8 Friday, April 25, 1986 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS AL'S SAVES YOU MONEY! LOCAL NEWS CUSTOM WALL MIRROR SPECIALISTS TUB ENCLOSURES SHOWER DOORS BEVELED MIRROR BIFOLD DOORS TUB ENCLOSURE • Chrome or gold frame's • Clear, bronze or • textured glass • custom units $1155o $9988 SAVE $75.62 FRAMED MIRRORS ON DISPLAY aft BY HEIDI PRESS NOW Reg. #458 EXPIRES 5-31-86 EXPERT INSTALLATION AVAILABLE VISIT OUR SHOWROOM Communal Service Record Recalled On Kaufman 90th SPECIALS TABLE TOPS thick • Clear, gray or bronze glass • Beveled glass • patterns • GLASS & AUTO TRIM III • • CUSTOM WALL MIRRORS w TIRES & ACCESSORIES 1515 01155E 0 1920 353-2500 SOUTHFIELD: 24777 Telegraph Other locations: Wayne and Lincoln Park 1 /a, 3/8, 1/2, 3 /4 CREATIVE JEWELRY Specializing In Unique And Original Designs - SPRING °,1 CELEBRATION SALE! Your INITIALS Engraved Inside! r C Your CHOI E of Simulated Stone! . i, 1* %,„„, 4ic? • Your FAVORITE nc tivity! ICJ .; 6 Your FREE Personal Name! ALL BOYS AND GIRLS SILADIUM H.S. RINGS This offer valid only for the purchase of ArtCarved Siladium H.S. rings between January 1 and May 31, 1986. ARTORVED® CLASS RINGS Many other features are available at an extra charge. 20% OFF CHAINS • CHARMS • BRACELETS SWATCH WATCHES Reg. $30 NOW $24 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED • FREE JEWELRY CLEANING WHILE YOU WAIT • OCITIZEN watches and clocks 29310 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48018 (313) 855-8800 VISA' 1 BLOCK SOUTH OF 13 MILE ROAD Open Daily 10-5, Thursday till 8, closed Sunday BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND SAVE maslefchio? a Local News Editor Employees at the funeral home which bears his name call him "tough but fair," and are quick to point out his "subtle sense of humor." But the greatest tribute to Ira Kaufman is "having a lot of friends and a wonderful family." Kaufman, who became 90 on April 16, has a lot of family of which to be proud. Helping to celebrate his special birthday were children: Jean and Gerald Sucher, Charlotte and Nathan Feldman and Herbert and Babs Kaufman. Grandchildren who were on hand at a variety of birthday ac- tivities included Susan and Stuart Ulanoff, Sandra Sucher and Richard Jacobson, Mark Sucher, Linda and Eric Grosse, Nancy Feldman, Diane Feldman, Dr. Bud and Judy Kaufman, Ira Kaufman Ilene and David Techner and Patricia and Richard Eisen- shtadt. Kaufman has 12 great- work, one year of mortuary sci- grandchildren. ence and a. one-year apprentice- His first wife, Florence, died in 1955. Since 1957, he has been ship. Many who apprenticed married to the former Rose Grace under Kaufman have since gone on to become successful funeral Rogvoy. home directors. The former milkman, phar- As an employer, Kaufman, now macy school student and retired, is seen as a quiet, but hardware store employee, Kauf- gentle man. Employees regard man came to the U.S. from Au- him more of an associate rather stria in 1907, when as a youngs- ter he went into business selling' than a boss. Mark Klinger, a mortician at the chapel, said matches. In 1940, at the urging of a Kaufman "didn't give you work Christian friend who was in the he didn't do himself. He was tough, but fair." funeral business, Kaufman Associate Harold Goldman said opened up his own funeral the senior Kaufman "was like a chapel. "We saw an opportunity grandfather to all the em- for another Jewish funeral home," he said. According to his ployees." And his gentle manner extended to families who needed son, Herb, who today runs the family-owned Ira Kaufman the services of the chapel. "He's a Chapel, "Dad became fascinated very kind man," Rabbi Syme said, "a man with great empathy with the opportunity and chal- lenge of going into funeral serv- and sympathy. He always cared." Klinger added that his boss ice." The younger Kaufman added that his father found the was a great influence. "I picked experience "rewarding for what up a lot of the man's sensitivity he could do for the Jewish com- for the business. I always found him to be soft and kindly, very munity." The hours were long and the pleasant with the people." struggle hard, according to Herb Grandson David Techner, an em- Kaufman, but to outsiders the ployee of the family firm, said his grandfather has a magic touch, funeral home has achieved much acclaim. Rabbi M. Robert Syme of often walking in on an emotional Temple Israel who officiates at situation, and without saying a many services at the chapel, said word, he put families at ease. Today, that compassidn comes while speaking at a recent fun- eral directors convention, many through when he is asked to re- of the participants voiced their minisce about his earlier years. respect for the long-time funeral Asked about unusual or memor- able services he has held, Kauf- director. Rabbi Syme called Kaufman Et man speaks with tears in his eyes man of integrity. He said he per- about the service for his late sonally knew of poor families to friend, Rabbi Morris Adler, of whom Kaufman rendered the Cong. Shaarey Zedek, which was funeral home's services at. no marked by hundereds of people who lined the streets for the fun- charge. eral procession. Prior to opening his own In his field, he has assodated chapel, Kaufman worked two himself with the National Fun- years for the community- eral Directors Association, sponsored burial society, Chesed Michigan Funeral Directors Shel Emes. In the 1940s, only Association, was past president of licensing was required to open a District I of the Michigan asso- funeral home. Formal mortician's ciation and past president of the education wasn't necessary. Jewish Funeral, Directors of Kaufman said that situation America, an organization of U.S. has changed, making the profes- and Canadian Jewish funeral sion "more honorable." Today, honies. morticians are required to have a In the Jewish community, high school education, followed Kaufman has allied himself with by two years of undergraduate several groups and causes: Pis-