lies, where the children are shunted back
and forth," she said. "It's a very reward-
ing experience to serve because we are
the only advocates they have to help
improve their lives."
A widow since the 1970 death of her
husband, Philip, who was in the print-
ing business, Bernstein has two children,
three grandchildren and three great-
grandchildren. She worked for the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit for 14 years. She recently wrote
a highly acclaimed essay extolling the
Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit on its 75th
anniversary.
She's also been an active member of
the Institute of Retired Professionals
since its inception, and has spent count-
less hours preparing biographies of
deceased members of the Jewish War
Veterans so they will always
be remembered. She was a
member of the Detroit
Roundtable of Christians
and Jews (now the National
Conference for Community
and Justice).
around and watch television all of the
time."
Born in Poland, Dr. Panush came to
Detroit at age 13. He attended
Northern High School and received a
master's in education from Wayne State
University and a doctorate in philosophy
from the University of Michigan.
He taught at three Detroit high
schools — adding Hebrew to the cur-
riculum — and WSU. He was an
administrator at Macomb County
Community College, held educational
posts at several area. synagogues and
other organizations, and belonged to
many Jewish groups. Dr. Panush's father,
Abe, was a Detroit Hebrew school
teacher, and his late brother, Louis, was a
Hebrew and public school teacher and
administrator.
as an arbitrator of customer complaints
for the Better Business Bureau. She has
still found time to tap dance with
Harriet Berg's Festival Danters.
member of Young Israel of Greenfield, is
past president of Young Israel of Oak
Woods and is a member of YOung Israel
of Oak Park. He belongs to many Jewish
organizations. He successfully mediated
a dispute between the Southfield-based
David Tanzman
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah and its secular
David Tanzman muses that he was con-
teachers.
ceived while his parents were celebrating
Devoutly Orthodox, Tanzman attends
the Armistice to World War I. Tanzman, services twice daily and has visited Israel
82, of Oak Park was born in
every year since 1968.
Corona, N.Y., and attended
"I stopped helping con-
1;74ggitOt"
the City College of New
duct services after my son
York, befOre moving to
asked me why I never sit
Detroit and obtaining a
next to him in shul," he
bachelor's degree in sociolo-
said.
gy and economics at Wayne
He and his wife, Lottie,
State University. But it was-
have been married for 60
n't until he entered the Army
years and have four chil-
that he developed skills as a
dren, 11 grandchildren and
religious lay leader and
two great-grandchildren.
mediator.
"Dave is extremely dedi-
Rosevelyn Lieberman
After being in combat
cated to helping others,
Named for two deceased
during the Battle of the
through his professional,
aunts, Rosevelyn Lieberman, Bulge in Europe, he became David Tanzman
personal and religious life,"
81, of Farmington Hills
field chaplain for World
said Rabbi Reuven Spolter
came to Detroit from
War II concentration camp
of Young Israel of Oak Park.
Pennsylvania when her
survivors and conducted the
"He has the uncanny knack
father was lured by Henry
first post-war High Holiday
of being able to do things
Ford's promise of a. $5-a-day services in Heidelberg,
behind the scenes to head
Dr. Irving Panush
wage at a Ford plant. She
Germany.
off a problem before it
"My father's adult life has
attended Central High
Tanzman got jobs in
starts. He helps people learn
been dedicated to promoting
School (1937), then Detroit Washington, D.C., with the
to live together."
Jewish identity through edu-
Business Institute, becoming National Defense Mediation
cational, intellectual and
a secretary for a while, then
Board, National Wage
Dr. Irving Panush
cultural endeavors," said
a "regular housewife" to her
Gretl Frank
Stabilization Board and
Aviva Panush of Ann Arbor.
husband Albert, now a
Labor Department. He
"Let's roll, Gretl," read the
'At 86, he's a model of
retired lawyer. Married 48
returned to Detroit to set up
sign made by a friend who
lifelong learning ... involved
years, they have four chil-
the Federal Mediation and
came to Royal Oak in
in activities that strengthen
dren and five great-grand-
Conciliation Service, help-
January to see Gretl Frank
Jewish identity and commit-
children.
ing to preserve labor peace
pushed up Main Street in a
ment. He's accomplished
Lieberman has been a
for 14 years at the Detroit
wheelchair to take part in
many things with little fan-
member of the Detroit
newspapers.
the nationwide Olympic Torch Relay for
fare and is a true example of
Section of the National
"There were no strikes during my
the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in
a mentsh."
Council of Jewish
tenure," he said. It was a different story Salt Lake City. The indomitable Frank,
She's speaking of Dr.
for 15 years, including six as
after that. I also gave some mediation
87, of Southfield, wasn't going to let a
Irving Panush, an adjunct
co-chair. She is on the
advice to President Jimmy Carter when
broken hip and wrist keep her from the
professor at the Royal Oak
human resources and educa- he brokered a truce between Israeli
honor. Frank fell Dec. 20 while working
campus of Oakland
tion committees, helping to
President Menachem Begin and
for the Southfield Goodfellows, one of
Community College —
gather school supplies and
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat." That
Rosevelyn Lieberman
her many volunteer jobs.
teaching classes in ethics and
backpacks for needy chil-
earned him a letter of praise from Carter
She also works at Yad Ezra, the
logic. Dr. Panush has lived
dren. She co-chaired
on Tanzman's retirement as a mediator
Berkley-based kosher food bank; visits
in the same Bloomfield Township house
Operation Friendship, assisting adults
in 1979, receiving a local Distinguished
nursing home patients, reads to children
for 34 years. His wife Irene, a clinical
with mental illness, and taught English
Service Award at a dinner attended by
at Ferndale schools, works weekends as a
social worker, died last June after 59
to Soviet Jews.
1,000 people.
market researcher at the Gibraltar Trade
years of marriage.
Lieberman -now is a court-appointed
He still is a consultant, handling 40-
Center, plays bridge, handles a computer
Dr. Panush leads a discussion group as special advocate in Oakland County,
50 labor disputes yearly, traveling to
and swims regularly. All of that is on
a facilitator for the Institute for Retired
through the CASA program, to help
New York, Indiana and Upper
hold while Frank recovers completely
Professionals. He belongs to two other
resolve family guardianship cases.
Michigan. He served on the Michigan
from her accident.
weekly Jewish discussion groups (both in
"If the parents are in jail, or ill, or just
Employment Relations Commission. He
She's back home with a walker after
existence for 45 years), is a member of
don't care about their children, we.
works part-time for the Detroit
spending three months in a convalescent
the Sholem Aleichem Institute, attends
decide who should be appointed as their
Wastewater Treatment Plant, with 5,000 home surrounded by hundreds of get-
many civic and cultural events, is a vora- permanent guardian," she said. "There
employees.
well cards and besieged by phone calls
cious reader and works out regularly.
are many cases of abuse and neglect, but
Tanzman has enhanced life in the
from well wishers. While there, her two
"I try to maintain a strong pace and
the children shouldn't have to suffer for
Jewish community, serving as lay cantor
sons, Dennis of West Bloomfield and
keep my brain working ... it helps me
it.
and teacher at several area synagogues
Allen of Lansing, arranged to have her
stay young," he said. "I don't just sit
Lieberman has also spent several years
and Hebrew schools. He was a founding residence painted and carpeted. Frank
7)
4/26
2002
35