World War II-Paterson/North Jersey YM-YWHA Connection

I recently attended a meeting of the Jewish Federation of North Jersey Cemetery Committee held at the Federation Building in Fair Lawn and came upon the “Jack Pakula Memorial Trophy” on display there (see below). I had written an article for the Wayne YM-YWHA “Criterion” followed my discovery of the “Pakula Trophy” in the basement of the “Y”.  I cleaned and polished the Trophy and since my now deceased long-time friend, Charles “Chuck” Wisotsky, who was a then a current “Y” member and the first recipient of the “Trophy,” I was inspired to write an article which appeared in the “Criterion” along with Wisotsky’s photo. (My apologies for the fact that ‘Chuck’ was largely erroneously cropped from the photo below and only his hands and part of his neck appear in the picture!)  I hoped my article might shed some light on the origin of the “Trophy”. My piece appeared in the”Crite” sometime between 2005 and 2010. The “Trophy” also includes the names of ensuing “Trophy” winners for the following few years. This January 2019 Newsletter of the JHSNJ is a general reprise of the article I had written for the “Crite.”

 World WarII-Paterson/North Jersey YM-YWHA Connection
 
In 1926 eight young men organized a club and called themselves, “The Panthers.” Initially they held their meetings at a member’s home but as the membership increased they began to meet at the Paterson YM-YWHA. These young men formed a bond that lasted throughout their adolescent years right up until the outbreak of the War. In addition to their prominence in athletics, notably in basketball and baseball, The Panthers held an annual variety show which was usually sold out. Today there are very few still alive from that group. Sadly, in recent years the original Panthers have passed on including long-time “Y” member and former member of the Board of Directors, Sam Zakim, Lou Sirota, a “Y” Hall of Fame inductee and Joe Rich. Cookie Fisherman is believed to be residing in Florida. Another outstanding member of the Panthers and also a “Y” Sports Hall of Fame inductee, now also deceased, was Morris Pressman. There was even a Junior Panther Club that functioned for a few years during World War II. Stanley Blake, another long-time “Y” member was an active member of the Jr. Panthers.
 
Most of the Panthers went off to serve their country during WWII and I believe all came home except one, Pfc Jack Pikula, who was killed in action. Jack's army serial number was 12141191 which indicated that he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was initially assigned to the Second Service Command which was headquartered in N.Y. Jack's name appears on the WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing that was published by the War Department in June 1946.

Following the War, The Panthers wanted to memorialize Jack Pikula in some meaningful way. They consulted with the then physical education director, Mort Rittenberg (1927-47), and together they developed the Jack Pikula 1000-point decathlon indoor competition for teen-aged “Y” boys. Points for first, second and third places would be awarded, the first one reaching 1000 points would be the winner. The names of each year’s winner would be inscribed on a new “Jack Pikula” Trophy. A few years ago I discovered the Trophy in the basement of the “Y”. It was polished to its almost original brilliance and was on display in the athletic office for a few years along with other trophies as a tribute and a remembrance of Panther Jack Pikula who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Marty Rittenberg, former Treasurer of the JHSNJ and current member of the JHSNJ