thanes
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Love
isdom
And Tootsie Rolls
DAVID SACHS
Staff Writer
her active involvement with Shaarey Zedek.
When her children were growing up, Rabbi
Groner said, Mrs. Weinberg's home was a
as it the warmth and openness place where young people gathered — "an
of executive director June
extension of the synagogue itself." After
Weinberg that set the flavor at retiring from Hillel, she continued with
Hillel Day School of
sisterhood and, along with her husband
Metropolitan Detroit during the mid-1970s Max, was among the founders of Shaarey
and '80s? Or was it the tons of Tootsie
Zedek Seniors. It was the Weinbergs' idea
Rolls she gave out so freely?
and efforts that established the annual
A generation of Hillel alumni, now in
Jewish seniors' inter-congregational lun-
their 30s, fondly remember their "Tootsie
cheon.
Roll Lady." Mrs. Weinberg, 81, of
In the late 1930s and early '40s, the for-
Southfield, died April 20 from complica-
mer June Rouff and her sister Edna were
tions of a stroke.
secretaries to Jimmy Hoffa, during his early
"She was a mentor, a grandma and a
years with the Teamsters Union. Hoffa,
friend," said 1984 graduate Francine
whom June's youngest sister Lorraine Cohn
Hermelin Levite of New York City. "Her
remembers as being very warm and person-
door was always open. I think that it was so able, would visit them at their parents'
important to know that there was someone
house every Saturday morning for breakfast.
who was there to talk to. She made every
And the sisters would join Hoffa each
kid feel she was their closest friend.
Opening Day for the trek up Trumbull
"One day she might be reprimanding the Avenue from Teamsters' headquarters to
class and the next day we're all in her office
watch the Detroit Tigers start their season.
eating Tootsie Rolls," Levite said.
During that period, June met Max
Jay Must of Bloomfield Hills, a 1981
Weinberg when the young chemist from
Hillel grad, spent many hours in her office,
Ironwood rented a room in her parents'
just to talk. "The respect Mrs. Weinberg
house. She married him in 1942 and quit
gave me led me to view her as a friend and
her Teamsters job four years later to raise
a trusted adult confidante," he said.
their children.
Hillel's current development director,
Daughter Susan Weinberg recalled her
1983 grad Marianne Milgrom Bloomberg,
mother as a wordsmith who often sent orig-
compared the charm of the school then to a inal poetry to friends and relatives instead
shtetl, a Jewish village or extended commu-
of greeting cards. She was also a wizard at
nity, with Mrs. Weinberg being the "Golda
Scrabble and would defiantly tackle com-
Meir of Hillel."
.
plex crossword puzzles in ink.
Rabbi Irwin Groner of Congregation
Said son Jerome Weinberg, "My mom
Shaarey Zedek spoke at her funeral April 23 was a lady of grace and wisdom. She loved
at Ira Kaufman Chapel and had to turn to a her family and synagogue more than any-
Yiddish word to best describe the magic
thing else."
that enabled Mrs. Weinberg to reach out to
Mrs. Weinberg is survived by her hus-
people so effectively.
band, Max; daughter Susan of Farmington
"She had sachet," said the rabbi. "It
Hills; son Jerome of Florida; grandson
means practical wisdom. It means an
Jason Weinberg; sister and brother-in-law
insight into people and situations. It means
Lorraine and Henry Cohn of Auburn Hills.
knowing what to say and what not to say,
She also was the dear sister of the late
what to do and what not to do. And to
Edna Smiler and the late Stewart Rouff.
whom and when and how."
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Although she retired from Hillel in
Contributions may be made to the
1984, Mrs. Weinberg did not relent from
Congregation Shaarey Zedek Seniors. ❑
Medicine Was
His Life
D
DAVID SACHS
StaffWriter
r. Marcus Sugarman's
passing marked the
end of an era.
Dr. Sugarman, 89,
of Bloomfield Hills, died from
complications of a stroke April
14. An old-time doctor who
owned hundreds of bow ties, he
once practiced at the North End
Dr. Marcus Sugarman
Clinic, the predecessor to Sinai
Hospital. He was one of the
founders of Sinai Hospital in 1953.
As well as maintaining a hefty office practice, Dr.
Sugarman made house calls and visited patients at nursing
homes. He was known for never turning a patient away for
inability to pay. He continued to practice this way until
January, when illness forced him to retire.
"He never wanted to retire," said his daughter, Harriet
Goodman of Farmington Hills. "Medicine was his life."
His wife, Eleanore, said, "He was one of a kind. Money was
not the object of his practice. The well-being of his patients was
the object."
Victoria Reynolds, of Royal Oak, former manager of his
office at the Hechtman Medical Building in Bingham Farms,
said, "When you looked at him, he didn't look almost 90. He
looked like he was in his early 60s. He did push ups and sit
ups every morning."
Rabbi Irwin Groner of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, spoke at
Dr. Sugarman's funeral April 16 at Ira Kaufman Chapel. "For
Marcus Sugarman, medicine was not simply a profession, it was
a high calling," said the rabbi. "It was a noble art. It was a sacred
enterprise."
Soon after his marriage to Eleanore in 1941, Dr. Sugarman
was sent to the front lines in Europe for three years during
World War II. He visited German concentration camps short-
ly after their liberation, seeing the survivors firsthand.
Dr. Sugarman was upset by the closing of Sinai Hospital last
year. At the time of his retirement, he had privileges at Sinai-
Grace, Providence and Huron Valley-Sinai hospitals.
Dr. Sugarman is survived by his wife of 58 years, Eleanore
Sugarman; sons and daughters-in-law Elliot and Candy
Sugarman of California, Michael and Nancy Sugarman of
West Bloomfield, Bruce Sugarman of New York; daughter
and son-in-law Harriet and Walter Goodman of Farmington
Hills; grandchildren Natalie Sugarman, Danielle, Zachary and
Evan Goodman, Olivia Sugarman; sisters-in-law and brother-
in-law Frances Goldberg and Rosalie and Edwin Bierman.
He was the loving brother of the late Louis Sugarman and
the dear brother-in-law of the late Harvey Goldberg and the
late Celia Sugarman.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Eleanore and Marcus
Sugarman CPR Fund at Fresh Air Society, 6600 W Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. ❑
4/28
2000
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