A

EDIE BROIDA

Special to The Jewish News

vita Gold has lived in
newly-
Florida for almost 14 years,
formed American
but her ties to Michigan
Society of
are stronger than ever.
Interior
A former Detroit art teacher and
Winship,
Design. In
interior designer, Gold has developed
Vandenberg,
1985, when
a successful design business in Boca
McDowell, Bagley and
her husband
Raton. Michigan snowbirds, empty
Redford High during her 25-year
"joyously danced away from his busi-
nesters, retirees and commuters rely
career. She also started a special art
ness," the couple sold their West
on her to renovate older condos, fur-
program at the JCC Day Camp in
Bloomfield home and moved to Boca
nish new homes and settle estates.
West Bloomfield. "Those nice Jewish
Pointe. A visitor fell in love with
children from my classes grew up to
"I speak Detroit language,"she
their new residence and offered to
says. "I know Dexter-Davison, and
be adults who are now buying condos
buy it. The Golds moved to Boca
Nine Mile and Coolidge, Bagley
in Florida." She was bemused when a
West, and once again an admirer
School and the JCC. There's a trust
new client, Diane Ura Klein of West
when you're working with someone
,,
from your hometown.
Gold's Detroit roots are deep.
Her father, Menachem Manual
Neiman, was a successful com-
e-
‘.5
mercial artist who developed the
rq:
logo for Greyhound Bus and the
0
original design for Virginia Slims
Ix gg a IN et OA
.
gg.
764.
cigarettes. He also owned General
Electric Sign Company in
Anita Gold has taken her
Detroit.
interest in art into decorating
But Gold is proudest of his
accomplishments as a "self-made
Florida condominiums
rabbi" who helped organize the
and handling estate sales.
original Adas Shalom Synagogue
and drew designs for the syna-
gogue's building at Curtis and
Wyoming. "I still have his sketch- Anita Gold with husband Philip.
es with Rabbi Siegal's notations,"
she says.
Gold and her sisters, Selma and
Bloomfield, stared at her
and declared, "Mrs. Gold,
Dorothy, grew up on Pennington
you were my second
Drive in Detroit; Gold believes they
were the first Jewish family in the
grade teacher."
And you were at my
neighborhood. Gold's husband,
wedding," replied Gold,
Philip, a retired pharmacist, was for-
taking down her album.
merly partners with Jerry Efros and
"I invited your entire
sold his interest in Merriman Drugs
in Livonia "just before the big boys
class."
During her teaching
came in."
career, Gold befriended
But it's Gold's teaching career that
several local decorators,
has brought her much of her Florida
and by 1965 she was an
clientele. As a traveling art teacher,
active member of the
she was assigned to several schools:

made them an irresistible offer. The
pattern repeated at their third home
at Woodfield Country Club. At this
point, Gold decided she should apply
for a license and pursue her new
career in earnest.
She and her husband hope to hang
on to their current home in Boca
Pointe. It still serves as a showroom
for clients.
Gold points to the soft-patterned
wallpaper in her powder room and
smiles, "Lothar Weinberg, who owns
Empire Chicken in New York, asked
me to include this in his new
home."
Gold names some of her clients
from Michigan: Jerry and Rita

A former Detroiter transforms Florida homes with her avocation.

•*-

A

Above: One of Anita Gold's bed-
room groupings.

Left: Neutral tones dominate
this livingroom/dining room
grouping selected by Anita Gold.

Keywell, Joe and Sandy Rose, Dr.
Michael and Margie Federman, Dr.
Joe and Bea Epel, Victor and Alice
Ross, Dr. Carl and Loreli Lipnik,
Jack and Esther Gorback, Dr.
Lloyd and Doris Paul, Dr. Leslie
and Joann Levine, Donn and Edie

4/16

1999

Detroit Jewish News 101