Morris Garvett Dies, Age 77; Sinai President
Gained National Fame as Legal Expert, Devoted
Congregational Leader, Guide in Schools . Tasks

Morris Garvett, nationally rec-
ognized in legal, educational and
congregational circles as one of
Detroit's most distinguished lead-
ers, died last Saturday morning,
at Sinai Hospital, after a prolonged
illness. He would have been 78
on Nov. 22.
Funeral services were held Mon-
day morning at Temple Beth Ei,
with Dr. Richard C. Hertz offi-
ciating.
Surviving him are his wife,
Gladys Warren Garvett, to whom
he was married on June 10, 1919;
a son, Charles M.; a grandson,
Robert F.; a brother, Joseph S.;
and two sisters, Mrs. Louis (Susan)
Beck and Mrs. Sol Q. (Matilda)
Kesler.
MORRIS GARVEIT
Born in Pittsburgh, son of Elihu
Alexander and Dora Mazer Gar-
ties, including the formation of
vett, the deceased inherited fam-
the Midrasha College of Jewish
ily traditions for communal, reli-
Studies of the United Hebrew
gious and civic services. His mother
Schools.
was of the Mazer family whose
Mr. Garvett was one of the or-
relatives gained fame in athletic
ganizers of the Detroit Round
activities. mainly basketball.
Mr. Garvett was the senior
partner of the law firm of Levin,
Levin, Garvett and Dill. A De•
troit College of Law 1915 grad-
uate, he practiced law uninter-
ruptedly, until his illness early
this year, for 56 years.
An authority on corporate and
constitutional law, he was a life
member of the Sixth Judicial Con-
ference United States Courts. He
was a member of the American,
Michigan and Detroit Bar Associ-
ations, Lawyer's Club of the Uni-
University of Michigan, American
Judicature Society, Detroit Bar
Association Committee on Estate
and Trust Law and Michigan State
Bar Committee on Probation and
Parole.
He served on the adviscry coun-
cils of Detroit Commission on Chil-
dren and Youth and Greater De-
troit Hospital Council.
President of Sinai Hospital at
the time of his death, Mr. Gar-
vett held some of the most impor-
tant positions in the Jewish com-
munity and in recognition of his
many labors was honored, in 1966,
by the Jewish 'Welfare Federation,
with the coveted Fred M. Butzel
Award.
He served as president of the
Jewish Community Center, from
1942 to 1945 and many innova-
tions were instituted under his
guidance.
In 1919 he was president of
Pisgah Lodge of Bnai Brith when
it was the only Bnai Brith lodge
in Detroit.
As pres:dent of Temple Beth
El, he acquired national rec-
ognition in Reform ranks as one
of the most noted of the coun-
try's religious leaders. He held
every office in Temple Beth El,
including the presidency of its
Men's Club, and for three de-
cades was the closest associate
of the late Dr. Leo M. Franklin.
It was in his capacity as chair-
man of education for the tem-
ple that he gained recognition
as a propagator of highest cul-
tural values in his community.
There are hundreds of Temple
Beth El confirmands who received
their certificates from Mr. Garvett,
and the educational system at Beth
El progressed under his guidance.
He was one of the organizers of
Temple Israel and served as its
president.
During the last 15 years, in
addition to attending Friday night
services, he again attended regu-
lar Temple Beth El Sabbath morn-
ing services and was seldom absent
from a Sabbath service.
As chairman of the education
division of the Jewish Welfare
Federation, he expanded his
labors in the cultural sphere
and made great contributions
towards the adanvcement of De-
troit's communal school activi-

`Guide to Philadelphia'

PHILADELPHIA (JTA) — The

•

THE DETROIT JEWISH HEWS
8—Friday, August 27, 1971

Philadelphia Union of Jewish Stu-
4c
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He took a deep interest in the of Pennsylvania, is editor of the
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*

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guide. ,
***********************
Jewish Historical Society.
He was a member of the com-
mittee on community organization
of the Council of Jewish Federa-
I.
tions and Welfare Funds and in
.
1958 he received the CJFWF Ed-
I
ward Rosenberg Award "for out-
resenIS
P
standing leadership in communal
For
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He loved music and the arts
in Black & Grey
and he was an accomplished I •
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An avid reader, Mr. Garvett
especially loved biographical writ-
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ing. He was thoroughly versed in
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authority on the lives of U.S. Pres-
idents and Supreme Court justices.
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He was especially authoritative 1.
on the Civil War period.

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