arrior Of The Remembering Mr. Murray Human Spirit. Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjevvishnews.com DIANA LIEBERMAN Staff Writer H is name was Irving Pitt, but nearly everyone knew him as Mr. Murray — from his suppliers at Murray's Discount Auto Stores, to the cus- tomers he served with unfailing patience, to his friends and family. And whenever people called him "Mr. Murray, it was with affection and respect. Mr. Pitt, 88, of Farmington Hills, died Nov. 2 after a long illness. The founder of Murray's Ace Hardware in Redford and co-founder, with his late brother Albert, of Murray's Discount Auto, he was also a generous contributor to many charities and organ- izations. Most recently, he and his wife, Sarah, were major benefactors of the new preschool at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, which was named the Sarah and Irving Pitt Child Development Center in their honor. "Their contribution has meant a whole new won- derful experience for all the kids who attend here," said Fredelle Schneider, the center's director. "We were glad the facility was complet- ed, with his name on it, while he could still have the enjoyment of know- ing we were using it." Irving Pitt Murray Pitt of Bloomfield Hills said his father never turned down a request for charity. "No matter how small, whenever someone asked for help, he gave." Other organizations that continue to benefit from the Pitts' generosity include Kadima, Yad Ezra, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, the Jewish Ensemble Theatre, ambulances for the State of Israel and City of Hope. It was through City of Hope that Mr. Pitt met his close friend, Nathan Light of West Bloomfield. "He was an unbelievable human being," Light said. "He worked hard, he and his wife, for years and years. In all the years I knew him — 30 years — he's the only man I ever knew who never used a word of profanity." The two men became close after Mr. Pitt lent Mr. Light money to keep his business afloat. Every week, Light dropped in at the Pitts' home to pay a portion of his debt until it was all paid up. "One day, he calls me: 'When you owed us money, we'd see you all the time. Now we never see you," Light said. "From then on, he'd go on vacation, he'd call me; when I'd go, I'd call him." Mr. Pitt was not always able to lend money to others. "From 1935 to the 1970s, it was a matter of putting food on the table," said Rabbi Harold Loss of Temple Israel at Mr. Pitt's funeral. - "He worked hard all his life. He never complained — he actually loved it." Born in Lodz, Poland, Mr. Pitt was brought to the United States as a child. He wanted to be a pharmacist, but lack of money stopped him from achieving this goal. Instead, he tried many business ventures — from selling "dollar" insurance policies to operating a fish market from a truck. "One of the prime rea- sons for his success was his brother Albert. He helped him out when he needed money," said Murray Pitt. "Family was very important to him. He was a loving husband for 66 years. He and my mother worked together maybe 40 Of those years — the only thing on their agenda was each other." Mr. Pitt is survived by his wife, Sarah; sons and daughters-in-law, Murray and Ina Pitt of Bloomfield Hills; Leonard Pitt of California, Barry and Jane Pitt of Birmingham, grandchildren Erin Richards, Jeffrey Pitt, Stephen Pitt, Jesse Pitt and Joanna Pitt; great-grandson, Asher Pitt Richards; sister, Ruth Lichterman of Farmington Hills and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ada Bohn and Arthur Doctor. He was devoted grandfather of the late Gregory Richards; loving brother of the late Albert Pitt; dear brother-in-law of the late Gerald Lichterman, the late Doris Pitt and the late Herman Bohn. Interment at Beth El MemorW Park. Contributions may be made to Yad Ezra, 26641 Harding, Oak Park, MI 48237. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑ T he high--tech happy warrior's memo- ries live on for the family of the man they loved and affectionately called their "Beepa." Eugene l(raft of Bloomfield fiills, chairman of the Romulus-based Serra-Restokra.ft Mattress Co., died of heart failure at 83 on Nov. 1 at his winter home in Boca Raton, Fla. He had been on kidney dialysis for many years and suffered from diabetes. Mr. fKraft was an astute businessman and inventor who loved fast cars and a.lways ended phone conversations with his gancichildren by saying: "Never stop loving me." He was a man whose time studies helped make an A.rmy munitions plant run more effi- ciently during World War 11, who came up with the idea of putting1w4es on the sides of mat- ..tl\v1410 was a , liies$ -.-..v„-.4.,. ., s" h . , . : : , :! . 7 ' Il Niffilligli:404 l it: ! . !!" 4#0 . :!!.*,, savi ,-. i l . l i m leii,,,. 0 14:::"Flitsitr —w a. -- ..,,,.,,,,,,;L..„„ TiZM. . . . „„ watat' 3.,,, .wt" ....-.4kgfig. ..,,,,,i,,,,, ,,, EnittawitailivOlift&tittitd : - &..4ov ..v.fm