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Obituaries

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

A Long Life Gut Short

Untiring Retiree

News in the
capped, immigrants of
DAVID SACHS
1970s ask-
DAVID SACHS
all nationalities and peo-
Staff Writer
ing
for peo-
Staff Writer
ple of all races. He want-
ple
to
write
elia Barnett Wilson, a
ed to make other peo-
t 88, Manfred
to
the
teacher in the Detroit
ple's dreams come true."
refuseniks.
Moser was a man
Public Schools for more
Mr. Moser once spon-
She wrote
of boundless
than three decades, at first
sored the immigration of
energy. A refugee
to them
didn't know what she was going to do
the husband and five
monthly
from Nazi Germany, he
with herself when she turned 65 and
children of his Jamaican
Celia Wilson
until they
loved America, which he
retired in 1973.
housekeeper. He provid-
were freed
called his "land of opportu-
"But then she filled her life with
ed a job for the husband
in 1988."
nity." He worked sunup to
incredibly wonderful deeds," said her
and assured the govern-
Mrs. Wilson would celebrate
sundown, often on week-
daughter, Betsy Winkelman of West
ment that he ultimately
Jewish
holidays with her Russian
ends, at his business,
Manfred Moser
Bloomfield.
would support them.
friends. "She ran the Passover seder
MRM-Ida Products, a win-
In 1996, Mrs. Wilson was hon-
But most of all, he
beautifully," said Emma Berman, a
dow and door4eplacement
ored
for her community volunteerism
loved his family, said son-in-law Lloyd
Russian immigrant and former coun-
company on Lycdon east of
and her efforts to free Soviet Jewry
Rappoport. Mr. Moser was married to
selor with the Resettlement Service.
Wyoming in Detroit.
with an Eight Over 80 award from
his wife, Helen, for 53 years.
She met Mrs. Wilson in 1981 and
"He was a sweet man," said his
Jewish Apartments and Services. A
Mr. Moser was a founding member
admired her kindness, generosity and
son, Sanford, of West Bloomfield.
resident of the Fleischman Residence
of Adat Shalom Synagogue. Its rabbi,
ability to encourage people.
"Always kind and always a gentle-
in West Bloomfield, she died July 17
Daniel Nevins, said, "All the clergy
"She became very dear to us,"
man."
at age 92.
here really cherished Manfred. When
Berman said. "She helped us look at
Mr. Moser, of Southfield, was shot
"She never stopped 'teaching,'"
Helen passed away and he said
life differently — to let us understand
to death the morning of July 24 at his
said
her daughter. "She continued
Kaddish [the prayer for the dead]
that life is special."
place of business. Also slain was his
to use 'her remarkable ability to
daily, I really got to know him.
Mrs. Wilson is survived by her
office manager of 12 years, Phyllis
bring people together and bring
"He was a European man, soft-spo-
son and daughter-in-law, Maurice
Gossitt, 50, of Redford. Detroit
them into the community at large,
ken, very dignified, always well-
and Mildred Wilson of Santa
homicide investigators had made no
so that both the community and the
dressed — a real gentleman," said the
Monica, Calif.; daughters and sons-
arrests within the first 48 hours as
individuals benefited."
rabbi. "He was not one to retire or
in-law Fern Selling of Southfield,
their probe continued.
She was an active member of
step away from hard work.
Betsy and Myron Winkelman of
Mr. Moser had just returned from
Congregation B'nai David for
"He was very dedicated to Detroit
West Bloomfield, Sylvia and Dan
a six-day trip to Cape Cod, Mass.,
almost four decades — a leader in
and obviously knew it was a danger-
Garrett of Antioch, Calif.; brother
with his son, daughter Ilene
the sisterhood, singer in the syna-
ous neighborhood. But he was there
and sister-in-law Sam and Beatrice
Rappoport of West Bloomfield and
gogue choir, regular reviewer of
for over 30 years and he cared for the
Barnett of Oak Park; sister Sophie
their spouses and children. It was his
books and founder and chair of the
people and wasn't the type to just
Nemzin of Southfield; grandchil-
first visit there and he enjoyed it
Pacesetters, its seniors group.
abandon the neighborhood when it
dren Tim and Nina Selling, Matt
tremendously, said his daughter. "He
She organized meetings, planned
went on hard times.
and Carla Selling, Barb and Zvulon
was up at 6 a.m. each morning, walk-
educational programming, and rou-
"The whole congregation grieves
Haddad, Eric and Patricia Wilson,
ing with us all over the place," she
tinely chauffeured people. In addi-
with his family," said Rabbi Nevins.
Davida and Jack Freed, Cindy and
said. "He loved life."
tion, she served as a peer counselor for
"At daily minyan [prayer quorum],
Ilan Bergman, Amy Winkelman
Mr. Moser had a dairy farm in
older adults through an Oakland
everybody was sharing memories of
and Gary Blackman, Marjorie and
Germany in the mid-1930s. After .
University program.
Manfred and saying what a kind and
Patricia Lesko, Steven and Heather
being warned by a non-Jewish friend
Mrs. Wilson was an active member
sweet
soul
he
was."
Batchelor Winkelman, Steven and
that the Nazis were about to arrest
of the Detroit Soviet Jewry
Mr. Moser served as vice president
Suzanne Hecht, Martha and Joseph
him, he fled Germany for the U.S. He
Committee of the Jewish Community
of the Oakland Century Lodge of
St. Paul; and numerous great-grand-
worked in a meat-processing plant and
Council. "She was entirely dedicated
B'nai B'rith and received its Man of
children.
opened a restaurant in Detroit. Mr.
and devoted to the cause," said
the Year Award in 1997.
Mrs. Wilson was the beloved
Moser later found employment selling
Beverly Yost, its staff coordinator.
Mr. Moser is survived by his son
wife of the late Benjamin Wilson;
replacement windows, and soon after-
For 15 years, she wrote letters
and daughter-in-law, Sanford and
loving sister of the late Rose Jaslov,
ward, founded his own company.
monthly to the prominent re enik
Zeneta Moser; daughter and son-in-
the late Martha Robinson, the late
According to his family, he didn't
(Jew denied emigration) Yuli
law Ilene and Lloyd Rappoport; and
Mae Katz; mother-in-law of the late
want to move his business from its
Kosharovsky and his family. On
grandchildren Sherie Rappoport,
Harley Selling.
Detroit location because he loved his
behalf of Kosharovsky and others,
Adam Docks and Megan Docks.
Interment was at Hebrew
customers and felt part of the com-
she raised funds, solicited donations
He was the beloved husband of the
Memorial Park. Contributions may
munity. After hearing of the tragedy,
of clothing, spoke, picketed and
late Helen Moser.
be made to Jewish Hospice and
residents from streets adjacent to the
petitioned officials in the U.S. and
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Chaplaincy Network, 24123
business told family members how
the USSR.
Memorial Park. Contributions may be
Greenfield Road, Southfield, MI
much they had loved him. People left
"She was a woman of great corn-
made to the Karmanos Cancer
48075 or to a charity of one's
teddy bears and balloons at the site.
passion with a great loyalty to the
Institute, 18831 W. 12 Mile Road,
choice. Arrangements by Hebrew
"He was always trying to help peo-
Jewish people," said her daughter.
Lathrup Village, MI 48076, or a char-
Memorial Chape1. ❑
ple," said his daughter. "He would do
"She saw a little note in the Jewish
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by
anything for anyone."
Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Said his son, He hired the handi-

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