Great Turn-out for Dr. Boright’s Program
The Union County Historical Society was pleased to host Dr. Walter E. Boright for a program entitled “Union County’s Reign of Terror” on Sunday, October 2nd at the Cranford Community Center. The auditorium comfortably seated about 80 guests that afternoon.
The presentation centered on a Union County man,Robert Zarinsky, who became known as one of the most notorious killers in the State of New Jersey. Zarinsky had a troubled childhood and young adulthood, committing crimes involving animal abuse, burglary, and grave desecration. These crimes escalated in violence and came to include arson, rape, murder, and the killing of a police officer. He is known to have killed seven young girls between the ages of 13 and 18 and is suspected of having killed more. His rampage began in the 1950s and continued into the 1970s.
Zarinsky was eventually convicted of murder and imprisoned for life, where he later died of natural causes. During the presentation, Dr. Boright surprised us by introducing two people who had direct contact with the killer: one was a survivor of an attempted abduction, and the other a police officer at the jail where the killer was imprisoned during his trial. Their presence made the history both chilling and immediate.
We thank Dr. Boright for his amazing research into this fascinating story.
UCHS is always ready to welcome him back and looks forward to his future
informative presentations.
UCHS Officers Elected
Before the presentation began, UCHS held its business meeting and voted on
the slate of officers, Trustees, and bylaw revisions. The following
officers were elected for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 term:
- President – Joanne Rajoppi
- 1st Vice President – Charles Shallcross
- 2nd Vice President – John Prescott
- Recording Secretary – Aimee Fernandez
- Computer (Data) Secretary – Barbara Sokol
- Treasurer – Lauren Socha
Trustees:
- Linda Daubner
- Richard Esperon
- Aimee Fernandez
- Alice Holzapfel
- Bob Kluge
UCHS is grateful to all officers and Trustees for their continued
dedication to preserving and sharing the history of Union County.
Happy Thanksgiving
Remember to save the date for our annual Holiday Party on December 11th.
We plan to welcome The Cover Girls, who will sing
patriotic songs for our entertainment. Refreshments will follow, and
we hope you will join us as we celebrate the season together.
Thoughts About the Last 100 Years by Bill Frolich (Continued)
There is definitely a Santa Claus. That was confirmed years ago by an
editorial in a famous newspaper. His ability to visit every house on
Christmas Eve by means of his flying sled and reindeer was famously
reported by Clement Clarke Moore in his poem
A Visit From St. Nicholas. While there are no actual photographs
of this kindly old gentleman, there are countless drawings of him, all
with remarkable similarity. His mailing address at the North Pole has
been accepted by the United States Postal Service, and letters so
addressed are not returned as “undeliverable.” Radar networks have even
reported airborne contacts with his travels overhead on Christmas Eve.
With such evidence, there can be no doubt that he exists.
for generations.
Still, to a small child there may be disturbing thoughts about
Santa Claus. How can he and his over-stuffed pack come down a chimney
that is no more than a foot square? That he has actually done so can be
“proven” by the sooty footprints sometimes found on the hearthstone on
Christmas morning, and by the missing milk and cookies left for him the
night before. The answer must be “magic,” and indeed there must be magic
involved, for now standing near the fireplace is a beautifully decorated
evergreen tree, almost touching the ceiling. Beneath it are colorfully
wrapped presents for all of the members of the family. None of this was
there the night before when bedtime came, so it must be magic.
Christmas wonder.
becomes the centerpiece of the celebration.
Even more amazing to a young child is that this sort of magic takes place
in all of their friends’ homes as well as in their own. A visit next door
can quickly turn into a comparison of new toys to play with and new
clothes to wear.
Fortunately, most of this activity has not come as a complete surprise to
our young observer. For weeks, and even months, a trip to almost any
store reveals red and green decorations placed where they can easily be
seen near the check-out counters. Here and there may be cardboard
cut-outs of Santa Claus with a smiling face showing through his flowing
white beard. As the days pass and Christmas Day approaches, Santa himself
may be found in the store, greeting customers with a hearty
“Ho, ho, ho.”
Yet this presence brings more troubling questions: What is Santa doing in
a store when he is supposed to be at his workshop at the North Pole,
making all the toys he is expected to distribute? The explanation that
this is merely one of his helpers is often unsatisfying—if he is a
helper, why is he not up north helping? Too often these questions have no
easy answer, and the adult being questioned must find a distraction.
One useful distraction may be a visit to the toy department of a large
store. There we used to find huge setups of electric trains, the delight
of all spectators, as freight trains and passenger trains whizzed around
the tracks and disappeared inside tunnels. To most of us, the traditions
of Christmas that we grew up with have not changed very much, but the
toys we once asked for in our letters to Santa Claus have now become
antiques, prized by collectors as much as we prized them as playthings
long ago.
Over the Back Fence
Listen carefully for the familiar “Ho, ho, ho” and, in the words of the
old poem, “to all a good night!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Robert Zarinsky and why is he significant to Union County history?
Robert Zarinsky was a Union County man whose crimes escalated from
burglary and grave desecration to arson, rape, and murder. He is known to
have killed several young girls in the 1950s–1970s and was eventually
convicted and sentenced to life in prison. His story, explored in
Dr. Walter Boright’s “Union County’s Reign of Terror” program,
is an important but grim chapter in Union County’s criminal history.
What did Dr. Walter Boright present at the October 2, 2022 UCHS program?
Dr. Walter Boright presented a detailed historical program titled
“Union County’s Reign of Terror” at the Cranford Community
Center. He traced the life and crimes of Robert Zarinsky and introduced
two special guests—one a survivor of an attempted abduction and the other
a police officer who encountered Zarinsky during his trial—bringing local
history vividly to life for the audience.
What holiday traditions are highlighted in this newsletter issue?
This issue continues Bill Frolich’s reflections on the last 100 years,
focusing on Christmas traditions such as belief in Santa Claus, decorated
evergreen trees, gifts appearing “by magic,” store displays, and toy
trains. It also announces the UCHS Holiday Party on December 11th
featuring The Cover Girls, alongside a Thanksgiving greeting to members
and friends.
Related Newsletters
Student awards, an inspiring annual luncheon, and Bill Frolich’s reflections on a century of sports, radio, and popular culture.
Updates include the Annual Luncheon, Oral History Program, student awards, and a reflection on early film and radio history.
Our longtime friend and Society Treasurer, Bill Frolich, sadly passed away on September 30th 2021. He was 101 years old, a 45-year member of UCHS, and the writer/editor of our Newsletter. Bill and his extraordinary knowledge of Union County history will be greatly missed.