Obituaries
Alexander Roberg,
Educator And Friend
MORTON B. FIVENSON, 71, for-
His teaching techniques and pro-
Alexander Roberg, 83, of Oak Park,
grams were considered on the cutting
died Feb. 21. Roberg was born in
edge; he was the first to introduce the
Germany, where he graduated from
concept of a model seder and he
the Wurzberg Seminary for Jewish
helped to redefine the Hebrew school
Educators. He assumed a teaching
curriculum. He is most fondly
position in the Jewish community of
remembered for the personal interest
Stuttgart.
he took in his students,
During the Nazi
studying with many of
regime, he aided with
them after hours. "He was
distribution of com-
a
gentle, kind, educated,
munal charity and
sweet
man, who loved
providing Passover
children and was able to
provisions, among
relate to them despite his
many other commu-
position of authority,"
nity leadership duties.
said Annie Friedman, a
After settling in
former co-worker of
Detroit, Mr. Roberg
Roberg's at Beth Aaron.
began a career as a
Many of his pupils
teacher with the Unit-
have
themselves become
ed Hebrew Schools.
Jewish educators.
He was promoted to
Roberg's son Ezra, a
the position of princi-
Alexander Roberg
teacher at Detroit Ketter-
pal over various school
ing High School and at
branches, beginning
the Yeshiva Gedolah, teaches in the
with the Parkside branch in 1940 and
same manner his father did.
ending with the B'nai David branch
"He tried to create tranquility in
from which he retired in 1977. "He
the class and I do as well," he said.
was a top-notch educator who
"My expectations are high because of
enjoyed the highest respect of his stu-
the standards set by my father."
dents and other teachers," said Rabbi
Mr. Roberg volunteered to serve as
Eric Greenbaum who knew Roberg
the director of the Detroit friends of
for over 60 years, dating back to Ger-
Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem.
many. "He devoted a lot of time to
In four decades, he raised millions of
students who showed promise and
dollars for the institution.
needed help, and trained adults who
In the Detroit area, Mr. Roberg
showed the promise of becoming a
was a founder of Gemilus Chasadim
teacher."
LILLIAN BROWN, 86, of Oak
Park, died Feb. 19.
She is survived by her daughter,
Roberta A. Brown of Oak Park; son,
Allen S. Brown of Clinton Township;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Barney
and Rhoda Cohen of Springfield,
Mass., Morris and Judy Cohen of
Long Meadow, Mass.; sister, Anne
Haskell of Springfield; grandchild,
Jason Aaron Brown. She was the
beloved wife of the late James Brown.
Graveside services were held at
Adat Shalom Cemetery in Livonia.
Contributions may be made to the
American Heart Association, 16310
W. 12 Mile, Southfield, MI 48076,
or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Funeral
Direction.
HERMAN FARRAND, 79, of
Southfield, died Feb. 21. Mr. Farrand
was a real estate broker. He was a
member of Score, Mensa and the
Goodfellows.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis
Farrand; son, Alan Farrand of New
York; daughter, Beverly Dubrevil of
Virginia; stepchildren, David and
Eileen Kowal, Judy and Ben Rogers
of New Mexico, Sherry and Alan
Zacharia; brother, Emanuel Feinberg
of Southfield; sister and brother-in-
law, Edith and Donn Resnick; grand-
children, Dan, Heather, Jerry, Briana
and Jeremiah.
Interment at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice. Arrange-
ments by the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
SEYMOUR FEINBERG, 83, of
Southfield, died Feb. 22. Mr. Fein-
berg was the former owner of Village
Craftsman.
He is survived by his wife, Selda
Feinberg; daughters and sons-in-law,
Cheryl Feinberg of Farmington Hills,
Susan and Robert Yashinsky of
Bloomfield Hills, Lisa and Dr. Richard
Garfinkel of Maryland; grandchildren,
Alyse and Carly Yashinsky, Samuel
Congregation, which created a haven
for escapees and survivors of the
Holocaust and maintained the tradi-
tions of German Judaism. He blew
shofar, led services, participated in the
burial society and initiated the free
loan society for members of the con-
gregation.
Alex Roberg was an active member
of Young Israel of Oak Woods, serv-
ing on its board for many years. After
the Young Israel merger, he and his
wife became members of Young Israel -
of Oak Park. "He was everything I
would want to be as a communal
leader," said Rabbi Steven Weil. "Alex
stood for everything I strive to be. He
was morally and intellectually a role
model at Young Israel."
He was strongly influential in pro-
viding direction toward the "kehillah"
system — a model he grew up with
and led in Germany.
Mr. Roberg is survived by his wife,
Ilse; son and daughter-in-law, Ezra
and Naomi Roberg of Oak Park;
daughters and sons-in-law, Esther and
Rabbi Fred Pfeiffer of Montreal, Que-
bec, Leah and Rabbi Reuvain Gluck
of Chicago; 26 grandchildren; 45
great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to
Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem.
Interment at Beth Tefilo Emanuel
Cemetery in Ferndale. Services and
arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
Interment at Machpelah Ceme-
tery. Contributions may be made to
Hadassah, 5030 Orchard Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48323, or
JARC, 28366 Franklin Road, South-
field, MI 48034. Arrangements by
the Ira Kaufman Chapel.
SAM FELDMAN, 93, of Southfield,
died Feb. 19. Mr. Feldman was a
men's clothing consultant.
He is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Dr. Murray and Bar-
bara Feldman of Southfield; grand-
children, Marci Feldman, Felice Lam-
pert, Sue Feldman; five great-grand-
children. For 72 years, Mr. Feldman
was the beloved husband of the late
Lilly Feldman.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memor-
ial Park. Contributions may be made
to the American Diabetes Associa-
tion, 30600 Telegraph Road, Suite
2255, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.
Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
mer Detroiter of Alpena, died Feb. 20.
He was president and CEO of A.
Fivenson Iron and Metal for 40 years
until his retirement in 1992. Mr.
Fivenson served as president of Temple
Beth El in Alpena.
He is survived by his children,
David (Mara Miles) Fivenson of Ann
Arbor, Anita (Eric) Gilbert of Oak
Park, Steveri Fivenson of Wisconsin,
Lee Ann Fivenson of Ohio; sister,
Jean Pinsky of Dallas, Texas; grand-
children, Daniel and Elayne Fiven-
son and Brett Gilbert. He was the
beloved husband of the late Lois
Coggan Fivenson.
Contributions may be made to the
Alzheimer's Foundation or a hospice
organization.
LAWRENCE GERENDASY, 75, of
Northville, died Feb. 22. For 20 years,
Mr. Gerendasy was a research admin-
istrator for Enviornmental Research
Institute of Michigan.
He is survived by his wife, Tikwah
"Tickey" Gerendasy; daughter and
son-in-law, Sheri and Ronald Loeb of
Huntington Woods; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Joel and Sherri Gerendasy
of Keego Harbor; grandchildren,
Melissa, Scott and Joshua Loeb, Jodi,
Shana and Jami Gerendasy; brother-
in-law and sister-in-law, Sophie "Sue"
Gerendasy, Evelyn Meeron and
Rozanne and Jerry Meklir. He was
the dear brother of the late Elaine
Canvasser and the late Dr. Robert
Gerendasy.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
Children's Leukemia Foundation,
29777 Telegraph Road, Suite 1651,
Southfield, MI 48034, or any chil-
dren's charity.
Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
LUCILLE GLAZER, 87, formerly of
Birmingham of Sarasota, Fla., died
Feb. 6.
She is survived by her nieces, Lois
Zeidman of Tempe, Ariz., Paula
Glazer Vornbrock of Yakima, Wash.;
nephews, Arthur Glazer, Walter
Glazer and Louis Glazer. She was the
beloved wife of the late Dr. Walter
Glazer.
ETHEL GOLDSTEIN, 97, of
Albany, N.Y., formerly of Detroit,
died Feb. 17. Mrs. Goldstein was a
physical education teacher in Detroit
public schools and a graduate of the
Detroit Teachers Normal School Col-
and Carrie Garfinkel.
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1998
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