Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com
A Legacy Of Sharing Success
lar causes.
The youngest of nine brothers, Mr.
Kepes was orphaned at age 15 during
the Great Depression. He quit school
uccess wasn't just handed to
after the eighth grade to find work sell-
builder and real estate entrepre-
ing, anything from newspapers to water-
neur Melvin Kepes, said Rabbi
melons. After military ser-
Elliot Pachter of
vice
he started a construc-
Congregation B'nai Moshe.
tion
company
and eventu-
"Mel made success hap-
ally built an empire in res-
pen," said the rabbi. 'And he
idential real estate devel-
made goodness happen, too."
opment.
As hardball a negotiator as
His style of doing business
he was in the business world,
reflected his spontaneity.
Mr. Kepes maintained a gen-
"He was a mover, a doer, a
erous soft spot for worthy
decision-maker," said his
people and organizations in
partner, Belovicz.
Detroit and Israel.
A street-savvy investor,
"It was a real paradox,"
Mr. Kepes would commit
said his business partner,
Melvin Kepes
huge sums of money for a
Melvin Belovicz. "He was a
real estate development
tough businessman and a
on
the
spot,
without
waiting for time-
soft-hearted human being."
consuming marketing studies.
Melvin Kepes, of Southfield, died
"People get analysis paralysis,"
Nov. 12 at age 78. An outgoing, gregari-
Belovicz said. "Mel could analyze a deal
ous and informal man, he is fondly
in 32 seconds. He had an uncanny sixth
remembered for financing the scribing
sense.
of a sefer Torah this past year at B'nai
According to Rabbi Pachter, Mr.
Moshe and for the support and kindness
Kepes
met his wife 55 years ago while
he has shown myriad religious and secu-
DAVID SACHS
Editorial Assistant
S
DR. LEILA ARVIN, 64, died Oct.
24 in Jerusalem. She was professor at
the University of Michigan and
Hebrew University in Israel.
She is survived by her daughters
and sons-in-law, Lissey and Rabbi
Louis Sherby of Beth Shemis, Israel
and Dr. Eve (Avrin) Halpern and
Dr. Ross Halpern of Ann Arbor; sis-
ter and brother-in-law Michelle and
Paul Vichney of Chicago, Martha
Avrin Hencken of Southfield; five
grandchildren.
Interment was at Mt. Olive
Cemetery, Jerusalem.
SARA BAHAR, 50, of West Bloomfield,
died Nov. 2 after a nine-month struggle
with lymphoma. She died peacefully in
her sleep surrounded by her family
Dr. Bahar was a clinical psychologist
and a psychotherapist who had a private
PRONTO! INVITES YOU TO VISIT OUR
NEW STORE - A SPECIALTY SHOP
SHOWCASING BASKETS AND GIFTS FOR ALL
OCCASIONS
HUGE CORPORATE GIFT SELECTION ,co
OVER 200 STYLES OF BASKETS
TO CHOOSE FROM
M
CALL FOR OUR NEW CATERING AND
GIFT GUIDES 248.544.7900 EXT. 4
11/19
1999
142
MONDAY - SATURDAY 11 - 6
SUNDAY 11 - 4
501 S. WASHINGTON
DOWNTOWN ROYAL OAK, MI
vacationing in South Haven. He spotted
Inez, who was visiting from St. Louis,
and, without hesitation, asked her to
marry him. "She didn't even know his
name," said the rabbi.
They eventually wed and raised a son
and two daughters. Inez Kepes died of
cancer in 1992. He donated a forest in
Israel in her memory through the Jewish
National Fund.
Mr. Kepes was an advocate of health
care causes in Israel. He served with the
Israel Cancer Association, contributed
an ambulance to Magen David Adorn
(Israel's equivalent to the Red Cross
organization) and helped fund an addi-
tion at Bikur Cholim Hospital in Tel
Aviv.
A strong supporter of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, he
also created an educational endowment
fund at B'nai Moshe and paid for a new
classroom. Mr. Kepes contributed to the
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, the
Maccabi Games and City of Hope. He
provided scholarships for two students a
year at the Jewish Theological Seminary
in New York City among his many
other causes and charities.
practice in Farmington Hills. She was
also a consultant to the Oakland County
Probate Court. She received her Ph.D.
from the University Of Windsor in
1984. A native of Turkey, she emigrated
to the United States at 16. Dr. Bahar
was an avid and passionate traveler, col-
lector and frequent attendee of the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, opera,
and the theater.
She is survived by her daughters and
son-in-law, Rebecca (Todd Cook) Bahar
of Lansing, Lea-Rachel Kosnick of Los
Angeles; her husband; parents, Beki and
Yusuf Bahar of Turkey; brother and sis-
ter-in-law Izzet and Evette Bahar of
Turkey; sister and brother-in-law Rosy
and Yasef Ozsarfati of Turkey.
Private graveside services were at the
Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Donations
may be made to Hospice of Michigan,
16250 Northland Dr. #212,
Southfield, MI 48075; to Lymphoma
Research Fund of America, 8800
Venice Blvd. #207, Los Angeles, CA
90034 or to Shriner's Hospital for
Children, Office of Development,
2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL
33067. Arrangements by Dorfman
Funeral Direction.
"He generally represented what
Judaism was about," said his son,
Richard Kepes of Bloomfield Hills.
"Not self-aggrandizement. He really
wanted to leave a legacy, which I believe
he did in terms of helping others, doing
right.
"He did a lot of things for a lot of
people anonymously. He was a big-time
philanthropist."
Mr. Kepes was a member of B'nai
Moshe and Adat Shalom Synagogue
and also a Mason.
He is survived by his son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Richard and Judy Kepes of
Bloomfield Hills; daughters and son-in-
law Susan Kepes and Frank Lerner of
Arizona and Marilyn Kepes of .
Colorado; grandchildren Gabrielle,
Aubrey and Zachary Kepes and Tirzah
Stein; brother and sisters-in-law Arthur
and Irene Kepes of Florida and Ruth
Kepes and many nieces and nephews.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Inez Kepes.
Interment was at Oakview Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
Israel Cancer Association. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ri
NATHAN BARBAS, 81, of Oak Park :,
died Nov. 10.
He is survived by his wife, Marion
Barbas; son and daughter-in-law
Richard and Dena Barbas of Dearborn
Heights; daughters and son-in-law Terry
and Steven Korby of Oak Park, Wendy
Barbas of Southfield; brother and sister-
in-law Sidney and Elaine Barbas of
Bloomfield Hills; sisters and brothers-
in-law Lottie and Aaron Gellerman of
Farmington Hills, Molly and Harry
Lipsitz of West Bloomfield; grandchil-
dren Robbie Korby, Jennifer Korby.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Services and
interment were at Clover. Hill Park
Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel. •
HARRIET BERKE of Boca Raton,
Fla., died Nov. 12.
Mrs. Berke is survived by her hus-
band, Irvin Berke; daughters and sons-
in-law Sheryl and Max Kahn of
Farmington Hills, Bonnie and Joel
Doliveck of West Bloomfield, Robin
Cohen of Davisburg; grandchildren
Jennie and Jeremy Kahn, Randi and
Jason Doliveck; brother and sister-in-