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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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Friday, January 17, 1986
TEENA G E
COLLECTOR
BY BETTY ELSTER
Special to The Jewish News
Many prople strive for a lifetime
to acquire recognition and fame.
But, at 17, Aaron Milstone has al-
ready achieved these goals.
He is listed in the 1984-1985
edition of Who's Who Among Ameri-
can High School Students.
The Southfield-Lathrup High
School senior's most recent succeps is
the development of a first-aid com-
puter software program designed for
school-age children with little or no
knowledge of computers.
"Reddy Cross's First-Aid for All"
has been accepted by the American
Red Cross, as well as by numerous
school districts for first-aid instruc-
tion. Two software companies have
approached Milstone regarding these
programs, but at the moment he is
concentrating on completing the
series of five first-aid programs
promised to the American Red Cross.
Recently, Milstone returned
from a trip to New Orleans where he
accepted a $1,000 college scholarship
from the Bureau of Wholesale Rep-
resentatives, due in part to his
software success.
Milstone's family has played a
major role in orienting him to a suc-
cessful lifestyle. Inspired by his
father, Leonard, the younger
Milstone has always strived to be
well-rounded and involved in every-
thing possible — from sports to cook-
ing. "I've always tried to live up to
my father's* definition of a "Renais-
sance" person," he said.
Milstone's mother, Sydney, has
been responsible for keeping scrap-
books of his numerous accomplish-
ments, and seeing that his many
deadlines are met. "My Mom's been
the one to make sure that things get
done," he said. "She's my 'paceset-
ter.' "
In addition to his parents' in-
volvement, Milstone's own persever-
ance and motivation have helped
him to accomplish his goals. Before
anyone would even consider looking
at his computer proposals, several
letters had to be written.
At age 12, Milstone decided to
enter his gerbil, Sahara, in the Gui-
ness Book of World Records as the
oldest-living gerbil. He sent all let-
ters and necessary documentation
(kept.by his mother) to support his
•
case.
-
The average life span for a ger-
bil is two-three years. After a week
of media. attention, Sahara died at 8
years, 3 months. "I thought it would
be nice for her to live on," Milstone
said. Her stuffed body is on display
in the Guiness Museum of World
Records in Niagara Falls, Canada,
next to the world's largest ostrich
egg. Sahara still holds the world ti-
tle. She and Milstone have been
listed in the Guiness Book of World
Records since 1980, as well as the
Guiness Book of Pet Records.
partment for the many floats he and
his brother designed for Southfield
parades.
At 7, Milstone began a diary-
like journal. During that same year,
his grandfather, David Fox, intro-
duced him to one of his favorite hob-
bies — penny collecting.
"My grandfather used to be a
Detroit News paper boy, he said,
"and he saved all the pennies he re-
ceived from 1909 on. He told me
stories of the Depression. He saved
every penny so that he wouldn't ever
Animals have always fascinated
Milstone. "I like nice furry ones the
best," he said. Everyone, except for
Dad, has pets they call their own.
Milstone owns Jet, a 2-year-old large
white torn cat; his brother Jason has
two quails, Quailbert and Quail-
berta; his sister, Rebecca, has two
gerbils, Romeo and Juliet; and Mom
takes care of South American coc-
kroaches (Blabberus Giganticus).
About four inches in length at
full adult size, the cockroaches eat
only cat food. They don't resemble
the household cockroach, however,
but look more like the prehistoric
Trilobite. said Milstone.
He once took them to school for
a project, and discovered they pos-
sessed unique abilities. "They fly,"
he said. "They landed on girl'slswea-
ter, and when she screamed, they
gave off a vinegar-like odor. My
mom takes care of them now. She
likes them," he said. At age 8,
Milstone, a 4-H member, received 50
of these "pets" from Michigan State
University. They now number 100.
"We give them away to schools," he
said.
The family also owns several
other "pets" — now away "at
school." They consist of 11 spiny
mice — so named because of their
porcupine-like fur when frightened,
one cockatiel and two hampsters. In
the past, the family has owned
goldfish, an albino rabbit, and a fer-
ret, a weasel-like animal. The ferret
was returned to its original owner,
however, when it was discovered
that he possessed a skunk-like "per-
fume," said Milstone.
"At one time," said Milstone,
"our whole family room was filled
with ten-gallon aquariums contain-
ing mice, gerbils and hamsters."
Milstone's quest for fame began
at an early age. At 6, he began to
enter numerous art contests. He won
many awards for posters and draw-
ings. The Woodland Medical Group
of Novi selected a drawing of his for
its Children's Health and Art Color
ing Book. Milstone also has a collec-
tion of ten trophies received from the
Southfield-Lathrup Recreation De-
have to be poor again," Milstone
said.
Fox presented his grandson with
a collection of 500 pennies — rang-
ing from 1909 to 1950. "Some were
already in collector's folders," Miles-
tone said. "The quality of the. coins
were excellent."
Today, Milstone owns approxi-
mately 10,000 pennies — all
catalogued through his computer.
Someday, said Milstone, he would
like to pass this collection down to
his own children.
Milstone became interested in
photography at 8. He entered several
of his pictures in the Levitt Literary
Contest at Temple Beth El, and a
picture of a tree,, with a quote from
the Bible, won an award. A total of
30 books were his awards' for the
other categories entered in this con-
test, through the years.
,
Milstone's interest in comic bo ok
Continued on next page
Aaron Milstone and his "empire?'
f.
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