Obituaries

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`Giant' in
Business,
Philanthropy

BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News

A

Alfred Deutsch

lfred Deutsch was a "giant" in the Jewish
community, in the business world and in
his family. He helped raise millions for
charity and guided a well-known savings-
and-loan empire from $100,000 to nearly $1 billion
in deposits over 25 years. But he also made sure he
greeted his father with a kiss each day at the office, a
gesture returned by his own three sons many times
in later years.
Mr. Deutsch, 87, of West Bloomfield died of heart
failure Nov. 6 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Retired for 15 years from the banking business, he
had been ill for several years.
"His passing marks the end of an era in the Jewish
community," said Rabbi Elliot Pachter of
Congregation B'nai Moshe. "He was a giant of a
man ... a giant among his family members, in his
career as a financier, as a philanthropist and at the
synagogue."
Born in New York, Mr. Deutsch came to the
Detroit area as a boy. He earned degrees from the
University of Michigan and Detroit College of Law,
served in the Army and blended into the Hungarian
community by joining B'nai Moshe, known as the

ABRAHAM VICTOR BIZER, 94,
of West
Bloomfield, died
Nov. 8. He was a
retired attorney
and founder of
Bizer
Sommers, which
was the starting
firm for
Sommers,
Schwartz &
Silver. Mr. Bizer
was a charter
Abraham Bizer

11/16

2001

140

"Hungarian shul." He later served as a congregation-
al president. Earlier this year, the synagogue "cam-
pus" was named after the Deutsch family.
Mr. Deutsch and his father, Adolph, launched
their highly successful banking career by founding
Citizens Mortgage Corp. in 1946, then American
Savings & Loan, which, with 18 branches, became
the largest thrift in Michigan. It merged with Erie
Savings Bank of New York in 1982 to form Empire
of America. Mr. Deutsch was the first Jewish presi-
dent of the Michigan Savings and Loan League. He
and his son, Dennis, later formed United Savings
Bank, now called Oakland Commerce Bank.
At the Nov. 8 funeral, another son, Robert,
remembered his father as a keen amateur Polaroid
camera photographer. He filled many albums with
photos of family members, family outings, his old
cars, their home in northwest Detroit, games at
Tiger Stadium, camp visiting days, and more.
"Most of us feel whatever we are is because of the
example he set for us," said Morris, his youngest son.
"He cut a wide swath through the world helping
people."

member of Temple Israel. He
attended Wayne State University
and graduated from the Detroit
College of Law.
Mr. Bizer is survived by his wife,
Frieda Bizer; daughter and son-in-
law, Judy and Dr. Burton Stillman
of West Bloomfield; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. Laurence and Linda
Bizer of New York; grandchildren,
Jeffrey and Nicole Stillman, Lauren
Stillman-Smith and Michael Smith,
Marc Bizer, David Bizer, Karen
Bizer; great-grandchildren, Noah

Mr. Deutsch's philanthropy and service in the
Detroit Jewish community were wide-ranging. In
1967-68, during the Six-Day War, he was chairman
of the Allied Jewish Campaign, and is a past presi-
dent of what is now the United Jewish Foundation.
He was past chairman of Sinai Hospital, and served
on the boards of what is now the Agency for Jewish
Education, the Fresh Air Society and the Jewish
Theological Seminary of America, which honored
him on his 85th birthday. The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit gave him a Lifetime
Achievement Award in June 2001.
Last November, he and his wife, Bernice, to whom
he was married for 55 years, started a $1 million
scholarship fund to help low-income families afford
a synagogue education for their children. During
Detroit Miracle Mission III to Israel, the Deutsches
dedicated a fund to restore the ancient synagogue in
Zippori, in the Central Galilee.
"He was a symbol of menschkeit (gentlemanly
behavior) with a solid reputation of kindness and
humanity in the community," Rabbi Pachter said in
his eulogy. "Since his death, many phone calls have
come in to the family from people around the coun-
try, expressing their sorrow at losing a great friend."
Mr. Deutsch is survived by his wife, Bernice
(Rosenberg); children Dennis of West Bloomfield;
Robert and Carol of North Carolina; Morris and
Nancy of Washington, D.C., and grandchildren
Robin, Andrew, Emily and Adam Deutsch. He was
the loving son of the late Adolph and Nina Deutsch;
brother of the late Robert Deutsch and Charles
Dodge; son-in-law of the late Morris Rosenberg and
the late Ruth Rosenberg Albert, and brother-in-law
of the late Elaine Canvasser and the late Walter
Rosenberg.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Congregation B'nai
Moshe in West Bloomfield or the Alfred and Bernice
Deutsch Fund at the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

❑

Stillman, Emily Smith, Justin Leder
and Daniel Leder. He was the loving
grandfather of the late David
Stillman; dear brother of the late
Rose Leion.
Interment at Oakview Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
David Stillman Scholarship Fund at
Temple Israel. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

LILLIAN CLAMAGE, 81, of West
Bloomfield, died Nov. 7.
She is survived by her sons and

daughter-in-law, Larry and Bella
Clamage of Laurel, Md., Steve
Clamage of San Diego; daughter
and son-in-law, Heather and Steven
Sperling of West Bloomfield; broth-
er and sister-in-law, Sam and Jinny
Faber of West Bloomfield; sister,
Gerry Litwak of Charlotte, N.C.;
grandchildren, Danny and Lisa
Sperling, Mindy and Michael Siegel,
Megan Sperling, Mara Clamage,
Aaron Clamage; great-grandchil-
dren, Josh Sperling, Jenna Sperling,
Shane Sperling, Devin Sperling,