the moment.

Barry and Amy Arons, Hal and Francine Wiener, Marion Moskowitz Hartstein

Reunion attendees check out the music sheets as they get ready to sing the school song for the first time in 50 years..

"All hail to Maple's colors, maroon and gray.  May Maple be a leader in work and play."

"To our alma mater's honor we'll be loyal and true."

We'll pass each test, do the rest, for the best school is Maple Avenue."

An inspired Denise Summer breaks into song.

Jane Weiss takes her turn to sing.

Matthew Lieff launches into the rousing Weequahic Fight Song:

"We're on our way to meet the foe.

This is the day for us to go.

And with our banners flying oh, so high

and with spirits soaring to the sky

now hear our rousing cry RAH, RAH, RAH.

When we come back you're sure to see

that we have won our victory.

Cheers ring, we bring more honor to WEEQUAHIC HIGH."

Harvey Mantel is feelin' it while singer Donna Sparacio indulgently looks on.

Jane Kalfus Maine gets the dancing started,

Denise Summer leading the Maple '65 Line Dancers, Donna Sparacio (guest), Pamela Wright (guest), Lonnie Stewart, Jane Weiss Kursh, Jane Kalfus Maine.

Denise Summer, Jerry Rabinowitz, Marsha Malamud Eben, Edie Liebowitz, Harvey Mantel on the dance floor.

Neil Suss, Jerry Rabinowitz, Jane Weiss Kursh, Jane Kalfus Maine on the move.

(foreground) Lonnie Stewart, Donna Sparacio (guest), Randy Fisher

(background) Tita Mantel (guest), Jane Weiss Kursh, Jane Kalfus Maine

Jane Weiss Kursh, Robert Cherkiss (guest)

Donna Sparacio (guest), Jeff Price

Denise Summer, Bob Goodman

Edie Liebowitz (guest), Matthew Lieff

Neil Suss, Eben Loewenthal

Randy Fisher, Jeff Price, Marsha Malamud Eben

Harvey Mantel and Edie Liebowitz (guest) do The Stroll flanked by Jane Weiss Kursh, Bob Goodman, Amy Arons (guest), Frank Knox (guest), Claudette Stawicki Knox.

Randy Fisher twirls Jane Kalfus Maine, amusing Jane Weiss Kursh, Bob Goodman, Paul Fisher, Claudette Stawicki Knox.

Judy Feins, Denise Summer, Jerry Rabinowitz, Amy and Barry Arons, Marsha Malamud Eben

Pamela Wright (guest), Lonnie Austin

Jane Kalfus Maine, Jerry Rabinowitz

Gail Exler Golinsky, Claudette Stawicki Knox, Frank Knox (guest)

Frank and Claudette Stawicki Knox

Judy Feins, Marilyn Maines

Jane Kalfus Maine laughs as Neil Suss and Jerry Rabinowitz show just a little strain in hoisting her off the dance floor.

Jane Weiss Kursh laughs (or screams in fear?) as she tilts in the hands of Neil Suss and Eben Loewenthal.

Eben Loewenthal plays it cool as he dances with Donna Sparacio.

Harvey Mantel with Weequahic crush Edie Liebowitz.

The dancing got intense for Tita and Harvey Mantel, and the Janies, Weiss Kursh and Kalfus Maine.  What was this one called?

Jane Weiss Kursh, Harvey Mantel, Donna Sparacio (guest), Lonnie Austin, Pamela Wright (guest), Francine Katz Wiener, Lu Foley, Sylvia Hale (guest)

Tita and Harvey Mantel, Jane Kalfus Maine, Jane Weiss Kursh, Lonnie Austin, Pamela Wright (guest)

Deejay John Bianculli kept it lively through the night.

Scott Seligman, Lynn Sweigman Sakowitz

Mark Sarver, Neil Suss

Mark Sarver, Jerry Rabinowitz

Lenny Dinnerstein

Wendy Rothman Goldblatt, Gail Exler Golinsky

Francine Katz Wiener and Hal Wiener

Sylvia and Ronald Hale

Denise Summer

Frank McNally (guest), Pat Ozanne

Lonnie Austin (Alonzrea Stewart)

Mark Fellanto, Robin Zeiger Fellanto

Amy and Barry Arons

Von and Lonnie Austin

Tita and Harvey Mantel

Pamela Wright (guest), Arthur Clerk

Randy Fisher and Jane Kalfus Maine by the 50th reunion Welcome Banner

Mike Sakowitz (guest), Jane Weiss Kursh

Eben Loewenthal, Bob Goodman

Donna Sparacio (guest), Bill Katcher

Eben Loewenthal, Mark Sarver

Marsha Malamud Eben, Shelley Solomon

Jody Dubman McNally, Harvey Mantel

Jeff Price, Neil Suss

Ira and Cathie Brief

Ellen Rader

Arthur Clerk, Bob Goodman

Ronald Hale, Paul Fisher

Robert Cherkiss (guest) and Randy Fisher share a moment.

Marilyn Maines, Judy Feins

Judy Feins, Scott Seligman, Lynn Sweigman Sakowitz

Scott Seligman, Matthew Lieff, Larry Model at Maple Sunday 50th reunion brunch.

Jane Kalfus Maine presented Mark Sarver with a Sherlock Holmes hat and pipe for his persistent sleuthing that tracked down so many classmates for the 50th Reunion.

How sweet the Maple Class of '65 50th Reunion was.