Newark Remembers ‘Mootsie’ Middleton and Carl Sharif At Weequahic Park Ceremony

NEWARK, NJ — When you visit Essex County's Weequahic Park in Newark, remember Feldman “Mootsie” Middleton Jr. and Carl Sharif.

On Sept. 29, Essex County officials gathered in the park for a ceremony to rename two buildings after the pair of recently deceased local community heroes. According to a county news release:

• Middleton was the first African American Building Inspector in the City of Newark, an entrepreneur and an advocate for Essex County Weequahic Park
• Sharif was a community leader and activist, and campaigned for quality education for children

In honor of Middleton, the parks building formerly known as “Building 92” is being renamed as the “Feldman ‘Mootsie’ Middleton Jr. Community Center,” officials stated.

The building currently serves as the headquarters for the Weequahic Park Sports Authority and the Weequahic Park Association, both organizations which Middleton was a founding member, officials said.

A plaque inside the building now bears the following message:

““Feldman Middleton, Jr., raised in Newark, never left. A graduate of South Side (now Shabazz) High School, he loved his city, believed in its residents and labored to make the city better for all. As urban flight took hold in the 1970s, he firmly planted his roots, raising his family and honing his entrepreneurial talent. Creative, even as a child who made his own toys, he had many careers, including 18 years as Newark’s first African American Building Inspector. His dreams flourished in the 1960s and ‘70s, when he realized the investment potential in the City. He provided numerous jobs for local residents when he opened Commerce Food Court and helped bring the first Applebee’s restaurant to Springfield Avenue. He contributed not only to the economy of Essex, but also to its spirit, through the creation of the Weequahic Park Association and the Weequahic Park Sports Authority, two grass-roots organizations that joined with the County for an ongoing Park renewal initiative. His dedication to the Park earned him a commendation from President Bill Clinton and the 1996 honor of carrying the Olympic Torch through the city he loved.”

Middleton’s wife, Sheila, said that her husband was always trying to make a difference.

“He was dedicated to Newark, the city he loved, and Weequahic Park,” she said during the Sept. 29 ceremony.

“My brother loved Weequahic Park and the City of Newark like they were members of his family,” Middleton’s sister Marian Simmons said. “It’s up to us to continue his legacy.”

CARL SHARIF

During the Sept. 29 ceremony, officials also paid homage to the renaming of Carl Sharif Playground after the longtime local educator.

A plaque at the playground reads:

“Carl Sharif’s professional life spanned the history of governmental change in various cities in Essex County. Carl began his successful political career as Campaign Manager for former Essex County Register Larrie West Stalks after which he served as Senior Staff Member for former Newark Mayor Kenneth Allen Gibson and Campaign Manager and Staff Director of former State Senator Wynona M. Lipman, first Black female Senator in New Jersey. Carl later opened his own political consulting firm, managing the successful campaigns of mayoral candidates, city council candidates (including his son Darrin), and school board members in Newark, Irvington, East Orange and Orange. With a life-long commitment to education, Carl served as Director of Student Special Services at Montclair State College, President of the Newark Board of Education, and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Presidential Panel on Elementary and Secondary School Funding. A soft-spoken man, Carl was a husband, father, friend, humanitarian, warrior, teacher, and leader. Bold, tough, courageous, and not afraid to take a stand, Carl was a dedicated public servant who believed service was a privilege and its own reward.”

“My husband loved his family, the city and Weequahic Park, and he believed that every child was entitled to have a quality education,” said Sharif’s wife, Alberta. “He was also passionate about Weequahic Park because he ran through the park often it was a part of his life. I want to thank the County Executive for naming the playground for my husband because the park was one of his favorite places to come.”

Photo: Glen Frieson

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