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Obituaries

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

'Celebrating Life'

Mr. Gach shared
his involvement
with all. In his
arold Gach, a
eulogy, friend Larry
Huntington Woods
Jacobs of
Farmington Hills
attorney and financial
planner, was cherished
said, "More often
by family, and friends alike as the
then not, Harold
"gentle giant" who loved and safe-
offered his assis-
guarded them all.
tance before you
As an attorney, Mr. Gach would
even thought to ask
for it."
fight injustice with a passion. But in
everyday life, with his optimism and
Mr. Gach used
buoyant personality, it was the
his legal and finan-
Har old Gach
gloomy feelings in others that he
cial expertise as an
warded off Mr. Gach, 51, died July 4 of arbitrator, resolving disputes all over the
cancer.
country. He intervened with his chil-
dren's friends, counseling them on the
"I think my father, in communicat-
importance of saving and warning them
ing with people, figured out the secret
of legal dangers if they misbehaved on a
of life," said daughter Caryn Gach, 23,
group trip to Mexico. After his cancer
of Chicago, a teacher. "He just lit up the
diagnosis, he participated in Gilda's
room and made you feel special. Always
Club, often as a speaker and discussion-
with a compliment, always sincere."
group leader.
In her eulogy, Caryn spoke openly to
her father about his gregarious nature,
Though he worked hard, Mr. Gach
also enjoyed life. He was an avid reader
saying, "You were the one at parties and
of fiction, a low-stakes casino blackjack
family dinners who always insisted on
making a toast. I used to get so embar-
player and a lover of food.
His wife Shelley Gach, director of
rassed. Only now do I realize that you
were celebrating life."
the Huntington Woods Public Library,
said, "The real beauty of Harold was
Mr. Gach rose from humble begin-
just his goodness and kindness. The
nings and worked long and hard to
solace I felt as I listened to the eulogies
achieve success. David Gach, 22, of
Berkley, a recent Michigan State
was that I was the fortunate woman
who was married to this really wonder-
University graduate, shares his father's
ful man for 29 years."
interest in finance.
In the eulogy Jacobs said that Mr.
"In financial planning, my dad was
Gach wanted to be remembered for
trying to help people prepare for the
"trying to be a good guy, a good hus-
future," he said. "That was part of his
kindness."
band, a good father, a good friend, and
as a guy who tried to do the 'right
Mr. Gach had a special relationship
with his father, Herman, who died sud-
thing."' By all accounts, said Jacobs, he
far exceeded his aspirations.
denly when Harold was 18, and he
Mr. Gach is survived by his wife,
sought to duplicate these ties with his
.
own children.
Shelley Gach; son David Gach; daugh-
ter Caryn Gach; and brother-in-law
With a joint interest in baseball, Mr.
Gilbert Ceifetz.
Gach formed a business with son David
He was the beloved son of the late
that they called David and Dad's Sport
Herman,and the late Blanche Gach and
Cards and Collectibles. Family vacations
the dear son-in-law of the late Louis and
were planned around visiting every
the late Pearl Ceifetz.
major league ballpark and attending
• Interment was at Machpelah
card shows together.
Cemetery Contributions may be made
Caryn inherited her father's "fight the
to the Harold I. Gach Memorial Fund,
system" fervor. She acknowledged his
do Michigan State University,
support of her risk-taking in delaying
University Development, 4700 South
her teaching career in order to assist
Hagadorn, Suite 220, East Lansing, MI
underprivileged children with
48823; Gilda's Club, 3517 Rochester
Americorps-VISTA in Chicago.
Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073; or JARC,
Said David, "My father wasn't only
28366 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
the best dad any son could ever wish for,
48034. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
he was also the best friend anyone could
Chapel.
ever want."

DAVID SACHS
StaffWriter

II

A Legal

Heritage

1E

DAVID SACHS
Staff 'Writer

red H. Keidan always
looked up to his dad,
Wayne County Circuit
Judge Harry B. Keidan,
not just as a judge, but as a father.
His father's death when he was 12
years old devastated him, said his
daughter, Mimi Seltzer of West
Bloomfield. "It turned out a light,"
she said.
But Mr. Keidan of Birmingham,
who died July 4 at age 68, said he
vowed to recreate that relationship
with his own children. "He turned
the light back on," she said.
Mr. Keidan went on to become
an attorney. An alumnus of the
University of Michigan Law School,
he practiced civil law, most recently
with Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco
P.C., in Troy.
"To Fred, the law was something
sacred," said Rabbi Irwin Groner of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, who
eulogized him July 7 at Ira Kaufman
Chapel. "The law was a profession
of honor. The law was an instrument
whereby conflicts were resolved by
principles of justice and fairness."
According to his daughter, a
friend described Mr. Keidan as a
lawyer with a "Columbo-like" persis-
tence, referring to the fictional televi-
sion detective. "He would catch peo-
ple off guard," she said. "Nothing
really baffled him. He stood his
ground."
Mr. Keidan's law associate and
friend, Gilbert C. Cox Jr. of Troy,
agreed that he was tenacious. "He
provided practical and caring
advice," Cox said. "He had sound
values and good sense.
"He was one of the most genuine
people I've known."
Mimi Seltzer describes her father
as "not a material person at all. He
would rather get to kri&vy people and
be there for them. If you were ever
in trouble, you could always turn to
him, because not only was he a con-
fidante, but in his own way he
would get you out of trouble."

,

Fred
Keidan

Mr. Keidan served as a past presi-
dent of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's Junior
Division and was a member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the
Troy Rotary Club and the
Birmingham Senior Men's Club.
Mr. Keidan's father, Judge Keidan,
was known as a crusader against cor-
ruption. He died in August 1943,
and a Detroit elementary school on
Collingwood Avenue was named for
him. In 1995, when the school was
rededicated, Mr. Keidan and other
family members attended • the cere-
mony.
"He was very proud of his her-
itage," said his daughter. "When
anyone mentioned Judge Keidan,
you could always sense the warmth
going on inside. So then on the stage
at the Keidan School, it not only
brought back memories of what an
important figure he was in the com-
munity, but memories of his very
personal relationship with him."
A fund in memory of Mr. Keidan
is being established to aid Keidan
Elementary School.
Mr. Keidan is survived by his
daughters and sons-in-law, Laura
and Craig Martin of Chicago, Mimi
and Phil Seltzer of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren Joshua and Danielle
Martin, Harrison and Samuel
Seltzer; sister and brother-in-law
Vivian and Milton Berry of
Huntington Woods.
He was the loving son of the late
Judge Harry B. Keidan and the late
Kate Keidan.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to the Fred H. Keidan
Enrichment Fund, Harry B. Keidan
Elementary School, 4441
Collingwood, Detroit, MI 48204.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑

❑

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