GERRY BARR, 88, of Southfield, died Dec. 1, 2002. She was a founding member of Adat Shalom Synagogue and Shir Shalom, member of Temple Beth El and the Braille Binders, a member of the Jewish Federation, a past president of Beth Elders at Temple Beth El and a member of B’nai B’rith. Mrs. Barr is survived by her husband of 67 years, George Barr; daughters and son-in-law, Lois Verona of Florida, Diane “DeeDee” and Dr. Norman Lynn of West Bloomfield; son and daughter-in-law, David and Phyllis Barr of West Bloomfield; son-in-law, Paul Sislin; grandchildren, John Sislin, Kate Sislin, Donald and Lynda Swartz, Ronald Swartz, Julie and Steve Limberis, Michael Lynn, Jeffrey and Paula Lynn, Micki Lynn, Charles Barr, Margo and Don Borkin, David and Shelley Swartz; 13 great-grandchildren. She was the beloved daughter of the late John and the late Vera Hayman; loving mother of the late Phyllis Sislin. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Temple Shir Shalom or St. John Hospice, 18303 10 Mile Road, Suite 300, Roseville, MI 48966. arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ISADORE I. ELIAS, 88, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 1, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Theresa Elias; daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Dr. Kenneth Wolok of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Brad Rosen, Michelle Rosen, Ryan Wolok, Jaclyn Wolok. He was the loving father of the late Beverly Rosen. Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 17220 W. 12 Mile Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076; the Jewish War Veterans, 16990 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076 or to a charity of one’s choice. Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
HAROLD L. GROSSMAN, 71, of Huntington Woods, died Nov. 30, 2002. A general contractor in the Detroit area for 50 years, Mr. Grossman began his career as a builder with his father at H. Gross-man & Son Inc. He was associated for years with Schiller Construction in Detroit, handling large government projects such as the original Northwest terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and new courtrooms in the Wayne County Circuit Court and U.S. District Court in Detroit. Mr. Grossman was an avid power boater and stamp collector. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie Grossman; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Jules Olsman of Huntington Woods; sons, Dr. Gary Grossman of Oak Park, David Grossman of Oak Park; grandchildren, Carly and Jake Olsman; brother, Arthur Grossman; sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Leon Yorke; mother-in-law, Sophie Feldman; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Dulcy and Allan Swidler. He was the beloved son of the late Minnie and the late Hyman Grossman; dear son-in-law of the late Sam Feldman. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to JARC, 30301 Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 or the Michigan Humane Society, 26711 Northwestern Highway, Suite 175, Southfield, MI 48034. Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
SARAH KAGAN, 84, of Walled Lake, died Nov. 30, 2002. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Ron White of Walled Lake; grandchildren, Michelle and Mark Soltz, Vicki Murray; great-grandchildren, Lauren Soltz, Madelyne Soltz, Joshua Murray, Samantha Murray, Brittany Murray. She was the beloved wife of the late Sam Kagan. Contributions may be made to Leukemia Society of Michigan, 29777 Telegraph Road, Southfield, MI 48034. Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park, Pinsker Section. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
Morton Wolin was a survivor in the truest sense of the word — and he left a legacy of kindness and remembrance that will live on among his devoted family members and countless friends.
Mr. Wolin, who lived in Southfield, died of heart failure on Nov. 30 at the age of 82.
Mr. Wolin served as district manager for the Detroit-based Winkelman’s department stores for 30 years. After his “retirement” in the mid-1980s, he began teaching classes in Hebrew and Jewish studies at Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, where he was a past president and a valued and active member.
Born in Poland, Mr. Wolin escaped on the last boat to leave his homeland before the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. After a dangerous journey under blackout conditions to deter the German U-boats who were tracking his vessel, he arrived safely on the shores of New Jersey.
He later learned that his entire family, including his parents, Chaim and Naomi Wolin, his brother, Moshe Wolin, and his sister, Miriam Wolin, had been imprisoned in concentration camps and eventually killed by the Germans.
Mr. Wolin wrote about his experiences in a Holocaust remembrance book published by Temple Emanu-El in 1992. His positive attitude toward life in general was reflected in the words he wrote about why he chose not to discuss the tragedies he and his family had suffered during the war: “... this is the way I was raised by my mom and dad ... Share the joys with others! Keep pain and suffering to yourself!”
He taught a class about the Holocaust at Temple Emanu-El, which is now taught by his close friend Michael Leibson of Oak Park.
“Mort had a gentle, self-deprecating way about him,” said Leibson. “He told me ‘to always remember the Holocaust and to always remember Israel.’ He never said anything about remembering himself. Mort was a true tzadik (righteous person).”
“No encounter with Mort could ever be considered superficial,” said Steve Klaper of Oak Park during Wolin’s funeral service. “He took your hand, he looked you in the eye, and you knew he cared. He changed my life in a very profound way.”
Mr. Wolin’s daughter Jennifer Patterson recalls the numerous times people approached her to tell her what a great inspiration her father had been.
“That word, inspiration, came up time and time again,” she said. “My father was an ambassador to the world.”
“Morton was a life force in and of himself,” said Davis Gloff of Pleasant Ridge, a friend of Mr. Wolin from Temple Emanu-El. “The wonderful thing about being with Morton was not only how great he was, but also how great he made you want to be. You left his presence energized and full of possibilities.”
“He was a great teacher not only to his students, but to us all,” said great-niece Rachel Kaplan of Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Morton Wolin is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Jennifer and Dennis Patterson of Farmington Hills, Lynn Wolin of Southfield; grandsons, Michael and Jeffrey Patterson; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Diamond and Laura Diamond.
He was the beloved husband of the late Esther Lee Wolin; the loving father of the late Marianne Wolin; the dear brother of the late Moshe Wolin and the late Miriam Wolin; the cherished son of the late Chaim and the Naomi Wolin; and the dear brother-in-law of the late Max Diamond, the late George Diamond, the late William Diamond and the late Anita Diamond.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to the Lee Wolin Memorial Aitzim-Chayim Fund, c/o Temple Emanu-El, 14450 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237 or the Israel Emergency Fund, c/o Jewish Federation, P.O. Box 2030, 6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ILENE BATCHKO, 90, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 29, 2002. She is survived by her sister, Ann Welch of Toledo, Ohio; nieces and nephews, Ida Lucas of Southfield, Marilyn Berman of West Bloomfield, Suzanne Lucas Binder of Franklin, Burton Batchko of Chicago, Sandy Isenberg of Ohio, Arlene Frankel of Ohio, Barbara Konop of Ohio. She was the loving sister of the late Celia Gross, the late Helen Batchko, the late Miriam Mann, the late Morris Batchko, the late Leo Batchko, the late Nathan Batchko, the late Calle Batchko, the late Scholke Batchko. Services and intermenty at Nusach Hari Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
SYBIL PAULINE BODZIN, 89, of Southfield, died Nov. 29, 2002. She was a member and treasurer of Jewish National Fund, member of David Horodoker Society, life member of AMIT. Mrs. Bodzin met her future husband while they were both singing in the Halevy-Hazomir Singing Society in the 1930s. Mrs. Bodzin is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Helen Bodzin, Dr. Eugene and Catherine Cunningham-Houston Bodzin of Canada, Gerald and Bunny Bodzin of New York, Henry and Barbara Bodzin of Southfield; daughter and son-in-law, Cherna and Eugene Kowalsky of Southfield; brother, Joseph Taitelbaum of West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Joseph and Jennifer Kowalsky, Lisa and Jeffrey Bell, Julie Feiner, Robert and Conni Ring, Esther and Mordechai Tropper, Alan Bodzin, Lianna and Brian Beamer, Adam Bodzin, Steven Bodzin, Mark and Jenna Bodzin, Sandy and Shoshana Bodzin, Aaron Bodzin, Jay Bodzin, Dena Bodzin; great-grandchildren, Shoshana Bell, Miriam Bell, Shimon Tzvi Bell, Moshe Gedalya Pinchas Bell, Frayda Baila, Ariella Bell, Riki Feiner, Fayga Bayla Feiner, Yaacov Feiner, Jenni Ring, Joshua Ring, Dylan Ring, Taylor Beamer, Adin Bodzin, Avi Bodzin. She was the beloved wife of the late Jay Samuel Bodzin. Contributions may be made to Kids Kicking Cancer, Jewish National Fund, Zamir Chorale or Yeshiva Beth Yehudah. Interment at Nusach Hari Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
WILLIAM LOEWY, 76, of Lakewood, N.J., died Nov. 29, 2002. He is survived by his sisters and brother-in-law, Helen and Abraham Levi of Monsey, N.Y., Rachel Zakon of Baltimore, Md. Services and intermenty at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
MILTON MARKOVITZ, 80, of Lake Mary, Fla., died Nov. 29, 2002. He worked in the sales and design department for Gold Star Products. He was also a former partner of Sutton Deli in Southfield and a past commander of the Silverman Post of the Jewish War Veterans. Mr. Markovitz is survived by his wife, Rose Markovitz; daughter, Judy Markovitz of Farmington Hills; son and daughter-in-law, Sandy and Karen Markovitz of Florida; grandchildren, Scott Bloomberg, Sinde Bloomberg and fiance, Eric Krapf, Dr. Erica Markovitz and Evan Markovitz. He was the dear brother of the late Rosamond Hammerstein. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Parkinsons Foundation. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
IRVING ONICKEL, 77, of Southfield, died Nov. 28, 2002. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ann Onickel; daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Thomas Fixler of Walled Lake, Karen and Ramiz Allawala; brother and sister-in-law, Sheldon and Fern Onickel of Southfield; grandchildren, Jeffrey, Lisa, Andrea, Alina, Alisa and Zachary. He was the beloved father of the late Linda Catalina. Interment at the Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, 24601 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48075 or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
BETTY YOUNG RYNEK, 91, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 28, 2002. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Sharon and Harvey Rubenstein of West Bloomfield, Lenore Lowenstein of Las Vegas, Nev.; son and daughter-in-law, Sheldon and Martha Young of Highland Park, Ill.; brother, Max Kaufman of Vero Beach, Fla.; sister, Sarah Lebus of Southfield; grandchildren, Michael (Laurie) Young, Marc (Cynthia) Young, Amy (Scott) Gilbert, Andrew (Sylvia) Lowenstein, Brian (Connie) Lowenstein, Alyssa (fiancé, Bob Schneider) Rubenstein, Nora (Chris) Gaydos; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Brandt, Evan, Erin, Crystal, Tiffany, Joshua, Daniel, Matty and Luke; great-great-grandson, Matthew. She was the beloved wife of the late Abraham Young and the late Jerome D. Rynek; sister of the late Leo Kaufman and Mollie Feldman; mother-in-law of the late Norman Lowenstein. Interment at the Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan, 400 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48201 or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
SARAH GINNS, 88, of Southfield, died Nov. 27, 2002. She is survived by her children, Sheldon and Marion Cohen Ginns of Ann Arbor, Beverly and Richard Bernstein of Bloomfield Hills, Fred Ginns, Venice, Calif.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bernard and Shirley Ginns, Albert and Hilda Ginns, Leonard and Annie Goodman; grandchildren, Jonathan and Laura Ginns, Russell and Lisa Ginns, Jill and Darren Cahr, Davida and Robert Pesick; great-grandchildren, Aaron Ginns, Elliot Ginns, Oliver Ginns, April Ginns, Eva Ginns, Ian Cahr, Samantha Pesick, Rachel Pesick. She was the beloved wife of the late Jack Ginns. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
IDA MALTZMAN LIEBERWITZ, 92, of Orchard Lake, died Nov. 27, 2002. She was an office manager for Sol Katz Construction Company. Mrs. Lieberwitz is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Donald and Carol Lieberwitz of Missouri; grandchildren, Karen and Scott Bruch and Kevin Lieberwitz. She was the dear sister of the late Ben Maltzman and the late Julius Maltzman. Interment at Nusach Harie. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
HARRY MARGOLIS, 82, of Oak Park, died Nov. 27, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Corinne Margolis; sons and daughters-in-law, Elliot and Lynn Margolis of Farmington Hills, Joel and Julie Margolis of Oak Park, Fred and Debbie Margolis of Beachwood, Ohio, Sandy and Amy Margolis of West Bloomfield, Robert and Rochelle Margolis of Florida; grandchildren, Daniel, Michael, Henna, Sora, Avrohom, Devora Leah, Mendy, Dovid, Shea, Gabriel, Jeremy, David, Jonathon, Bradley, Bat Sheva. Contributions may be made to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044, Southfield, MI., 48037 or to a charity of one’s choice. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
SHURA YAKUBOV, 60, of Farmington Hills, died Nov. 27, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Svetlana Yakubova; son, Ruslan Yakubov of Farmington Hills; daughter, Samira Yakubova of Farmington Hills; brothers and sister-in-law, Gavril and Luba Yakubov of Southfield, Michael Yakubov of Russia, Joseph Yakubov of France, Abram Yakubov of Israel. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
OLGA GERTSIK, 88, of Oak Park, died Nov. 26, 2002. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Stella Dombrovskaya; grandchildren, Vladimir Dombrovski, Dmitri and Elena Dombrovski; great-grandchild, Kostya Dombrovski. She was the beloved wife of the late Abram Gertsik; loving mother of the late Konstantin Gertsik. Services and intermenty at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
Idit Weiner, who was described as an “angel” by those who knew her best, died on the evening of Nov. 26 in a automobile accident on an icy road in West Bloomfield. She was 43.
Mrs. Weiner, who lived in West Bloomfield, is survived by her husband, Dr. Asher Weiner, and their three sons, Adam, 15, Yotam, 11, and Jonathan, 4.
Mrs. Weiner was killed when a GMC Yukon SUV struck the Nissan Quest minivan she was driving on Drake Road south of Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield. Her son Yotam, who was seated behind her, was seriously injured and rushed to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak after being trapped inside the damaged vehicle for more than 30 minutes.
The 34-year-old West Bloomfield woman driving the other vehicle was not injured seriously. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and police believe the icy road conditions that night were a factor.
Born in Tel Aviv, Mrs. Weiner met her husband when they were both in high school. They were married in 1983.
After serving as a driver in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years, Mrs. Weiner attended Hebrew University, where she earned a master of social work degree.
The couple came to the United States in 1994, starting out in the Detroit area and then living in cleveland, Boston and New York before returning to West Bloomfield 15 months ago.
Close friend Amalia Poris and son Aaron of West Bloomfield were riding in the car with Mrs. Weiner and Yotam when the accident happened. They sustained minor injuries.
Poris, who was also born in Israel, met the Weiners when they first relocated to this area; the two women developed a close friendship that survived time and distance.
“No matter where we lived, we always kept the friendship in high gear,” said Poris. “She was like a sister to me — the first person I’d turn to when I needed anything — and she’d always be there.”
“Idit was the ‘unofficial social worker’ to everyone around her,” said Dr. Weiner. “She was such an optimistic person, and she loved freedom.”
The Weiner family are members of Congregation Shaarey Zedek West Bloomfield, B’nai Israel Center.
“Idit had a talent for connecting with people,” said her husband. “She attracted people to her because she always made everyone feel important.”
“She wasn’t just my angel — she was many people’s angel,” said Poris. “If anybody had to be with her when this happened, then I’m glad it was me.”
Yotam was released from the hospital after coming out of a coma resulting from the injuries he incurred during the crash. Dr. Weiner rallied family members and friends to keep a continuous vigil at Yotam’s bedside, talking to him and playing music they brought from his CD collection.
“Whatever we did must have worked because his first words when he woke up were, ‘Turn it off,’” Dr. Weiner said, referring to his son’s regaining consciousness as a “miracle.”
Idit Weiner is survived by her husband, Dr. Asher Weiner; sons, Adam, Yotam and Jonathan; and of Israel: parents Aharon and Shoshana Bar-Noam; brothers and sisters-in-law, Amir and Iris Bar-Noam and Eitan and Tamar Bar-Noam; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Israel and Hedva Weiner; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Varda and Gili Treiser.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
BERNARD BENKOFF, 78, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 25, 2002. He was a wallpaper contractor and a World War II Army veteran. He was also a member of B’nai B’rith, an amateur boxer and during his enlistment was on a basketball team. Mr. Benkoff is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David and Dr. Adrea Benkoff of Farmington Hills; daughters and sons-in-law, Marsha and John Rofel of West Bloomfield, Sheri and Michael Benchetrit of Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Reesa and Amanda Benkoff, Leslie Rofel, Jacob Benchetrit. He was the beloved husband of the late Ellee Benkoff; dear brother of the late Alfred Benkoff and the late Beatrice Gross. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Cleveland Clinic, Cardiovascular Department. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
DOROTHY WEISS APPLE, 87, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 24. She was a saleswoman for women’s clothing at Sherri’s, Belle Jacob and B. Seigel and Co. Mrs. Apple is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Allan and Donna Apple of West Bloomfield; son-in-law, Robert Schwarcz; grandchildren, Ken and Mildred Schwarcz, Audrey Schwarcz, Susie and Bruce Feinberg, Josie Henderson, Julie and Steve Plotnik, Jill and Jay Rupp, Brian and Shawna Apple; great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Sydney and Jordan Henderson, Andy and Rachel Feinberg, Alyssa and Brianna Schwarcz and Jacob and Jordan Plotnik. She was the beloved wife of the late Harry Apple and the late Rubin Weiss; loving mother of the late Barbara Schwarcz and the late Lawrence Apple. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Home and Aging Services, 6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
