Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com
Labor Of Love
School in 1951, he joined a worker-oriented firm
composed of local labor law pioneers Nicholas Rothe,
D. Charles Marston, Theodore Bohn, William Mazey
and George Edwards.
ehind all the honors and accolades that
came so readily to labor attorney Theodore
He remained there his entire career, representing
Sachs, were the long hours he devoted to
police, firefighters, teachers and other union clients
his cause.
— while working to improve the labor laws of the
state.
Mr. Sachs, who championed the rights of union
workers throughout his 45-year career, left a huge
In Michigan, Mr. Sachs served as general counsel
imprint on labor law in Michigan.
to both the Democratic Party and the AFL-CIO.
Mr. Sachs, of West Bloomfield, died
Longtime law partner Rolland
March 5 at age 72. He retired after suffering
O'Hare described Mr. Sachs as an ide-
a stroke five years ago.
alist "who had decided that politics and
In the courtroom, his meticulous
the law were the places where you were
attention to detail, analytical command
going to improve the lot of working
of law and eloquence of argument
people. That was a relationship that
caused colleagues and clients alike to
Ted understood extremely well and
regard him as one of the top labor attor-
used extremely well."
neys in the country.
On more that one occasion, when
Many local judges regarded Ted Sachs as
he saw a deficiency in the law, Mr.
the finest attorney that had ever appeared
Sachs would write a new one and turn
before them, said Mark Steckloff, Mr. Sachs'
to the Democrats for enactment.
partner at the Detroit-based law firm, Sachs Theodore Sachs
He drafted the laws solidifying pub-
Waldman, P.C. His hard work, honesty and
lic employees' right to organize in
impeccable ethics would impress judges,
1965, and giving police and firefighters
Steckloff said.
the right to arbitration in 1969.
At the funeral, Rabbi David Nelson of
Mr. Sachs also was a giant in appellate and consti-
Congregation Beth Shalom related how, as a youth,
tutional law. In 1962, in the United States Supreme
Mr. Sachs saw his father's working and living condi-
Court, he won a case establishing the principle of
dons improve greatly once the cleaning plant he
one person-one vote," overturning the method of
worked in was unionized.
drawing Michigan Senate districts that diluted the
Thus, Ted Sachs found his calling: aiding working
voting strength of urban areas.
people. After graduating University of Michigan Law
Mr. Sachs also won victories in the Michigan and
DAVID SACHS
Copy Editor
B
"
U.S. supreme courts protecting worker compensation
benefits and union fees for collective bargaining costs.
Mr. Sachs, along with progressive management
lawyers, fostered a state bar association that was sensi-
tive to workers rights, O'Hare said.
"When you have to rely on administrative hearings
or the legislative process, having the organized bar
have a social conscience is really quite important in
that process."
Mr. Sachs was an advocate for civil liberties and
civil rights, serving with both the ACLU and the
NAACP.
Son Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at
Harvard University, spoke at the funeral and said,
"My father unleashed a torrent of love and justice and
joy that will radiate outward throughout our lives and
those to come."
Theodore Sachs is survived by his wife of 50 years,
Joan Sachs; daughter Andrea Sachs of New York City;
son and daughter-in-law Professor Jeffrey and Dr.
Sonia Ehrlich Sachs of Cambridge, Mass.; grandchil-
dren Lisa, Adam and Hannah Sachs and brother-in-
law and sisters-in-law Dr. Gerald and Gloria Abrams
and Mary Sachs.
Mr. Sachs was the dear brother of the late Maurice
Sachs, the late Sidney Sachs, the late Sol Sachs and
the late Freda Handelsman.
Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the Theodore
Sachs Fund, University of Michigan Law School,
Development Office, 721 S. State Street, Ann
Arbor, MI 48104-3071. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. ❑
A Life Dedicated To Helping Kids See
D
Matthew Rabinowicz,
known for a gentle humor
and indomitable spirit, devot-
ed his life to helping children
with visual disabilities regain their sight.
Confined to a wheelchair for more
that 20 years, he overcame his own
physical disability to become renowned
as a pediatric eye surgeon, teacher of
ophthalmology and keynote speaker at
medical conferences and symposia
throughout the world.
Dr. Rabinowicz, of Bloomfield Hills,
died on Saturday, March 10, at the age
of 64.
"Although an academic and leader in
his field, his kindness, gentleness and
caring for his patients is what made my
husband stand out," said Lisa, his wife
of 33 years. "My husband taught me
many things about overcoming one's
own suffering."
Born in Vienna and educated in
E
England, Dr. Rabinowicz was a graduate
of Trinity College at the University of
Cambridge and the Westminster
Hospital Medical School. He went on to
teach anatomy at the University of
Cambridge.
His pioneering work with blind chil-
dren began in 1967 at Hadassah
University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel,
where he worked as a fellow in retinal
and ocular pathology. A residency at
Moorfields Eye Hospital was followed
by a fellowship at the Great Ormond St.
Hospital for Sick Children, both in
London, and research appointments in
neurosurgery and ophthalmology at
Atkinson Morley's Hospital in London.
Dr. Rabinowicz came to the United
States in 1974 when he was named a
fellow in pediatric ophthalmology at the
Wills Eye Hospital and St. Christopher's
Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, and
also at the Children's Hospital in
Washington, D.C. He was appointed
chief of pediatric ophthalmology and
American College of Eye Surgeons and
assistant professor at the University of
the International College of Surgeons.
Florida in 1975. He
Dr. Rabinowicz is survived
accepted an appointment
by his wife, Lisa; daughter
to the faculty at the
Anna; mother Sarah; brothers
Kresge Eye Institute of
Jacob Rabinowitch and
Wayne State University
Martin; sister-in-law Tova;
in 1980 and served as
and brother-in-law Michael
chief of pediatric oph-
Goldin.
thalmology at Children's
Interment was in New York.
Hospital of Michigan
There will be a memorial ser-
until 1985, when he
vice at Congregation Shaarey
entered private practice.
Zedek on April 1 at 2 p.m.
circa 1970s
He was named a fel-
Contributions may be
low of the Royal College Dr. Matthew Rabinowicz made to American Cancer
of Surgeons and Royal
Society, 18505 West 12 Mile
Society of Medicine in 1973. He found-
Road, Southfield, MI 48076 or the
ed the Ophthalmic Section of the
American Committee for the
American Academy of Pediatrics and
Weizmann Institute of Science, 6735
was honored as a fellow of the American
Telegraph Road, Suite 365, Bloomfield
Academy of Ophthalmology, the
Twp., MI 48301. Arrangements by Ira
American Association of pediatric
Kaufman Chapel.
Editorial .Assistant Bobbi Charnas con-
Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the
tributed to this obituary.
American Academy of Pediatrics, the
❑