CLOSE-UP

Esther Shapiro

Paul D. Borman

Director of the Consumer
Affairs Department for the
City of Detroit, Ms. Shapiro
met her best pal 20 years ago
when they were neighbors.
Her name is Carol Camp-
bell.
But it wasn't until the two
worked together in city
government that they really
got to know each other. Ms.
Campbell, who has since
retired, served on Mayor
Coleman Young's staff.
"She earned my respect,"
Ms. Shapiro says of Ms.
Campbell. "Her mind goes
right to the kernel of the
problem, then comes out
with a sharp, clear solu-
tion."
Ms. Campbell also was an
expert at understanding
complex legal terms.
"First she had my
respect," Ms. Shapiro says.
"Then, as it happened, we
were on the same trip
together to Egypt. I found
her to be adventurous and
funny and a wonderful
traveling companion."
The two women have simi-
lar backgrounds ("Both of
our parents owned 'Mom and
Pop' stores") and tastes, in-
cluding an interest in
-theater, movies and music.
"We either really like the
same things or disagree
utterly," Ms. Shapiro says.
"For example, Carol has an
unhealthy preoccupation
with exercise. That's one of
those areas where we'll
always disagree."

Paul D. Borman is chief
federal defender for the U.S.
District Court in Detroit; his
best pal is Douglas
Mossman, a junior partner
at Kogan Realty.
The two were together in
grade school and active in
the same Sunday school and
junior congregation.
"We hung out together in
the same 'hood and the same
shul, Shaarey Zedek," Mr.
Borman says.
Both their parents were in
the supermarket business,
and both boys spent their
summers at a cottage by
Pine Lake.
Mr. Borman says the two
liked "cruising in cars i" and
insists Mr. Mossman was
"the troublemaker."
Mr. Mossman also was the
clothes horse.

Esther Shapiro

26

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1992

Robert Aronson (right) in Paris
- with Paule and Danny Stein.

Robert Aronson

When not meeting with
high-powered figures in the
Jewish community or pro-
moting Israel or directing
the course of Detroit Jewry,
Robert Aronson might be
found immersed in what he
calls his secret life: the arts.
Executive vice president of
the Jewish Federation, Mr.
Aronson loves to get
creative. It's what binds him
to one of his oldest and
dearest friends, Daniel
Stein.
Mr. Aronson and Mr. Stein
grew up together in
Milwaukee, Wis., where
they met in a temple youth
group. They quickly became
friends.
Though Mr. Aronson's in-
terest in art is limited to his
spare time, Mr. Stein has
made creativity his life's
work. He is a mime and has
opened mime schools
throughout the world.
Until last month, when he
settled in Los Angeles, Mr.
Stein lived in Paris. But be-
ing miles apart did not
lessen his friendship with
Mr. Aronson.
"It's the kind of friendship
where you might lose track

for a year, but it's so dear
you can pick it up again im-
mediately," Mr. Aronson
says.
A friend, according to Mr.
Aronson, "is somebody you
can be yourself with. You
don't have to wear a per-
sona."
With best friends, "I can
think and dream in the world
of ideas and ideals. They're
both people who have lived
out their dreams. It's a whole
different language we use
with each other than we use
in our everyday lives."
Mr. Aronson's other best
pal is Elliot Beckelman,
legal counsel for the Restau-
rant and Hotel Workers
Union of San Francisco. The
two met in college, "where
we shared a love of litera-
ture and women and art and
ideas. I love him dearly."
Mr. Beckelman even ac-
companied Mr. Aronson and
his wife on their honeymoon.
"Why he came along, I
can't remember," Mr. Aron-
son says. "We were in-
separable, and I guess I
didn't see anything wrong.
But I think my wife might
have had a little problem
with it."

Douglas Mossman and Paul Borman

"He was fancier than I
was," Mr. Borman says. "He
was a real clothes maven
and is still my expert on
clothing.
"You know, most kids
have one or two ties. He had
a dozen."
For Mr. Mossman's 50th
birthday, Mr. Borman took
him to New York for a day.
"We went to a lot of men's
clothing stores," Mr. Bor-
man recalls. "He was like a
rabid dog. He went from one
store to the next and to the
next."
"He's got a good sense of
humor," Mr. Borman says of
his best pal. "And he's really
a nice person.
"In the criminal justice
system, you meet all kinds of
people. Doug is a fine, car-
ing, considerate person.
There are not a lot of those
in this world."