This Week
A Humble
Award Winner
Doreen Hermelin earns the Federation's highest honor for
her nonstop involvement in the Jewish community.
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
T
he process for selecting Doreen Hermelin as
Detroit Jewry's 2001 winner of the presti-
gious Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award was
one of the fastest in history
The 16-member selection committee, comprised of
previous winners of the award and current officers of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, made the
decision in a matter of minutes, according to committee
members. And she still can't get over the fact she won.
"I'm completely overwhelmed," said the 62-year-
old Hermelin, whose late husband, U.S. Ambassador
to Norway David Hermelin, won the same honor in
1996. "David deserved the award because he worked
tirelessly for the community and Jewish people
everywhere, but I don't deserve it."
No one agrees with her.
"David was like a honeybee who got around to all
of the flowers in the community and took care of
everything and everyone's needs," explained incom-
ing Federation President Lawrence Jackier of West
Bloomfield. "Doreen has stayed back among the
roses, making significant contributions on her own
... offering a unique, calm perspective and insight on
many issues. She definitely deserves the award."
Outgoing Federation President Penny Blumenstein
of Bloomfield Hills agreed. "Doreen won the award
hands down ... it was a slam-dunk," she said. "She
never says no to anything you ask her to do. She takes
on a heavy load and gets everything done. She's
remarkable. She's a role model for anyone who aspires
to a leadership position in the Jewish community"
The Federation will present the award to Hermelin
at a combined annual meeting with the United
Jewish Foundation at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. The
Butzel Award, the Jewish community's highest honor
for distinguished communal service, is named for the
late Fred M. Butzel, well known in the Detroit area
for his devotion to humanitarian causes.
In its unanimous selection of Hermelin, the
Federation cited her record of volunteer activism,
demonstrating her devotion to the local Jewish com-
munity and Jewish people everywhere.
She is on the Federation's Board of Governors
executive committee and has been a Federation vice
president. She is a longtime member of the
9/21
2001
18
Theatre and Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
where she is a 43-year member.
Last year, in partnership with Bloomfield
Hills philanthropist William Davidson, the
Hermelins created the Hermelin-Davidson
Center for Congregation Excellence
through the Federation/United Jewish
Foundation Millennium Fund for Detroit's
Jewish Future.
She previously earned the State of
Israel Bonds' Woman of Valor Award,
B'nai B'rith Humanitarian Award and
United Way's Heart of Gold. She has
been honored by Yad Ezra (the Oak
Park-based kosher food pantry) and
Women's American ORT.
Trying To Help
Despite all these accomplishments, she
still is skeptical about winning the
Butzel Award.
"There are other people in the Jewish
community who probably should have
gotten it over me — and my children
get upset with me when I say that," she
mused.
"But I've tried my best to help people
in the community — and keep up the
family tradition. David and I comple-
mented each other very well in commu-
nity activities ... and now I just have to
do it alone."
Hermelin was busy raising five chil-
dren while her husband — who was
Doreen Hermelin, on
never a "sitter-arounder" — began spread-
Federation Women's Campaign and
the porch of her
ing good will in the community and earn-
Education Department, and co-
Bingham Farms home.
ing an international reputation as a leader,
chaired the former Allied Jewish
business entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Campaign (now Federation's Annual
"When the kids grew up, I figured, 'Well, if you
Campaign) in 1993. She was president of the Lion
can't beat 'em, then join 'em.' So I started working at
of Judah Section and chaired the United Jewish
the lower levels of various organizations, then mov-
Appeal Midwest Regional Women's Division.
ing up the ladder and getting more committed and
Hermelin has served on the boards of United
involved as I learned more. And David always
Hebrew Schools, Jewish Family Service and the Jewish
encouraged me to ger active, just as I always sup-
Home and Aging Services' Women's Auxiliary She has
ported him and enjoyed seeing him do his work in
been active with the National Council of Jewish
the community. I tried to follow the example he set
Women, Hadassah, Bar-Ilan University, Alzheimer's
... he \vas a great teacher."
Association, Michigan Parkinson's Foundation,
David Hermelin died of brain cancer Nov. 22 at
Detroit's IKarmanos Cancer Institute, Michigan Opera