James R Krause

I was proctoring a study hall in the cafeteria with probably 40-50 students and it was shocking to say the least. Silence, then murmuring. I can't remember the rest of the afternoon. 

Alaina Weisman (Zachary)

Betsy, we must have been in the same class..... it was the only time I saw my Dad cry. Then he passed about a month later. Tough anniversary!

Nancy Krupnick (Freeman)

Yes, that was certainly a day we'll all remember. I was in the midst of a college interview in Delaware. I learned the news when I came out of the interview. Of course nothing was routine after that so driving home was an adventure with most restaurants and stores closed while we were all glued to TV coverage. 

Cheryl Kushner (Lane)

Jimmy Krause, I was in that study hall in the cafeteria.

Alaina, I remember your father's funeral.

Jan Whittemore (White)

Another far land heard from.......That day is still crystal clear, I can even remember what I was wearing.  I was in Mr. Meshenberg's Modren European History class and he had told us the class before that he had written the president a letter about something.  We heard the announcement in stunned silence and Mr. Meshenberg said quietly, "I guess I won't get an answer to my letter."  With hindsight, I thank god for Mr Meshenberg.  That European history class has stood me in good stead, living in England for the past 40 years!  A very good grounding! (as was Mr. Cramer's AP American history.  I've had to explain a lot while over here!) 

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Alaina, My dad was out of town and I remember he and my mom talking a lot on the phone. May your father's memory continue to be a blessing. 

Joseph G Blake

Jan,

Where in the UK do you live? We lived in Manchester circa 1980 forseveral years. I was associated later with a London based consultancy for many years and was in London many times thereafter until 2000. 

You, Joan Bailey (Girard's Cross) and Patty Richards (London) are our UK contingent. Perhaps others that I do not know. 

As I recall your father was the Minister at First Methodist Church at 30th and Euclid. I was researching old landmark churches in Cleveland a while back. The congregation merged some years ago with Epworth Euclid Church at University Circle. It is often called the holy oil can. First Methodist is sadly closed and not in use. Very sad. 

I hope others may share their recollections of the day JFK died. 

Thanks,

Joe

Jan Whittemore (White)

Hi, Joe! We live halfway between London and Brighton in Haywards Heath.  I do spend a lot of time trying to explain the US to bemused Britons.  However, I have found it harder to explain in the last decade, since the US doesn't seem to stand for the poem we had to learn at Onaway in the sixth grade "give me your tired, your poor......."   I have enjoyed the banter about our favourite old TV shows.  Brought back lots of memories!

Joseph G Blake

Someone noted the passing of John Corlett. He was a very close friend in high school. His father was the judge of the Shaker Municipal Court. Both his parents died while he was in college. John had some very tough times over the years. We stayed in touch until his death several years ago. He was part of our class and class of 1965. Bad luck way back when. He was always a caring, sweet natured person. He liked a good time and we had them. 

His father was ever practical and cut his boys hair ( his brother is Chick Corlett). One time I needed a haircut and the judge sat me down and cut it. 

I hope he has found a well deserved rest.

Joe

Dana Shepard (Treister)

HAPPY CHANUKAH, TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE ... WITH WISHES OF LIGHT ILLUMINTING THE DARKNESS TO ALL~

(Our collection of menorahs from the one belonging to my maternal grandparents, to the ones made by our grandchildren -- last night, shining in our 30th floor window, to be seen by...  perhaps...  the window washers?!)

;    ))

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Yes, Happy Hanukkah! Latkes love and see you at the reunion. 

Susan Diane Horowitz (Brickenden)

Thank you!  How beautiful, Betsy!

Happy Channukah to you!

Love,

Susie Horowitz

Susan Diane Horowitz (Brickenden)

To you and Dana!

I made a mistake on who did the lovely table.

Best wishes to all!

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Hope you all are having a joyous Hanukkkah in these dark times. See you at the reunion. 

Margery Lynn Perlberg (Rapport)

Thanks for the pretty Chanukiyot, Dana!  I see you have one that might be made of clay.  The ones that the kids made are long gone in this house...   Margie Perlberg Rapport

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Just read on FB that Corky and Lenny's closed! Also in Cleveland Jewish News. 

Evie Fertman (Braman)

In reference to Corky's, they haven't served in their dining room after 4:30 since the pandemic, people's dining habits have changed.  Also, a corned beef sandwich is about $16 so with a drink, tax and a tip it's $50 for two.  Too crazy for me!!  They have a large take out clientele and they say that they might re-open in a smaller space. They have a large dining room to pay rent on which hardly serves anyone, anymore.  Lots of memories there!!

Joseph G Blake

Yes indeed many memories with Corky and Lenny's even in the Gentile world. I ate there in 2017 on a visit to Cleveland. Sorry to hear of its closing. The problem of staffing and diet changes have also been a challenge to so many places. Whenever I think about corned beef and look at the salt, I decide not to get it. Is there a low salt corned beef sandwich?

Speaking of delis I suppose everyone remembers Danny Budin's at CLA. Long since gone. I am no expert but not as good as Corky and Lenny's. How did Corky's compare with Zabar's in NYC?

As we are in the holiday season, I am reminded of something I have learned from Jewish friends with whom I chat or correspond on line. I noticed several spell God "g-d or G-d". That was curious to me because in the Christian world we often use the upper case G in the word as I have above-God. One friend (Shaker 1965) was telling me about his trip to Jerusalem and had posted a picture at the wailing wall. He was dressed in a prayer shawl. His left arm was wrapped in tefillin. I asked what they were and he sent a link. Both he and the link used G-d in the text. I then recalled that the Hebrew word for G-d is Yahweh which in was never to be spoken as a sign of respect and the word's sacred character. He agreed with my recollection. 

Thanks for sharing the Jewish traditions here from time to time. There is always more to learn.

May Corky's come back in some future form. I still think $10 is a lot of money. $50 is a princely sum. But of course you can $10 at a fast food place very quickly. 

Happy Holidays to all.

Joe

Stewart M Flate

Corky and Lenny's was an institution. However, the last time I was there, it did not bring back memories. I've been using the hyphonated G-d for quite some time as you know. It is a sign of respect and it makes me feel good to use it.

Dick Margulis (Margulis)

Joe,

Corky and Lenny's doesn't and didn't compare to Zabar's. The comparison would be to Katz's, the Stage Deli, or Second Avenue Deli. Zabar's is a grocery store, not a restaurant. The other three were or are (I think one or more has gone out of busiess) institutions in New York. But the ambiance is different, much more rush-rush-finish-already-someone-else-is-waiting-for-your-table than it ever was at Corky and Lenny's. Plus in New York, all the tables are pushed together in long rows. Not close together. Touching together. You get to know the people next to you before the end of the meal. Good luck if you have to get out to use the restroom. Some of the wait staff at Corky and Lenny's tried to affect an attitude, but you could tell they were kind people underneath. In the New York delis, there's not much kindness to find. Food was always superb in any of the places mentioned, so I'm not comparing on that basis.

As for corned beef without the salt, sorry. That's a contradiction. Corned means cured or preserved in brine. Yeah, I can't eat that stuff anymore either.

Dana Shepard (Treister)

I guess my breakfast at Corky + Lenny's, Fri July 30, 2021 was destined to be my last meal there ever -- appropriately with a group of seven SHHS'64 classmates!.  Clockwise from lower left: Fran > Beth (visiting from Boca) > Evie  > Peggy > DANA > Paige (visiting from Denver) > Liza. (I was in town with Michael for his University School reunion)

The "new" Corky + Lenny's felt totally alien to me - my memories were from the old Cedar Center location - same strip mall as Solomon's Deli, which I think was the deli I preferred.  And YES, Joe, of course I remember Budin's at the corner of Avalon and Chagrin (Kinsman!) - but in my memory Budin's was more of an all purpose coffee shop than a true deli -- but we're talking memories from... 60+ years ago!

Moving on to NYC Deli's, I so miss Carnegie Deli ---  always my fav - with those long tables elbow to elbow with anyone from celebs to tourists -- and those no-nonsense servers!  My tastes, too, had evolved over the decades from hot corned beef with chopped liver on rye... to ... gefilte fish... which probably still had enough salt to melt all the snow on 6th Ave!

R.I.P Corky's, and Solomon's, and Budin's, and... Carnegie Deli!  And, thanks for the memories~

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Cost is part of issue. For Dick and I 2 burgers, 2 fries, and one drink-$21!  Corky and Lenny's has a special place in my heart. At least in Indy there is Shapiro's. Happy Holidays to all. Betsy

Judi Bachman (Holtze)

Dana..fantastic photo  
one thing I have always missed is a good corned beef sandwich, they dont exist outside the US.  But the last time I was at Corky and Lennies I was sadly disappointed!  I finally mamaged to find a good place in San Diego,thanks to Jerry Spector.. Looking forward to one next week!

Budins was more of a cop hang out...

Joseph G Blake

Thanks much for all your memories.

In re Budin's as a place for police to hangout, when my father finally retired in his late 70s, he would go there every morning to have coffee, buy all the police who came in one, and kibbutz with anyone there. 

It is no secret that the Shaker police years ago knew who all the long time residents were and obviously the prominent ones. There was a double standard to their benefit back then. My father had lived in Shaker then for 50 years and they knew who he was and he took care of them over time in a lot of small ways like coffee at Budin's. Without the details, it paid off when he had an accident- he hit a house on a winter day. Don't ask. They issued no ticket and looked after him in various ways- no breathe test etc. We quickly got the insurance man to the house and the claim settled. 

I once got stopped on Torrington for going too fast. I was driving my older sister's car. When the policeman saw whose car it was, he softened his tone and cautioned me. I was probably 17. 

So yes Budin's was a place to buy the cops coffee.  

Thanks for all the information about the Corky's at when it was in University Heights. I recalled the name Solomon's when it was mentioned. Now to Indiana for a good corned beef sandwich.

Joe

Stuart Goldman

To all who mourn the passing of Corky & Lennys:

We have our memories of this icon,  So much deeper than even those of Manners, with it's legend of what fell into the meat grinder...the legend abides.

All is not lost, though.  Over the years, upon my reunioin visits to Shaker, I found that Jack's on Cedar a most worthy, dare I say superior, heir apparent to the glory of the ethnic menu.  Even further, their Red, White and Blue blintz combo, besides being delicious, has given me a concomitant patriotic rush of near-meaningless proportion, while at once eliminating the need to actually choose between a cherry, blueberry or farmer's cheese assault on my senses.

I'll be back for the next exciting reunion episode, and I beg y'all (I'm in Tucson) to use this forum to chronicle any other delis that may fill the void, literally and psychically, left behihd by Corky's, Sol's and Budin's.

Best Holiday wishes to you and yours.

Stu Goldman