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FLORENCE KOVACS, 72, of Farmington Hills, died Oct. 16, 2000.
"She was a woman before her time," said daughter Shelly Kovacs Berman. "She worked full time, raised four children and never missed a Brownie meeting."
Mrs. Kovacs graduated from the Detroit College of Business in 1949, one of only two women in a class of over 100. She married Jimmy Kovacs the next year and applied her business acumen to co-found with him James Crystal Corp. in Detroit, a lighting manufacturer now known as Lighting Enterprises in Wyandotte. She remained an active partner in the business until her retirement earlier this year.
Mrs. Kovacs was the first woman on the board of directors of Congregation B'nai Moshe and served as president of its sisterhood. She was an active member of Hadassah and a strong supporter of JARC (Jewish Association for Residential Care).
Mrs. Kovacs is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Randee Kovacs of West Bloomfield, Rick and Nicole Kovacs of West Bloomfield; daughters and son-in-law, Shelly and Harvey Berman of Ann Arbor, Karen Kovacs of Michigan, Child Life Dept., Florence Kovacs Memorial Fund for Starbright, 3901 Beaubien, Detroit, MI 48201. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ANNETTE EIZELMAN, 82, former Detroiter of Beachwood, Ohio. Contributions may be sent to Hadassah or the Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights.
HAROLD FISCHER, 81, of West Bloomfield, died Oct. 16, 2000. He was a mechanical engineer and owner of Fischer Tool and Dye in Detroit; he was also a member of Temple Beth El and a member of Score (Retired Business Men Mentoring Business Men and Women). He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Janice Fischer and Gary Loucks of Tucson, Pamela and Dr. Robert Stein of Franklin, Kathy and Albert Garelik of Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Buddy Stein, Zoe Stein, Steven Garelik, Evan Garelik, David Hunter and Jessica Hunter; sisters and brother-in-law, Elsie Geisz of Detroit, Violet and Victor Ross of Ohio, Irwin Nestor of Oak Park, Brad Nestor of Hazel Park, John and Ruth Nestor of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; daughter, Rebecca Lenchner or Oak Park; brother and sister-in-law, William and Laverne Donovan of St. Mary's, N.Y.; grandmother, Charlotte Polasky of Tamarac, Fla.; stepbrothers and stepsister-in-law, Mark Schiff, Brian and Mathilde Schiff, Scott Schiff. Mr. Koss was the loving son of the late Virginia Koss. Contributions may be made to Yeshiva Gedolah, 24600 Greenfield, Oak Park, MI 48237 or American Cancer Society, 29350 Southfield, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48076. Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
HERMAN GAVORIN, of North Lauderdale, Fla., died Oct. 14, 2000. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Gavorin of Farmington; son and daughter-in-law, Harvey and Bobbie (Goldin Gavorin; grandchildren, Michelle Gavorin, David and Randy Gavorin, Traci Cohn, Lee Cohn; great-grandchildren, Becka, Andrew and Austin Gavorin. He was the beloved husband of the late Helena (Rubenfire) Gavorin. Interment at Star of David Cemetery, North Lauderdale. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice.
MORTON GARELIK, 83, of Southfield, died Oct. 13, 2000. He was the founder and owner of Garelik Plumbing and Heating. After retiring, he became the plumbing inspector for the city of Sterling Heights for 17 years. He was also a member of Keidan Lodge of B'nai B'rith, a member of the Plumbers Association, Masters Plumbers Society, Plumbing Inspectors Association and was Santa Claus every year for the city of Sterling Heights, entertaining crippled children. Mr. Garelik is survived by his wife, Sara Garelik; daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Mel Raznick of West Bloomfield; son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Laura Garelik of Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Brian Raznik, Dr. Lisa and Jason Hodes, Jason Raznik, Jaime Garelik and Jessica Garelik; sister, Phyllis Blau; brother-in-law, Saul Bloom. He was the dear brother of the late Regene Schulman. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
RUTH KATZMAN, of Oak Park, died Oct. 13, 2000. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Katzman; brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Betty Rath of West Bloomfield; nieces and nephews. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Interment at Aaron Moshe Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
ROSE ALFOU, 89, of West Bloomfield, died Nov. 25, 2000.
She is survived by her nephew and niece, Aubrey and Devora Smith; sister, Betty Schwartz; loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, family members and friends. She was the beloved wife of the late Albert Alfou.
Graveside services were held at the Beth Tefilo Emanuel Cemetery. Contributions can be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Funeral Direction.
DR. JOSEPH E. GOODSTEIN, 90, of Southfield, died Nov. 25, 2000.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Franci-Lynne Goodstein; daughter-in-law, Gail Goodstein of Farmington Hills. Dr. Goodstein was the beloved husband of the late Helen Goodstein; loving father of the late Dr. Stuart Goodstein.
Contributions may be made to Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034 or Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044, Southfield, MI 48037.
Services and interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
BERNICE WALDMAN, 78, of Livonia, died Nov. 25, 2000. She was a government office secretary and a member of B'nai B'rith.
Mrs. Waldman is survived by her husband of 53 years, Eugene Waldman; son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Sarah Waldman of Garden City; daughter, Sheri Waldman of Livonia; grandchildren, Derek Waldman, Duane Waldman, Justice Waldman, Marissa Waldman, Alaina Waldman; brothers, William Elsie Tarockoff of Southfield, Leonard and Rosalyn Tarockoff of Michigan Apple Committee in 1988.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Abraham and Leona Kutlov of Detroit; nieces and nephews, Carol and Ram Armon, Elizabeth Levin; great-nieces and great-nephews. She was the loving sister of the late Lt. Colonel Milton Kutlov and the late Sophie Kutlov.
Interment at Nusach Harie Cemetery. Contributions may be directed to Jewish Association for Residential Care or Beaumont Hospice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
NORMA ROSENFELD, of California, Wendy Rosenfeld of Connecticut. Mrs. Rosenfeld was the beloved wife of the late Jack Rosenfeld; dear sister of the late Roslyn Kravitz.
Interment in New York; grandchildren, Filip Michael Klein, Eron Matthew Klein and Gena Sara Klein; sister, Sally Lux of West Bloomfield; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Myron Nolish and Elayne and Dr. Harry Wenner. Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be directed to the Jewish War Veterans. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
DAVID B. HERMELIN, Saying Goodbye: A beloved leader gets an emotional farewell at Shaarey Zedek.
David Hermelin was remembered by more than 2,500 people whose lives he touched at his Nov. 24 funeral. It was held in Southfield at Congregation Shaarey Zedek -- the synagogue he had served as president. Afterwards, some 150 cars formed a procession for the interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Mr. Hermelin, of Bingham Farms, died of brain cancer Nov. 22, 2000 at age 63.
Delivering the eulogy was his friend of 41 years, Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Irwin Groner. Also speaking were Jon Gundersen, deputy chief of the American Embassy in Oslo, Norway, where Mr. Hermelin served as ambassador; U.S. Agriculture Secretary Daniel Glickman; and Mr. Hermelin's son, Brian.
Speaking first, Gundersen said he had just conveyed to Mr. Hermelin's wife, Doreen, messages from the royal family of Norway, from the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, from the Norwegian ambassador and consul general, from the prime minister of Norway and from the foreign minister.
"I've just arrived from Norway, and it seems the entire nation sends to David and Doreen their greatest condolences," Gundersen said.
"David and Doreen represented the very best of America and what we stand for. Faith, honesty, openness, tolerance, love. David, your embassy family and indeed an entire nation will miss you. You will be in our hearts forever."
Glickman, like President Bill Clinton, has known the Hermelins for many years. He shared a letter the president sent to Mrs. Hermelin, which read, in part:
"David loved life. And he made sure that everyone around him shared that love. I will always cherish his friendship and support and remember with gratitude his exceptional service as our ambassador to Norway.
"He left the world a better place than he found it. And no one could ask for a finer legacy.
"Hillary and I are keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers."
Brian Hermelin then gave an emotional, personal tribute to his father.
"The thing about us that made us feel the most special was that he was our dad," Brian said. "Just being able to be with him at the intimate family settings allowed the full bright glow of one of God's brightest lights to shine on us and provided a comfort and security which is irreplaceable."
Brian added, "He just knew how much fun it was to be alive. And he was sure if you were with him, you would know how much fun life could be, too.
"We took such pride in his accomplishments with him," Brian said. "We were all equally amazed at how far and how much he accomplished because we knew how he saw himself, just a regular kid from Pasadena [Avenue in Detroit]. He made it all seem so within our reach -- the accomplishments, the friends, the admiration, the fun. Just go out there with that positive, can-do attitude and you can have all that, too."
Rabbi Groner mourned his friend, whose influence was felt from the sanctuary of the synagogue to the far reaches of the world stage.
"When a true leader goes, can he be replaced?" the rabbi asked. "Woe is the army that has lost its captain.
"We will miss him. We will miss his hearty welcome, his warm laugh, his quick wit, his words of encouragement, his shared exuberance.
"When David came into a room, his luminous presence was immediately felt," Rabbi Groner added. "He was so vital, so filled with energy, so magnetic that he seemed indestructible.
"Once you came to know David, your life changed. You laughed more, you felt more, you cared more, you gave more.
"To have known David was to have warmed your hands at the central fire of life.
"For David Hermelin, service, benevolence, mitzvot was the very essence of his life," said the rabbi.
"David gave us a great and blessed gift. He taught us how to dream a glorious dream."
Mr. Hermelin is survived by his wife, Doreen; son and daughter-in-law Brian and Jennifer Hermelin; daughters and sons-in-law Marcie and Rob Orley, Karen Hermelin Borman and Mark Borman, Julie Hermelin Frank and Mitchell Frank, Francine Hermelin Levite and Adam Levite; and grandchildren Matthew, Alex, Jason and Olivia Orley, Max and Isabel Hermelin, Asa Levite and Madeline Borman.
Also surviving are sisters and brother-in-law Henrietta Hermelin Weinberg, Lois Shiffman and Terran and Roger Leemis; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Eugene and Suzanne Curtis, Reggie and Dr. Robert Fisher and Mitchell Curtis; and mother-in-law Anna Curtis. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
The Hermelin family suggests that donations may be made in David Hermelin's memory to the following:
Ambassador David B. Hermelin Memorial Fund, c/o Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030
ORT Hermelin College of Engineering in Netanya, Israel, 817 Broadway Ave., Michigan School of Business or Hermelin Judaica Library, 701 Tappan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1234
Hermelin Youth Choir Fund, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road Southfield, MI 48034
