Obituaries
Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com
r
Family, Jewish Culture
Inspired Her
quently contributed articles to the
rances Driker, a pillar of
Writer's Journal, published semi-annu-
Detroit's Jewish communal
ally by the JCC. Her family dedicated
life for 75 years, died Nov.
the Charles and Frances Driker
7 at age 94 in Oak Park.
Library in the JCC's Jimmy Prentis
Her son, Eugene Driker of
Morris Building in Oak Park to
Detroit, said his mother "felt very
strongly about her family,
about Jewish culture and about
the American dream."
He added, "She thought
that citizenship was an
immense privilege and never
failed to vote, no matter how
minor the election. She and
our father loved Yiddish cul-
ture, especially literature and
music, and they devoted their
lives to its preservation and
enrichment".
Mrs. Driker was born in
Topory, a tiny village near Kiev,
Ukraine, on June 21, 1905.
Orphaned as a child, she fled
pogroms and together with an
aunt and cousins immigrated
to America, arriving in Detroit Frances Driker
in 1922.
She took a job as a seam-
stress at Dittrich Furs, earning
honor her and her husband, who died
$8 a week. While attending Dwyer
in 1987.
School at night to learn English, she
Mrs. Driker is survived by her
met Charles Driker, who also had
daughter, Ruth Driker Kroll of
recently immigrated to Detroit from
Southfield; sons and daughters-in-law,
Ukraine. They were married in 1924
Jacob and Gertrude of West
and immediately became involved in
Bloomfield and Eugene and Elaine of
the Jewish community. Together, they
Detroit; seven grandchildren, Shelley
were founding members of the
Beth and Richard Feigenberg,
Sholem Aleichem Institute and later
Michael Kroll, Miriam and Rabbi
were longtime participants in the
Yankel Karp, Vivian and Charles
senior adult program at the Jewish
Gealer, David Driker, Elissa Driker-
Community Center of Metropolitan
Ohren and Perry Ohren, Dr. Stephen
Detroit.
and Dr. Jennifer Driker; and 14 great-
Although she had little formal edu-
grandchildren.
cation, Mrs. Driker had a lifelong
Services were held on Nov. 9 at the
interest in literature, both as a reader
Ira Kaufman Chapel, Southfield.
and writer. On her 80h birthday, her
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
family published her autobiography,
'
Park Cemetery.
Live and Be Well, which had been 20
Contributions may be made to the
years in creation. Two other volumes
Jewish Community Center/Jimmy
of her writings also were published.
Prentis Morris Building, Charles and
Mrs. Driker served as the first pres-
Frances Driker Fund for Yiddish
ident of Kinneret Chapter of Na'amat
Culture, 15110 W. 10 Mile Road,
USA and as president of the women's
Oak Park 48237; Sholem Aleichem
division of the Sholem Aleichem
Institute, 24901 Northwestern
Institute. She was active in For
Highway, Suite, 313B, Southfield
Women Only, the Yiddish Culture
48075, or Na'amat USA, 25900
Club, the Yiddish Literary Group and
Greenfield, Suite 205D, Oak Park
the Writer's Corner, all affiliates of the
48237. I I
Jewish Community- Center. She fre-
,
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11/12
1999
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HERMAN ALEXANDER, 89, of
Detroit, died Nov. 3. Mr. Alexander
was the owner of Alexander Hornung,
a sausage manufacturing plant, and a
World War II army veteran.
He is survived by his sister, Anna
Bruckheimer of Florida; nephews and
nieces, Jerry and Linda Bruckheimer,
Alvira and Sanford Perlman, Mildred
and Ted Jacobson, Dr. Gaylord and
Judy Alexander; and friend, Merle
Polen and family.
Contributions may be directed to
Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
JUDITH BADER, 78, of Westland,
died Nov. 3. Mrs. Bader was a
women's clothing sales consultant at
Saks Fifth Avenue in Troy. She was a
member of B'nai B'rith.
Mrs. Bader is survived by her sons
and daughters-in-law, Robert and Toni
Bader of Indiana, Richard Bader of
Ferndale, Charles; Deborah Bader of
Westland; grandchildren, Sarah,
Jamie, Joshua, Danielle, Samantha,
Marisa and Merideth. She was the
beloved wife of the late Jay Jerome
Bader.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may be
made to the American Hearth
Association, Memorial and Tribute
Program Department 77-3968,
Chicago, IL 60678-3968.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
GLADYS BASKIN, 87, of Boca
Raton, Fla., died Nov. 3.
Mrs. Baskin is survived by her hus-
band, Max Baskin; daughters, Rhoda
Feinberg of Florida and Carolle
Baskin; son, Henry Baskin; grandchil-
dren, Andrew and Michele Seltzer,
Daniel and Jamie Huff, David and
Felicia Feinberg, Marc Baskin, Eric
and Dana Coffman, Kirk, Corey and
Casey Hampson and five great-grand-
children.
She was the loving daughter of the
late Jake and Lillian Jacobs and the
dear sister of the late Fritzi Paull, the
late Rose Kruman and the late Sy
Jacobs.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
SEMYON BEKERMAN, 77, of
Southfield, died Nov. 7.
He is survived by his wife,
Valentina Bekerman; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Felix and Amalia
Bekerman of Toronto, Vladimir and
Irene Bekerman of Glenview, Ill.,
Yakov and Svetlana Bekerman of West
Bloomfield; sisters, Paula Smehova of
Israel, Raya Pinus of Russia, Shura
Bekerman of Russia, Vera Khankin of
Southfield; grandchildren, Boris,
Arthur, Alan, Yuri and Larisa.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Interment at
Clover Hill Park. Services and arrange-
ments by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
MARK BERSON, 56, of Hewlett,
N.Y., died Nov. 6. He was an active
community leader. .
He is survived by his wife, Annette
Feigelson Berson; children, David
Berson and Jane Rubin, Kevin and
Barrie Frankel of Huntington Woods;
granddaughter, Leah Brooke Frankel.
Contributions may be made to the
Mark Berson Memorial Scholarship
Fund, c/o The Hewlett-Lawrence
Soccer Club, 641 Church Avenue,
Woodmere, N.Y. 11598.
LEO BIGELMAN, 88, of Tamarac,
Fla., died Oct. 20. Mr. Bigelman was
the founder of Modern Office Supply.
He was a charter member of Tam
O'Shanter Country Club and the
Probus Club of Detroit and a member
of the National Stationers
Organization and a contributor to
numerous Jewish charities in
Michigan and Florida.
Mr. Bigelman is survived by his
wife, Celia Bigelman; children, Rhoda
and Sheldon Goldman, Donald and
Leslie Bigelman, Jerrold and Marianne
Bigelman; grandchildren, Cindy and
Marshall Clayton, Steven Prenzlauer
and Mark Jacobson, Randy and
Louise Bigelman, Greg Bigelman,
Jeffrey Bigelman, Jill Bigelman, Joey
Bigelman and Jessica Bigelman; great-
grandchildren, Rachel Clayton, Amy
Clayton, Stacy Clayton and Cassidy
Bigelman. Interment in Florida.
Notice placed by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
CARL M. BLISS, 82, of Novi, died
Nov. 5. Mr. Bliss was an automotive
engineer and a Mason and Shriner.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley
Bliss; daughter and son-in-law, Susan
and Howard Levin of West
Bloomfield; sons and daughters-in-
law, Lawrence and Merja Bliss of
Farmington Hills, David and Victoria
Hauser; grandchildren, Debbi and
Paul Kowalski, Sara and Bradley
Mann, Lindsay Bliss, Lauren Bliss,
Alissa and Paul Munoz, Bret Hauser,
Erik and Michelle Hauser, Jessica
Hauser; great-grandchildren, Hannah
Rose Kowalski and Joel Michael