Eugene "Bucky" Cantor
Bucky Cantor is an enthusiastic 23-year-old playground director at the Chancellor Avenue School. Bucky is Jewish, and he lives and works in the middle-class Jewish neighborhood of Weequahic in Newark, New Jersey. Despite his small frame, Bucky is an accomplished athlete. He is a competitive javelin thrower, weightlifter, and diver. Bucky has poor eyesight, and as a result of his condition, he is not allowed to serve in World War II. This experience makes Bucky feel isolated, since all of his friends and peers are soldiers.
Bucky's early life was ridden with tragedy. After his mother died in childbirth, his father was imprisoned and then abandoned his family. Consequently, Bucky was raised by his grandparents. Bucky's grandfather, Sam Cantor, owned a neighborhood grocery store and was particularly tough on his grandson. He taught Bucky to overcome adversity and embody emotional and physical strength. Bucky's grandfather passed away three years prior to the beginning of the story, and Bucky is now the primary caretaker for his grandmother. They live together in a walk-up in Weequahic.
Sam Cantor
Sam Cantor was Bucky's grandfather. He and his wife, Bucky's grandmother, raised Bucky after their daughter passed away in childbirth and their son-in-law abandoned the family. Sam Cantor owned a neighborhood grocery store throughout his life. He was an observant Jew, and he often explained his encounters with antisemitism to Bucky as an affirmation of his faith. Sam Cantor once told Bucky that "a man’s every endeavor [is] imbued with responsibility." This aphorism steers Bucky through many decisions and actions throughout his life.
Marcia Steinberg
Marcia Steinberg is Bucky's girlfriend, and later his fiancée. She is a teacher at the Chancellor Avenue School, and she spends the summer of 1944 in the Poconos working at Indian Hill Camp. Marcia comes from an upper-middle-class family, and she has more socioeconomic mobility than Bucky. Bucky admires her background and finds comfort in her family's love and warmth.
Throughout the novel, Marcia tries to convince Bucky to leave Chancellor and join her at Indian Hill for the summer. When he eventually does, the visit is unpleasant because Bucky feels guilty about abandoning his students. Although Marcia vows to love Bucky throughout her life, things change when Bucky contracts polio. While Marcia's commitment remains steadfast, Bucky does not want for her to live life with a "crippled husband." The two lose contact and never see each other again.
Bucky's grandmother
Bucky maintains a very close relationship with his grandmother throughout his life. After he was left orphaned, Bucky's grandmother raised him. Following the death of Bucky's grandfather, he assumes the role of caregiver for his grandmother. Later, when Bucky contracts polio and goes to a rehabilitation facility in Philadelphia, his grandmother is the only person who he allows to see his crippled body. The death of Bucky's grandmother causes his loneliness and depression to intensify, since she was one of the only people with whom he allowed himself to be vulnerable.
Arnie Mesnikoff
Arnie Mesnikoff is the narrator of Nemesis, though his identity remains largely unknown until the end of the book. Arnie reveals that he contracted polio while he was a student on Bucky's playground in 1944. Over 25 years later, he reunites with Bucky and listens to his life's story. Arnie remains partially paralyzed due to the disease, and he creates a career for himself by architecturally redesigning homes for the physically handicapped. He comes to terms with his disabilities and later takes pride in his successful professional and personal life.
Dr. Steinberg
Dr. Steinberg is Marcia's father. He is a medical doctor by profession and a warm and understanding man. Following the death of Bucky's grandfather, Bucky sees Dr. Steinberg as more than a prospective father-in-law. Rather, he is an important male figure in Bucky's young adult life. Dr. Steinberg informs Bucky about the effects of polio and reassures him that he is doing the right thing amidst the health crisis. In this way, Dr. Steinberg quells the guilt and anxiety Bucky feels while working as the playground director. Dr. Steinberg reaffirms Bucky's desire to marry Marcia and build a healthy family of his own someday. When Bucky is in the polio rehabilitation center in Philadelphia, Dr. Steinberg expresses his disapproval of how Bucky has abandoned Marcia. This embarrasses Bucky, and he never gets over his shame.
Horace
Horace is a mentally and physically disabled middle-aged man. He lives in Weequahic, and his parents often let him aimlessly roam the neighborhood. His physical appearance is shocking, and he is dubbed the "neighborhood moron." His face is eerily contorted, his feet drag beneath him, and he has a “sour smell” that is instantly recognizable. Additionally, Horace can get agitated by specific sounds and behaviors. He is mocked by some of the playground boys, specifically the Kopferman brothers. Later in the story, Horace is ostracized for "carrying polio" due to his unsanitary personal hygiene.
Alan Michaels
Alan Michaels is Bucky's star pupil on the playground. He dies just three days after contracting polio, which deeply impacts Bucky and the rest of the Weequahic community. Bucky visits the home of Alan Michaels to pay his respects to the family. He listens intently as Mr. Michaels praises Alan, and Bucky is deeply affected by the family’s overwhelming grief. He later attends Alan's funeral and burial.
Myron and Danny Kopferman
Myron and Danny Kopferman are mischievous brothers. They routinely mock and tease Horace, which causes numerous problems on the playground. In the novel, Bucky recalls one particularly cruel occasion in which Danny fired a toy weapon into the air in order to agitate Horace. Bucky reminisces about how he confiscated the weapon and sent Danny home with a letter explaining the day’s incidents. Both of the Kopferman brothers later contract polio.
Yushy
Yushy is the counterman at the neighborhood hotdog stand. His business comes to a standstill following the death of Alan Michaels. Because Alan ate there before contracting polio, the Weequahic community is skeptical of the establishment's hygienic practices. Yushy believes that the Italians brought polio to the Jewish neighborhood. Yushy is also confident that the playground is the epicenter of the disease, since nearly all cases are tied to the location. Yushy breaks the news to Bucky that another one of his students, Herbie Steinmark, passed away from the disease.
Herbie Steinmark
Herbie Steinmark is another one of Bucky's students who contracts polio. After a brief battle with the illness, he passes away due to respiratory complications. Bucky remembers Herbie for his innocence, clumsiness, and unathletic nature.
Mrs. Kopferman
Mrs. Kopferman is the mother of Myron and Danny. After Bucky hears the news of the boys' illness, he calls Mrs. Kopferman to express his concern and send well-wishes. To Bucky’s surprise, Mrs. Kopferman lashes out and blames Bucky for exposing her children to illness-inducing conditions. The phone call deeply affects Bucky, and he feels an immense sense of guilt. He worries about endangering the lives of the children that he cares for, but he also recognizes the essential need for children to have a recreational release.
Kenny Blumenfield
Kenny Blumenfield is another one of Bucky's students. He is deeply affected by losing his classmates to polio, and he fears that another one of his friends could quickly fall victim to the disease. One day, Kenny violently lashes out at Horace and tries to forcefully remove him from the playground. Kenny is hysterical and revolted by the excrement on Horace’s hands and clothing. Kenny proclaims that Horace’s poor personal hygiene is the cause of polio. He treats Horace like a “rabid dog,” which causes Horace to wail and grow increasingly defiant.
Jake and Dave
Jake and Dave are Bucky's best friends from college. They competed in javelin together, and both Jake and Dave are in Europe fighting during WWII. While Bucky is working at Indian Hill Camp, Bucky learns that Jake has been killed in battle in France. Later, when Bucky meets with Arnie, he reveals that he lost contact with Dave.
Mr. Blomback
Mr. Blomback is the owner and director of Indian Hill camp. He is passionate about Native American tradition, and he incorporates his learnings into the camp's ritualistic practices.
Donald Kaplow
Donald Kaplow is Bucky's best friend at Indian Hill camp. At just seventeen years old, Donald looks up to Bucky as an older athletic mentor. Donald contracts a severe case of polio while at Indian Hill, and Bucky is deeply scarred by his illness. Bucky remains convinced that he carried polio from Newark to Indian Hill, and he feels responsible for Donald's illness.
Dr. Huntley
Dr. Huntley is the medical director at Indian Hill. He urges Bucky to get a spinal tap and test for polio. The results come back positive, and Bucky's life is forever altered.
Phyllis and Sheila Steinberg
Phyllis and Sheila Steinberg are Marcia's younger sisters. They are twins, and Sheila later contracts a mild case of polio. Bucky feels responsible for Sheila's illness, which is part of the reason he feels too ashamed to resume a relationship with Marcia.
