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

Businessman, Philanthropist Peter Brown

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The Family or the Late

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Staff Writer

eter D. Brown
got in on the
ground floor of
a promising
business operation and
made it into the No. 1
bedding company in the
United States.
Mr. Brown died Sept.
16 of congestive heart
failure, surrounded by
three generations of fami-
ly members. He was 89
years old.
Founder of Sealy
Mattress Company of Michigan, he
was also a board member of its
Chicago-based parent company,
Sealy Inc., remaining active until
the 1980s.
Despite health problems of his
own, Mr. Brown was determined
to help ease the misery of others.
"He was the essence of integrity
and honesty — there was nothing
evil about him," said daughter
Susan Lewis of Bloomfield Hills.
"Even when he was in his last
weeks in the hospital, he told us to
teach the legacy of charity to his
i great-grandchildren."
"To be a Jew for him was to
respond to human needs, to
express compassion and to perform
deeds of lovingkindness," said
Rabbi Irwin Groner of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
where Mr. Brown had been a
member for about 60 years. "He
chose to live a life of compassion,
of caring, of giving," Rabbi Groner
said.
Former chairman of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's Mercantile Division, Mr.
Brown was also very active in con-
tributing to and fundraising for the
American Diabetes Association and
the Jewish Community Center in
Boca Raton, Fla.
Most recently, Mr. Brown and
his wife, Dorothy, endowed the
Dorothy and Peter Brown Centers,

national sales leader, said A. Bart
Lewis, Brown's son-in-law. The
idea was to compete by pooling
advertising costs and making stan-
dardized products.
Mr. Brown became the
Michigan franchisee, owning Sealy
production facilities and serving on
the board of the parent company.
He retired in 1987, but maintained
an active interest in the business.
"He worked hard, became very
successful and then was able to do
the things he wanted to do — be
charitable," Mr. Lewis said.
In addition to his business and
Peter D. Brown charitable interests, Mr. Brown was
an avid reader, Mrs. Lewis said.
two facilities for the Jewish
"He would read anything and
Community Adult Day Care
everything," she said.
Program. The centers serve older
Her father was also a big fan of
adults with Alzheimer's disease and
football, she said. "He took me to
related disorders, helping them
Lions games and University of
regain self-esteem and learn to
Michigan games since I was five or
cope, while giving their caregivers
six years old.
much-needed respite.
"And he loved to fish."
One is located in the Rose and
But Mr. Brown's greatest love
Sidney Diem Building of the
was his family, said his daughter,
Jewish Vocational Service in
Mrs. Lewis.
Southfield. The other is a free-
"His two granddaughters spent
standing building, sponsored by
the last weeks of his life in the hos-
Jewish Home and Aging Services,
pital with him, sitting on the bed
on the West Bloomfield Jewish
with their babies," she said. "Even
Community Campus.
though he was very weak, those
"The Browns were not solicited
babies still made him smile."
for this," Rabbi Groner said.
Mr. Brown is survived by his
"These contributions were freely
wife of 65 years, Dorothy Brown;
given to advance the welfare of our
daughters and sons-in-law Susan .
community."
and A. Bart Lewis, Janis and
The couple felt strongly about
William Wetsman; grandchildren
respite services after seeing the
Lainie and Kenny Lipschutz, Julie
results of the progressive disease on
and Richard Winkelman, Adam
Dorothy Brown's father, an
and Carol Wetsman, David and
Alzheimer's patient, and her moth-
Lori Wetsman; great-grandchildren
er, his primary caregiver.
Allison and Michael Lipschutz,
Mr. Brown was born near pre-
Lauren and Amy Winkelman,
sent-day Harper Hospital and grew
Nicole and Ryan Wetsman and
up in Detroit, spending his child-
brother-in-law and sister-in-law
hood in the Hastings Street area.
Harold and Deanne Stralser.
He was a pre-med student at
Interment was at Clover Hill
Wayne University before deciding
Park Cemetery. Contributions may
to pursue a career in business.
be made to the Peter and Dorothy
Sealy Mattress Inc. began in the
Brown Adult Day Care Fund, c/o
early 1940s, when a group of small
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
manufacturers banded together to
Detroit. Arrangements by Ira
compete with Simmons, then the
Kaufman Chapel. D

MAX DOCKS

Announces the unveiling of a

monument in his memory,
11:00 a.m., Sunday, September 24,
at Nusach H'Ari Cemetery.
Rabbi Aaron Bergman will officiate.
Relatives and friends are
invited to attend.

The Family of the Late

FRANCES DRIKER

Announces the unveiling of a
monument in her memory,
12:30 p.m., Sunday, September 24,
at Hebrew Memorial Park
Relatives and friends
are invited to attend.

In Beloved Memory of

MITCHELL D.
EPHRAIM

Who passed away September 18,
1999, the 9 tishrei 5760. Sadly
missed and always remembered
by his wife, parents, children,
.
step-children, brother,
grandmother, family and friends.

The Family of the Late

BARNEY KASOFF

Wishes to acknowlege with deep
appreciation the many comforting
messages and expressions of
kindness and concern during the
family's recent bereavement.

The Family of the Late

STEVEN NEIL
KONIKOW

Wishes to acknowlege with deep

appreciation the many comforting
messages and expressions of
kindness and concern during the
family's recent bereavement.

9/22
2000

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