In Memoriam
FRED M. BUM A
a- am
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
(Copyright, 1948, Jewish Telegraph Agency, Inc.)
FRED M. Butzel was born in Detroit, lived in
11 Detroit all of his nearly 71 ...years and died in
Detroit—on Thursday, Maya 20, 1948. But he be-
longed to all America and all Israel. He belonged
to all mankind. He was a truly great man about
whom no laudatory adjective is descriptive
enough. He lived worthily and labored well for
his people, his country, for all humanity.
He was a lifelong Zionist who placed the re-
demption of the People Israel in .the Land of Israel
on top of his obligations and he had the great
fortune of living to see Israel reborn and his good
friend Chaim Weizmann elected to the presidency
of Israel. All of his life's efforts had led to the
Great Man and a Grp t Jew
those who needed him. He was trustee of the
Aaron Mendelson Fund, was a director of the De-
troit Motorbus Co., vice president of Detroit
Board 'of Commerce, a director of the Detroit Fed-
eral Savings and Loan Association and of other
enterprises.
and his liberality became the guiding spirit for
an entire community,
He was a member of the Reform Temple Beth
El, but, he spoke as frequently at the Conservative
and Orthodox synagogues as he did in his own
house of worship. He was the idol of the landsman-
schaften, and the one honor that communities
throughout Michigan craved for was that Butzel
should appear in their midst. He attended more
Bar Mitzvah, engagement and wedding ceremonies
than any other man, anywhere.
Since the organization of the Jewish Welfare
Federation, he has served as the chairman of its
executive committee and his office was consid-
ered on a _par with the Federation office for the
7- transaction of important business.
Great honors were accorded him on his 70th
A bachelor, he was wedded to his people, his
country, his humanity. He began his collegiate birthday—on Aug. 25, 1947. National and local
studies at the University of Michigan, but in or- leaders joined in paying tribute to him in a spe-
der to be able to read to his father, who was los- cial issue of The Jewish News, and non-Jewish
ing his eyesight, he tran'sferred to the Detroit columnists expressed it as a clfttinct privilege to be
College of Law, Never sacrificing his duties at
called upon to join in honoring the man who, as
home, he began his activities among less fortunate . Malcoliri W. Bingay, editorial director of the De-
people while at . college,. teaching English to new- troit :Free Press, stated, was "Detroit's most val-
comers to this country. Among the groups he or- uable citizen."
ganized in his youth and encouraged for many..
years were the Self Help. Circle, Trysquare Club
__ A Tribute to His Memory
and other groups. - .
On his .50th birthday, the Zionists of Detroit
honored him by inscribing his name in the Golden
Organized Boy Scouts in Detroit
Bo* - of the ,JewishiNational Fund in Jerusalem
Fred M. Butzel was impressed with the appeal and on his 60th birthday he was the first man in
of Sir Baden Powell and became one of the or- Michigan to be accorded the honor of having a
ganizers of the Boy Scout movement in Detroit. forest planted in Zion on land of the Jewish Na-
He was active in child care movements, becoming tional Fund. The Butzel Forest is a great monu-
a pioneer in urging the foster home idea; was a ment to his memory. -
strong believer and an active leader in the Com-
In 1934, Wayne University awarded him an
munity. Fund and the Community Chest ideas, honorary LL.D. degree. -
and in Detroit was chairman of the Chest's exec-
utive committee.
As this is being written—only 15 hours after
Fred's death—news is pouring in that scores of
His .cosmopolitanism was evidenced by his organizations are abandoning other scheduled
activities in movements for the advancement of programs and are arranging to devote their meet-
the status of the Negro. For 15 years after the dis- ings to memorials to the Great Fred Butzel.
trict he lived in was entirely occupied by Negroes,
he retained his home on Rowena (now Mack)
There never was a movement of merit that
street. He was a member of the board of the Detroit did not have his interest'and support. Many a
time, when ill-spoken words appeared in news-
papers, he immediately made it a point to see the
editors and to enlighten them on the wrong con-
tained in misinformation.
.
He was deeply interested in world affairs,
was\a strong supporter of the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, . and. only 30 hours before his death dis-
cussed at length, with Isidore Sobeloff, the latest
happenings in the State of Israel incorporated in
JTA dispatches.
Fred M. Butzel at the age of 5
achievement of peace, harmony and security in
Israel. Hundreds of young men, now among the
most eminent lawyers, physicians and teachers,
owe it to hirn•that they were able to complete their
studies. Thousands of impoverished received aid
through his efforts. Jewish immigrants to the
-United States were established in business by Fred
Who became known as "Lawyer Butzel," although
his legal' efforts were Mostly in.an advisory capac-
ity and his entire life was devoted to voluntary
public social. service.
An Institution Unto Himself
Wayward boys of all faiths were helped by
this kindly man to a life of dignity and honor. As
president for more than 20 years of the Ford Boys'
Republic he became the symbol of justice in his
native state of Michigan. As Michigan State
Chairman of the Allied Jewish Campaign in 1948,
as the 1947 chairman of the Detroit Allied Jewish
Campaign s as the wartime Michigan chairman of
the Jewish Welfare Board, he labored on all
fronts for the good of human causes, for Pales-
tine's rehabilitation and for the resettlement of
sufferers from Nazism.
On a score or more occasions, he had the op-
portunity to receive high appointments to public
office. He shunned such aspirations. But as in the
instance of his social services, his advice was
sought. by senators, congressmen, governors, may-
ors and other public officials.' He was an institu-
tion untoinmself. Wealth did not interest him,.
-I I -THE-JENftPri4EWS,U
fiAts
Fred M. Butzel at the age of 22 when he was admitted
to the Michigan State Bar -
Urban League, president of the Negro Parkside
Hospital and several years ago was awarded a
medal for his services for the benefit of the Negroes
at Detroit's Bethel M. E. Church.
Nationally, for more than 30 years, he has been
among the pillars in many significant Movements..
He was a member of the executive committee of
the American Jewish Committee and of the Joint
Distribution Committee, was active in the Nation-
al Conference of Jewish Social Work, for a while
acted as president of the National School for
Jewish Social Service, : was - active in the United
Jewish Appeal's national _ setup, in the United
SerVice for New Americans, and hardly a move-
ment of value nationally—Jewish or non-Jewish—
has kept his name from the national boards for
25 years.
In Detroit; the Resettlement Service for Ref-
ugees had the fortune of functioning under his
chairmanship and his aid to new Americans has
o ialo• unlimited. He never stopped to think pf. his
litalth or his time and was .always *hand to aid
Fred M. Butzel at the age of 13 when he was confirmed
at Temple Beth El by Rabbi Louis Grossman
•
He was one of the founders of The Jewish
News of Detroit and a member of the board of
directors of The Jewish News since its inception.
Fred M. Butzel was a great and noble man and
0f him it may, well be said: ZECHER TZADIK
LIVRACHA—itie memory of this saint will.be,,a
blessing for generations to come.