70 Friday, October 22, 1982 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Pierre Mendes-France Dead at 75 PARIS (JTA) — Pierre Mendes-France, a former prime minister of France and a man who made a deep imprint on France's post- war era before Gen. Charles de Gaulle's rise to power, died Oct. 18 at age 75. Born into an old French Jewish family of Por- tuguese origin, Mendes- France always took an avid interest in Jewish affairs. Two months before his death, in the middle of Is- rael's siege of Beirut, he, to- gether with the late Dr. Nahum Goldmann and Philip Klutznick, signed an appeal calling for Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization to mutually recognize each other. Mr. Mendes-France, who was in power for only seven months — June 1954 to January 1955 — is remembered in France as the man who ended this country's war in Indochina and granted Tunisia its indepen- dence. France's decol- onization process, which he began, was completed later by President de Gaulle. Mr. Mendes-France was considered this nation's last "wise old man." Last May he was hailed by President Francois Mitterrand as the man who inspired and paved the way for the Socialist electoral victory. He entered politics in his 20s and became France's youngest pre-war member of Parliament at the age of 29. He volunteeredas a com- bat pilot in the French Air Force at the outbreak of World War II but was nonetheless arrested and charged with "desertion" by the Vichy government of Marshal Henri Petain for having refused to obey or- ders to surrender to the German army by fleeing to North Africa. He escaped from jail and joined de Gaulle's Free French fighting forces in London, flying dozens of missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. After the war, Mendes- France became finance minister in de Gaulle's gov- ernment but resigned when he felt that the administra- tion chose a policy of expe- diency by refusing to im- plement his austerity pro- gram. De Gaulle later wrote in his memoirs: "I respected this man for having been true and loyal to his princi- ples." Later he admitted that Mr. Mendes-France's policy would have been an economic salvation for France. chain-smoking A Gloria Cannon Gloria Cannon, a member of Jewish women's and communal organizations, died Oct. 18 at age 79. Born in Poland, Mrs. Cannon lived 53 years in Detroit. She was a member of Golda Meir Chapter of Pioneer Women/Naamat, the Bnai Zion Sisterhood, Vladimeritzer Society and was a life member of Hadas- sah in Detroit and Los Angeles. She is survived by her husband, Aron; a son, Ab- raham; two daughters, Mrs. Shirley Munch of Los Angeles and Mrs. Mason (Anna) Himelhoch; a sister, Mrs Fay Plotnick; and eight grandchildren. - Henry J. Blank, Cantors' Dean, Symbolized Synagogue, Yiddish Henry J. Blank, whose death occurred on Sunday only a few weeks after he had been named the dean of Michigan cantors, repre- sented two generations of synagogue singers and the major activists in Yiddish cultural ranks here. In more than 70 of his 93 Banker S. G. Warburg Dies LONDON — Interna- tional banker Sir Siegmund George Warburg, who headed S. G. Warburg and Co.,- the merchant- bank he founded in 1946, died Oct. 18 at age 80. Born in Westphalia, Sir having signed a peace treaty with Indochina. Ten days later he secretly flew to Tunis and negotiated a peace treaty with rebel leader Habib Bourguiba, who re- mained his life-long friend and still serves as Tunisia's president. Mr. Mendes-France never had a large constituency. After his fall in early 1955, he never returned to power. Both friends and enemies said he was far too outspo- ken and frank to win a large following. In Jewish affairs, he algo often drew fire from Israeli leaders and leaders of the PIERRE MENDES FRANCE Jewish establishment. He always preached Arab- teetotaller, Mr. Mendes- Israeli understanding and France won international was a warm supporter of the prominence when he told Camp David agreements. the French Parliament in He also advocated mutual June 1954, after France's Israeli-PLO recognition and defeat at Dien Bien Phu, the creation of an indepen- "Give me 30 days and I will dent Palestinian state on end the war in Indochina." the West Bank and Gaza. He was authorized to But he refused to be drawn do so and, 31 days later, into inter-party squabbles returned from the or to play an active role in Geneva Conference after Jewish affairs. CANTOR HENRY BLANK years, he devoted himself to advocacy of Yiddish educa, tional activities and of- ficiated as cantor in a number of synagogues. He belonged to a generation of Yiddishists who ad- vanced the lingual cause. His brother, the late Leon Blank, was for many years the editor of the Detroit sec- tion of the now defunCt Jewish Day (Der Tog). Cantor Blank was a de- voted associate in the Labor Zionist movement and he had two brothers in Israel. His survivors believe they may still be alive, not having been heard from recently, and they would therefore be above the age of 100. Siegmund was the first Jewish student to be admit- ted to the Evangelical Sem- inary in Urach, Germany. According to the New York Times, the Warburg family's ties to finance date to 1559, when one member of it obtained permission to do business in the Westpha- lian town of Warburg, from which the family took its name. In 1920, Sir Siegmund joined M. M. Warburg and Co., founded by his ancestors in 1798. He later worked for N. M. Rothschild and Sons in London, started the In- ternational Acceptance Bank in New York and joined the investment firm of Kuhn, Loeb and _ He would have celebrated his 66th wedding anniver- Co. - He fled Nazi Germany in sary next month, and his the 1930s and became a wife who survives him was British subject in 1939. In always at his side in his England, he established the many community services. Born in Russia, Cantor New Trading Co. and in 1946 he founded the S. G. Blank lived 75 years in De- Warburg and Co. merchant troit. He was the cantor emeritus of the Livonia bank. Jewish Congregation. Among his charitable ac- tivities, Cantor Blank sang for the residents of Prentis Manor and Borman Hall. He was a founder of Sholem Aleichem Insti- tute and was the first conductor of the Halevi Singing Society. Cantor Blank is survived by his wife, Louise; two sons, Robert and Marvin; a sister, Mrs. Pessie Green of New York; and five grand- children. Howard Sackler, Playwright, 52 NEW YORK — Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Howard Sackler died _last week at age 52. Mr. Sackler won the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play, "The Great White Hope," which also earned acclaim as a film. ' He also wrote "Godbye Fidel," "Semmelweiss," and at the time of his death was finishing a play called "Klondike." He wrote the film, "Saint Jack," and was a co-author of "Jaws II. Mr. Sackler also worked in the theater as a director in London, Dublin, Paris and Los Angeles. Disobedient children, if preserved from the gallows, are reserved for the rack, to be tortured by their own posterity. In Mohammedan Spain in were well-treated and the early Middle Ages Jews Christians were persecuted. Monument Unveilings Unveiling announcements may be inserted by mail or by calling The Jewish News. 17515 W. Nine Mile, suite 865, South- field, Mich. 48075. 424-8833. Writ ten announcements must be ac- companied by the name and ad- dress of the person making the insertions. There is a standing charge of $10.00 for an unveiling notice measuring an inch in depth. and $15.00 for a notice two inches deep with a black border. The family of the late Dr. Mendel Ettinger an- nounces the unveiling of a " monument in his memory 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Hebrew Memorial Park. Rabbi Goldschlag will of- ficiate. Relative's and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late DR. SIDNEY ADLER Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Rabbi Roman will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late OSCAR BAKALAR Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Yolkut will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late MIRIAM L. CANTOR The Family of the Late HARRY B. HOFFERT Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory. 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Rabbi Groner will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late ABRAHAM M. KLAPER Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Gruskin will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late BARBARA SIMON LURIA Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at - Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Rabbi Spectre will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi David Nelson will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late The Family of the Late DAVID GOLDMAN HERMAN SHAPIRO Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Schwartz will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 12 noon Sunday, Oct. 31, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Goldschlag will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late The family of Alec S. Walters, who died on April 24, 1982,. wishes to an- nounce the unveiling of the monument in his memory at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 31, 1982, at Adat Shalom Memorial Park, Livonia. Rabbi David A. Nelson will conduct the service. All lov- ing friends are invited to attend. DR. HENRY GREEN Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Groner will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. "Over 65 years of traditional service in the Jewish community with dignity and understanding." HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL 543-1622 SERVING ALL CEMETERIES 26640 GREENFIELD ROAD OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237 Rabbi Israel I. Rockove Executive Director Alan H. Dorfman Funeral Director & Mgr.