THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 21, 1983, 1111"."
Plaque Recalls David Heineman, Gentleman of Detroit History
pneumonia at the age of 70
a gifted story-teller. He had pany plus many real estate
on Feb. 21, 1935. He is
(Editor's note: David
investments.
He
was
very
a flair for using well chosen
buried
in the Beth El Sec- •
Heineman is an un-
words. He was a great de- generous with his contribu-
tion
of
Woodmere
Cemet-
forgettable name in
baton He had a fine sense of tions to a long list of
Michigdn history. His
ery.
charities.
There
was
some-
humor. He was admired by
The editorials concluded
impressive contributions
all for his good common thing about his wallet you
with, "David E. Heineman
to many facets of the
couldn't
help
but
like.
sense. He was an aristocrat
remains in the memory of
state's activities include
He was a member of the
who could associate with top
many Detroiters as a splen-
his role as one of the first
Detroit society while at the Michigan Historical
did public servant — a loyal
Jewish historians in
Society,
a
Mason
and
a
same time, with just as
friend — a man of the type
Michigan.
much enjoyment, consort Shriner, an Elk, Oddfellow
much more representative
(At the dedication of a
and president of Pisgah
with
our
most
famous
ward
in public life today than
tablet in tribute to
Lodge
of
Bnai
Brith.
He
also
politicians. He was a very
when he was a lonely
Heineman on Sunday at
belonged to the University
democratic man.
the Detroit Historical
pioneer."
Club,
Detroit
Boat
Club
and
These statements were
Museum by the Jewish
the
Old
Club
of
St.
Clair
Those were beautiful
part of those made by the
Historical Society of
eulogies and today we
papers in their obituary Flats. He was president of
Michigan, the record of
LEONARD SIMONS
show that we have not
stories and editorials. One the local chapter of the
DAVID HEINEMAN
his activities was re-
American Institute of
forgotten David E.
article
said,
"He
seemed
called. The major ad-
ical museum is an impor-
often
described
by
the
Heineman by our thanks
out-of-place in the council Archeology.
dress at the dedication
tant part.
But the one hobby American Jewish Histor-
for his uniquely-created
because
he
used
four-
was by Leonard N. Si-
He dabbled in art in a
which he frankly admit- ical Society as the official
mons, himself deeply in-
small way. His artistic syllable words. Sometimes ted held the highest historiographer of the official flag of the city of -
Detroit.
terested in perpetuation - spirit found its outlet in the he employed them in refer- interest for him was the Jews of Michigan.
ence
to
his
colleagues
who
of the record of Michigan
founding of the Scarab Club
Incidentally, my own
Always regarded as a con-
researching of the early
Jewish history. The text
of Detroit; and he helped were never quite sure history of the Jewish firmed bachelor, he sur-
bookplate
incorporates the
of Simons' speech fol-
build the Detroit Institute whether they were being in- people of Michigan. He prised even his closest
Detroit flag because it
sulted
or
complimented."
of Arts.
lows.)
shows that both my birth-
"Because he was from was the first Jew to do friends when, at age 53, he
He was the one who se-
day and Detroit's are on the
By LEONARD SIMONS
married
the
daughter
of
a
this.
He
successfully
un-
cured a gift from Andrew the first ward he was al- covered much of what is University of Michigan pro-
same date, July 24th, except
Today, David Heineman
ways
the
first
to
vote
Carnegie of $750,000 to
that Detroit is just a little
now known about early fessor. They had no chil-
is again being honored for
when
the
roll
was
called.
bit older . . . by a couple of
designing the official flag of help build the main Detroit "Two-thirds of the coun- Detroit and Michigan dren.
Public Library next door to
David Heineman died of centuries.
Jewish families. He was
Detroit — this time by the
cil
listened
to
see
whether
us (Detroit Historical
erection of this bronze
Museum). That is a lot of Heineman would say
plaque in our museum
"aye" or "no" so they
money even in these days.
foyer. The plaque is a gift of
would know how to vote.
In
addition
to
his
per-
love to Detroit's Historical
sonal legal work and his Not that they loved the
Museum by the Jewish His-
numerous
civic and polit- highly-educated, cul-
torical Society of Michigan.
ical
undertakings,
Mr. tured Heineman — for
It is our way of further rec-
the Nov. 3 event.
they feared his tongue,
A 50-year history of De-
ognizing his creative talent Heineman found time to but he was so often right
Guest speaker at the
troit
Jewry's
identification
originate
the
city
man-
for the benefit of our post-
event will be Alexander
—
that
it
was
wise
to
fol-
with
the
Technion,
the
Is-
ager's plan of govern-
Haig, former U.S. secretary
erity.
rael technological univer-
ment for cities. He was low his lead."
David Heineman was a
of state and former U.S.
"To make his stand clear, sity in Haifa, will be a major
president
of
State
of
turn-of-the-century civic
commander of the North At-
he
would
explain
why
he
evaluation
at
the
annual
Michigan Anti-
leader who played a very
lantic Treaty Organization
voted
as
he
did.
This
was
a
dinner of the Detroit Chap-
Tuberculosis Society and
important part in our city's
forces in Europe.
great help to those he had ter of the American Techn-
president
of
the
Board
of
history, especially during
For dinner reservations,
State Library Commis- momentarily offended be- ion Society, Nov. 3, at Cong.
those early years.
call
the Detroit Chapter of
cause
they
would
then
vote
Shaarey Zedek, local Techn-
sioners under three gov-
His family was among the
the American Society for
the
other
way."
ion
president
Joseph
Epel
ernors.
pioneer settlers in Detroit.
Technion, 559-5190.
He enjoyed using big announced this week.
He began his civic career
His German parents came
words — like, in later life
The annual event will be
as
the
chief
assistant
city
here in 1851 when Detroit's
attorney. At the same time when someone happened to occasion to mobilize a con-
population was only 21,000,
he revised and codified all ask how he was feeling he tinuing activity here in be-
of which 60 were Jews. His
of
the city's 700 ordinances is reputed to have said, "My half of Israel's leading
father was Emil Heineman
MIAMI BEACH —
physiology is catching up to
recorded by Detroiters, ac-
and his mother was Fanny . . . all of which impressed my chronology" or "I'm de- technological-oriented
"Hasidic Stories," a compi-
school of higher learning in cording to Epel, who has a
Mayor
Hazen
Pingree.
Butzel. Both families
lation of tales from 30
teriorating on schedule."
line with major assistance major participating role in
enjoyed enviable reputa- Heineman became one of
Hasidic Jewish masters of
The
articles
went
on
to
tions for integrity and "Ping's" boys. The mayor say, "The passing of David
previous generations, has
urged
him
to
run
for
elective
philanthropy. No wonder
been co-published by Cong.
E. Heineman takes memory
David, with such a heritage, office. He did and he won. back to the days when 'he
Kol Yisroel Haverim and
was such a splendid man. He became a state legis- was one of Detroit's first
the Jewish Information
lator;
after
a
couple
years
in
He was born Oct. 17, 1865 in
Council.
citizens
—
before
he
was
de-
a
volunteer.
NEW YORK — The
Lansing he decided he'd
Detroit.
The free publication,
feated for lieutenant gover- Anti-Defamation League of
The government com-
rather
come
back
to
Detroit.
David Heineman had im-
nor of Michigan and then Bnai Brith (ADL) has com-
plaint, filed in U.S. District which marks the beginning
pressive credentials. He
Court in St. Louis, states of Jewish Book Month (Oct.
In 1903, he was elected seeking nothing further, re- mended the United States
graduated in 1883 from De-
tired from politics.
that Silverstein was sub- 30-Nov. 30), may be ob-
Justice
Department
for
fil-
alderman
from
the
first
troit High School as
"Heineman was just a
ing a federal suit in behalf of jected to "different terms, tained by sending a long,
president of his class. He ward. That made him a
dabbler in politics. It was
Allan Silverstein charging conditions and privileges" self-addressed stamped
finished his schooling at the member of our common
not
his
profession.
He
that he was unlawfully fired than other firemen and that envelope to Cong. Kol Yis-
council.
He
served
for
seven
University of Michigan
would
have
liked
to
suc-
from a position in the he was disciplined and dis- roel Haverim, P.O. Box
where he was elected to Phi years and was a council
ceed
in
it
but
he
would
Hazelwood, Mo. fire de- charged solely "because of 6194, Miami Beach, Fla.
president.
Beta Kappa. He was a
33154.
not pay the price. He
partment because he is his religion."
In
1910,
Mayor
Breit-
graduate lawyer and prac-
would not make small
Jewish.
ticed in Detroit. You know meyer appointed him city
surrenders or cultivate
Silverstein, who served as
what a lawyer is — he is controller. At the end of his
a probationary firefighter
someone who is dedicated to term he decided he was nit-wits ... and in those
partisan days one had to
in Hazelwood until he was
Life, Liberty, and the Law through with politics and
dismissed in July 1982, is a
would follow his other do those things; So, he did
Suit of Happiness.
what he could fOr Detroit
graduate of the St. Louis
interests
including
travel
The U of M also gave
and wished to do many
Fire Academy and had
abroad.
Later,
he
said
he
him an honorary degree.
things that were beyorid
three years of experience as
He was a brilliant "had paid his 17th visit to
his powers. He was too
Gibraltar."
scholar. He was so smart
during honest and too outspo-
However,
it was often said of him
ken and too independent.
that he could say "hello" World War I Heineman
"His caustic tongue
returned
to
public
serv-
to people in algebra.
JERUSALEM (JNI) —
spared neither friend nor
Seriously, David Heine- ice when he was ap- foe. Because of his refusal to
The joint Cabinet-World
pointed
food
adminis-
man was an amazing man
Zionist Organization set-
compromise, rather than
with a multiplicity of per- trator for Detroit and any lack of knowledge or
tlement committee decided
sonal interests. He had an Wayne County.
this month to convert six
ability he did not become
I
did
not
actually
know
intense interest in books
West Bank para-military
mayor,
governor
or
sena-
and libraries. He loved David Heineman, although
settlements into civilian
tor."
Zubin Mehta, left, musical director of the Israel
music. The truth is because I had seen him at a couple of
settlements.
David Heineman was a
civic
functions.
So
I
did
a
of his vision he became one
Philharmonic
Orchestra, was awarded an honorary
The committee also ap-
wealthy man with many ex-
of the most active and most great deal of research to try cellent financial interests
doctorate by the Weizmann Institute of Science dur-
proved
the
establishment
of
vocal of the leading citizens to bring you a fairly accu- including one of the original
Tsofim, an urban settle- ing a concert intermission at Mann Auditorium.
behind the movement to rate word-picture of the Detroit street railway com-
ment for 1200 families to be Shown with Mehta are Prof. Asher Friesem, center,
build this great Cultural man.
built
by private investors. and Weizmann President Minhael Sela.
panies,
an
insurance
com-
He was often described as
Center, of which our histor-
Technion Scholarship Projects
on Local Dinner Agenda Nov. 3
Free Hasidic
Volume Offered
ADL Praises Government
Role in Discrimination Case
Honorary PhD for Mehta
WB Settlements
to Go Civilian