Calvin E. Weems Jr.

Coach Weems was one of the most influential people in my life. He taught me how to going when the voice in my head said I should quit. To keep trying and to not give in or give up. To push even more when you thought you had reached your limit. To not be distracted by even the smallest of elements that could keep you from reaching your goal.
He achieved this with a calm and caring personality that assured you that he always had your best interest at heart and that his intensions extended...

I just heard of Cal's passing. He was a cousin on my father's side. My father, TJ Jones, owned the Oak Barber Shop on Oak Street in East Orange. On two occasions, my husband and I sailed on the Jazz Cruise with Cal. He was a wonderful, and funny man. He will be missed.

We knew him as Coach Weems from the East Orange High School Track Teams of the 1970's who helped lead us to the championship in 1975. He helped me tremendously as a young student athlete. He encouraged me to go to Princeton when I really knew little about it and encouraged me as an athlete and scholar. He nominated me for the Men of Essex Scholar Athlete Award in 1975. It was the first professional organization I had ever been exposed to that featured Black Men. This was a powerful image...