FOREVER OURS

AMBASSADOR DAVID B. HERMELIN, 1936-2000

SPREADING GOODNESS

their generosity toward such respected
the two of them if the meeting was a
Agriculture Daniel Glickman put it this
he end of an era it's not.
learning centers as local day schools, the
success.
David
said,
'We
had
an
excellent
way
at
the
funeral:
"David
was
as
com-
David Hermelin's legacy lies
JCC,
the Jewish Federation's Hermelin-
exchange
of
views.
He
came
in
with
his
fortable
with
the
rich
and
powerful
and
not so much in what he accom-
Davidson
Center for Congregation
views
and
he
came
out
with
mine.'"
famous,
as
he
was
with
the
meek
and
plished, but in the lasting imprint
Excellence, the University of Michigan,
humble and average."
he left on the nooks and crannies of our
Eternal Glow
and in Israel, the ORT Hermelin
Whether hosting dignitaries
collective soul.
College of Engineering in Netanya, Bar-
David's
devotion
to
Israel,
and
hope
for
at his Bingham Farms estate,
David had a zest about him that
Ilan University in Ramat-Gan,
its
future,
will
burn
forever
in
our
hearts,
serving as U.S. ambassador to
didn't just rouse you; it consumed
Weizmann
Institute of Science in
thanks
to
the
figurative
torch
that
he
Norway, co-leading the 1993
you. He was a doer, not a com-
Rehovot
and
Hebrew University in
proudly
carried
on
behalf
of
the
Jewish
Michigan
Miracle
Mission
to
plainer. He wasn't afraid to mine
Jerusalem.
state.
Israel,
rising
to
world
leader-
the edges of opportunity. It almost
In a moving moment honoring the
Quite simply, he and his wife Doreen
ship in the Jewish communi-
was as if he felt he could conquer
Hermelins at Hillel Day School of
helped unite us in a shared loyalty to our
ty, breaking down racial or
the world by spreading a shelter of
Metropolitan Detroit's Dream Maker
heritage. Doreen, who met David at
religious barriers, or giving to
goodness over it.
patron party last May, David, though
summer camp, is a long-serving com-
charity, David — one genera-
Ultimately, he nude a difference.
ROB ERT A. tion removed from a Polish
clearly weak, spoke passionately about
munity
leader
in
her
own
right.
David's three dimensions of life
S KLAR
how day-school students and their fami-
Together,
they
uplifted
and
challenged
shtetl — never forgot his
— family, community and work
ditor
E
lies "always have something rooted in
us
—
and
made
us
feel
proud
to
be
father
Irving's
peddler
roots
in
— intersected, so each sustained
fundamental Jewish values." The event
Jewish,
whatever
our
lineage.
America
in
1920.
the other.
raised $150,000; enough said about
After
winning
the
Fred
M.
Butzel
Not
bad
for
the
little
boy
who
Shaarey
Philanthropist, diplomat, entrepre-
David's fund-raising savvy.
Memorial
Award,
Detroit
Jewry's
highest
Zedek
Executive
Director
Leonard
neur, cheerleader, husband, father and
Every once in a while, someone comes
honor, in 1996, David vowed to trans-
Baruch remembers asking the Four
grandfather, the native Detroiter lost a
along
whose spirit soars, whose presence
late his "excitement in the beauty and
Questions at a Jewish Welfare
courageous battle with brain cancer last
energizes,
whose words resonate and
joy
of
being
Jewish,
so
that
all
of
our
Federation-sponsored Passover seder in
week at age 63.
whose
actions
are redemptive.
people
could
see
how
rewarding,
life-
1948.
His memory is already a blessing.
David
Hermelin
was such a person.
affirming
and
just
plain
fun
living
A master motivator, David had the
Engaging and endearing, David knew
Unquestionably,
the soundtrack of his
Jewishly
could
be."
knack
to
change
the
life
of
whomever
he
how to make you feel special, no matter
life
drew
from
the
lyrical
wisdom of
two
weeks
ago,
at
a
fund-raiser
for
JIM
met.
"When
you
met
David,"
said
what your lot in life. His "can-do" atti-
Torah.
the
Michigan
ORT
Resource
Center
to
Rabbi
Groner,
"you
laughed
more,
you
tude was infectious. He never viewed
We, as a community, would be terri-
be developed in the Jewish Community
cared more, you felt more, you gave
himself as indispensable, but it's no exag-
bly
remiss if we didn't tap all the good
Center
in
West
Bloomfield,
Doreen
reit-
more — and, when it came to salami,
geration that we may not see his likes
that
he gave us and rededicate ourselves
erated
her
and
you ate more."
again.
tikkun
olam, to making the world a
to
David's
commit-
David turned every endeav-
Rabbi Irwin Groner, a 41-year friend
better
place
for all through service, kind-
ment
to
"excellence
or into an adventure.
and confidant, said in a Nov. 24 eulogy
mitzvot.
ness
and
in
education."
Whether
at
a
Big
Boy
restau-
at David's beloved Congregation Shaarey
With a boundless capacity to care and
Which explains
rant power breakfast or in a
Zedek: "He was a joy to God and to
to
spur change, he certainly left the
boardroom,
he
was
quick
to
humanity"
world
richer than he found it.
kibbitz, but always with a
Those David touched through the
Rabbi
Groner
with
David
Hermelin was a pillar of
purpose. As Rabbi Groner
years suffered in a purgatory of their
Doreen
and
David
Detroit
Jewry.
likes to recount: "An acquain-
own as they watched cancer sap his vigor
Hermelin, Hillel
And he will be forever ours. ❑
tance had a long, private
and take him from our midst. Ironically,
Dream
Makers.
meeting with David. I asked
he toiled tirelessly on behalf of research
and treatment, under the mantra of
40
"Make Cancer Fail," for two decades
before being diagnosed with cancer two
years ago. After the diagnosis, he raised
$10 million, with a little help from his
friends, to create the Hermelin Brain
roil uence,
Tumor Center as part of the Detroit-
ab *ty to make any
In its 58-year history,
based Henry Ford Health System.
Jewish Am' has never devoted she had a personal relation
Inspiring, generous, a Democratic
you.
so many`pages to the life of
Party activist and an international mover
sconttnues
I am reminded of your magic when- your
one person. Presidents, prime minis-
and shaker, David earned near-legendary
special
family an d a
ever
I
visit
my
parents
in
ters, rabbis, educators and philanthro-
stature. But he thrived on being with
you championed and
Connecticut. Among the
pists have come and gone. But none
family and friends, and doing what he
endowed, your most pre-
dozens of family photos scat-
has shaped our community the way
did best, just being David — magician,
cious and enduring gift is
tered around their house, only
you have.
songwriter, jokester, skier, jogger, dancer,
clear . . . you inspired at least
three non-family members are
So many words have been used to
Jewish Ensemble Theatre booster, salami
three generations of
represented — Joe Lieberman
describe your attributes. Energetic,
Detroiters, and others, to
lover and, above all, a mentsh.
and
Doreen
and
you.
I
believe
passionate, devoted, charismatic, effer-
want
to be like David
my
parents
met
you
twice.
vescent, caring and helpful are among
Bridge Builder
Hermelin.
They've known Joe for 35
those that come to mind. But it was
David didn't know what it meant to put
I can think of no higher
years.
your common touch that distin-
ARTHUR M. honor. Thank you for show-
himself above others. U.S. Secretary of
As the country continues to
guished you from other giants. While
H ORWITZ
ing us, and me, the path. ❑
slog through the aftermath of
no stranger to the corridors of power
2000
Publisher

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