the hospitals there and have embarrass-
Clinic, and then Sinai Hospital of
ing and dehumanizing experiences of
Detroit. "We're a Jewish health care
sitting around in cold waiting rooms.
group and we try to help medical caus-
The patient waiting rooms at the
es everywhere," she said. "We're pleased
new center give them privacy. And
and proud to have our permanent
while they're undergoing chemotherapy
home in the new Weisberg Cancer
– sometimes up to six hours a day
Center.
they look out on pleasant gardens and a
Dr. Forman, 44, will manage the
waterfall. And they'll have access to
center and 20 employees in an alliance
computers and reading material. Even
with Detroit's Karmanos Cancer
the radiation room, with five-foot-thick
Institute. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y.,
walls, is pleasant with bright lights ...
he dreamed of a basketball career until
it's not a bunker."
a knee operation forced him to the
After losing family members and
sidelines. He attended Union College,
friends to cancer, and with the resources
New York University Medical School,
to make a difference, theWeisbergs
then Johns Hopkins University in
asked Dr. Forman how they could help,
Baltimore, where he became a prostate
then made the financial commitment
cancer specialist, followed by a stint at
for the new center as their legacy to the
New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering
community. Married for 51 years, the
Hospital. He was lured to the
Weisbergs met at the University of
Some of the Weisberg Center's new state-of-the-art equipment.
University of Michigan Hospital, then
Illinois. Her father, Dr. Alfred Lautman,
Oakland County's Providence Hospital
invented Iodent toothpaste that was popular nationwide in the middle of the
Cancer Center.
20th century
Dr. Forman now is chief radiation oncologist at Detroit Medical Center and
Weisberg was active in that business, but now is president of Personal Care
chairman of Wayne State University's radiation oncology department. He and
Products, a company he formed 20 years ago that manufactures private-label toi-
his wife, Miriam, have three children.
letries and lotions for nationwide chain stores. The Weisbergs have three chil-
"I specialize in two areas," he explained, "prostate cancer and taking care of
dren, travel extensively and are involved in several communal activities. A for-
sick friends and relatives of friends and relatives ... I get very involved with
mer teacher, Idell volunteers in Reach for Recovery, an organization that helps
them. It's heartbreaking to see people I know pass away after putting up valiant
breast cancer patients.
fights against cancer. A place like the Weisberg Center will allow us to continue
our research and have naches from our work in the cancer struggle."
A glimmer of hope is a 5 percent reduction in prostate cancer in recent years,
Personal Involvement
although about 200,000 new cases are discovered yearly.
Construction of the center was a "hands-on" project for the Weisbergs, who
Laker praises Dr. Forman as a "doctor's doctor," who often calls his patients
selected the furniture and purchased about 100 paintings and other pieces of
to see how they're doing and is always available — early morning, late at night
contemporary art, much of it during trips to New York. "We even installed fire-
or on weekends. "And he diverts much of his compensation to a non-profit
places because we wanted to create a lodge atmosphere with a pine-wood interi-
organization that does cancer research ... really a selfless gesture on the part of a
or," said Weisberg.
physician."
The Sinai Guild, which has three staff members and 400 volunteers, got
President of Ace-Tech in Detroit, a wiping cloth company founded 55 years
involved in the Weisberg Center because it no longer has a hospital to care for,
ago, Laker has made significant contributions to charities for years. Now,
according to Rusty Rosman of Commerce, in her second year as president. The
Weisberg has joined him. Said Laker, "With Jeff Forman at the helm, the
guild, now with 1,500 members, was formed in 1952 to assist the North End
Weisberg Cancer Center will be a haven of hope for a lot of people." ❑
Sukkah Hopping
For YAD, Circle
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Young Adult Division and the
children of the Friendship Circle will have a progressive sukkah-hopping party
3:45- 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.
Couples and singles, ages 21-35, will gather in the sukkah with children of
the Friendship Circle and their families for singing, arts and crafts and games.
The venue will be a West Bloomfield neighborhood near Halsted and Walnut
Lake roads. Admission is free and snacks will be provided.
The reservation deadline is Monday, Oct. 1. For information or reservations,
contact Alaine Waldshan, (248) 203-1486 or waldshan@jfmd.org
Attorneys, Judges
Meet Law Students
The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, Detroit Chapter,
will host its fifth annual networking reception designed to acquaint Jewish law
students in metropolitan Detroit with the area's Jewish judges and lawyers.
The reception will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Detroit offices
of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, 150 W Jefferson. The event is free to
law students.
For reservations, contact Max Newman, (248) 540-3340 or
mnewman@schaeferandweiner.com
Scene
Happenings
For college age through 30-something.
Sept. 23 7:30 p.m. B'nai B'rith Leadership Network alternate Sundays bowling
league at Country Lanes, Farmington. Call Stuart Collis, (734) 459-4451 or
BBLN_2000@yahoo.com
Sept. 30 Sunday, 7-11 p.m. YAD "Java and Jazz" party in the garden of the
Whitney Restuaurant, Detroit (indoors if it rains). Dessert reception, jazz
combo, coffees and a cash bar. Cost: $20. Call Jon Goldstein, (248) 203-1471
or goldstein@jfmd.org
To have your programs listed, contact Jonathan Goldstein at the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, (248) 203-1471, or gohistein@jfincLorg or
Alan Hitsky at the Jewish News, (248) 354-6060 or
ahitsky@thejewishnews.COM
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