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Carolyn (Lee) Yee [1943-2020] Tuesday, February 2, 2021 
A message from Sharyn Yee tells us that her mother, and our PHS'60 classmate, Carolyn (Lee) Yee died on December 30, 2020. Carolyn was born in NYC, one of six children. She lived in Midtown Manhattan for her first eight years, then moved to Passaic NJ, eventually graduating from Passaic High School in 1960. She and her late husband Allan raised three daughters. In 1979 the family moved west to settle in warm and sunny Torrance CA. Following a career in the aerospace industry and subsequently with H&R Block, she spent her retirement years enjoying her family which by that time included four grandchildren. Classmate Linda (Minkoff) Gordon fondly remembers attending classes with Carolyn through Elementary, Middle and High School. Carolyn will be dearly missed by her family and friends whose lives she touched. Brian Phelan [1942 - 2020] Friday, January 20, 2021 Lowell Rosenberg reports the passing of a good friend and PHS'60 classmate Brian Phelan on December 19, 2020. Brian is survived by his wife of 55 years Lynne and his daughter Melissa. Brian held a BSEE from Newark College of Engineering (NJIT) and a MBWA from his years within the Electrical Industry. He began his career at ASCO Power Technologies in 1968 before he retired after 42 years of service. In his tenure with ASCO, he had served as Industrial Control Product Manager and Director of Customer Engineering and when he retired, he was the Director of Marketing. Brian was very involved and cared very deeply about his community. He spent his life serving his town Mendham NJ. He was not only on the Township committee but was also a life member of the Brookside Fire Department. Brian was inducted into the NJ Elected Officials Hall of Fame for having served 20 years as an elected official in the Township of Mendham: Mayor, Town Council, Police Commissioner, Chairman of the Department of Public Works. He sat on the Finance Committee, Recreation Committee, Historical Preservation and Board of Education. Brian received several Resolutions from the Township for "unselfishly devoting his time, efforts and skills to protect the residents of Mendham Township" and "providing an exemplary example of leadership and commitment to the community". As a life member of the Brookside Fire Department, he held many executive positions and served as Fire Chief on three separate occasions in 1981, 1982 and 1996. At the time of his death he received a plaque for 50 years of service. He was a member of the NJ State Fire Chief's Association and life member of the NJ State Fireman's Relief Association. Brian didn't just hold executive positions within the fire service; he was also a mentor to many young firemen over the years and friends to many others. He maintained personal relationships with all of them and thought of them as his "brothers".. Carolyn (Lee) Yee says "Hi" Tuesday, March 13, 2018 We received an email today from our PHS'60 classmate Carolyn Lee. She has resided in Torrance CA since 1979 after driving cross country from Queens NY when her husband accepted a position at TRW Space & Defense. Eventually she joined hubby at TRW, retiring in 1999 after 20 years. Her second career after retirement was 10 years at H&R Block preparing tax returns. She is a mother to three daughters and a grandmother to four. Unfortunately, Carolyn was widowed in 2009. OMG! Passaic Bank Building finally reopens Friday, Jannuary 7, 2018 
The iconic clock at 663 Main Avenue whose hands have been frozen in time began ticking once again on January 5, 2018. Passaic's tallest building has reopened after 20 years of on-again, mostly off-again redevelopment schemes. Here's the scoop: Bank Building. Revitalization Underway At Passaic's Tallest And Most Iconic Building Monday, July 10, 2017 Apparently the plans for restoring the long-abandoned Peoples Bank Tower in downtown Passaic reported back in 2011 fell through somewhere between then and now. However, a recently discovered article posted by Jared Kofsky on the Jersey Digs website last February reports that new plans for the building are in the works. "The mixed-use project involving the 'tallest and most iconic building in Passaic' is expected to be completed by late 2017." Trinity Partners had acquired the building for $1.5 million from the Passaic Redevelopment Agency in 2011, and originally planned for the property to be used for medical arts purposes. That project had stalled until this year when Downtown Newark's Hanini Group, a project redeveloper, took up the reins. The plans call for the bottom two floors to be devoted to retail space, including a fitness center. The tower will contain 100,000 square feet of office space, half of which will be used by the Passaic Board of Education. Hanini is contemplating the idea of a rooftop restaurant at the tower. A photo of the Bank Tower appears on the PHS'60 website's home page. Betsy Osborne [August 26, 1942 - January 18, 2015] Friday, July 7, 2017 Lowell Rosenberg sent us an email to report "while searching the internet for our old school friends, I was saddened to learn of Betsy's passing [in 2015]. I am sure many remember Betsy with great fondness." How true! Her lifetime of many interests, experiences and careers is extensively noted here. Patricia Lazovick, obituary Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Patricia Lazovick Novack passed away on March 1, 2017. Pat and her husband Marc were mainstays of our 20th, 30th, 40th and 50th PHS'60 Reunion Committees. She had divided her retirement years between her homes in Woodland Park NJ and the Boca Raton/Boynton Beach FL area. In addition to her husband Marc, Pat is survived by their three children (David, Michele and Michael) and seven grandchildren. Jon & Judy (Strassman) Van Praagh move to Florida It's all about golf! Tuesday, May 24, 2016 
Judy writes: "After an epic 5 months of selling our home in New Jersey, 3 days of packing up the U-Haul, driving it 1,300 miles with the car in tow (a 3 day trip), a day to unload and return the U-Haul ... and a week of trying to find places to put our stuff ... WE ARE IN FLORIDA."They found a beautiful and peaceful place to live in Palm Harbor ... great weather, easy access to the beaches on the Gulf, wonderful shopping and restaurants. Jon reports that the people in the community are very friendly. "We are within just a few minutes of just about everything we might ever need!" Jon is looking forward to moving his golf teaching activities to the sunny South. Fore!! Joel Diamond and Rebecca Holden are married Sunday, January 25, 2015 The Record/Herald News 
Joel Diamond, former Sony Executive, two-time Grammy nominee, and multi-platinum record producer (Engelbert Humperdinck, Gloria Gaynor, David Hasselhoff, Helen Reddy, and others), eloped over New Year's with Rebecca Holden, Knight Rider co-star, Breck Girl, General Hospital series regular, and recording artist. Reunion Videos Available Online Friday, February 21, 2014 It was recently discovered that Roy Brocaw's online posting of the five part PHS'60 50th Reunion video series had disappeared from the original site. Fortunately, an intensive investigation by your faithful editor discovered another source for the videos ... Facebook. Anyone looking to relive the experience can click here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Mary Ann Wieczezak, obituary Tuesday, February 17, 2014 The Record/Herald News Mary Ann Wieczezak O'Keefe passed away on February 14, 2014. She was a graduate of William Paterson College and went on to teach at Christopher Columbus Junior High School in Clifton for several years. Mary Ann eventually left teaching to focus on raising her three children (Joseph, MaryLynne, and Allison) in the same Montclair home where she spent her final days. She will be missed by her husband Joseph, her children and even moreso by her eight loving grandchildren. Deanne Abramson, another very belated obituary Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Classmate Joe Hirschfield reports the passing of Deanne Abramson in 1999 which he learned from a chance meeting with Deanne's sister. Alphonse Carola, Chemistry Teacher Wednesday, April 3, 2013 Star Ledger 
Alphonse Carola passed away at age 88. Some of us will recall with fondness his warm, gentle, yet sharp-witted manner ... always full of laughter ... with exquisite taste in hats. He ultimately became vice principal at PHS before retiring in 1992. Another Classmate Found Saturday, June 2, 2012 Out of the blue, a request came into the contact@phs60.org inbox from Liz Martin, the wife of our classmate Charles Martin. Reminding us that Chuck was a "high scorer" for the PHS'60 basketball team, she is looking for help in locating PHS�60 basketball memorabilia to surprise him on his upcoming 70th birthday. We came up with a few options, supplying contact information for (1) Mark Auerbach, the official City of Passaic Historian; (2) Ken Slappy, the current PHS basketball coach; and (3) John Mahonchak, a PHS basketball teammate. If anyone else has an idea or two, send us an email and we will forward the information to Liz. Liz reports that Chuck and she were married in 1978 and they have a 29 year old son Jonathan who is getting married in September. Chuck and Liz were living in Northern New Jersey while John taught in the Nutley school system for 32 years, coaching the Nutley High School baseball and, not surprisingly, basketball teams. He earned an MA degree and received both Supervisor and Principal Certification as well as being named to Who's Who in America. In 2009, they retired to Myrtle Beach where John continues to pursue his passions of bass fishing and golf. Liz tells us that "Despite his years, Chuck still shows the signs of a great athlete." Dorothy Rutkowitz, obituary Tuesday, April 24, 2012 The Bergen Record Dorothy "Dot" Rutkowitz Slotwinski passed away peacefully in her home in Rochelle Park after fighting a long battle with cancer. She leaves three daughters Joanne, Pamela and Sandra and a son Keith along with eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Dot was the twin sister of our PHS'60 classmate Richard Rutkowitz. Bank Tower Sold Monday, September 12, 2011 After years of sitting idle, the downtown Bank Tower building at 663 Main Avenue (pictured at the bottom of the PHS'60 website's main page) ... the tallest building in Passaic ... has finally been sold. The new owner, Trinity Partners LLC, plans to spend over $15 million transforming the 11-story tower into a training school for medical technicians, plus doctor's offices, laboratories, a restaurant, a coffee shop and a pharmacy. Learn more here. Marcia Chait, obituary Monday, August 22, 2011 We are saddened to learn from Marilyn Kaplan Israel of the death this past week of our classmate Marcia Chait Tobier. Those of us who spent time with Marcia at our recent PHS'60 Reunion know how happy she was to be able to attend and renew friendships, in spite of her chronic illness. Our deepest sympathies go out to her husband David and her children Cord, Stacy and Rory. Baby It's You ... going dark Wednesday, August 10, 2011 Mrs. Greenberg and the Shirelles are leaving Broadway and going back to Passaic, metaphorically. The producers of Baby It's You announced the upcoming closing after 33 previews and 151 regular performances. Beth Leavel was nominated for a Tony (but did not win) for her role as Florence Greenberg, the Passaic housewife who discovered the Shirelles. Reviews were mixed, including a comment by the New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood noting that the production resembled "one of those PBS pledge-night specials devoted to oldies but goodies." Maybe they should include their 1961 single on Sceptor Records "A Thing of the Past" on closing night. PHS'60 Nostalgia Monday, August 8, 2011 Many thanks to our classmate Joan Rosenbloom Kleinberg for providing us with a wonderful trip down memory lane, allowing us to recall the "good old days". See if this series of pictures and words brings a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye: Nostalgia. Nancy Van Winkle, very belated obituary Tuesday, August 2, 2011 We just received a message from Patricia Van Winkle Zempol-Stewart, PHS'64. Pat came across this website and was moved to report the passing of our classmate Nancy Van Winkle back in 1999. It was heartening to learn of Nancy's legacy, three children and eight grandchildren. California Dreamin', New York Shrinkin' Monday, July 25, 2011 A newsy note was received from our classmate Carol Turetsky. We know from her bio that Carol is a practicing attorney in a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles. She has been in contact with our classmate Rebecca Dorum Pompel and sends along Reenee's regards. Carol referred us to an intriguing New York Times article from 2010 reporting on our classmate Paul DeBell's interest in reincarnation. Paul is a clinical psychiatrist, practicing in New York City. The article, entitled Remembrances of Lives Past, begins: In one of his past lives, Dr. Paul DeBell believes he was a caveman. In that earlier incarnation, "I was going along, going along, going along, and I got eaten," said Dr. DeBell, who has a private practice on the Upper East Side where he specializes in hypnotizing those hoping to retrieve memories of past lives. If your curiosity has been piqued, read the entire article here. Ellen Chapel, belated obituary Thursday, June 23, 2011 We just learned that our classmate Ellen Chapel Bushansky lost her battle with lung cancer on Feb 2, 2006. Ellen was married to Robert Bushansky, classmate Cliff Gordon's step-brother. During their early married life, Ellen and Bob were the proprietors of a natural food store, The Ginger Grocer in Montclair, which morphed into a music and coffee house in the evenings. Bob owned a janitorial supply company for many years, serving businesses and schools in the Clifton area. Eventually, they followed their two children Mara and Jared out to California, most recently settling in Fort Bragg CA. Some of us will remember Ellen's father Arnold who owned a commercial printing business on Brook Avenue in Passaic Park. Mr. Chapel also dabbled in hypnosis and was the hit of many birthday parties in Passaic Park. Ellen and Bob attended the PHS'60 30th Reunion in 1990. Our belated condolences go out to Bob, Mara and Jared. One Night in Bangkok Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Do you remember the song "One Night in Bangkok" from the Broadway musical Chess in 1984, written by the members of ABBA and originally sung by Murray Head? Well, our classmate Joel Diamond loved the song so much back then that he immediately produced a dance version of the song on his Silver Blue Records label. It was sung by the lovely 1980s Vogue model and TV personality Robey. Joel's release rose to the Top 10 that year in Billboard Magazine. Well, twenty-seven years later Mike Tyson gets to sing "One Night in Bangkok" in the current Hangover 2 movie. Joel reportedly said: "If I had known back then that Mike Tyson wanted to make his singing debut with this song, my first choice would certainly have been the Beast (Tyson) over the Beauty (Robey)." Check out Joel's professional Bio. Baby It's You Monday, April 2, 2011 A new musical is in previews on Broadway in New York City. Baby It's You tells the story of Passaic housewife Florence Greenberg, the founder of Sceptor Records, who discovered the Shirelles and managed their rise to stardom. Actually, the play opened at the Pasadena (CA) Playhouse in November of 2009 to mixed reviews, with praise for the musical performances but luke warm comments on the story line. Some changes have been made along the way, but the New York media will not publish their reviews of the current production until the official opening. Some of us may remember Florence's daughter and PHS graduate Mary Jane (now Mary Jane Goff), a year or two older than us, who we understand did have input into the production. Florence's 1995 obituary states that she was married to an accountant. But some of us may recall that Bernie Greenberg operated National Foods just off Route 3 on Main Avenue in Clifton, a wholesale distributor of Bachmann Pretzels and Wise Potato Chips. The Gordons (Lin and Cliff) attended the April 2nd performance. Their mutual impression (and that of a group of attendees in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rows center) was that those who enjoyed the musical style of the late 50s and early 60s would be be satisfied with the musical performances ... but the story was weak, the pace was slow and the acting was uninspired. Margaret Meek, retired Passaic High School art teacher, dies Saturday, April 2, 2011 The Herald News Margaret Dunlop Meek, age 86, of Wayne died on Thursday, March 31, 2011. Ms. Meek was born in Paterson to Charles and Agnes Haldane Meek. Margaret attended Elementary School No.13 and Eastside High School where she was the first to graduate with a Fine Arts Major. From there she went to Newark State Teachers College earning a BS in Fine Arts and then a MFA from Teacher's College, Columbia University. She became supervisor of Art for the city of Passaic, a position she held until retirement. She is survived by her two sisters, Martha Haldane Meek (a former Phsyical Education teacher at Passaic High School) and Harriett Loudon Meek. Southeast Florida PHS'60 Mini-Reunion ... a Delightful Evening Thursday, January 28, 2011 An intimate group of PHS'60 alumni gathered at the Boynton Beach FL home of classmate Joan Rosenbloom Kleinberg for an evening of food, drink and reminiscing ... and there was an abundance of each. As we mingled and sipped our favorite libations, a server passed among us with trays of appetizers. Early on, the men settled into soft, cushioned chairs and sofas in the living room for serious discussions about their military experiences, views on politics, resolutions to world conflicts and other light-hearted topics. The only thing missing was a deck of cards and the haze of cigar smoke. The woman assembled in the adjoining family room for more animated conversation ... with lots of laughter, giggling and cackling intruding into the men's intense discussions. The men soon realized that the woman were having more fun, so one by one they slipped out of the living room to join the women. Soon the "call to dinner" was sounded. Joan, a retired caterer, had set out a dinner buffet that rivaled Ivanka Trump's wedding reception. We chose from an array of delectable -- and healthy -- dishes, making sure to save room for the dessert selections -- not so healthy -- which literally filled the dining room tabletop. The calorie and cholesterol counters among us looked on with envy while the others dug in. The story telling, revelations and "whatever happened to" went on non-stop throughout the evening. We learned each others' life stories (the abridged versions) ... especially enjoying tales of how we all met and eventually married our respective spouses. We were amazed on discovering our links to one another (less than six degrees of separation) through relatives, college roommates, workplace colleagues, and social contacts ... even though many of us had long ago moved far away from our childhood homes in Passaic. Time passed too quickly ... the clock was showing past 11pm ... when our energy levels began to wind down. But, as always happens, another half hour was spent in saying our "good byes" and making promises to "keep in touch" ... promises that will surely be kept. The attendees included Joan (Rosenbloom) Kleinberg, Pat (Lazovick) Novack, Shelly and Barbara Kalmowitz, Jim and Gail (Weiner) Biben, Judy (Pinck) Rosenblatt, Dennis and Judy (Cohen) Paul, Michael and Joan Zager, and Cliff and Lin (Minkoff) Gordon. Original "College List" from 1960 Article Spring, 1960 The Herald-News 
Many thanks to Judy Strassman Van Praagh and Judy Pinck Rosenblatt for contributing an article that appeared in the Passaic-Clifton Herald-News in the Spring of 1960, showing a "partial" listing of our college and trade-school bound PHS'60 classmates. A readable version has been added to the bottom of the 2010 RE-ECHO pages. Some names appear to be missing (including those of your faithful editor and his lovely wife). Anyone wishing to be added to the "College List" should contact the editor with your name and college/trade-school information. Marjorie Bunnell, Passaic educator for 52 years, dies Tuesday, December 7, 2010 By Jay Levin, The Record 
Marjorie Bunnell�s career at Passaic High School spanned half a century ... from the "no gum chewing era" to the "let's break up that fight in the hallway era," said her last boss, Passaic schools Superintendent Robert Holster.Times changed, and Miss Bunnell, who retired as principal in 1995, changed with them. What did not change was her professional dedication. "She committed her life to the vocation of educating kids," Holster said, "and that is a special person." Miss Bunnell, who died last Friday at 88, was a part of Passaic High School history. Her mother, the former Grace Carey, was valedictorian in 1908; Miss Bunnell graduated in 1939. The notes under her yearbook photo say she was a member of the Spanish and Dramatics clubs, participated in the school play "The Perfect Alibi," and helped the needy through the Penny Aid. After her 1943 graduation from Montclair State College, Miss Bunnell returned to Passaic High to teach American history. She became vice principal in 1965 and principal in 1983. She made headlines just once, in 1977, when she and a gym teacher were physically assaulted during a 16-year-old student's disciplinary hearing. "I don't want to see it get blown out of proportion," Miss Bunnell told The Record. "This school is not a jungle." Through sheer longevity at the high school, Miss Bunnell became expert at Passaic history, and was a trustee of the now-defunct Passaic Museum. "Marjorie had a phenomenal mind for remembering things and people," said Christine Krenicki, who taught English at the high school and is now the district supervisor of testing, research and evaluation. "She was Passaic history." Holster said Miss Bunnell's 52-year tenure may be the longest in Passaic High School history. "Her energy was unbelievable, she was all over the place," he said. "I don't even think I ever saw her call in absent, God bless her." Miss Bunnell resided the past three years at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff. She previously lived in Ridgewood. Rev. Alexander Krenicki, 77, pastor, Passaic educator Thursday, August 19, 2010 By Jay Levin, The Record 
The Rev. Alexander J. Krenicki of River Vale, who had a 40-year career as a teacher and an administrator in his hometown Passaic school district, died Thursday. He was 77. "He had a long illness," said his wife, Christine Krenicki.Father Krenicki, known as A.J., was ordained as a Russian Orthodox priest in 1984 while still working in the Passaic schools. He was assigned in 1990 to St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bayonne, a heavily immigrant congregation. Christine Krenicki, supervisor of testing, research and evaluation for the Passaic schools, said her husband had two careers he cherished. As an educator, he was proud to have guided and inspired thousands of young people in Passaic, and being a priest gave him spiritual satisfaction. Father Krenicki remained devoted to his hometown, said Mark Auerbach, Passaic city historian. The two met in the early �60s at Passaic High. Auerbach was a student, and the future priest was teaching industrial arts. A.J. had a great love of Passaic history and a photographic memory, Auerbach said. "If you wanted to know an obscure fact about Passaic, you went to A.J. When I became the historian in 1993, he gifted me with a 1901 atlas of the city. He acquired it somewhere along the line and said to me, 'I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I gave it to the right person.'" Father Krenicki's final position with the Passaic school district was as a supervisor for the adult school, the Passaic Learning Center. |