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D E S I RE

Injured great-grandmother wheels, instead of walks, with the Olympic Torch,
joining other Detroit-area Jews.

The 87-year-old Southfield great-grandmother
slipped and fell on Dec. 20 while distributing
holiday packages for the Southfield Goodfellows,
one of her many volunteer projects. Following
surgery, she has been recovering at the Evergreen
Health and Living Center in Southfield.
But she didn't let the accident deter her from
the special honor.
Dressed in the torchbearers' white uniform, she
carried the 3-1/2 pound, yardstick-tall, metal-
and-glass torch flit- two-tenths of a mile, from
Fifth Street to 11 Mile. She was pushed by a
Winter Olympics staffer. The crowd, which had
turned the event into the Frank Family Festival,
cheered, waved American flags and Olympic ban-
ners and snapped photos as Olympic music
blared. The group included Frank's two sons,
Dennis of West Bloomfield and Allen of Lansing;
her four grandchildren, Brian and Danny of
Lansing, Jeff of West Bloomfield and Julie of San
Francisco; her 6-month-old great-grandson, Ryan,
son of Julie and Jeff Frank of West Bloomfield;
and other out-of-town guests. Allen Frank had
nominated her for the honor.
"I told the surgeon," said Gretl Frank, "that he
better do the operation right, because I wanted to
carry the torch, no matter what." She also wanted
to know when she can drive again to handle her
volunteer work for schools and charities.
She stayed in a van until the relay got started,
then was swamped for television interviews after-
ward.

Husband-Wife

Taking over the trek at 11 Mile was Bedonna
Perish, whose torch was lit by Frank. Bedonna
and her husband, Bob, a retired couple from
Farmington Hills, were nominated by their
daughter, Meredith. Meredith participated in the
relay last month in Washington, D.C., where she
lives.
The Perishes ran the distance; Bedonna had
planned to walk, but got caught up in the spirit
of the event and started running — also to the
cheers of family and friends. "It was a wonderful
experience," she said, "very emotional and drain-
ing."
Dr. Ted Schwartzenfeld of West Bloomfield, an
ear, nose and throat specialist, and an avid run-
TORCH on page 24

.

BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News

Gretl Frank couldn't walk following a hip injury, but
rolled her way with the Olympic Torch in Royal Oak.

L

ing the route of the 2002 Winter Olympics Torch
Relay.
Determined not to lose out on this "once in her
lifetime" opportunity, she was one of a number of
local Jews to participate in the metro Detroit
event, which precedes the February games in Salt
Lake City, Utah.

et's roll, Gretl," . read the sign in the
crowd. And, despite a fractured hip and
wrist, Gretl Frank rolled — in her
wheelchair — up Main Street in Royal
Oak, carrying the Olympic flame Sunday. She was
cheered bymore than 100 family members and
friends and a few thousand other well-wishers lin-

1/11

2002

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