By Jon Marks
They didn’t just honor the late Fred Rosenfeld at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Aug. 9 for his success on the track, where his teams won most of his combined 51 track and field and cross-country championships at Overbrook High and later at Central. They were there in recognition of what he did long after the gun had gone off.
That’s why more than 50 men and women, most of them well past their running days, turned out on a sultry Sunday to unfurl a plaque for a man who never stopped staying in touch.
The plaque said it all. “In Loving Memory of Teacher Coach and Mentor Fred Rosenfeld for his Impact on Generations of Youth Throughout Philadelphia.”
“We had conversations over the years,” said Steven Bayne, who helped coordinate this event along with the Weitzman’s Rachel Berger. “The one thing that stands out the most was he was always wondering what we thought about him, how we thought about him.
“Well, if you don’t know, now you know. We thought about you. We respected you. We loved you.”
According to Berger the Weitzman strayed from its norm to make this happen, although it took about a year to put it together. “We do dedicate cases and spaces for others,” she explained. “But at least in my memory, this is the first time we’ve sort of had a collective approach, where the gratitude and respect of all his runners and family really made it happen.
“There were a lot of personal connections and the fact he mentored generations of runners here in Philadelphia. So, it really moved me and I wanted to see if we could find a way to include his story here.”
That story lasted 35 years, the first 24 at the ’Brook, where he coached runners like two-time Olympian and gold medalist, Jon Drummond, along with a batch of others who had spectacular careers. One of them, Deworski Odom, is now Overbrook’s track and field coach.
“He was only my coach in 10th grade, then he left for Central,” revealed Odom, who went on to set seven national records in the 100 meters and 110-meter hurdles. “We had a conversation years later where he told me the only reason he wanted to stay at Overbrook was because he knew I’d be really good.
“He was demanding, which was something I needed. He saw something in me and dug at it.”
In contrast, while Andre Jones didn’t have the same speed skills as Odom, Rosenfeld taught him techniques to overcome that. “Mr. Rose was big on strategy and how we could use strategy to accomplish your goals when your talent didn’t get you there,” said Jones, who’s in the process of writing a play called “Run” about his former coach and teaming together with Bayne on a documentary. “So he taught us different techniques.
“So if someone’s leading in a race, how to stay in there and explode when you’re ready.
Seeing and hearing such an outpouring of affection hit home for the Rosenfeld family. “It’s a great honor, said his son, Josh. “His legacy will be kept alive for years to come.
“We’re very proud of him and it’s great to have one lasting memorial. It’s been two short years since he’s been gone, but I have all the memories.
“He taught me to be proud of my Jewish heritage while rejecting antisemitism. I’m keenly aware of the positive impact he had.”
So is his daughter, Rachel Schaumburger. “It’s kind of the culmination. An example that the work he did meant so much to so many people,” she said. “The one-on-one attention he gave really stuck with them.”
Her mother, Wendy, summed it up about her late husband of 56 years. “He deserved this,” she said simply during the post-event reception. “He came home every time with a smile on his face.
“He loved what he did.”
On this sultry August Sunday that love was reciprocated by many at the Weitzman.
Jon Marks is a freelance writer.