Y

ou know Ira Jaffe is a
maize and blue fan before
you walk through the
front door of his stylish
Farmington Hills home. Press his
doorbell and the U-M fight song,
"Hail to the Victors," resounds.
Make your way to his basement
and it's a virtual shrine to his

favorite Big 10 team. Snapshots
show Jaffe standing with Bo
Schembechler, Anthony Carter and
Woody Hayes. But it's his leg-
endary tailgate parties that really
demonstrate Jaffe's allegiance to
Michigan.
The Michivan comes out of its
post-season hiatus and parks in

front of the Jaffe garage. The con-
verted 1980 Dodge Maxivan is
painted the familiar Michigan col-
ors and modified to be taller and
more versatile so it can haul all the
stuff he'll need for his celebrated
pregame bashes.
Football season is finally here.
Jaffe, with the help of chum Mel

BY ANNABEL COHEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS IVEY

14 •

NOVEMBER 2000 • STYLE AT THE JS

Lester, has taken the classic notion
of a few friends, a station wagon,
cold-cut sandwiches and beer and
elevated it to what anyone would
call a downright shindig. Just ask
any of the 500 or so guests who
regularly attend this private
pregame fest.
Consider this: Weeks before the