The Spartans | Jewish Historical Society

The Spartans were a group of boys from Paterson, NJ who started out as campers at Camp Veritans in the summer of 1951. Moe Liss (a board member of JHSNJ) was then their counselor. After that summer, Moe stayed in touch with the boys then known as the Happy Go Lucky Boys and set up regular meetings and activities with them at the Paterson YMHA. The group, under Moe’s guidance, joined the Paterson Jewish Youth Council and became known as the Paterson Spartans. In his book, “The Boychicks of Summer,” published in 2011, Moe looks back to 1951 and documents his memories of these boys as they were then and as they grew up to be. A reunion was held at Camp Veritans in 1987. These fellows met as campers when they were 8 years old and formed a club 70 years ago. They still meet for travel, sports, and other activities and plan to have their 70^th reunion this August at Camp Veritans.

Camp Veritans, Northern New Jersey, The Spartans, Moe Liss, Howard Scheikowitz, Charlie Oksenberg, Marv Newman, Mel Druin, Lipton, Leonard Schimsack, George Margolis, Gerry Berkowitz, Irwin Harelick, 1951 — Top: Counselor Moe Liss. Top row L-r: Howard Scheikowitz, (?), Charlie Oksenberg, Marv Newman, Mel Druin, and, ? Lipton. Bottom row L-r: Leonard Schimsack, George Margolis, (?), Gerry Berkowitz, Irwin Harelick, (?). Camp Veritans, c.1951.

The Spartans, Garrett Mountain, Paterson NJ, c.1954, Moe Liss, Irwin Harelick, Bobby Nussman, David Rockford, Howie Sachs, Leon Kurland, Paul Grossman, Mel Druin, Alan Geisler, Jerry Grabowsky — Moe Liss leading a picnic outing with his “Spartans” at Garrett Mountain, Paterson, c.1954 Front row L-r: Irwin Harelick, Bobby Nussman, David Rockford, Howie Sachs, and Leon Kurland. Second row L-r: Paul Grossman, Moe Liss, Mel Druin, Alan Geisler, and Jerry Grabowsky.

The Spartans, 1956, Northern New Jersey, Ray Kurland, Joe Staum, Paul Grossman, Leon Kurland, Arnold Rosenthal, David Rockford — A gathering of the Spartans in 1956. Seated L-r: (?), Bob Nussman, David Slaten, Edgar Weinstock, Charley Oxenberg, Mel Druin, Jerry Rosen, Howard Sachs, (?), Abe Smulowitz, and Don Sirota. Standing from L-r: Jack or Jerry Roth, (?), (?), Ray Kurland, Joe Staum, (?), Jack or Jerry Roth, (?), Paul Grossman, Leon Kurland, (?), Arnold Rosenthal, David Rockford and (?).

The Spartans, Paterson NJ, Ben Collier, Director of Paterson Human Relations Council — Spartans gathering. Top row L-r: Alan Aronowitz, Leslie Gartner, Art Jacobs, Jerry Pulver, Barry Friedman. Bottom row: L-r: Joe Newman, Arnold Peskin, Ben Collier (Director of Paterson Human Relations Council), Alan Masrin, Alan Kaminetsky. Date unknown.

The Spartans reunion, 2001, Moe Liss, Paterson NJ — The Spartans reunited in May 2001 in Moss Liss’ backyard.

Moe Liss, Spartans reunion, May 2001, Paterson NJ — Moe Liss shows off an original Spartans jacket at the May 2001 reunion.