The Heart

One O'Clock, Two O'Clock, Three O'Clock... Rock!!!

Local oncologist choreographs "fun" raiser for the American Cancer Society.

RUTH LtTTMANN SECTION EDITOR

PHOTO BY GLENN TRIEST

p

r. Roman Franklin re- doctor and really has a mis-
members spending hot sion for himself to diminish
summers of his ado- suffering among cancer pa-
lescence on the base- tients."
The ACS knew the event
ball field at Vernor
Junior High in Detroit. Every so would be a nifty addition to
often, one very lucky teen-ager its black-tie dinner benefits.
"Anybody with enthusiasm
from the neighborhood would dri-
ve up in his very own baby-blue like his — who can name all
the songs and singers of the
'57 Chevy Bel Air convertible.
"A bunch of us kids would pile '50s and '60s — would really
in the car and he'd take us for a contribute a lot," Ms. Murphy
spin," Dr. Franklin says.
says.
The endeavor blended vo-
The 1950s bring back good
memories for the Czech immi- cation with avocation, or, as
grant ("I had hair back then," he some might say, "obsession."
quips). Dr. Franklin came to the Dr. Franklin's office in Bloom-
States when he was 3. Later, he field Township contains all
graduated from Wayne State the trappings of a '50s nut:
University School of Medicine Mickey Mouse ears, a soda-
and went on to become a hema- jerk clock and dancing Coca-
Cola can, and on the back
tologist/oncologist.
For Dr. Franklin, the '50s res- wall a painting of a baby-blue
onate with the melodies from '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible.
In 1989, Dr. Franklin set
songs like "You Ain't Nothin But
A Hound Dog," and "Wake Up out to plan a `50s party-with-
Little Susie." The decade recalls a-purpose. He assisted the
paper routes and "The Ed Sulli- ACS in booking bands like
van Show," Fats Domino, Chuck the Drifters and Larados. He
Berry, eating fries and sipping helped hire an Elvis imper-
sodas at the HoJo's on Woodward sonator, Dave King. Dr. Dr. Franklin
$23,000.
Franklin also talked some of and his wife
and Coolidge.
"It's like a bar mitz-
But Dr. Franklin's profession his car-crazed friends into Ellen in their vah, only it's a fund-
introduced him to a more somber bringing their vintage auto- '57 Chevy
raiser," Dr. Franklin
side of life. Every day, he watch- mobiles to the gala.
convertible.
says.
He worked on the project
es people — children and adults
All proceeds go to the
— struggling with the disease constantly, after-hours and
ACS for community service pro-
non-stop between patients.
that kills millions each year.
jects, like cancer screenings, ed-
In early fall of 1990, the ACS ucation and research. Tickets,
Dr. Franklin wanted to do
sponsored its first which are around $35, remain in-
something to help
sock hop, held at the tentionally low-priced.
combat cancer. Some-
Somerset Inn. More
thing fun. Something
"We want it to be a family
than 250 people event," the doctor says.
beyond his clinical
came to jitterbug
practice. He wanted
Dr. Franklin lives with his
and twist. They wife, Ellen, and children in West
to raise money for re-
dressed in poodle Bloomfield. His mission is to in-
search. He wanted to
skirts and crewneck volve more people on the event's
raise awareness
sweaters. Between planning committee, which he de-
among his friends.
dancing and eating scribes as diverse and energetic.
The baby-boomers,
(all food was donat-
after all, were fast en-
To anyone interested in pitch-
tering an age group hit hard by ed by restaurants), the benefac- ing in, he says: "Call me directly
tors engaged in hula-hoop at my office, (810) 333-7888."
the disease.
Dr. Franklin came up with the contests and marveled at the
Will Dr. Franklin someday,
many '50s cars on display.
perfect plan: a sock-hop.
sometime, for some reason expe-
The following year, 800 people rience '50s overkill? It's doubtful.
The American Cancer Society
in Southfield thought it was a showed up to the event. ACS has Two months ago, he bought his
great idea. "We were delighted," raised better than $20,000 with very own baby-blue '57 Chevy Bel
says Karen Murphy, ACS public each of its sock hops. This fall, the Air convertible. ❑
affairs director. "He's a prominent rock-and-bop fest brought in

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