Obituaries
O
Obituaries
bituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
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ISRAEL'S CHOSEN DESTINY
A Man For All Centuries
DAVID SACHS
Editorial Assistant
M
ac-O-Lac paint magnate
Walter L. Field was a bit
of a paradox. He was an
active, energetic entrepre-
neur who harbored the soul of a
philosopher-poet.
Mr. Field, 98, of Bloomfield Hills,
died Dec. 24. An ardent Zionist, he
served much of his adult life in the fore-
front of the Detroit Jewish community
and Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Born
in 1901, he witnessed nearly the entire
20th century.
But Mr. Field also kept a constant eye
on the next century, wanting to convey
his love of Judaism to the upcoming
generations,
who would be entrusted
b .
with the destiny of the Jewish people.
"He was a deeply philosophical
man," said friend Harold Berry of
Bloomfield Hills. "But philosophical
people are oftentimes only reflective. He
had that quality where he was not just
reflective, but he was a doer. He was
active, not passive."
Mr. Field found fascination in both
Jewish religious philosophy and the con-
structive role Jews have played in spread-
ing morality and civilization throughout
the centuries. Being a man of action, he
spent much effort devising educational
schemes to transfer his perspective on
Judaism to the young.
In 1963, his book A People's Epic was
published. It is a history of the Jewish
people written in succinct, rhyming
verse. He felt that this format would
lend itself to the comprehension and
memory of young minds.
Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Irwin Groner,
in his eulogy for Mr. Field, said, "He
was a man of great sensitivity who saw
and felt the depth of the Jewish tradition
and he had this remarkable gift for corn-
municating his vision with passion and
with conviction."
Over the years, Mr. Field sponsored
lecture series at Wayne State University
and the University of Michigan, as well
as a Jewish history quiz contest for 10-
and 11-year-olds.
Most recently, Mr. Field began, with
the cooperation of publisher Arthur
Horwitz, a feature for the Jewish News
called "Jewry's Role in Human Affairs."
It was an offering of Mr. Field's
Commission for the Dissemination of
Jewish History, an organization he
helped form in 1993 to bring history to
the public. The weekly column written
by journalist Saul Stadtmauer offers cap-
sulated biographies of Jews who have
changed the course of world events. The
series also appears in the Forward, pub-
lished in New York, and in the Jewish
Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
Publisher Horwitz reflected on his
friend. "Walter was a remarkable man
with a remarkable mind, who cared
deeply about the Jewish people and their
highly disproportionate contribution to
civilization," he said. "It would have
warmed his heart if he had known that
Albert Einstein was picked by Time
magazine as the most influential person
of the 20th century.
"Walter's focus was on the positive.
He wanted the children — the youngest
of the generations — to understand
their heritage and their background."
Past columns of "Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs," as well as poems from
A People's Epic, can be accessed by the
younger generation on Mr. Field's Web
site, www.dorledor.org
Marvin Cherrin, a friend and fellow
Shaarey Zedek congregrant, inspired Mr.
Field to begin the site a few years ago.
His children, Irwin Field and Harriet
Siden, believe that their father, then in
his mid-90s, was perhaps the oldest per-
son to start his own educational Web
site.
In earlier days, Mr. Field was
involved in more conventional forms of
media. He was one of the original sup-
porters of editor and publisher Philip
Slomovitz, who founded the Jewish
News in 1942. Mr. Field shared his close
friend's concern for the Jewish commu-
nity and passion for Zionism.
Mr. Field was born in Poland and as
a youth was enthralled with Zionist
causes. He reached the United States in
1920, settling in Detroit a few years
later. His first enterprise was building
houses, but that was thwarted by the
Great Depression of 1929. In 1931, he
acquired a lacquer company founded by
a man named McNamara — hence the
beginning of Mac-O-Lac Paint
Manufacturing. Through aggressive
marketing, Mac-O-Lac became the pre-
dominant name in Detroit-area hard-
ware stores in the 1950s and '60s. He
sold the business to an Ohio concern in
1974. Over the years, Mr. Field also had
owned New Mexico Paint in
Albuquerque.
As well as running his business ven-
tures, Mr. Field devoted much of his
Jews were destined a trail to blaze.
Ten Commandments 072
stone to phrase.
Lead man out of the idol maze.
The greatest truth to human kind,
One Goc4 they were first to find
Laws of equaljuice they designed.
A rest-day with a Sabbath air,
They were the first to declare.
A grand giftfbr the world to share.
"Love thy neighbor, " a Torah decree.
Slaves, Judean were first to free.
Jews fought and bled for liberty.
As healers to the human race
Jews hold an honorable place;
They are in font, setting the pace.
Walter L. Field
In even' field of human thought,.
time and effort to the Jewish
They pioneerect and knowledge sought.
community. He served as pres-
To savages, morals they taught.
ident of the Zionist
Organization of America's
The Jews will always work and strive
local cultural center for 20
Progress and freedom to keep alive,
years in the '50s and '60s. He
That justice and truth forever survive.
served on the board of
trustees of Congregation
— From the book A People's Epic
by
Shaarey Zedek.
Walter L. Field (Bloch Publishin g
Co.)
Rabbi Groner, admired
Mr. Field's take-charge lead-
ership in rallying support for
the synagogue during efforts to pay off
"When every grandchild was born,
its mortgage and other debts. "It was
when
every great-grandchild was born,
based on the principle of the Israeli
he
wrote
to each one of them." Mr.
Armed Forces, where the officer says,
Field's
final
poem was written last year,
`Follow me!'" said the rabbi.
at
age
96,
upon
the birth of his youngest
Mr. Field was founding chair of the
great-grandchild.
It began:
synagogue's endowment fund, and along
To
Mom
and
Dad
you were no sur-
with his wife of 70 years, Lea, began
prise.
Shaarey Zedek's Cultural Commission.
They wished for a boy of your looks
He also was active in the Jewish
and size.
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the
Nana and I hope to greatness you'll rise.
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan,
It concluded:
the American Jewish Joint Distribution
I began writing poetry in my prime.
Committee, the Jewish Publication
I know all of us must honor time.
Society, the American Technion Society
Your poem, my dear, is the last of
and the Tuberculosis Society, among
my
rhyme.
others. In 1998, he received an "Eight
Walter
Field is survived by his wife,
Over 80" Senior Adult Jewish Hall of
Lea
Field;
daughter and son-in-law
Fame award from Jewish Apartments
Harriet
and
Franklin Siden of
and Services and received a tribute from
Bloomfield
Hills;
son and daughter-in-
the Michigan Legislature.
law
Irwin
and
Helgard
Field of Beverly
In 1983, the Field family donated a
Hills,
Calif;
grandchildren
Lawrence
youth center to the village of Ramla,
Siden,
Harold
and
Anne
Siden,
Edward
Israel. He authored two booklets on reli-
and
Judi
Field,
Ronald
and
Janice
Field,
gious philosophy, Gleanings From the
Beatrice and Angelo Fancello, Judith
which,
according
to
Rabbi
Groner,
Bible,
and John Lucca and Peter Lion; and 14
examined the significance of numbers in
great-grandchildren.
biblical text. Mr. Field also wrote The
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Tale of the Horse and Symphony of Threes,
Cemetery.
Contributions may be made
both written in verse.
to
the
Congregation
Shaarey Zedek
Mr. Field first began writing poetry
Cultural
Commission.
Arrangements by
as a means to reach out to his children.
Ira
Kaufman
Chapel.
Son Irwin said the tradition continued:
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12/31
1999
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