Obituaries

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PAUL KOHN'S

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Something About Rachel

Rachel was like a daughter to me, so
precious and so delicate."
After her death, each class at the
lthough Rachel Kopelman, in school wrote a page in a memory book,
recounting how knowing Rachel had
her brief 20 years, had limit-
affected their lives.
ed use of her hands, she still
"She and her remarkable family
managed to touch so many
taught us how to love unconditionally,"
others, both children and adults.
said the principal. "She taught us how
And though Rett's Syndrome, a
to be patient and understanding of oth-
genetic neurological disorder, also pre-
ers. She taught us kind-
vented her from speaking, the
ness in abundance. But
wheelchair-bound Rachel still
she taught us to have
was called to the Torah as a bat
courage."
mitzvah at Temple Israel seven
Rachel's father, Jeff
years ago. _
Kopelman, agreed.
Rabbi Paul Yedwab, who also
"Rachel taught us every-
officiated at her funeral Jan. 2,
thing we needed to
found Rachel's bat mitzvah one
know about life."
of his most profound experi-
On Friday, Jan. 12, at
ences.
West
Maple's Martin
"It was a very powerful and
Luther King Jr. Day
meaningful spiritual moment in
assembly, Rachel was
my life and I believe it was such
honored posthumously
a moment for everyone who
Rachel Kopelman
with the school's Dream
was privileged enough to be in
Maker of 2001 award.
that small sanctuary that morn-
Said the principal, "Dr. King believed
ing," the rabbi said at her funeral.
that the singular way that a person
"This bat mitzvah [girl] could not
should be judged is by the content of
form the syllables but ... it was as if God
their character, and Rachel lived her life
came and read the words through her.
with amazing grace. She showed us how
She glowed ... It was one of those magi-
much character counts."
cal *moments that only comes around
Said Rabbi Yedwab, "She was able to
once in a rabbinical career.
bring out the best in everyone around
"There was something about
her.
Rachel," added Rabbi Yedwab. 'And I
"You were able to see the soul of
think it was the happiness in her lifel-
Rachel
Kopelman, not through the
a happiness that she derived from h
work of her hands, or through the
parents and her sister — just radiated
words of her mouth, but through her
from her. Rachel could not talk, but she
eyes, and they shined with God's light,"
sure could communicate."
he said.
Rachel died Dec. 29 from the effects
"For once you knew Rachel
of Rett's Syndrome, a crippling disorder
Kopelman for five minutes, you were
that primarily affects girls, discovered in
hers forever."
1960s by Austrian Dr. Andreas Rett.
Rachel is survived by her parents,
It was the doctor himself who diag-
Jeffrey I. and Sandra S. Kopelman; sister
nosed Rachel when she was 7 years old.
Lisa Kopelman and fiance Aaron
Although girls afflicted cannot commu-
Fenberg; grandmothers Rose Schachter
nicate verbally or willfully use their
of Southfield and Irene Kopelman of
hands, they are known for their extreme-
Oklahoma. She was the loving grand-
ly expressive, often charismatic eyes.
Rachel not only demanded love and • daughter of the late David J. Schachter
and the late Martin Kopelman.
attention, she gave it back too, in
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
boundless measure. She was adored by
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
her older sister, Lisa, as well as the stu-
to International Rett Syndrome
dents and staff at West Maple
Association Research Fund, 9121
Elementary School in Bloomfield
Piscataway Road, Suite 2B, Clinton,
Township, where she would spend after-
MD 20735 or Wing Lake
noons while her mother worked in the
Developmental Center, 6490 Wing
office.
Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
At Rachel's funeral, West Maple
48301. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Principal Gail Beasley said, "She was the
Chapel.
heart and the sweetheart of our school.

DAVID SACHS

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JOHN J. BARSDORF, 81, of
Farmington Hills, died Jan. 9.
He is survived by his wife, Carole
Barsdorf; daughters and sons-in-law,
Denise and Carl Greenberg of
Chesterfield, Mo., Ruth and Ben
Miller of Des Plaines, Ill.; stepson,
Jeffrey Sherman of Simi Valley,
Calif.; stepdaughter, Arlene Sherman
of Westland; grandchildren, Bryan,
Henry, Rebecca, Elyse, Jamie. Mr.
Barsdorf was the beloved husband of
the late Betty Barsdorf.
Contributions may be made to
American Heart Association, P.O.
Box 721129, Berkley, MI 48072 or
American Cancer Society, 29350
Southfield, Suite 110, Southfield,
MI 48076. Interment at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

SUSAN J. BERG, 56, of Bloomfield
Hills, died Jan. 13. She was a
teacher in Madison Heights and the
Lamphere District and a substitute
in Bloomfield Hills. Mrs. Berg
received her master's degree from
Wayne State University in
guidance and counseling and her
undergraduate degree in education
from the University of Michigan.
She was a past president of the •
University of Michigan Women's
Alumni and a national board mem-
ber.
Mrs. Berg is survived by her hus-
band, Laurence Berg; daughters,
Allison Berg of Washington, D.C.,
Jessica Berg of Bloomfield Hills;
mother, Molly Levitt of Southfield;
brother, Dr. Michael Levitt of
Maryland; sister-in-law and brother-
in-law, Shelly and Dr. Michael
Schermer. She was the loving daugh-
ter of the late Sam Levitt.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be directed to Gilda's Club.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

HEDY BROWN, 78, of Southfield,
died Jan. 12. She was a party store
owner. She was a member of B'nai
B'rith.
Mrs. Brown is survived by her
daughter and son-in-law, Mona and
Mark Dembs of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Marla and Lewis
Rasmussen, Cindy Dembs and
fiance, Brian Horgan, Lisa Dembs;
great-grandchildren, Brandon and
Payton Rasmussen. She was the
beloved wife of the late Sidney
Brown.
Interment at Beth El Memorial