Roasting 7111 Tied Piper'

ho tos by Joan ne Goldberg

B'nai ifrith honors Jerry. Olson's
40 years of service.

"Honestly, this is not something I'd
seek
out. It was happening whether I
StaffWriter
wanted it or not."
Nearly 200 people paid $40 a ticket
erry Olson has seen some
to come to the event. In keeping with
changes since he signed on as
the spirit of Olson's giving nature, the
a charter member of B'nai
money went to B'nai B'rith Youth
B'rith's Albert D. Tucker
Organization and Hillels at Michigan
Lodge 40 years ago.
State University and the Uni-
The lodge merged with
versity
of Michigan.
three others 15 years ago to
Right:
Money also is going
become the
Jeannette Olson
towards research of Familial
Zager/Stone/Tucker/Grant
with her
Dysautonomia, a disabling
Lodge. It nearly dissolved
husband and
honoree Jerry.
disease prevalent in the Ashke-
five years later and it
nazic Jewish community.
was revived two years
Olson began raising money
ago.
for the Tucker Lodge by organizing
But Olson, and his devotion to the
balloon-blowing parties.
lodge, never wavered. Over the four
"We'd stay up real late and inflate
decades he chaired innumerable
balloons to take downtown for the
events and raised thousands of dollars
Thanksgiving Day Parade and we'd
for the lodge.
sell them there," he said. "Kids would
That dedication and service was
see the balloons and their parents
the inspiration for the Jerry Olson
would make a bee-line for them on
"Roast and Toast" at Laurel Manor in
their way out."
Livonia on Sunday, May 17, co-
Fran White, president of the
chaired by Nancy and Bill Braun with
Zager/Stone/Tucker/Grant Unit, nick-
Olson's brother, Harvey, serving as
named Olson the "Pied Piper"
master of ceremonies.
because, "when he was the leader,
"I've only been after it for 40
everyone would follow him and want
years," he said with a hearty laugh.

LONNY GOLDSMITH

j

Jerry Olson gets roasted by his wife Jeannette and daughters
Susie, Stacey and Hillary.

to help," she said. "Even people he
never asked to help would call
him."
Olson annually volunteered as the
chairman for three large events: B'nai
B'rith Golf Outing, Las Vegas Night
and the New Year's Party.
"The events strengthen bonds
between members, and it helps to
bring in new members as well," he
said. "The committee members who
put the events together have as much

fun at the meetings as we do at the
event."
In his 40 years of involvement,
Olson has never held the office of
president.
"When I get involved in something,
I go for it and try and make it a suc-
cess," he said. "I've seen too many peo-
ple become president and burn out.
I'd rather take an active role in the indi-
vidual events and make those success-

fill. 35

5/22
1998

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