Obitu ties

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A Positive In uence

Devoted To The Elderly

DAVID SACHS

Editorial Assistant

Fil

reda Fleischrrian, born 98
years ago in a small Russian
shtetl, brought the values of
generosity and community
loyalty from that culture to the benefit
of the larger Detroit Jewish communi-
tY.
"She was part of an immigrant gen-
eration, pioneers who came to this
country in search of freedom and dig-
nity and opportunity," said Rabbi
Irwin Groner of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek. "We owe a great debt to that
generation.
"It was a generation that lived by
high standards of personal integrity
and communal responsibility. And the
Fleischman family had a very special
place in the midst of that generation's
leadership."
Freda Fleischman, of Farmington
Hills, who along with her late hus-
band Edward were the benefactors of
the Fleischman Residence in West
Bloomfield and many other projects,
died Sept. 18. The Fleischmans' mis-
sion for decades had been to support
the Jewish Home and Aging Services
(formerly Jewish Home for Aged),
which runs the residence. Their efforts
have been carried on by their children
and grandchildren. Edward
Fleischman died in 1982.
"Freda Fleischman was a matriarch
of this community," said Carol
Rosenberg, associate director of the
Jewish Home. The Fleischmans donat-
ed millions of dollars to help establish
the West Bloomfield residence, she
said. The residents became their
extended family. Their children are
involved now.
"Edward was the board member
and Freda was by his side, working
with all the many projects. Anything
that was asked of them was seen to in
good order and with deep respect for
the elderly.
"Edward and Freda Fleischman,
even during World War II, made sure
that fresh produce and good kosher
food was provided for the residents.
They were devoted to the elderly."
Mrs. Fleischman's cousin, Irving
Laker, said, "She was always very con-
cerned for the elderly, having a great
deal of respect for her parents and for
older people. She and Edward were
able to dedicate their lives to creating
a home where you could be taken care
of in a wonderful way.

9/24

1999

154 Detroit Jewish News

"She was
very strong-
willed and
determined,
and every-
thing she set
out to do
she did with-
out any
question.
She assisted
Freda Fleischman
her husband
in the busi-
ness world (wholesale gasoline) as well
as in philanthropy. In every which
way, she was a great support to her
husband and family."
Said Rabbi Groner, "She was a veri-
table matriarch in the midst of her
dear ones. She was a living center of
the family whose members granted her
deference, respect and affection."
Son Marvin Fleischman said, "She
was a very independent, strong-willed
individual. She was family-conscious.
Family was the most important thing
,,
to her.
The Fleischmans also benefited
Hadassah and United Hebrew
Schools. "They were strong supporters
of Israel Bonds since it began in
1952," said Hershell Wais, the Detroit
executive director. The Fleischmans
were honored by Israel Bonds in 1979
at their synagogue, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
Mrs. Fleischman is survived by her
daughters, Fannie Robinson of West
Bloomfield, Rose Liebergott of
Huntington Woods; son and daugh-
ter-in-law Marvin and Sharon
Fleischman of Bloomfield Hills;
grandchildren Steven Robinson,
Joanne Robinson, Susan Robinson,
Nancy and Michael Moritz, Myra
Liebergott, Elaine Liebergott, Jeffrey
and Denise Fleischman, Debra
Clifford Migdal, Dr. Mark Rubinstein;
great-grandchildren Michael and
Rachel Robinson, Renee and Erika
Rubinstein, Elyse, Amand and Nicole
Fleischman, Eric and Howard Migdal;
sisters Molly Diamond of Southfield
and Sarah Friedman of Southfield.
She was the loving grandmother of
the late Andrea Rubinstein and the
late Daniel Liebergott.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Jewish Home and Aging
Services, Fleischman Residence, 6710
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. Fl

.

DAVID SACHS

Editorial Assistant

t's no surprise that the younger
men who battled Billy Serman on
the tennis court called him
"coach."
And it's certainly no surprise that
patients at the old Sinai Hospital would
get a "Knute Rockne" pep talk before
their surgeries from a boisterous pas-
toral volunteer named Billy Serman.
William Serman of Bingham Farms,
who died Sept. 19 at age 75, had a phi-
losophy of living with zest and never
quitting. His vibrancy enveloped all
around him.
"He imparted a tremendous amount
of positive philosophy to everybody,"
said his son, Jeffrey Serman.
Mr. Serman taught people by exam-
ple "how to deal with life and how to
deal with tragedy, how to deal with suc-
cess and how to become successful. My
sister and I called them 'Sermanisms'
because he had so many sayings that we
lived by and that helped us."
And he served as a mentor to
younger tennis parters.
Mr. Serman loved baseball. He was a
pitcher for the Detroit Central High
School baseball team in the early 1940s
and recently helped initiate a youth
baseball program in Israel.
He was Israel Bonds' Man of the
Year in 1987, honored at a Tam
O'Shanter fundraiser. "He has been
vent instrumental in organizing Israel
Bond fundraisers at Tam O'Shanter
Country Club for the past 25 years,"
said Hershell Wais, executive director of
the Detroit bond campaign.
Headquarters for all his energy for
the past 56 years has been Serman's
Clothes on Randolph Street, west of
Greektown, in downtown Detroit.
Over the years, Mr. Serman suited-
up sports and entertainment celebrities
as well as generations of men and boys.
He hob-nobbed with the likes of Jake
LaMotta and Thomas Hearns, Nat
King Cole and Marvin Gaye, Cecil
Fielder and Mickey Rooney.
But even more cherished to him than
his famous clientele were the fathers and
grandfathers who brought their young
ones in to be fitted for their first suit,
exactly the way it was in generations
past. Mr. Serman's nephews Steven and
Barry Ross now run the store.
Mr. Serman was a longtime booster
of Detroit. "The saddest part is he did-
n't live to see the revitalization of
Detroit," said Steven Ross.

I

Son
Jeffrey
Serman told
about his
father's Sinai
Hospital
work. "He
would visit
Jewish
patients and
give them
Billy Serman
encourage-
ment and
support. The old Knute Rockne pitch:
You can do it, you can make it. Don't
give up, don't give up. Hang in there,
get tough.'
"He was Jewishly spiritual. People
who were about to undergo operations
contacted my dad to receive his good
luck mazel medallion. My father would
tell them, You must in person bring it
back to me after the surgery.' They
called him from throughout the city for
that mazel. He wore it and we buried
him with the mazel and a `chai.'"
Said Steven Ross, "He lived and
breathed tenacity and never quit. He
preached you can overcome all kinds of
adversity. We came to feel he was invin-
cible."
Mr. Serman died of a heart attack,
doing what he loved, playing tennis at
Tam O'Shanter.
Rabbi Irwin Groner of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek said Mr. Serman knew a
secret of happiness: "Live each day as
though it were your last, fulfill each day
with enthusiasm, with spirit, with
meaningful work, with joy. That is pre-
cisely how Billy Serman lived his life."
Mr. Serman was a Mason, and
belonged to the Sinai Guild, B'nai
B'rith, Men's ORT, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek and Downtown
Synagogue.
He is survived by his wife of 54
years, Elaine Serman; son and daughter-
in-law Jeffrey and Linda Serman of
West Bloomfield; daughter Bonnie
Serman Seligson of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren Joanna, Jamie and
Jonathan Serman, Emily and Rachel
Seligson and brother-in-law and sister-
in-law, Harold and Erma Brode.
He was the dear brother of the late
Sydell Serman Ross.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
Contributions can be made to Bill
Serman's Children's Camp Scholarship
Program, 1701 N. Woodward Ave., Ste.
200, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. 7