First, looking back on my years at Weequahic (1962 through '66), the class of '64 had
the neatest group of people. I was involved in sports and got to know a number of students
in the classes of 1963 through 1968. The '64 group was, in my opinion, the creme-de-la-creme.
I first met Steve in the Spring of 1963. He was a discuss thrower on the track team and I was trying
out for the shot-put. We immediately hit it off and became friends. He became a surrogate coach to me.
I always remember him saying I had an inner force holding me back. The friendship continued into
the next year as Steve tried to form a weight lifting team within Weequahic. He even got Mr. Fein to
allow us to perform before a school assembly. The only problem was we really did not have a team.
So Steve, being the entrepreneurial thinker, recruited several football players to stand-in as weight
lifters (I can still remember Mark Goldberg and the late Bobby Marcus going through the lifts).
Sadly for me Steve did not go out for track during his senior year. It was a real disappointment.
My best friend on the team was gone. I remember Steve having a crush on many young ladies.
I remember his family moving to Leslie Street and he began to date a very attractive gal. As I recall
they ultimately became engaged. I last saw him during his junior year at Newark Rutgers. He was trying
to convince my Mother to sell him some of our furniture (we were moving) for a mere $35. No deal!
I always thought he would end up being successful. Every time I received an update from Classmates.com
I immediately looked for his name. The sad part is he never knew how much I admired him. I have travelled
many roads in my life but I just wish I had run into Steve one more time.
May he rest in peace.
Stephen Bogner
