Obituaries W—U- 11Uni 111 zrrrW U UFO W • ■ Choose ■ ■ ■ PAUL KOHN'S LaDifference ■ ■ ■ ■ to prepare ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online: www.d.etroitjewishnews.com ■ Shiva Trays ■ • ■ ■ ■ & complete meat, ■ chicken, fish or dairy ■ ■ dinners in a time of need. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ LaDifference ■ 7295 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield ■ • • ■ call 248.932.8934 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ www.ladifference.com ■ MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMM GLATT KOSHER A Treasured ear DIANA LIEBERMAN Staff Writer Under the Supervision of the Council of Orthodox Rabbis WE NOW HAVE SEATING FOR YOUR INDOOR DINING PLEASURE. FULL LINE OF COMPLETE HOMEMADE DINNERS AND MEAT OR FISH TRAYS WE CATER TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS 25270 Greenfield • Oak Park ( 248) 967-1161 MONUMENT CENTER INC. "Same Location 45 Years" 1;7411 • Monuments and Markers • Bronze Markers • Memorial Duplicating • Cemetery Lettering & Cleaning CEMETERY INSTALLATION ANYWHERE IN MICHIGAN Call 248-542-8266 661 E. 8 MILE ROAD FERNDALE 1 1/2 blocks East of Woodward ...■■■■■■ m O American Heart Associations-NV Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke 12/22 2000 118 Medical miracles start with research 7 he fairy-tale marriage of Richard and Karen Cohen Tessler lasted just over a year. But, in many ways, it was the happiest year of their lives. Best friends who'd lost touch after graduating from Oak Park High School in 1966, the two re- established that friendship at their 30-year high-school reunion in 1996. Within the next year, both Richard, who lived in California, and Karen, who had remained in Richard Tessler Michigan, communicated long distance. Their friendship grew into love, and they were married who sent him immediately to his fam- Oct. 16, 1999. An article about their ily doctor. A California neurologist romance and subsequent Las Vegas detected a brain tumor and Richard wedding soon appeared in the Mazel and Karen returned to Detroit for his Toy! section of the Jewish News. first surgery, performed Nov. 1, 1999, They were together nearly every at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. hour of every day until Dec. 10, 2000, The eventual diagnosis was a glioblas- when Richard, 52, died of brain cancer. toma sarcoma. Doctors gave him one A vivacious and generous man, he to five years to live. had co-owned a successful distributor- There were the pain-free months ship, Advantage Merchandise in San and the traumas of multiple surgeries. Diego, Calif , which specializes in The couple recently moved from California to Michigan for the support toys, school supplies and other prod- ucts sold in drug and discount stores. of family and friends, and to be closer About three years ago, he sold the dis- to Dr. Mark Rosenblum, the Henry tributorship and went to work for the Ford Hospital surgeon they had company. picked because of his work with the "We were so close," Karen said. late Ambassador David B. Hermelin. "We never had a fight in four years. "Richard felt that every day he "He said to me, 'If this had to hap- woke up with Karen next to him was pen, my comfort is, I found you again."' a blessing," said Karen's sister, Gail The disease that took Richard Zimmerman. "She felt blessed by Tessler's life was discovered immedi- Richard's all-encompassing love and ately after the pair returned to friendship." Richard's California home from their Barbara and Michael Alpert of honeymoon. Farmington Hills, Karen's friends for "We came home a day early 25 years, had attended the Tesslers' because he didn't feel well," his wife wedding and took them back to Las said. "We had a car accident and he Vegas to celebrate not only their one- thought it was his new glasses." year anniversary, but Richard's life. He visited his ophthalmologist, "He ran with us, he shopped with us, he schlepped with us from morning '61 night," Barbara said. "A couple of nights they stayed up later than we did." Alpert said she has never seen a couple so much in love. "Being with them was magical," she said. "They had so much to look for- ward to. " During the last week of Richard Tessler's life, his wife never left his side. Richard wanted to die at home surrounded and cared for by family and friends. He did that with the help of Hospice of Michigan. Among those spending long hours at his bedside were Richard's brother and sister-in- law, Paul and Psylvia Tessler of Arizona. He was able to say good-bye to Karen and his sons, Brandon and Adam, of California, with a kiss and an "I love you." "I have never seen anyone so brave," Alpert said. "He always thought he would be the miracle," said his wife. "He never asked, 'Why me?' He never lost his hope or his sense of humor. "I'll always treasure all the letters and cards we received during the past year from friends and co-workers, let- ting Richard know how much of a dif- ference he had made in their lives." Richard Tessler is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Cohen Tessler of West Bloomfield; sons, Brandon Tessler and Adam Tessler, both of San Diego, Brad Cohen of Farmington Hills; daughter, Samantha Cohen of Farmington Hills; brother and sister- in-law, Paul and Psylvia Tessler of Flagstaff, Az.; mother-in-law, Eleanor Dorfman of West Bloomfield; sister- in-law and brother-in-law, Gail and Lonny Zimmerman of Huntington Woods; aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Frank Tessler of Bloomfield Hills. He was the son of the late Albert and Frances Tessler. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery, Birmingham. Contributions may be made to the David B. Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, do Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202 or to Hospice of Michigan, 16250 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075. Arrangements by Dorfman Funeral Direction. ❑ -