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An Active, Loving Couple
pianist and was adventuresome, while
challenging other drivers to drag races
Gerald Gorzeck had a more serious side.
on Orchard Lake Road. If the investiga-
But the center of their lives was their
tion determines drag racing was a factor,
blended family to
manslaughter
uring their 14 years of mar-
whom
they gave
charges could result,
riage --L-- the second for both
unconditional
love,
police said.
— Barbara Jane Gorzeck
as
they
insisted
orr
. The Gorzecks'
and Gerald Gorzeck did
celebrating
every
sudden deaths
almost everything together.
family occasion
shocked and horri-
They were very active at Temple Beth
together.
fied
their
combined
El, volunteered for charities, went danc-
The Gorzecks were
'families. "This is
ing, golfing, jogging and bowling, ush-
committed
to volun-
ered at theaters, traveled — and just had such a tragedy ...
teerism
and
helping
they were extremely
fun.
others.
Barbara
healthy people and
On the night of April 19, they died
Gorzeck often volun-
very active ... there
together.
teered at Providence
was
no
reason
for
The Farmington Hills couple was
Hospital in
such a terrible. thing
killed when the car Gerald Gorzeck was
Southfield and the
to happen to
driving was hit by another vehicle on
couple volunteered
them," said Barbara
Orchard Lake Road. According to
at the Capuchin
Gorzeck's son,
Gerald and Barbara Gorzeck
Farmington Hills police, the Gorzecks,
Soup Kitchen in
Arnold Cohl of
returning home from Detroit's Fox
Detroit and wherev-
Wixom.
Theatre where they volunteered as ush-
er else they could help. Besides the Fox,
"They
were
loving
parents
and
super
ers for The Music Man, were in their
they ushered at the Detroit Opera
grandparents ... they were always there
new Cadillac, turning left from north-
House and Orchestra Hall.
when we needed them ... I can't believe
bound Orchard Lake Road into the
During his eulogy, Rabbi Castiglione
they're gone," said Gerald Gorzeck's
back entrance of the Hunter's Ridge
read a letter to Barbara Gorzeck from
daughter,
Terri
Soboloski
of
Southfield.
apartment complex (south of 14 Mile),
Cheryl Golding of Farmington Hills,
At the April 23 funeral at Dorfman
where they lived. The other car, a
thanking her for helping to straighten
Chapel
in
Farmington
Hills,
Rabbi
Camaro driven by a teenager, struck
out her life by taking her in as a foster
David
Castiglione
of
Temple
Beth
El
their car on the passenger side.
child for a year when she was 16. Both
related how the Gorzecks' deaths left
Police said witnesses estimated the
Rabbi Castiglione and Rabbi Daniel
"their families and friends and the entire
Camaro was traveling at about 90 miles
Syme of Temple Beth El officiated at the
community grieving. In a violent
per hour. The teenage driver said he was
funeral. Cantor Stephen Dubov chanted
instant,
a
senseress
moment,
their
voices
driving at 45 mph at the time of the col-
Eyl
Maley Rachamim, a memorial prayer,
were
silenced
...
it
was
a
senseless
lision, police say.
at the end of the funeral service —
tragedy."
Both Barbara Gorzeck, 68, and
twice.
Rabbi
Castiglione
described
Barbara
Gerald Gorzeck 76, died in the collision.
"Barbara was my best friend for more
and Gerald Gorzeck as being like "20-
The other driver, a 16-year-old North
than
50 years," said Debby Dorfman of
year-olds, standing in front of a full life
Farmington High School student, and
West
Bloomfield. "We graduated from
and
a
great
adventure.
They
balanced
his teenage passenger were treated and
[Detroit]
Central High School in 1951
each
other
with
exquisite
harmony."
released from a hospital. At press time,
and
attended
the University of Miami
He
said
they
liked
to
entertain
friends
Farmington Hills police would not
[Fla.] for one year ... then returned
and
laugh
and
play
practical
jokes
on
release their names.
home and got married. We raised our
them. Barbara Gorzeck loved to cook,
Witnesses told police that before the
kids and-did everything together. On
had a sweet tooth, was an excellent
accident the Camaro's driver had been
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
D
•
PHILIP BEGUN, 83, of Farmington
Hills, died April 22. He was a retired
steel broker. He was also a member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and
Knollwood Country Club. Mr. Begun
graduated from Wayne State
University Law School in 1940 and
was a ,U.S. Army Air Force captain
and cryptographer during World War
II.
J141
4/26
2002
130
Mr. Begun is survived by his wife of
55 years, Lois Begun; daughter and
son-in-law, Nancy Begun and Robert
Brody of New York; son, Robert
Begun; grandchildren, Lucas and
Caitlin Brody; brother and sister-in-
law, Paul and Barbara Begun of West
Bloomfield; sisters and brother-in-law,
Anne Jacobs of West Bloomfield,
Blanche and Albert Dickman of
Bloomfield Hills.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
EDITH BERRY, 94, of Southfield,
died April 1 . 6. She was a member of
Adat Shalom Synagogue Sisterhood
and Hadassah.
Mrs. Berry is survived by her sister,
Tillie Yucht of Southfield; many lov-
ing nieces, nephews, great-nieces and
great-nephews; caregiver and friend,
Janice Levering. She was the beloved
wife of the late Ben Berry.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Hadassah. Arrangements by
the day before the accident, we spent the
whole day shopping together. I can't
believe she's gone."
Barbara Gorzeck, whose maiden name
was Olender, was divorced from her first
husband, the late Alan Cohl. Her par-
ents owned Olender Bakery Supply in
Hamtramck.
Gerald Gorzeck graduated from Cass
Technical High School in Detroit and
Wayne State University, getting a degree
in architecture and serving in the Air
Force during World War II. "But it was
hard for Jews to work as architects in
those days, so he became a manufactur-
er's rep in hosiery" said daughter Terri.
"He was still selling at the time of his
death, mainly to the new dollar stores."
Gerald Gorzeck's first wife, Barbara
(Gottesman) Gorzeck, died of cancer in
1986. He married Barbara Jane
(Olender) Gorzeck in 1988.
Barbara Jane Gorzeck and Gerald
Gorzeck are survived by sons, Michael
Cohl of Garden City and Arnold Cohl
of Wixom; daughters and son-in-law,
Lisa and Israel Hertz of Israel and Terri
Soboloski of Southfield; brothers and
sisters-in-law, Marvin and Beverly
Olender of West Bloomfield, Charles
and Nancy Olender of Silver Lake and
Louis and Iris Gorzeck of Florida;
grandchildren, Amber, Matthew and
Michelle Cohl; Daniel and Leor Hertz;
Barbara Rogers and Heather Soboloski.
Gerald Gorzeck was the dear father of
the late Paul Gorzeck.
Interment for Barbara Gorzeck was at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Interment
for Gerald Gorzeck was at Beth El
Memorial Park. Contributions . in
Barbara's memory may be made to the
American Diabetes Association, 30600
Telegraph Rd., Suite 2255, Bingham
Farms, MI 48025. Contributions in
Gerald's memory maybe made to the
American Cancer Society 18505 W 12
Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48076.
Contributions to a charity of one's
choice are also welcomed. Arrangements
by Dorfman Chapel. ❑
Ira Kaufman Chapel.
MARVIN FORTGANG, 80, of
Farmington Hills, died April 21.
He is survived by his brother and
sister-in-law, Harold and Hilda
Fortgang of Farmington Hills; nieces
and nephews, Julia and Jack Kaufman,
Harriet and Gregg Orley; brother-in-
law and sister-in-law, Donald and
Mary Young. He was the beloved hus-
band of the late Florette Fortgang.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.