MEN’S CLUB
mixture of Caucasian(s), Black(s)
and Asian(s).
The Bronx has become a true
melting pot. I was perplexed by
George’s ability to fall asleep with
the Jerome Ave. El rumbling outside
his apartment. It would have
kept me awake. His visit back to
his old neighborhood and childhood
apartment building resonated
with me and brought back some
fond memories. A family from El
Salvador who now lives in his old
apartment welcomed him with
open arms. On occasion, I go back
to my old house in Queens, and
it’s only been five years since I left.
This film was not just a trip back
to nostalgia land. After visiting their
former elementary school, PS 80,
where they taught the students the
long-forgotten game of stickball,
the trio returns to DeWitt Clinton
High School. We got a chance to
see the next generation of today’s
Bronx youngsters, the 2017 graduating
class of Dewitt Clinton High
School. We see how they dealt with
the problems of their adolescence
AT THE MOVIES
“MY ITALIAN SECRET: THE
FORGOTTEN HEROES” IS
UNFORGETTABLE On November 7, the North
Shore Towers Men’s Club
presented the second of
what we hope will be many more
films, My Italian Secret: The
Forgotten Heroes. Although My
Italian Secret is a documentary,
it brought back memories of two
other great Italian films I’ve seen,
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
and the Roberto Benigni classic,
Life Is Beautiful. All three films
depict the trials and tribulations
of the Jewish communities of
World War II in Italy.
My Italian Secret: The Forgotten
Heroes is a true story about the
courageous Italians who carried
out ingenious schemes to help rescue
Jews, partisans and refugees
from Nazi-occupied Italy. It is a
story about those who risked their
own lives to aid their fellow Jewish
countrymen.
Two stories that stood out the
most to me are that of the great
cycling legend, Gino Bartali, who
smuggled fake documents in the
frame of his bicycle to save Jewish
lives, and Dr. Giovanni Borromeo
telling SS men of patients having
fake diseases and scaring them
away from his hospital, thereby
saving them.
The club thanks John Rondinelli,
Jerry Siegel and Steve Auerbach for
putting this event together. Try not
to forget our next presentation in
January. Remember it’s free and
women are welcome.
BY HOWARD ARKIN
“THE BRONX, USA” BRINGS
BACK FOND MEMORIES On October 30, North Shore
Towers members watched
a documentary originally
aired on HBO called The Bronx,
USA. When Bronx native George
Shapiro’s old Bronx buddy and
business partner Howard West
passed away, he decided to go
back to the old neighborhood
where it all began. You might
remember George and Howard
as the very successful manager(s)
and producer(s) who helped create
the Jerry Seinfeld show.
The Bronx, USA is a story that follows
George Shapiro as he returns
to his old stomping grounds of the
Bronx where he grew up, accompanied
by his long-time childhood
friends, including fellow North
Shore Towers’ residents Carl Golub
and Jay Schwartz. Both Carl and
Jay have known George for over 80
years. The documentary specifically
covers George’s childhood as well
as his graduating year at his alma
mater, DeWitt Clinton High School.
The film also features interviews
with other Bronx natives who share
their experiences and discuss what
the area means to them. Retired
General Colin Powell, hip-hop
pioneer Grandmaster Melle Mel
and actors Alan Alda, Chazz
Palmenteri, Hal Linden, Robert
Klein and Carl and Rob Reiner
were among the many commentators
who narrated their experiences
growing up in the Bronx during the
1940s and ‘50s. They often refer to
themselves as the “Bronx Boys.”
Some of the more interesting
clips in the film were when Colin
Powell talks about his childhood
job as a “shlepper” in a toy store.
Quite a few levels below Secretary
of State. He remembers the store
owner encouraging him to pursue
a college education, which we all
know he did. Chazz Palmenteri’s
visit entering an old bakery on
Arthur Ave. was another favorite
of mine. The bakery even had a
cannoli, “The Chazz” named in his
honor. Alan Alda’s romancing his
future wife, Arlene, while a student
at Fordham University also brought
back some memories.
However, the stories that resonated
with me the most are the
ones that George imparts, one
of them being a visit to his old
barber shop whose clientele has
gone from mostly Caucasian to a
MENS CLUB SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS:
DECEMBER 2019
Breakfast at Buffy's every
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
at 9am
• Thursday, December 5,
9:30am: Events Committee meeting
at Buffy's at 9:30am
• Monday, December 9,
10:30am: Current Events discussion
in the Coleridge Lounge
• Thursday, December 12,
7:30pm: Men's Club monthly
meeting, Large Card Room
Building 2 Speaker: Clive Young,
Author - Topic: 'Great Tv Theme
Songs 1950-2000" Guests welcome
when accompanied by a
member for a fee of $5 payable
at the door.
• Wednesday, December 18,
11:30am-1:15pm: Members only
lunch at Mizumi, 231-10 Northern
Blvd., Little Neck. Outstanding
Asian/American Buffet. All you
can eat. $25 per person including
tax and tip. Make checks payable
to NST Men’s Club and leave in
Building 1 for Jerry Siegel (18s)
or Jack Sevita in Building 2 (9U).
• Monday, December 23,
10:30am: Current Events discussion
in the Coleridge Lounge
• Sunday, December 29, 7:30pm:
BINGO in the large card room in
Building 2. Guests welcome.
Call Jerry Siegel if you have any
questions (347-235-4513)
Carl Golub Jay Schwartz
as George, Carl and Jay did seven
generations ago.
It is here where George passes
on some words of wisdom and
shares the importance of passion,
drive, and friendship. They encourage
these students to follow their
aspirations and to never give up on
their dreams. Carl shares a quote
Howard West once said, “Life is
unfair, get over it,” and I truly think
they will.
I really would have liked to
have known these guys but alas, I
was living about 25 miles away in
Brooklyn at the time. All I knew
about the Bronx was that they had
a zoo, a majestic sounding street
called the Grand Concourse, and a
baseball team that almost every fall
would beat my beloved Brooklyn
Dodgers.
Having a strong interest in New
York City history, I found The
Bronx, USA very much to my liking
and would highly recommend
it. It’s available now on HBO On
Demand.
30 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ December 2019