54 Friday, August 6, 1982
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Fisher Family Portrait and Genealogical Record Is Published
Max M. Fisher, the emi-
nent world Jewish leader,
takes pride in his genealog-
ical background.
This is evident in "The
Fishers: A Family Por-
trait."
The 150-page book, re-
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plete with facts about the
family that has gained dis-
tinction, had the good for-
tune of being edited by an
archivist who specializes in
historical research. The
author of this book, Phillip
Applebaum, now serves as
archivist for Max M. Fisher.
He has devoted considera-
ble time, traveling widely to
meet with members of the
Fisher family, and has suc-
ceeded in compiling an
enviable record.
The family record is
traced to Icheh Fisch and
Soreh Margolin, who were
married in the 1880s in a
village not far from Minsk.
They were not
youngsters, and of spe-
cial interest in the case of
-Icheh is that he was a
Nikolayesk Soldat, a
soldier in the army of
Nicholas I of Russia.
That's when Jewish chil-
dren were virtually kid-
napped to serve for 25
years in the Russian
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army under oppressive
conditions.
The details of life in Rus-
sia at that time are in them-
selves of interest.
The account of the fami-
ly's record proceeds. A son of
Icheh and Soreh had a son
Velvil who married Malka
Broidy. Vevil came to the
United States in 1906 and
he changed his name to
William Fisher.
The Fisher story con-
tinues in New York, where
William underwent priva-
tions. He joined his . wife's
relatives in Morristown.
From there he went to
Pittsburgh where he met
Max Lapides, who induced
him to become a peddler.
William Fisher's suc-
cess as a peddler was pre-
liminary to other experi-
ences. He was able to
bring Malka to this coun-
try.
They remained for a time
in Pittsburgh where their
son Max was born in 1908.
In 1909, the Fishers be-
came owners of a clothing
store in Salem, Ohio. They
resided there until 1916
when a typhoid fever
epidemic forced their re-
moval to Detroit.
The fact that the family
had residence here on Hast-
ings Street has a special
Michigan aspect in the
Fisher family portrait.
The William Fishers
became the parents of
Anne, Dorothy and Gail.
They returned to Salem
and that's where the Max
Fisher record in this story
actually begins.
It was in that small Ohio
community that the elder
Fishers participated in the
traditional Jewish obliga-
tions. The concern about the -
Jewish identifications that
had their difficulties in the
smaller communities led
the Fishers to seek larger
havens. They first moved to
Cleveland in 1925, and fi-
nally to Detroit which be-
came their permanent resi-
dence in 1930.
A nephew, Louis Clips-
now, plays a role here. He
was an architect and an in-
vestor, and together with
William Fisher acquired
the Soloray Sales and Man-
ufacturing Corp., producing
lubricating oil and refining
it. This was the beginning of
William Fisher's successful
activities in the oil refining
business.
Max had enrolled in
Ohio State University
and he rejoined his fam-
ily here in 1930. That's
when the Keystone Oil
Refining Co. came-into
being under that revised
name and Max became a
salesman for 'the com-
pany.
A prominent Zionist,
Leon. B. Komisaruk,
who was better known
under the name Leon Kay, a
chemical engineer, began to
figure as secretary of the
firm, which also included
Louis Chesnow and Isadore
Goodman.
In the process of Keystone
Oil's developments, another
prominent name, that of
Nate Epstein, figures prom-
inently in this tale of an oil
refining industry's pro-
gress.
There were differing
views between William
and Max in relation to the
matter of using reproc-
essed oil. Max proposed
building a refinery.
Together with Henry F.
Wanger, Max proceeded to
develop the Aurora Oil Co.,
and the Fishers, after dif-
fering views, rejoined their
activities under that name.
Thus, the immense oil in-
dustry developed, later
emerging into another
Levin Leading
in Election Poll
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•
William, Mollie and Max Fisher in a 1950s photo.
famous name in the indus-
try, the Speedway 79 con-
cern that emerged as a do-
minant factor in oil produc-
ing.
The genius of Max Fisher
is in evidence there in what
became a notable American
industrial achievement.
his career in the many
Jewish affiliations.
William and Mollie re-
tired to Florida. Molly
died in 1969 and William
in 1971.
Max and his children, the
current family identifica-
tions, those of Max's and
Marjorie's children, Jane,
Phillip Applebaum as- Mary, Julie, Marjorie and
serts that a biography of Philip, and Max's record as
Max Fisher is yet to be a world figure, are notably
published, and the facts accounted for.
in the Applebaum compi-
There are appendices
lation serve as a vital in-
which
include the Max M.
troduction of that biog-
raphical account yet to Fisher chronology, the
Fisher family genealogical
come.
"The Fishers: A Family outline, a schedule of family
Portrait" proceeds to relate dates accounting fpr their
about the brothers of births etcetera, their
William: Benny, who re- Jewish names and
mained in Salem, Ohio, and genealogical charts.
Yoshke, who stayed on the
The entire story is so fully
family farm in Yakshitz in accountable as to family
Russia. It is presumed that roots and achievements
Yoshke and his family that a review of the book
perished under Nazism.
permits only brevity in
The family accounts tell genealogical accounting.
about Gail who married
Phillip Applebaum tack-
David Ross, Dorothy who led this assignment credit-
married Frank Tessler, and ably. The story of the Fisher
Rose who married Lou Rose, family will surely attract
and the nephews and nieces worldwide attention,
of Max.
primarily thanks to the
The story is complete eminence of the man who
about Max's first marriage, gave it historic significance.
to the late Sylvia Krell, and
his marriage to Marjorie,
who now shares with Max Goldman Seeks
County Post
GLASS & MIRROR
BI-FOLD SUPER SPECIAL
1
A poll conducted by Dr.
Michael Hais of American
Opinion Research, Inc. in
Ferndale shows Democratic
primary candidate Sander
Levin with a substantial
lead over his two closest op-
ponents in the 17th District.
The poll was conducted 10
days ago.
The poll shows Levin at
40 percent, Doug Ross 13
percent, Maryann Mahaffey
12 percent, other candidates
six percent, with 27 percent
undecided. According to
Hais, Levin is "the only
candidate that has major
support across the entire
district." The population of
the new 17th District is di-
vided about equally be-
tween Wayne and Oakland
counties.
Rochelle. Marsha Re-
Michael
and
rlin
Goldman were married in
a recent ceremony at Cong.
Bnai Moshe. The bride is
the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Leo Berlin of South-
field. Parents of the brideg-
room are Mr. and Mrs.
Simon Goldman of Oak
Park. Following a honey-
moon in Canada and the
northeastern states, the
couple is residing in South-
field.
* * *
Laurie Ann Cohen and
Mark F. Blinder were
married in -a recent cere-
mony at Temple Israel.
Rabbi M. Robert Syme of-
ficiated. The bride is the
daughter of Mr., and Mrs.
Lester M. Gould of Niagra
Falls, N.Y. Parents of the
bridegroom are Mr. and
Mrs. bHyman Blinder of
Southfield. Following a Las
Vegas honeymoon; the
couple is residing in South-
field.
NORMAN GOLDMAN
Norman Goldman 'is a
candidate in the Democratic
primary for the 19th Dis-
trict Oakland County
Commissioner seat.
Goldman has been active
in the Democratic Party and
is an Oak Park precinct
delegate. He is a member of
the Oak Park Goodfellows
and the Prosecuting Attor-
ney Association of Macomb
County.