Obituaries

Richard Hertz Discretionary Fund at
Temple Beth El. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

A Happy Life

HENRY COHEN, 54, of Farmington

LESLIE ZACK
College Intern

A

aron Merzin felt he lived in
Paradise.
He proclaimed so with
the "Gan Eden" (Garden of
Eden) sign posted among the plants
and flowers in front of his West
Bloomfield home.
Mr. Merzin and his wife, Shirley,
spent nearly 60 years together, watch-
ing a love, a life and a family blossom
in front of their eyes.
Mr. Merzin died Jan. 1 at age 80.
Born in 1921 in Brooklyn, Mr.
Merzin married Shirley in November
1942 before going off to Europe to
serve in the Army. With World War
II's end in 1945, he returned to civil-
ian life and began selling Army surplus
furniture. The broken desks he
repaired and resold became the foun-
dation of a lifelong business in office
furniture sales.
In 1952, Detroit Office Equipment
on Linwood was opened. Next to his
family, the business was Mr. Merzin's
life. His 50 years as president lasted
until his death.
Rabbi Aaron Bergman, formerly of
Mr. Merzin's synagogue, Congregation
Beth Ahm, spoke at the funeral. Rabbi
Bergman remembered how his friend
often kibitzed him about the need to
refurnish the rabbi's office there.
'Aaron would bring in so many cata-
logues to look at," said the rabbi.
Around the house, Mr. Merzin
would always wear a skipper's cap,
recalled his children, Donna, Mitchell,
Neil and Jeffrey. They agreed that it
well fit his personality as "skipper of
the ship."
"My dad acted as though his house
was a hotel and he was the manager,"

STANLEY CLAMAGE, 88, of Oak

wpwl

1/11
2002

98

Park, died Jan. 3. He was a manufactur-
ers representative and the owner of S. J.
Clamage Associates. He was also a Torah
scholar, a lay rabbi in
Alpena for High
Holidays, taught Torah
classes at Temple Beth
El. In addition to being
a Temple Beth El mem-
ber, he lectured for
Temple Beth El on
Torah study and led
Stanley
High Holiday services
Clamage
in Battle Creek

Aaron Merzin

circa 1975

said Jeffrey Merzin. "He always sat in
his kitchen chair reading the newspa-
per so he could watch everything that
was going on."
Jack Merzin, Aaron's younger
brother said, 'Aaron molded his chil-
dren with his concept of good service
and honesty" For over five decades,
customers returned to his store
because of his reputable way of doing
business, he said. Now, Mr. Merzin's
three sons run the two stores of the
family business.
"My dad's word was his bond," said
eldest son, Mitchell.
Mr. Merzin is survived by his wife,
Shirley; sons and daughters-in-law,
Neil Merzin of West Bloomfield,
Mitchell and Cathy Merzin of West
Bloomfield, Jeffrey and Rhonda
Merzin of West Bloomfield; daughter
and son-in-law, Donna and Warren
Sacks of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; broth-
, er and sister-in-law, Jack and Barbara
Merzin of Woodhaven, N.Y.; sister-in-
law and brother-in-law, Doreen and
Marvin Billet; grandchildren, Alex,
Max, Joshua, Monica and Elizabeth
Merzin and Erica, Amy and Jessica
Sacks.
He was the beloved grandfather of
the late Steven Sacks.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Interment was
at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chape1.7

Mr. Clamage is survived by his wife,
Selma Clamage; daughters and sons-in-
law, Frayda and Don Riger of
Farmington Hills, Dena and David
McFadden of Massachusetts, Lois and
David Armstrong of Arizona; grandchil-
dren, David Riger, Jeffrey Riger, Eric
Riger, Daniel and Krista McFadden,
Robert McFadden, Sara Armstrong. He
was the Ibving son of the late David and
the late Minnie Clamage; dear brother of
the late Burton Clamage and the late
Maurice Clamage.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made. to Rabbi

Hills, died Dec. 31. He was an attorney
and an alumnus of Wayne State
University.
He is survived by his brother and sis-
ter-in-law, Nathan and Meredith
Altshuler of Virginia; nieces and nephew,
Linnea and Andrew Renton, Alyssa
Altshuler; former wife, Diane Cohen.
Mr. Cohen was the dear brother of the
late Robert Cohen; loving uncle of the
late Anthea Altshuler.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

CHARLES ECKMAN, 90, of Sterling

Heights, died Jan. 3. He was a retired
tool crib manager for Ford Motor
Company.
Mr. Eckman is survived by his daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Nancy and Richard
Coulon of Sterling Heights; sons and
daughters-in-law, Gerald and Janice
Eckman of Sterling Heights„ Douglas
and Sharon Eckman of Florida; 12
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;
daughter-in-law, Jean Eckman. He was
the loving father of the late Richard
Eckman; dear brother of the late Sophie
Eckman and the late Esther Eckman.
Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the
Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

RITA FISHMAN, 80, of Farmington

Hills, died Dec. 31. She was a member
of Temple Israel.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, David and Donna
Fishman of Bloomfield Hills, Dr. Robert
and Paula Fishman of
Grosse Pointe Park;
daughter and son-in-law,
Edie and Jimmy
Schneider of West
Bloomfield; grandchil-
dren, Barry, Aaron, Eric,
Adam and Daniel
Fishman, Andrea, Emily Rita Fishman
and Julie Schneider,
Donny, Danielle and
Jason Vernier; sisters-in-law and brother-
in-law, Sarah Ceifetz and Dorothy and
Irving Burke. Mrs. Fishman was the
beloved wife of the late Milton Fishman;
loving sister of the late Harry Ceifetz, the
late Louis Ceifetz; dear sister-in-law of
the late Pearl Ceifetz.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

JACK GOREN, 78, of Southfield, died

Jan. 6.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Evelyn; daughters and sons-in-law,
Barbara and Dr. Curt Freedland of
Odessa, Fla., Susan and Jay Kalisky of
West Bloomfield; sister and brother-in-
law, Diana and Morris Bensman of
West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Alana
Freedland, Jared Freedland, Josh
Kalisky and Chad Kalisky. He was the
beloved brother of the late Ruth
Kellman Monheit.
Contributions may be made to
Congregation B'nai Moshe. Interment
at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

ARTHUR GREENFIELD, 84, of

Farmington Hills, died Jan. 4.
He is survived by his sons and
daughters-in-law, Allen and Joan
Greenfield of Bloomfield Hills, Norman
and Rochelle Greenfield of Bloomfield
Hills; daughter and son-in-law, Susan
(Dr. Lawrence Abramson) Greenfield of
Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren,
Andrew, Jeffrey, Lisa, Lauren, Dana,'
Rebecca and Kate. He was the beloved
husband of the late Belle Greenfield.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Wayne State University or to the
Wayne State University Law School.
Arrangements by the Dorfman Chapel.

SYLVIA HEIDEMAN, 87, former

Detroiter of Mankato, Minn., died Jan.
7. She sang with a number of choral
groups in the Detroit area.
She is survived by her daughters and
sons-in-law, Judith and Paul Brandon of
Mankato, Susan (Fred Hapgood)
Heideman of Boston, Mass.; sister,
Elaine Goodman of New York City;
grandchildren, Joshua (Lana) Holden,
Daniel (Karen Wilkinson) Brandon.
Mrs. Heideman was the beloved wife of
the late Philip Heideman; mother of
the late Ruth Krieger.
Interment at Workmen's Circle
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the Alzheimer's Disease & Related
Disorders, 17220 W 12 Mile Road,
Southfield, MI 48076 or to a charity of
one's choice. Arrangements by the
Dorfman Chapel.

JASON KANFER, 33, of Los Angeles,

died Dec. 30. He was an electrician.
He is survived by his parents,
Michele and Max Dubrinsky of Troy;
brothers, Darin Kanfer of Royal Oak,
Andrew Kanfer of Chicago; stepbroth-
ers and stepsister, Steven Dubrinsky and
Mark and Gloria Dubrinsky.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to