Obituaries

OF BLESSED MEMORY

Bruce H. Rosen, 86, of Bloomfield Hills and Boca Raton, Fla., died Dec. 7, 2021.

He was born in Detroit in 1935. As a young child, he worked weekends for his father, who owned a small business in the Eastern Market. Many years later, he expanded that business and became the chairman of the board of Supreme Distributors Company, founded in 1946, one of the largest national distributors of brand-name health and beauty care products.

He earned a bachelor of business degree from Wayne State University in 1957. In 1987, he established Sovereign Sales Inc., a national distributor of fine fragrances and cosmetics.

Bruce’s belief in delegating authority allowed him to be involved in his two favorite passions: comedy and raising money for charitable causes. As a positive person with a keen sense of humor, he became an owner in 1980 of Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle.

Arts, travel, music and dance were passions of his; however, by far, his greatest joy was sports. He was a season ticket holder for the Lions, Pistons and Red Wings games and had subscriptions to numerous sporting publications.

Bruce and his wife, Rosalie, made a lifelong commitment to better their community. Bruce received the Spirit of Detroit Award and was recognized by the Detroit Free Press as a Volunteer of the Week. He was a compassionate champion for Varietythe Children’s Charity of Detroit. His impact was immeasurable. He can be credited with ensuring that the local chapter survived during tenuous times. His personal contributions and fundraising efforts spanned four decades. He was recognized by Variety International and was elected and served as one of their International Vice Presidents and Ambassadors. He also received the Variety Golden Barker Award and a Presidential Citation. In 2017, Variety honored him with the prestigious Heart Award.

The Rosens established the Bruce H. and Rosalie N. Rosen Community Connect Program at Alzheimer’s AssociationGreater Michigan Chapter, as well as the Bruce and Rosalie Rosen Triple R Program for Seniors Fund at JARC. Bruce and Rosalie were honored in 2011 by Detroit Public Television with the Stewardship Award.

The Rosens offered support to many other organizations, including Adat Shalom Synagogue, Bar-Ilan University, Weizmann Institute of Science, Hebrew Free Loan, Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, Wayne State University, Detroit Institute of Arts; and they served on the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board.

Mr. Rosen is survived by Rosalie, his devoted wife of 63 years. He was the cherished father of Julie (Marty) Wiener and Pamela Roberts; proud grandfather of Daniel Wiener, Samantha (Jonathan) Rubin, Megan Roberts and Jeffrey Roberts; adoring great-grandfather of Hudson Rubin and Noa Rubin; loving brother of Joyce (Jerry) Tauber; dear brother-in-law of the late Sybil and the late Hy Ankerman, Annette and the late Morris Neuvirth, Idelle and the late Ernest Neuvirth, and the late Irene Ginn; devoted son of the late Tillie and the late Aaron Rosen; dear son-inlaw of the late Helen and the late Emil Neuvirth. He is also survived by numerous other loving relatives and friends.

It is suggested that those who wish to further honor the memory of Bruce Rosen may do so by making a contribution to Variety- the Children’s Charity of Detroit, Tillie and Aaron Rosen Fund, 600 S. Adams, Suite 230, Birmingham, MI 48009, (248) 2585511, variety-detroit.com. Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

BETTY BARON, 88, of Oak Park, died Dec. 6, 2021. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara Kendall and Peter Staples, and Jan and Ted Robertson; son and daughterin-law, Steve and Joann Baron; grandchildren, Melissa Kendall Kimber and Chris Kimber, Jessica and Dan Dlugosielski, Emily Robertson, Michelle Robertson, Samantha Baron and Aaron Dorondo, and Sean Baron; great-grandson, Felix Bruce Rosen Dlugosielski; many loving nieces and a nephew. Mrs. Baron was the beloved wife of the late Irving Baron; the loving sister of the late Adele Faitler. A private family service was held. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions may be made to Jewish Senior Life-Coville Assisted Living, 15100 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI 48237, jslmi.org/ residences/coville-apartments; or Kindred Hospice, 25925 Telegraph Road, Suite102, Southfield, MI 48033, kindredhealthcare.com/locations/ hospice/southfield-mi-6552. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. MURRAY COHEN , 92, of Bloomfield Hills, died Dec. 7, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Barbara Safran Cohen; daughters and sons-in-law, Roberta and Alan Cohen, and Jennifer and Ami Shneiderman; stepchildren, Jared and Lauren Safran; grandchildren, Claire Cohen, Andrew Cohen, Jacob Shneiderman, Maya Mahoney and Alexandra Safran; sister, Irma Schechter. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders-USA, P.O. Box 5030,

OF BLESSED MEMORY

Aformer Detroit businessman, Zoltan “Zoli” Rubin of Farmington Hills died Dec. 4, 2021, at the age of 103½.

Just a few years ago, on the occasion of his 101st birthday party, Zoli called himself “a stubborn old man.” His stubbornness was born of a life devoted to survival and devotion to Judaism. Zoli said the one thing that contributed to his long life was this stubbornness. “Whatever I went through, it was always in my mind that I was going to beat it,” he said.

Zoli was born in Czechoslovakia, the youngest in a family of 11 children. (Only he and two brothers survived the Holocaust). He had a lovely childhood that came to an end in 1942, when his parents were taken away by the Nazis. Zoli obtained fake papers that allowed him to pass as Christian and fight in the Slovak Army.

In 1944, he was captured with a group of partisans and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp near Jena, where he was part of a forced labor detail digging tunnels for the Germans. Toward the end of the war, he escaped with three others and lived off the land for about six weeks until the American army arrived in the area. He was later reunited with an older brother who was a doctor with the Czechoslovakian army. He eventually immigrated to Canada before moving to Detroit. (His story of survival is immortalized at holocaust. umd.umich.edu/rubinz.)

His arrival in North America was due to a kindness that was repaid, an act he was to emulate in his business dealings and philanthropy. Zoli came across a letter to his grandfather from a neighbor in Europe. The man wanted to go to Canada and Zoli’s grandfather bought his land with the understanding it would go back to the owner if things did not work out. Life in Canada was not what was hoped; the man returned to Europe and Zoli’s grandfather returned the land. In the letter, the man expressed gratitude for Grandfather’s help and fairness and offered to repay the kindness. Zoli contacted him and thus was able to arrange to travel to Canada before coming to the United States.

Around 1968, Zoli and a partner bought a building in Downtown Detroit, on Grand River between Washington and Griswold. He established Zemco Textiles, a fabric store. The clientele in the building and the customers were of diverse nationalities, and all respected the fair business dealings of Mr. Rubin.

The fabric was of known quality and was bought for countless wedding gowns. He also outfitted a 300-member local church choir. The locals had so much respect for this fair-dealing mentsh that word was put out that despite troubles (read riots) in that neighborhood, no one was to touch the fabric store. Zoli once said that he didn’t always see his advanced age as a blessing. “Sometimes I feel like I’m being punished to bear all the horrors of what I’ve been through,” he said at 101. “These things are always on my back. I have lost too many.” He added that it was a blessing that he could have a family again. “I have children and grandchildren. I think the reason I survived is to build a family so that my family’s history didn’t disappear,” he said.

When asked the secret to his long life, Zoli gave a very touching response. “You have to believe in a life,” he said. “You have to believe that everything is not bad, just the opposite. Everything is great. Everyone has the strength to get through the bad things because after the bad things end, there is a life ahead of you. If someone starts a life for you, you have to continue it.”

Though not Orthodox in his practice, he was a devout Jew. He and his wife were staunch members of Congregation B’nai Moshe. When the synagogue finally relocated in West Bloomfield, the Rubins bought a house not quite a mile away and Zoli continued praying there regularly.

His love for Israel went unquestioned. He was important during 1973 meetings about financing during the Yom Kippur War. He and Agi began the American Israel Cancer Association, which was prominent among the many charities that benefitted from their help, like Mogan David Adom, the ambulance service. They also supported the Meals-on-Wheels program. Their caring was boundless.

His daughter Vicki Waxenberg said that his integrity was, in large part, due to “his great respect for others.” His humor and simple approach to life were fondly recalled by daughter Amy Weber, who remembers that Dad often said, “It isn’t a meal without soup … hot soup!”

He was loved and cherished by many, including his wife of 62 years, Agi Rubin; his children, Vicki Waxenberg (Ben), Amy Weber and Randy Rubin; his grandchildren, Rivky Rothenberg (Boruch), Shmuel Waxenberg, Jacob Moshe Waxenberg, Devora Krupnik (Raphael), Miriam Singer (Brian), Justin Weber and Jeremy Weber; and his great-grandchildren, Avigdor, Yehudah-Simcha, Ezra, BasyaChana Rothenberg, Aryeh Zev Krupnik and Ahuva Raizel Krupnik.

Contributions may be made to Yeshivah Beth Yehuda, P.O. Box 2044, Southfield, MI 48037; Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; or Congregation B’nai Moshe, 6800 Drake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. A funeral service was held at Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Oak Park. Interment took place at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

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EIDELMAN, 77, of Commerce Township, died Dec. 5, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Eidelman; daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Joshua Cutler, and Lori and Mark Langenderfer; grandchildren, Emma, Zoe, Alexa, Riley and Payton; brother and sister-inlaw, David and Judy Eidelman; sister-in-law and brother-inlaw, Shirley Moscow and Cyril Moscow; nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as friends, colleagues and everyone he ever met.

Mr. Eidelman was the dear brother-in-law of the late David Moscow and the late Rona Moscow.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, yadezra.org/donate; Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, holocaustcenter.org; or Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jewishdetroit.org/donate-online. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

FELLOWS, 83, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 4, 2021. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie and Mark Burk, and Lisa and Lardell Sims; son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Suzanne Fellows; grandchildren, Samantha Burk and her fiance, Dylan, Megan Burk, Jessica Burk, Allison, Sydney, Zachary, Meredith, Lindsey, Nathan and

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OF BLESSED MEMORY

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Joshua Sims, and Emma and Benjamin Fellows; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Sheryl Fellows; sister, Rosalind Gumenick; sister-in-law, Loretta Littky. He is also survived by his loving companion, Frances Wolok; her children, Jeffrey and Linda Wolok, and Ronald and Lori Semel; and her grandchildren, Adam, Adelina, Caleb and Elianna Wolok, and Lilli and Jacob Semel.

Mr. Fellows was the beloved husband of the late Phyllis Fellows; the loving brother of the late Miriam Goldberg; the dear brother-in-law of the late Robert Littky and the late Ruth Hertz.

Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Hebrew Free Loan, 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jfldetroit.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

JOHN H. GARRISON, 78, of Okemos, Mich., passed away on Nov. 30, 2021.

John was a master Mason and a member of B’nai B’rith, Mensa and MHSAA (in many sports). One of his greatest pleasures in life (besides his nine dogs) was playing Santa Claus at the Meridian Mall and in the community, always trying to bring smiles to children’s faces.

He is survived by Ellie, his loving wife of 55 years; son, Timothy (Eve) Garrison; daughter, Jennifer Shaw; another son; and his treasured grandchildren, Ben, Jarod, Adreanna, Clohe, Gregory, Kayleigh and Ashley. He will also be missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunt and all who knew him.

Mr. Garrison was the loving son of Ben and Eva Garrison; brother and brother-in-law of the late Maureen Zack, Faith (Sanford) Freeman, Cookie Bakke, and Gerald (Elaine) Radloff.

Private family services were conducted by Rabbi Amy Bigman at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing.

HANNUM, 62, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 7, 2021. She is survived by her husband, Karl E. Hannum; brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Cathy Rosenthal; sisterin-law and brother-in-law, Lori and James Fay; nieces and nephews, Shelby and Michael Ambs, James Rosenthal, Craig and Brooke Rosenthal, and Kyle and Crystal Fay; nieces and nephew, Natalee, Liam and Isabelle Fay, and Brie Rosenthal; many loving friends and colleagues.

Mrs. Hannum was the devoted daughter of the late Sanford and the late Sallie Rosenthal.

It was Margo’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Alternatives for Girls. In lieu of flowers or trays, Margo hoped to contribute to the charity she has long supported and make a lasting impact for generations of women. The family requests that you please contribute to the Margo Hannum Memorial Scholarship. Contact Karl Hannum, karl@hannumlawfirm.com. Interment was at Oakview Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

EILEEN KLEIN, 81, of Boyne City and Bloomfield Hills, died peacefully surrounded by family on Dec. 7, 2021. She was born on July 12, 1940, in Flint, Mich., to Florence and Jack Eserow. Eileen was happily married to

Don; they were married on June 26, 1960.

Eileen loved to spend time with her family. Also, she loved working out, and she skied for most of her adult life in northern Michigan and Snowbird, Utah. She also spent summers boating in Boyne City, rotating with her children and grandchildren. Eileen continued to enjoy the outdoors and remained active when she could by hiking with Don and her family.

In her early days, Eileen was an elementary school teacher; and she owned a candy store called Sweet Temptations. She met Don when she was 15 years old in South Haven. They married almost five years later and lived in Metro Detroit for most of their lives. Eileen and Don enjoyed extensive travel, most recently in trips to Thailand. Before that, they traveled to Nepal, Vietnam, spent more than 40 years traveling to Snowbird, Utah, and many other destinations.

Eileen was a wonderful cook and would try out different recipes on her family. Everyone loved her traditional holiday dishes and balked when she wanted to try something new. Her children try to recreate her recipes now to still enjoy her cooking. Eileen was a quiet, kind, gentle soul that everyone enjoyed being around. She will be greatly missed.

Mrs. Klein was the beloved wife for 61 years to Donald; cherished mother of Cindy Cohen and Bruce Kramer, Steven and Shelly Klein, and Alissa and Bruce Klein-Krause. loving grandma of Alec and Emily Cohen, Cassidy Klein, Haley Klein, Ashley Krause and Ryan Krause; adored great-grandma of Eleanor “Nori” Cohen; sister-inlaw of Barbara Cantor.

She was the daughter of the late Florence and the late Jack Eserow; daughter-in-law of the late Ruth and the late Jules Klein; sister of the late Kenny Eserow; and mother-in-law of the late Joe Cohen.

Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewishhospice.org; Kids Kicking Cancer, 27600 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 220, Southfield, MI 48034, kidskickingcancer.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

KOMINARS, 97, of Canton, Mich., died Dec. 4, 2021. Harold was a proud WWII veteran. He was a waist gunner on a B17 and flew 25 missions over Europe. When the war ended, he went to the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and graduated with a bachelor of science in 1947. He then graduated from dental school in 1951 and opened his practice in Wayne, Mich., which he had for more than 35 years.

Dr. Kominars was an avid hunter, fisherman, traveler of the world and cigar connoisseur.

He was the beloved husband of the late Marcelle Kominars; cherished father of Madeline Kominars, Frederick (Monica) Kominars and Jeri Alley; loving grandfather of Nicholas (Karen), Hali, Natasha, Samantha, Hannah, Luke, Jacob and Sierra; adoring great-grandfather of Laila and Adeline; dear brother of Allan (Charlotte) Kominars and the late Stuart (the late Belle) Kominars; dear brother-in-law of the late Lillian Kominars, the late Billie (Frankie) Green, Katie (the late Marvin) Becker, Clarence

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OF BLESSED MEMORY

continued from page 51 (Arlene) Green, the late Betty (the late Chuck) Crisp, the late Ted (Eloise) Green, and the late Loyce (the late Kathryn) Green. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, dear friends; neighbors, Jim and Mary Schirmer; and his loving caregiver, Barbra Waegner.

A memorial service will be held at Ira Kaufman Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. Contributions may be made to Grace Hospice, 2755 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, ghospice.com; or Michigan Humane Society, Development Dept., 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025-4507, michiganhumane. org/tributes. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

RAPPAPORT, 93, of Farmington Hills, died Dec. 6, 2021. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Sandi and Stan Duschinsky, Vicki Palmer, Fay and Jay Stilwell, Lori Posner, David and Delia Gealer, Gary (Ann) Rappaport; grandchildren, Scott (Sara) Duschinsky, Cara (Thomas Jr.) Sikora, Chad Duschinsky, Michael (Lindsay) Palmer, Jaclyn Palmer (Brett), Rachel Gealer, Matthew Gealer, Elizabeth Gealer, Lily Gealer, Jason Posner, Christina Cogswell, Leanna Rappaport, Aaron Rappaport; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Eli and Cameron Duschinsky, Drew and Mila Sikora, Jack and Charles Palmer, Calvin Hudy; many other loving family members and friends.

Mr. Rappaport was the beloved husband of the late Joan Rappaport; son of the late Harry and Lillian Rappaport; brother the late Mort (the late Lenore) Rappaport; father-in-law of the late Hugo Torres.

Interment took place at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

STRUL USER, 84, of West Bloomfield, died Dec. 8, 2021.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Manuela User; daughters and son-in-law, Andrea User of West Bloomfield, Sandra and Jonathan Green of Bloomfield Hills; brothers and sisters-in-law, Carol and Nety User of West Bloomfield, Isac and Miriam User of West Bloomfield; grandchild, Alexander Green; nieces and nephews, Laura and Michael Van Dijkin, Annette and James McNeely, Herb and Marisa User, Shirley and Leonard Cetner; great-nieces and great-nephews, Max Van Dijkin, Jack McNeely, Jonah Cetner, Aden Cetner, Lila Cetner.

Contributions may be made to Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Yad Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072; or to a charity of one’s choice. A graveside service was held at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

PHOTO BY OLIVER MORRIS/GETTY IMAGES

RON KAMPEAS JTA

Stephen Sondheim, the Jewish lyricist and composer who redefined the American musical through a monumental canon of influential and innovative theatrical works, died Nov. 26, 2021, at 91.

Sondheim’s stunning debut came writing the lyrics to Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story in 1957, at age 27. Sondheim was born to Jewish parents in New York City but raised without any formal Jewish background, to the extent that he once said Bernstein had to explain to him how to pronounce the words “Yom Kippur.”

Sondheim’s other wellknown musicals include Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Follies, A Little Night Music and Sunday in the Park with George. Many of them were not smash hits immediately, as he avoided traditional Broadway formulas that would immediately draw audiences. Instead, he crafted musicals that dealt with subjects that had not received treatments on mainstream stages: loneliness, despair and the artistic temperament.

There was the young man who is terrified of emotional commitment in Company (1970); the family torn apart by emotional dishonesty in A Little Night Music (1973); the vicious serial killer in Sweeney Todd (1979); and the artist in the midst of conceiving a masterpiece in Sunday in the Park with George (1984). Into the Woods, a mashup of characters from multiple fairy tales, won several Tony Awards in 1987.

Revivals staged years after often did better than original runs, but he is often cited as one of the 20th century’s most influential theater writers.

Sondheim — who did not entertain a romantic partnership until he was 60 — also often wrote about loneliness and whether the capacity to create a long-term relationship was possible. “Send In the Clowns,” a signature song from A Little Night Music that Frank Sinatra recorded a popular version of, remains a famous lamentation about bad timing when it comes to love.

“Isn’t it rich?” sings the character Desiree. “Are we a pair? Me here at last on the ground, You in mid-air?”

Sondheim hated when his fans and biographers attempted to examine his life to understand his music, but it was an irresistible enterprise. Born into a wealthy family in New York that ran a dressmaking company, his father left him and his mother when Sondheim was 10 years old, and his mother heaped on him hateful scorn, once telling him that her greatest regret was that he was born at all.

He found mentorship and a father figure in his teen years in a family friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, the lyricist of Jewish descent who had heralded an earlier revolution in the American musical, leading its transition in the 1920s from lighthearted reviews to novelistic treatments of major issues.

Hammerstein plotted out a four-step training for Sondheim while he was still in high school: Adapt a good play into a musical, adapt a flawed play into a musical, adapt a musical from another literary form, write your own musical.

Sondheim stuck assiduously to the course and at 22 began auditioning songs around New York. A producer, Lemuel Ayers, commissioned Sondheim to write songs for a musical he was producing, but Ayers died before it could be staged. Sondheim’s skills nonetheless became known in Broadway circles and at age 25, he was asked to come on board and write the lyrics for a musical Bernstein was planning based on Romeo and Juliet. That became West Side Story.

Sondheim earned multiple honors besides his many Tony’s, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

He settled into a comfortable elder statesman status late in life, traveling into New York this year to see revivals of his musicals, and living with his husband, Jeffrey Romley, whom he married in 2017 and who survives him.