Finally, some good news coming from Hawaii and the devastating fires.
Mel Finkenberg, a co-captain on Lafayette High’s 1965-’66 basketball squad is safe.
“We live on the West Side of the Island of Hawaii – The Big Island,” he told Scholastic Roundup this week. “We have not been directly affected by the tragedy, but most of us have friends living there (Maui). My wife is a Zumba instructor. At least two of her Zumba friends lost their studio and/or home.”
Finkenberg says one week before the fires the State Kupuna (senior) Softball Tournament – which rotates between the islands – took place in Maui. “I expect there were 800-900 players. One week later, I imagine many of them would have been in Lahaina. Remember, we are a bunch of old guys. I believe this would have exasperated the crises.”
Hawaiians are special people, he said. “They believe in Kokua, which means to come together to fulfill a need. I’ve seen it in action, and we will all be participating in overcoming the pain and sorrow.”
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Ike Pollack was a teammate of Finkenberg at Lafayette. “I didn’t know about Ken Gershon’s passing until I read it last week,” he said. “I was sorry to hear that, but the naming of the gym at Hillcrest High School is a nice tribute.”
Pollack adds that Gershon was a good guy and a good coach – he won over 400 games as basketball coach at Hillcrest. “In fact,” he says, “I used to see him at Hillcrest when my girls team from Andrew Jackson would go over there to play. I coached the Jackson basketball girls through most of the ‘80s.”
Kenny’s younger brother – David – was a friend when I attended Brooklyn College. “A very funny guy.”
Pollack adds: “My older brother – Mike – played with Kenny at Lafayette in ’61. Mike was a junior and Kenny was a captain. That was Frank Rabinowitz’s last…
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