Mr. Powell concluded Mr. Webb and I had a personality clash and I was removed from Geography class and doomed to the Library.
Unfortunately, for him, Al Stewart (My homeroom teacher) was the teacher in charge. My first day I did a recon and figured the place needed some life.
Slept on the plan and spread the word, with some of the people I knew, even before Study Hall was to begin.
I sat at the rear exit, by the door. On the wall was the BIG clock, a REALLY BIG clock.
The plan was put into motion and, about 12:55 all eyes were upon the clock. Remember how it used to click back?
Well as it struck 1 everybody, and I mean, everybody stood up. Mr. Stewart was doing some teacher thing, his head down, like he was reading. He looks up hearing the commotion, starts to laugh, but recomposes himself, gets up, and tells everybody to sit down. All the while he's headed down the aisle, heading directly towards me, gets to the table, puts his hand on my arm and says: You have a detention. I try to defend myself, fat chance, I was had. Besides where would I run to; and he was the homeroom teacher.
It doesn't end here. I worked in the hospital, who didn't? Well his wife was in the Maternity ward with their 4th or 5th child. I used to sneak her up custard, Ice Cream, etc. Remember, mothers stayed for 2-3 days in the old days.
I show up with the treat that evening, after detention.
Mrs. Stewart's first question: What did you do to Al?
I explained the place was like a morgue, she interrupts, after one day?
Maybe not the best story but, I'm certain somebody who reads this will remember that day.
By Richard Porsch, June, 1961
HOMEROOM 409
Homeroom 409 and the graduation gift to our homeroom teacher, Mr. Al Stewart.
This was cut and dry, already spoke to Mrs. Stewart and a simple Patio Set would be great.
The Problem: How to discuss this.
The Solution: After repeatedly requesting Mr. Stewart to leave the room, I instructed Pat Marino and George Halpin to pick him up and I led them out of the room. Went to Mr. Confessore and asked him to care for Al while we discussed the "Present".
The Outcome: Everybody was accessed their fair share, we bought the Set, delivered and set it up the weekend before Graduation.
Moral of the Story: Mr. Stewart was, more than moved, by this gesture. We were an awkward group to have as your homeroom: loose cannons, jokesters, and several descriptions not printable. But, he really liked all of us, and the surprise, at our gesture, was beyond anything he could have imagined.
By Richard Porsch, June, 1961
THE SNOWBALL
Re: Photo of class cut-ups.
The photographer told us to make snowballs, and to PRETEND to throw them at him. Class clowns don't pretend, never got the true definition of such a preposterous word.
He says ready, and we were, 3 snowballs heading right at him, lucky me, I nail him right in the coconut, his hat goes flying, and we got away with it.
Think about it: pretend to throw a snowball?
By Richard Porsch, June, 1961
NEWARK DRIVE-IN
First let me start with the Newark drive-in (the passion pit). Who could
forget two FEATURES and the ONE O'CLOCK HORROR SHOW every
Friday and Saturday night. Ask Frank Pierz if he remembers going in the
exit of the Route 3 drive-in with 6 guy's and two cases of beer (and not
getting caught).
Second, who remembers Bab's and Bunnie's on River Road in Lyndhurst?
A hot spot, second only to the BRIGHT SPOT.
By Ed Polukord, June, 1960
HUDSON HORNET
When I became of driving age, I couldn't afford good used cars and budgeted around $125 TO $150 tops for cars I drove into the ground and lasted 6 months at the most. No fixing, no repairs, no nothing.
One Saturday afternoon, after they towed my lastest investment away from the house and I pocketed the $14.50,the phone rang with my aunt Helen Mould offering me a car they had available since they just purchased a new one.
This 1949 Hudson Hornet, "Has a new battery and two new tires,can you use it?" "Can I? How much? How soon?" "No charge, It's yours."
I think I rang her door bell before she hung up the phone.One of the most memorable cars I owned, bubble shaped, mahogany dash board and one had to step into it upon boarding.
Of course, it lasted the 6 months.
By Frank Pierz, June, 1960
"WEIRD" TEACHERS
One teacher who was especially "weird" was a Spanish teacher named Mr. Benes. Now, he was a bit of an odd character in that he tried his best to have the class sing such songs as "Besame Mucho" or "La Cucaracha." To do so, he would promise to dance around the room; so, needless to say, we sang our "hearts" out just to see him make a fool of himself in front of us as he flamencoed all over the place.
A second story of a teacher revolved around "The Tomahawk," also known as Ms. Tiemersma, an English teacher. One day she was teaching us a lesson ( I don't remember what of ) when she uttered the word "dung" in class. As naive Freshmen, we had no clue as to what that word meant, so John Keddie raised his hand and asked its meaning. Mincing no words, Ms. Tiemersma blurted out "shit." It was the first "curse" any of us had heard a teacher use in class. It also elevated her to a higher position on our "respect" list.
Then there was Mr. Loftus, a shop teacher. I did not have him as an instructor, but he possessed a rather "oddball" sense of humor. If you looked at him quizzically, or said something you shouldn't have, he asked if "you were a Communist." On the other hand, if he caught you with both hands in your pockets, he asked, "Who was winning."
Lastly, there was Mr. Rothman, the history teacher. One day he asked the class the question who defeated the Moors at the Battle of Tours ( It was Charles Martel ). At that time there was a hair product by name of Charles Antell. So, as a "humorous" response, yours truly replied Charles Antell. He was so quick witted that his response to me and the class was, "Close, but you missed it by a hair." You have to admit that was clever. Plus, you had to be there.
By Fred Gillespie, June, 1961
THE BLUE BAR
On any Friday evening anybody could be found having Pizza, etc. Even some special Knuckleheads could be found , at the bar, and they weren't having Ginger ale. May I add this was not an exclusive weekend activity?
The activity I remember most fondly, or was it guilt, was the evening John Magullian, my CCD teacher questioned Frank Pierz (maybe 19) and myself (17) if we were enjoooooooying said, Ginger Ale!
Guess what? He bought us the next round!
The following week I also received an extra Homework assignment, something about why they served wine at Weddings (Miracle at Cana).
Frank had graduated and I had this by myself!
By Richard Porsch, June, 1961
PRINT SHOP
For whatever reasons, Joe Aigner, the subsequent replacement to the Chief (John Loftus) made the following: the foremen of the Print shop. Perhaps we were there for double-periods, had to get or justify the Credits, but, we wuz the main-men. Myself, as General Foreman, the overseer of what was accomplished. Jerry Pierz as the foreman of the type=setters, what a jobless job, but, also, very important, you had to know how to spell.
And Joe Pinto as foreman of the Pressmen.
Our assignments were sent down by the Board of Ed, which consisted of notices, Sports schedules, reminders of Rally's, and other things associated with school activities. We printed the fraternity/sorority dance, 50-50 tickets, after school hours.
We were the 3 P's and we had a great time, and sadly, I'm the only one left.
But, anyone who shared that time will remember what a great time it was to be part of the 3 P's Print shop.
Perhaps this all started the previous year when John Uhl made the run and got Mr. Aigner the Quart of VO for his Wedding present. Who knows for sure?
By Richard Porsch, June, 1961
MR. MCCORD
I will tell you about a moment at Kearny High School which changed my life. Like many persons in my class (1951), I had few models of family members who had been to college. My two cousins on my mother's side had gone on to college, one had just finished training as a math teacher and the other one was in an engineering program. Without much advice on the subject, I entered the Academic Program and dreamed of following my cousin into engineering. But I had little idea of what that meant.
Of all the subjects at KHS my best work was in history, but I had no intention of majoring in the subject. When I was a senior, my family had a severe financial crisis as my father had lost his small Five and Dime Store located on Elm Street and it did not look as if I would be able to afford college. Into this rather glum picture entered Mr. Glen McCord. Mr. McCord encouraged his history classes to enter the Journal American regional United States history contest. Without too much preparation, except for the wonderful training I had received from Mr. McCord, I entered the contest and took third place in New Jersey. In addition to winning a $100 prize which allowed me to buy a graduation suit, I developed a renewed confidence in myself. With further encouragement from Mr. McCord, who recommended me for the History Medal, and from the Associate Principal Mr. Yeager, I took an exam in May for Montclair State. Although I did not hear from the school until late in the summer, I was admitted to the school as a major in history.
Four years later after graduation, I went into the M.A. program at New York University, and in 1965 I graduated from that school with a Ph.D. in American history. While going to NYU, I taught history in a secondary school and at the Pennsylvania State University. After receiving my Ph.D., I have taught at Temple University for the last 37 years. I have also written three books, 30 articles, and am working on a new manuscript. I have also served as chairman of the department, which at the time had about 40 faculty. In looking back on my career, I strongly believe that, except for my parents, Mr. McCord has been the most influence of any person in my life.
By Herb Ershkowitz, June, 1951
THE BULLY
When my brother Jerry got out of the Marine Corps in 1965, we hung around
Charlie's , a local watering hole on River Road, about one mile from the Belleville Pike.
Early on a Saturday evening, we recognized the bartender as as Slowey, the
infamous bully from our grammar school days. "Hey, you remember us, you use to pick on us when we were kids." He looked amazed, small in stature and frail looking.
"Well, we're hanging around here until closing time, since tonight is payback
time."
We watched as he nervously paced the bar and tried to solicit defenders
but, I don't think he had many takers. We never intended to do him any harm and about ten minutes before closing time, we got up and said,"See you aound, we'll be back." He may, from the corner of his eye, still be looking for us.
I would have liked to have gotten one good shot in. My brother, was a big
guy, and if he ever connected, would have put him into next Tuesday.
On many occasions, we remissed about this incident.
By Frank Pierz, June, 1960
(First Love Conversations Between Two Old 1961 KHS Jocks)
Bill,
As to your comment on Judy, "Some of you know her well, others knew of her
and some may not have known her at all", Judy lived 2 blocks from me in
H.S. She was a cheerleader, as I`m sure you remember, and I was a jock in
football and basketball like you. During my freshman year(1957) she was my
first real girlfriend and I gave her a sliver friendship ring, my "KHS"
sweater etc. I guess your first love is always special and the little
things stand out vividly in your memory even if it only lasted 4 months.
When you mentioned her name, I had a flashback and visioned standing in a
jewelry store near the rings. I remember that I was wearing a new pair of
white low cut Converse sneakers, all the rage then since most people wore
black high top PF Fliers. I was looking out of the store window at the Town
Hall across Kearny Avenue thinking about the decision to buy her this
friendship ring (as we called them in the `50 ) or not. After that other
small flashbacks of things that Judy and I did together, a bonfire at
Gunnell Oval before the homecoming football game and a date that we
had baby sitting, etc. came rushing into my mind. Funny how words, or
sounds, or smells bring back certain vivid memories. They were good
memories of those days when we were growing up.
I hope Judy has her family around her to help her through her sad times.
Our families are really the only things that we have of true value at this
stage of our lives.
By Norm McKibbin, June, 1961
Bill`s response:
Norm,
Your mentioning Judy also brought back a memory of my first love. I
remember the first time I took a girl out. We just took a stroll from her
house on Elm Street near the high school up to the tennis club on Kearny
Avenue near St. Stephen's church. When we got back to her house I was
going to kiss her and she said she couldn`t. Her mother told her that if I tried
to kiss her, for her to say no. What could I say? The next time we went out I got
the kiss. Dated her also for about 4 months. I would see her on and off
during the next year or so and took her out when I was home on leave from
the military. Last time I saw her was about 1985 when her dad passed away
and I saw it in the newspaper. I went to Crane's for the viewing and she
was there with her 3 girls. When she saw me she ran over and gave me a
huge hug. She introduced me to her daughters and told them I was her first
boyfriend. Made me feel good. She lives in South Carolina somewhere over
in the Greenville area, which is only four hours away from me. Small world.
As far as your Judy goes, I recall we beat Nutley in a frosh basketball
game and I had just scored at least 22 against them. As we were getting on
the bus, that same Judy said, rather loudly, for me to come sit with
her. I hardly knew her at that time and I was a little shy as a frosh. I
just walked by her and didn't say a word. That must have been a little
after you two broke up. I guess she was always on the hunt for the
athletic types. Funny like you said, you mention a name and something just
clicks in your mind and brings up some old memories.
By Bill Tilson, January, 1961
MY BROTHER JERRY
On 9/15/61, I was driving my brother Jerry to join the Marine Corps. over on
Canal Street in NYC.
As we crossed Elm Street, at a stop sign on Stewart Avenue, a bus pulled away and just caught the tail end of my back bumper. (A few additional dents on the cars I drove didn't make a difference). I told my brother to open the door and fall out which he promptly did.The bus door opened and I was yelling at the driver, "Look what you're done to my brother." (as I pointed to Jerry lying on the curb) He's off to serve his country and join the Marine Corps. Now, what are we going to do."
The driver looked frantic and turned to the six scattered passengers and said, "This is the second week on this route. You are all my witnesses. Don't anyone move. Someone call the cops." I said, "We don't have all day to fool around. We're out of here." I told my brother to get in the car as I turned and looked at the bus driver with his mouth open. He's probably still cussin us to this day.
We did laugh on numerous occasions about this incident.
By Frank Pierz, June, 1960
COMING OF AGE
Did you ever read about Frank Sinatra, living in Hoboken, yearning for the thrill of NYC. Well, that describes my feelings about coming of age in the 50's in Kearny, which no one from NYC ever heard of! How I yearned for life in New York. Now that I'm a little older, I realize that Kearny offered us, those kids of the late 50's, the best of all worlds.
We had dances and football games and proms and places to hang out like the Ki-Hi and the Cardinal and Egans and Rutts Hutt and probably all kinds of places. We could sneak a 7 & 7 at the Kearny Yacht Club, with its slanted floors, and feel like we were really "grown up." We had Stewart's Drive Inn where you could pull up and order a hot dog and a drink. We were black and red jackets which proudly displayed our high school.
We had to wear skirts, and they had to cover our knees. On Assembly Day we had to wear white blouses and blue skirts. The guys had to wear ties. Never happen today. Yet we were free to walk Kearny Avenue without fear and our doors were open and we never worried about "crime." We had three major movie theaters..The Lincoln, The Regent and the Hudson, as well as a movie theater in Harrison. There was always Newark, but that was a world away. Newark, in the 50's, was famous for burlesque! I never got to go to a burlesque show.
We didn't know what racism was. I never experienced anti-Semitism. Coke was something to drink. Crack was in the sidewalk and marijuana was something musicians in the Village smoked. That was my Kearny world.
At a very early age, I discovered Greenwich Village and I would board the Hudson Tubes at least twice a week and go there. It was very near and very friendly. New York was my playground and the theater was there and I know I went a lot, so it couldn't have cost that much either. Subways were safe!
With all the yearning I felt for New York in the late 50's, I became a New Yorker about 40 years ago. I now year for what Kearny was. You never know how good you have it until it changes. Ah, for Kearny in the 50's..truly, we could all achieve the American Dream.
By: Marsha Altman-Livson, June, 1958
MEMORIES
Our 45th reunion is coming up in October, and we are sharing it with other
classes. Let's remember old times. Remember dancing in the auditorim at
lunch? Remember field days in the stadium? I remember a day in Biology when
we disected frogs. John Laborowski, (who was in my home room, 408, with Mr.
Kopacki), took frog parts and put them in my purse. What a riot in homeroom
when I reached into same purse for a pen. We all screeched. I remember Mr.
Benes, who after a wet lunch at Eagans, came into class sloshed, and we had
to sing, "Besame Mucho" at the top of our lungs. To this day I still know
the words to that song, but not much else in "Espanol." I remember running
out to the stadium in beautiful persimmon colored dress for class picture of
some kind, and falling down the steps about 10 feet. Couldn't get up for
laughing. Dorothy Tillberg's toe was broken (or sprained) from our collision
in soccer. There are many more memories, but I'm sure you are all bored by
now, and want to send in some of your own. Do it, and we can all remember.
By: Judy Heffner-Chin, June, 1958
SECORA'S GYM
In 1957, we would hangout at Secora's weight lifting gym, a two car converted
garage on Harrison Avenue, about two blocks in from Schulyer Ave.
The membership consisted of Charles Atlas want-a-be's and had one female
member, Basha or Barbara, who had a young son born out of wedlock.
One day, one of the group started to make derogatory remarks about the young
boy's heritage and the identity of the father. Without hesitation and further
delay, Basha hit the bad mouther with a right cross that knocked him out
cold.Needless to say, we were all surprised, stunned and it immediately got my
attention.This was my first witness and experience to Women's Power, way
before the Women's Liberation Movement got under way.To this day I prescreen my comments,especially around women.
I guess, for a man getting knocked out by a women is nothing to brag or write home to mother about.
