Obituaries

Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com

Backing
TheLoans

DAVID SACHS
Editorial Assistant

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yron Schiffman was
the elder statesman at
Detroit's Hebrew Free
Loan Association.
"Myron was the one who lived his
life alongside the Hebrew Free Loan,"
said Ruth M. Marcus, its executive
director. "They kept giving him trib-
utes; at 35 years, 50 years, 60 years,
70 years, then 75 years. He just never
left — in the good years and the not-
so-good ones, confronting the prob-
lems and finding solutions.
"He taught generations of volun-
teers how to do good work," Marcus
said.
A 60-year attorney known for his
eloquence, Mr. Schiffinan, 96, of
Novi, died Feb. 2. He helped to
process borrowers' applications at the
HFLA from 1923-1998.
At the funeral Feb. 3 at Ira
Kaufman Chapel, Rabbi Michael L.
Moskowitz of Temple Shir Shalom
said Mr. Schiffman was an "individual
with a silver voice coupled with mar-
velous recall and an incredible vocabu-
lary [who] could tell a story and capti-
vate your attention."
Mr. Schiffman loved the HFLA,
dedicating every Sunday morning and
Wednesday evening to hearing the
stories of everyday people seeking a
little help from their fellow Jews.
Rabbi Moskowitz said Mr.
Schiffman "had the opportunity to
live through so much, to experience
so much ... to have accomplished all
his goals, to have had success, to have
had love and to have had his health
for so long and prosperity, and he was
grateful for that."
Mr. Schiffinan came to the U.S.
with his parents and two older broth-
ers from Odessa, Russia, when he was
3. His father died three years later,
forcing his mother to raise the boys
alone.
Despite having to work to support
the family, Mr. Schiffman continued
his education, and developed a love of
culture and opera. He graduated from

2/11
2000

134

Myron Schiffman

the Detroit College of Law in 1927.
Both Marcus and Rabbi
Moskowitz said that Mr. Schiff man's
mother's struggle to raise three sons
alone enabled him to empathize with
needy Jews.
"I think that it touched him," said
Marcus. "He may have felt that the
free loan helped people like his moth-
er had been."
"He remained involved as a volun-
teer," she added. "I think that it was
so much a part of his life that he
could not contemplate giving it up."
Mr. Schiffinan's daughter, Julie
Abrams, said, "He was a unique man.
He was so bright. He was very analyt-
ical, a man of great detail. Everything
he did was high quality."
And he was the answer man for the
entire family-.
"Call Grandpa Schiffman, we
would say. He knows everything," said
his daughter.
Grandson Corey Schiffinan lit the
candle of knowledge in his grandpa's
honor at his bar mitzvah last October.
At the funeral, Corey spoke about his
grandpa, "In his life, he had helped
many people. We will always remem-
ber him for that."
Mr. Schiffinan is survived by his
daughter and son-in-law, Julie and
Leonard Abrams of Novi; son and
daughter-in-law Leonard and
Maureen Schiffman of Novi; grand-
children Diane and Gerry Charette,
Dan and Krista Abrams, David
Abrams and Corey Schiff u ian; great-
grandson Jeremy Charette.
Mr. Schiffman was the beloved
husband of the late Bess Schiffinan.
Interment was at B'nai Israel
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to the Hebrew Free Loan
Association and 'rile American
Diabetes Assoc'ation. ❑

DR. GREGORY I. BROOKS, 47,
of Dublin, Ohio, died Feb. 6. Dr.
Brooks graduated from North
Farmington High School in 1970,
where he helped to start the school
system's first-ever soccer program.
He attended Bowling Green State
University from 1970-74. After
joining the university soccer team as
a freshman, he became a scholarship
player by his sophomore year, was a
tri-captain and was selected as an
all-conference player on a team that
made two NCAA Tournament
appearances in four years that he
played. Dr. Brooks attended the
College of Osteopathic Medicine
and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa,
graduating in 1977. He completed a
residency in pediatric medicine,
became a board-certified pediatri-
cian and commenced practice in
Dublin, Ohio, in 1980.
Dr. Brooks spent most of his
adult life working with Dublin-area
school children. He served as the
official consultant physician to the
Dublin school district as well as the
team physician for both Dublin
Coffman and Dublin Scioto high
schools. Dr. Brooks also coached
numerous local and travel soccer
teams comprised of his own children
and many others.
He is survived by his children,
Michael Brooks, Amy Brooks and
Arjay Brooks; parents, Lee and
Suzanne Brooks of West Bloomfield;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Keefe
and Bonnie Brooks, J. Dee and
Elaine Brooks; sister and brother-in-
law, Michelle and Raymond Ross.
Interment at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be directed
to the Gregory I. Brooks
Scholarship Fund, C/O Dublin
Scioto High School, 4000 Hard
Road, Dublin, Ohio 43016. This
announcement was placed at the
request of the family by the Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

MOLLIE COHEN, 92, of Windsor,
died Jan. 27. She was part-owner
and secretary of Twin Pines Dairy.
Ms. Cohen was a founding member
of Junior Hadassah, past president
of the local Mizrachi chapter, a
member of ORT, Congregation
Shaar Hashomayim, Congregation
Shaarey Zedek of Windsor and the
Windsor Symphony Orchestra. In
addition, she was a life member of
Hadassah, WIZO and the Shaar
Hashomayin Sisterhood. The Jewish
National Fund recognized her as a
Negev Dinner honoree.

She is survived by her sisters, Ann
Nathan of Cincinnati, Edythe
Goodman and Roz Bassin of West
Bloomfield; brother and sister-in-
law, Samuel and Tillie Cohen of
Windsor. She was the devoted
daughter of the late Benjamin and
Resha Cohen; sister of the late Sadie
Katzman and the late Abraham
Cohen.
Contributions may be made to
the Benjamin and Resha Cohen
Memorial Fund at the Windsor
Jewish Federation, 1641 Ouellette
Ave. or to a charity of one's choice.
Interment at Congregation Shaar
Hashomayim Cemetery, Windsor.

ANNA EGART, 95, of Oak Park,
died Feb. 5.
She is survived by her daughter
and son-in-law, Frida and Anatoli
Ashkanazi of Oak Park; grandchil-
dren, Alexander Ashkanazi, Dr.
Maya Ashkanazi and Yuriy Barash.
Mrs. Egart was the beloved wife of
the late Mark Egart.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Interment at
Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrange-
ments by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

ESTHER ETELMAN, 99, of
Farmington Hills, died Feb. 6.
She is survived by her nieces and
nephews, Irma and Jerry Wald, Lee
and Harriet Etelman; great-nieces
and nephews; great-great-nieces and
nephews. She was the beloved wife
of the late Abraham Etelman.
Graveside services were held at
Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale.
Contributions may be made to the
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Dorfinan Funeral Direction.

WILLIAM FARBER, 83, of West
Bloomfield, died Jan. 31. He was in
the bicycle wholesale business. Mr.
Farber was a member of the Adat
Shalom Men's Club, B'nai B'rith, a
volunteer at Botsford Hospital,
Meals On Wheels and the West
Bloomfield Library and an avid
Michigan Opera Theater patron.
He is survived by his sons and
daughter-in-law, Gene and Susan
Farber of West Bloomfield, Len
Farber of Oak Park; grandchildren,
Beth, Jennifer, Emily; brother and
sister-in-law, Al and Shirley Farber
of Farmington Hills and sister-in-
law, Doris Farber. Mr. Farber was
the beloved husband of the late
Ethel Farber; the dear brother of th(
late Sam Farber.
Interment at Adat Shalom