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rIFit Was
Therapy Pioneer
roremost
DAVID SACHS
Staff Writer
L
egendary clothier Benjamin
Kosins, whose men's fashion
store was a magnet for celebri-
ties, died of natural causes
Benjamin Kosins
Entertainers like Redd Foxx, Sammy
Davis Jr., Jerry Vale and numerous
Motown personalities were regular cus-
his late brother Harry owned Kosins
tomers.
Clothes on Griswold near Grand River
"It was important to my dad that he
in Detroit until 1981, and more recently
serviced
the artistic crowd," said Martin
two locations on Southfield Road in
Kosins. "Sixten Ehrling, conductor of
Lathrup Village. The business was sold
the symphony here, was one of his
to its employees in 1991, but closed in
favorite customers. All the guys in the
1994.
violin section adored my dad because
Kosins Clothes was known by the
when he got done selling clothes, he
slogan, "Where Fit is Foremost."
took them down into the basement and
Dapper Detroit Pistons Coach Chuck
played for them."
Daly appeared in television ads for the
Mr. Kosins' talents as a salesman were
store during his basketball team's "Bad
called nothing less than astounding.
Boy" heyday 10 years ago.
Former head tailor Dino Mitropoulus
According to son Martin Kosins,
called him "the best salesman I knew —
Benjamin Kosins was a top-notch sales-
he could sell a cashmere topcoat in July."
man who ran the day-to-day business
Even when the.store's colorful sales
while Harry specialized in buying inven-
staff
couldn't persuade a reluctant
tory and public relations aspects.
buyer,
Mr. Kosins would find him
A violinist in his youth, Mr. Kosins
exactly
what he wanted, said his son.
was concertmaster of the All-City
"He knew how to please and advise
Orchestra at Cass Technical High
people on style."
School in Detroit and won a scholarship
Mr. Kosins was a member of B'nai
for the national music camp at
B'rith and Adat Shalom Synagogue and
Interlochen, Mich. Upon graduation,
often attended the Downtown
however, he joined the family business
Synagogue across the street from the
— the clothing store founded by his
Griswold store. He contributed to the
parents Max and Helen. Harry joined
symphony
and many Jewish, civil-rights
his brother upon returning from World
and homeless causes, said Mitropoulus,
War II. Together they built Kosins
and even to my Greek organization."
Clothes into what was at one time,
Mr. Kosins is survived by his son,
according to Martin Kosins, the highest-
Martin Kosins; daughter and son-in-law
grossing independent men's clothing
Laurie and Sheldon Weintrob; grand-
store in the country.
children
Sari and Eric Weintrob; sister
"People from all walks of life went
Fay
Wish
of Ohio; sisters-in-law and
Detroit
Jewish
through those doors," said
brothers-in-law
Marilyn Kosins Schaefer
columnist
Danny
Raskin,
a
cus-
News
and Lew and Molly Nucian.
tomer since the early 1950s when the
He was the beloved husband of the
newspaper's offices were down the street
late Anne Kosins and the loving brother
in the David Stott Building. The Kosin
of the late Harry Kosins, the late Sally
brothers' customers ranged from judges
Finkel Zalman and the dear brother-in-
to unsavory types, orchestra conductors
law
of the late Don Wish, the late Ben
to nightclub entertainers, clergymen to
Finkel,
the late Saul Nucian and the late
athletes.
Ben Nucian.
Martin Kosins said, "It was like a big
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
party every minute. My dad was very
Cemetery. Contributions may be
cordial, very stylish and very unpreten-
made to Interlochen Arts Academy,
tious. He couldn't go out to dinner
P.O. Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643-
without meeting four or five customers."
0199. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
The store developed a national repu-
Chapel. El
tation among celebrities, he added.
Aug. 22 at age 80.
Mr. Kosins, of West Bloomfield, and
from 1963-1966. He was founder
and president of the American
Stair Writer
College of Psychiatrists and vice presi-
dent of the American Psychiatric
r. Peter Martin, an innova-
Association,
among his many profes-
tive, longtime psychiatrist
sional
affiliations.
in the Detroit area, died
Dr. Martin's work was highly rec-
Aug. 20 at age 83.
ognized, winning him such honors as
Dr. Martin, of Lake Orion, special-
the Gold Medal Bowis
ized in marital therapy and
Award from the
authored books that received
American College of
publicity and acclaim from
Psychiatrists. In recent
Barbara Walters and Ann
years,
Dr. Martin did
Landers.
extensive
research on
His methods of including
Benjamin
Rush, the
couples, rather than only indi-
father of American psy-
viduals, in psychotherapy was
chiatry, and presented
considered heretical at first, but
numerous papers on his
he eventually won acceptance as
work.
a pioneer.
Daughter Arlene
Dr. Martin ran a marriage
Dr. Peter Martin
Beerman
of Bloomfield
therapy clinic at the University
Hills
said
her father
of Michigan in Ann Arbor and
was
very
dedicated
to
Congregation
taught there and at Wayne State
Shaarey Zedek, to Jewish causes and
University in Detroit. He was in pri-
charities — and was honored by Israel
vate practice for the last 20 years in
Bonds. "He was very proud to be
Bloomfield Hills and before that in
Jewish," she said.
the Fisher Building in Detroit and in
His wife cited all the people he had
Southfield. He retired when he was
helped
in his career as his legacy. "I've
80.
had
patients
come up to me and tell
"Psychiatry was something he
me
that
he
lives
with them every day
loved to do and did well," said his
of their lives," she said. "And that they
wife, Sharon M. Martin. "He was
try to live in a way that he would be
absolutely brilliant."
proud of them."
Son Dr. Richard Martin, of
Dr. Martin is survived by his wife,
Colorado, said his father -originally
Sharon
M. Martin; daughters and
intended to be a cardiologist, but "by
sons-in-law
Arlene and Charles
serendipity" was introduced to psychi-
Beerman
of
Bloomfield Hills, Joan
atric practice while serving at a field
and
Jonathan
Roth of Massachusetts;
hospital during World War II, where
son and daughter-in-law Dr. Richard
he earned the Bronze Star.
and Helene Martin of Colorado;
"Throughout his career, my father
grandchildren Kenneth and Francie
dedicated his energies to not only
helping his patients, but to further the Dickman, Sharon and Howard
Eisenshtadt, Michael Beerman,
entire area of psychiatry and psy-
Elizabeth Martin, David Martin,
chotherapy," said his son.
Caroline Roth, James Small, Elizabeth
"That did not exclude him from
Small; great-grandchildren Cole and
tremendous energy and support for
Julia Eisenshtadt; sister and brother-
the family. He spent a great deal of
in-law Mildred and Al Pick of
time with all of us. His family came
Oregon and stepchildren Pamela and
first."
Dr. Sam Small, Amanda Arnst and
Dr. Martin wrote several books on
Bret Arnst.
psychiatry and marital therapy,
Dr. Martin was the beloved hus-
including The Joys and Sorrows of
band
of the late Tillie J. Martin.
A
Marital
Therapy
Parenthood and
Contributions
may be made to
"What
he
wrote
was
com-
Manual.
Association for Retarded Citizens of
mon sense and down-to-earth and
Oakland County, 1641 W Big
anyone could understand it," said his
Beaver, Troy, MI 48084, attn: Tom
wife.
Kenjorski. Interment was at Clover
Dr. Martin served as an adviser to
Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by
Gov. George Romney and the state of
Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Michigan on mental health issues
DAVID SACHS
D
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9/1
2000
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