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Weight Of Sentiment

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1/14
2000

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meant. "I have
a very emotion-
al involvement
in the history of
Sinai Hospital.
I grew up with
it."
He recalled
the initial orga-
nizational meet-
ing for Sinai's
founding that
Merle Harris
his father
Maurice held
in the base-
ment of the
family's
0
Chicago
0
Boulevard
home in the
1940s.
.2
Following in
those footsteps,
Aronsson later
served on the
hospital board
Mark Schlussel
for 20 years
and was presi-
dent of Sinai's
Shapiro School
of Nursing in
the early 1970s.
Calling the
hospital a "mar-
velous concept"
— founded to
combat dis-
crimination
against Jewish
doctors and to
Larry Jackier
serve the
Jewish commu-
nity —
Aronsson said he understands why
the hospital had to be sold.
Circumstances change, he said,
referring to the Jewish population
shift to the suburbs and Sinai's
decreasing relevance to that commu-
nity.
"I think it was emotionally dis-
turbing when they decided to close
Sinai and go to Grace. That was not
the impression the trustees were left
with. It was going to be just the
opposite — but, in the final analy-
sis, I don't think it makes very much
difference," Aronsson said.
"Emotionally, there were many
steps along the way that were very dif-
ficult," he said. "When the officers
informed us they were going to sell to
DMC, it was a blow." But, he added,
"They were right, and their timing
was right. Because I well remember,
five years before that took place, we
(at Sinai) were ready to fold."

.

0

Leo Knight Photography

Photo by Michael Sarnacki

the heritage of the people who were
However, Jackier cited a few snags
so instrumental in making Sinai
in the post-merger process, calling it
what it was in its heyday. That was
"a huge PR (public relations) prob-
the main thrust, of not wanting to
lem" for the hospital.
forget those people who were so gen-
It took a few months longer than
erous in their contributions."
he and other donors would have
Though Harris conceded there is
liked to receive the Sinai Heritage
no seamless transition from the old
Committee's letter. But being con-
hospital to the new, he said the
tacted, even now, is significant, he
Builders Wall and related projects are
said.
the best feasible solutions.
The letter, he said, has "put every-
"If we had a library at Grace and a
body's mind at ease in letting people
library at Sinai and they both had a
know that they're working on" find-
name previously," he said hypotheti-
ing a way to recognize Sinai's donors.
cally, "you can't take the name off of
"People are more upset when they
Grace and put on
`The Frank
waVWF-
1,Q;'
Family.' You can't
do that. So we're
trying to recog-
nize the Frank
family by putting
them on this wall.
That's the best we
could do."
Mark Schlussel
concurred. As
chairman of
Sinai's board dur-
ing the merger
and current DMC
board vice chair-
man, he played a
central role in the During Heritage Eve 1993, several Sinai Hospital patrons
financial and
study the Heritage Wall in the hospital.
administrative
transactions of the
Sinai sale.
"Having a donor wall recognizing
don't know anything at all. The com-
the contributions of those people
munication, in my view, is equally
who gave both their economic
important as the ultimate action that
resources as well their human time to
is taken."
make sure that the quality was appro-
"The final question," said Jackier,
priate, I think is really important," he
"is what are they actually going to
said. "On the other hand, I also like
do? And what is the Builders Wall
to believe that people in large mea-
going to look like? I would say [the
sure gave philanthropy for the good
situation is] well on its way, but it
that it would accomplish, and that
isn't resolved until we actually see
sometimes we need to balance recog-
what the final outcome is. I'm sure it
nition with the internal positive feel-
will be done in the appropriate way
ings we get when we do something
in the appropriate place."
that is good for other people."
More important than any wall or
plaque, Schlussel offered, is the prac-
Practically all donors, Harris said,
tical and sentimental good of the
have been satisfied with his commit-
donations themselves.
*
tee's efforts and share Jackier's opti-
mism about the end result. His only
call after the letter was sent asked for
a clarification.
"I haven't found anyone who has
Attorney and former Sinai board
come forth and has expressed real
member Larry Jackier, who has man-
dissatisfaction with what we're
aged a number of foundations for
doing," Harris said. "It's not always
wealthy Detroit-area families, includ-
easy to do these things because
ing some Sinai donors, agrees with
there's sometimes emotion involved."
the efforts.
Herb Aronsson knows what Harris

