FOREVER OURS

AMBASSADOR DAVID B. HERMELIN, 1936-2000

FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE

HARRY KI RS BAUM

Staff Writer

fter David Hermelin lost his bat-
tle with cancer on Nov. 22, his
history of close ties with politi-
cally connected friends and
world statesmen was proven in the out-
pouring of words and letters of bereave-
ment received by his family.
"He loved his job as ambassador," said
Emery Klein, a longtime community
activist from Southfield who knew
Hermelin for 20 years.
Klein, who did much politicking and
fund-raising with Hermelin, described a
phone call he received from Hermelin
just before erev Yom Kippur.
"He called me and said a local Jewish
merchant was in financial trouble and
needed $15,000. He told me to get on
the phone and raise half, and he'll do the
same," Klein said. "No one but David
would ask someone to do that before
erev Yom Kippur, but you couldn't say
`no' to him. The money was raised in a
few hours."
Last year, Dr. Irvin Reid, Wayne State
University president, traveled to Europe
and was invited to Hermelin's residence
in Oslo at the suggestion of philanthro-
pist Eugene Applebaum of Bloomfield
Hills.
"David insisted that I stay at the resi-
dence over the weekend when I came to
visit," said Reid. "We had never met, but
we knew each other through e-mail and
phone."
At the airport, Reid watched as
Hermelin arrived and snatched the lug-
gage off the belt.
"The ambassador carried my luggage
while yelling into the phone, telling his
driver at what gate to meet us," he said.
"He threw the luggage in the trunk, then
got in the front seat of the car and pro-
ceeded for the next 4 1 /2 hours to give me
a sightseeing tour. We went all the way
to the top of the ski jump in
Lillehammer, then he showed me the
giant ski jump."
He jumped into a ski-jump simulation
machine and was "acting like a little kid
who was doing this for the very first
time," Reid said. "It turns out that
David gave everybody the same tour of
Lillehammer.. Here's a man who served
his country, served the Jewish people,
served humanity, served people in
Detroit and served everyone as though
he craved it."

Leaders far and wide felt

David Hermelin's impact.

"He was an excellent friend and confi-
dant of both the president and vice pres-
ident, and a believer in the city of
Detroit," said Mayor Dennis Archer,
who first met Hermelin as a member of
the Michigan Cancer Foundation board.
"When the president [Bill Clinton]
was in town to speak at the Economic
Club of Detroit in conjunction with the
International Auto Show, he caused a big
commotion because he was ready to
divert the entire motorcade to Henry
Ford Hospital to see David. The Secret
Service was much relieved when he was
able to speak to him on the phone.
"And wouldn't you know that David
had the president laughing from his hos-
pital bed by singing him songs," said
Archer. "Brian Hermelin was correct in
his eulogy of his father, and I shared his
first thoughts: 'What might have been."'
In condolence letters to the family,
world leaders described David Hermelin
as one of a kind.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
wrote, "David's inspiring passion for all
things Jewish, for, as he put it, 'living
Jewishly,' and his dedication to the State
of Israel, will long be remembered with
warmth and appreciation. So, too, of
course, will the unique sense of humor
that he so lovingly injected into all that
he did."
"No one could ever say 'no' to David,"
wrote President Clinton, who was per-
suaded by Hermelin to become the first
sitting president to visit Norway. "And
he had the ability to energize others to
share their time, talents and resources
with those in need as generously as he
did himself.
"He left the world a better place than
he found it," the president added, "and
no one could ask for a finer legacy." El

From top to bottom: David Hermelin,
First Lady and Senator-elect Hillary
Clinton, Emery Klein, Doreen
Hermelin and Linda Klein during a
Democratic fund-raiser at Hermelin's
home in 2000.

Emery Klein, Vice President Al Gore,
Linda Klein and David Hermelin at a
Democraticfund-raiser in Hermelin's
home, 2000.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon
Peres, Wayne State University President
Dr. Irvin Reid, philanthropist Max
Fisher and David Hermelin at a
Campaign Builders of Israel reception in
Franklin for Peres in May 2000.

12/1

2000

23

•

