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www.detroitjewishnews.corn

Extraordinary Volunteer

ing jobs. A social worker told me,
`Your mother was such an icon, she
meant so much to people like me.'
That's
her legacy."
osephine Stern Weiner, in
Mrs.
Weiner graduated Phi Beta
six decades of volunteering,
Kappa from the University of
was not only a ground-
Michigan and earned a master's
breaking leader, she was
degree in English.
mentor to generations of
An exceptional
115010M
women who followed in
writer, one of her
her footsteps.
short stories won
"Jo," as she was known,
a prestigious
died Oct. 24 of pneumo-
Hopwood Award.
nia at age 88. She lived in
She
was married
West Bloomfield.
to Leonard
Rabbi Daniel Syme of
Weiner for 62
Temple Beth El, who
years until his
worked with Mrs. Weiner,
death in 1998.
said, "Jo earned the desig-
During her
nation of a woman of valor
NCJW tenure in
and changed history in the
Detroit, Council
process through her giving
Thrift
Shops were
of self to so many organi-
Josephine Weiner
established.
zations and being the
During her
inspiration to generations
national tenure,
of young women who
NCJW established the HIPPY
sought to emulate her example."
(Home Instruction for Preschool
Mrs. Weiner's daughter, Sarah
Parents and Youth) program and
Weiner Keidan, said, "She worked as
WICS (Women in Community
a volunteer the way you and I work
Service), a social action organization.
at jobs — full time. She was as busy
In addition, Mrs. Weiner helped
as anybody who works for a living."
establish the Women's Division of
Keidan said that in the formative
the Jewish Federation of
period of local women's organizations
Metropolitan Detroit and Orchards
her mother was one of the people
Children's Services in Southfield.
called on to help organize things.
She was honored with lifetime
The National Council of Jewish
achievement
awards from the Anti-
Women was a lifetime passion. She
Defamation
League
in 1999 and
started out in 1934 as the founding
Federation
this
year.
In 1997, the
president of the Junior Council of
Detroit NCJW established an award
the Detroit NCJW. She later was
for volunteers in her name.
president of the Greater Detroit
Said Rabbi Syme, "That twinkle
Chapter and served as national pres-
in her eye made people feel good.
ident 1967-1971, the only Detroiter
She was always a lady, proper and
to rise to that position.
dignified. And she inspired people
"Mother went to college but
to reach beyond themselves for
didn't go to work, because women
something
nobler and better."
really didn't do that then," said her
Mrs. Weiner is survived by her
daughter. "She often talked about
daughter, Sarah Keidan of
her parents, Milford and Molly
Farmington Hills; grandchildren
Stern, as motivators. Her father had
Laura and Craig Martin, Mimi and
been very active in Detroit commu-
Phil Seltzer; great-grandchildren
nal affairs.
Joshua
and Danielle Martin and
"She was the guide to a lot of
Harrison
and Samuel Seltzer.
women, mentoring them to become
Mrs. Weiner was the beloved wife
secure as leaders in the community,"
of the late Leonard Weiner.
Keidan added. "She was the symbol
Interment at Clover Hill Park
of how to get things done and how
Cemetery. Contributions may be
to develop real serious leadership
made to the National Council of
and organizational skills. And these
Jewish Women. Arrangements by Ira
people went on and did all kinds of
Kaufman Chapel.
careers, development directors, pay-

DAVID SACHS
Staff Writer

j

❑

DOROTHY ARONSON DAVIS, 88,
former Detroiter of Walnut Creek,
Calif. Died Oct. 28. She was a teacher
with the Detroit public schools.
She is survived by her daughters
and sons-in-law, Judith A. and Mark
Cohen, Jacqueline and Jack Glickman;
grandchildren, Laura Cohen, Deborah
Cohen Offenberg and Joseph
Offenberg; great-grandchild, Joshua
Offenberg; sister, Phyllis Levenstein;
sisters-in-law and brother-in-law,
Rochelle Aaronson, Frieda Davis,
Arnold Miles.
Contributions maybe made to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Sinai memorial Chapel, Lafayette,
Calif.

VERA CHERKASKY, 82, of Delray
Beach, Fla., died Oct. 27.
She is survived by her husband,
Milton Cherkasky; son and daughter-
in-law, Richard and Janice Cherkasky
of Franklin; daughter and son-in-law,
Carole and Curt Slotkin of Bloomfield
Hills; sister, Marilyn Bick of Oak Park;
grandchildren, David, Jonathan, Erin,
Bryan, Elissa, Keith.
Contributions may be made to
Juvenile Diabetes Association, 29350
Southfield Road, Suite 42, Southfield,
MI 48976 or National Bone Marrow
Transplant Link, 20411 W. 12 Mile
Road, Ste. 108, Southfield, MI 48076.
Services and interment were held at
Beth Tefilo Emanuel Cemetery.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

EVELYN COBB, 86, of Orchard
Lake, died Oct. 26.
She is survived by her sons,
Robert Cobb of Orchard Lake,
Charles B. Cobb of Santa Rosa,
Calif.; brothers and sisters-in-law,
Joseph and Shirley Barenholtz of
West Bloomfield, Seymour and
Clara Barenholtz of West
Bloomfield; sisters, Anne B. Zolin of
Palm Springs, Fla., Arda Barenholtz
of Huntington Woods; grandchil-
dren, Annie Cobb, Allison Cobb.
Mrs. Cobb was the beloved wife of
the late David S. Cobb; loving
mother-in-law of the late Jane
Jospey Cobb; loving sister of the late
Dr. Benjamin Barenholtz.
Contributions may be made to
Juvenile Diabetes Association, 29350
Southfield Road, Ste. 42, Southfield,
MI 48076 or Hadassah, 5030 Orchard
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48323.
Services and interment were held at
Machpelah Cemetery. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

FLORENCE (FLO) COOPER, 92, of
Southfield, died Oct. 26.
She is survived by her daughter,
Suzanne Kaplan of West Bloomfield;
son, Michael (Bonnie DeFlon), Tea
Cooper; brothers and sister-in-law,
Morris Gross of Southfield, Herbert and
Mildred Gross of Farmington Hills;
grandchildren, Jody Kaplan, Wendy
(Sam) Leve, Dana (Christian) Meyle,
Denise (Glenn) Hardman; great-grand-
children, David, Max, Jordan and Lara.
She was the beloved wife of the late Jack
M. Cooper.
Private family interment was held. A
memorial service will be held 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3:00pm at the resi-
dence of Suzanne Kaplan in West
Bloomfield.
Contributions may be made to the
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Doifinan Funeral Direction.

HEDY EISENBERG, 59, of Southfield,
died Oct. 17.
She is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Barbara and Greg Goldberg
of Royal Oak; son and daughter-in-law,
Lee Eisenberg of Berkley, Jeff and Karen
Eisenberg of Royal Oak; sister and
brother-in-law, Julie and Bruce
Goldsmith of
Southfield; grandchildren, Natalee,
Alycyn, G.G., Shanna and Neil. She
was the beloved wife of the late (G.G)
George Eisenberg. Graveside services
were held at the Hebrew Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
the charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Doi finan Funeral
Direction.

KAY GENSER FABRICANT, 93, for-
mer Detroiter of Delray Beach, Fla.,
died Oct. 22. She was born in Russia.
She came to the Detroit area when she
was 2 years old. She graduated from
High School of
Commerce and
worked as a book-
keeper. She married
Leo David Genser
in December of
1934 and remained
married for 31
years. Mrs.
Fabricant was a
charter member of
Kay Fabricant
Adat Shalom
Synagogue, presi-
dent of Amit Women four times and
was president of the Michigan Club in
Delray Beach, Fla. She also sold State of
Israel Bonds and raised money for
orphans in Israel.
She is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Morton and Maida

11/3
2000

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