V Obituaries Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.com A Quiet Dignity again in America at age 54. Each morning at 5:30, without complaint, she caught the DSR bus to her seam- Special to the Jewish News stress job in downtown Detroit. In 1978, she went with Ann and George olitics and war were the to visit her ex-husband in Cuba. catalysts that swept Bernard helped bring him to through the life of Rachel Michigan a year later. She also had the Mandelbaum, but she opportunity to travel to Israel to see exuded a quiet dignity no matter how her sister Gitl Ribenfeld in Netanya. turbulent the times. A highlight of Mrs. Mandelbaum's George Mann of Franklin noted the life was her reunion in hardship and struggle in Ukraine with brother much of his mother-in- Velvo, who had been law's life, "but in her trapped in the former later years, she emerged Soviet Union after leaving as our anchor, our fount Poland. of strength." Mrs. Mandelbaum had Mrs. Mandelbaum, a green thumb. "She 90, of Franklin, a seam- would buy little plants at stress by trade and matri- the store that were basi- arch of her family, died cally dead and make them of congestive heart fail- grow," Ann recalled. "Her ure on June 21, 2002. apartment looked like a Born in March 1912 jungle." in the town of Ruda- In later life, Mrs. Huta in Poland, Ruchul Mandelbaum saw her Firer was the oldest of family blossom religiously delbaum Rachel Man five sisters and a brother. as well as materially. But She outlived all of them. she also experienced hardships, includ- Their parents were Efroim, a peddler ing the loss of her son to cancer in of glassware, and Fradla. 1993. She survived open-heart surgery Seeking to escape the virulent anti- eight years ago, but grew steadily Semitism of Poland but unable to get more frail. In the last month of her to Palestine, Rachel traveled with her life, seated in her wheelchair, she was uncle Joe Nankin in the late 1920s to thrilled to see Ariel Mann, her daugh- join her fiance, Henach Mandelbaum, ter's oldest child and a Yeshivat Akiva in Cuba. Henach, operated a home student, become bar mitzvah at Bais tailoring business with his new wife. The couple had a son Bernardo dur- Chabad of Farmington Hills. "She was always there for us," ing the Depression and a daughter George said, speaking of the caring, Ana Bella 20 years later. While the quiet woman he called "a woman of Mandelbaums had little money and valor" in his June 23 eulogy. His and limited education, their son was able Ann's children, Ariel, Daniel, Mirele to attend the University of Havana and become a physician. He got a visa and Gabriel Mann, participated in the funeral, along with other family mem- to leave Cuba for the U.S. in 1960, bers. one year after Castro took power, and Mrs. Mandelbaum is survived by eventually joined the faculty at Wayne her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Ann State University. Mandelbaum and George Mann and His sister, Ann, also excelled aca- many grandchildren and great-grand- demically once she arrived in Detroit with Mrs. Mandelbaum in 1966, join- children. She was the loving mother of the late Dr. Bernard Mandelbaum. ing Bernard (as he was known) and Contributions may be made to his family. Ann, who is married to Hospice of Michigan, 16250 attorney George Mann, also taught at Northland Drive, Suite 212, WSU, and the three degrees she Southfield, MI 48075. Interment was earned there include a Ph.D. in at Beth El. Memorial Park. Spanish and French. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial This outcome for her daughter Chapel. ❑ proved the wisdom of Mrs. Mandelbaum's decision to start over ESTHER ALLWEISS TS CHIRHART liED 7/ 5 2002 102 FRIEDA BASS, 83, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., died June 23, 2002. She was vice president and co-chair for honorees of the Pembroke Pines Chapter of City of Hope. Mrs. Bass is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Stuart and Caren Bass of West Bloomfield; son, Dr. Stephan Bass, and Ms. Lindsey Hallwood of Woodland Hills, Calif.; grandchildren, Robyn and Travis Hunt of Littleton, Colo., Julie and David Sidder of West Bloomfield; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Jerome and Dawn Ratzan of West Lake Village, Calif. She was the loving wife of the late Dr. Abraham Bass. Interment in New York. - Contributions may be made to City of Hope, 3333 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 106, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309. HATTIE BENJAMIN, 93, of Birmingham, died June 30, 2002. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Paula and William Barnett of Birmingham; grandson, David (Shana) Barnett. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles Benjamin. Graveside services were held at the Workmen's Circle Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, 24601 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48075. Arrangments by Dorfman Chapel. JACQUELINE BRANT, of West Bloomfield, died June 26, 2002. She was a dedicated teacher. Ms. Brant developed edu- cational pro- grams for underprivileged students in rural areas and was featured in Newsweek Magazine. She is sur- vived by her son, Scott Brant of California; parents, Jacqueline Brant Benjamin and Blanche Brant of West Bloomfield; brother and sister-in- law, Norman and Laurie Brant of Bloomfield Hills; sister and brother- in-law, Elaine and Jeffrey Surnow of West Bloomfield. Interment at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Humane Society. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. HERBERT CHERNICK, 78, of Southfield, died June 26, 2002. He was a commercial and residential builder and developer. He was also a member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, B'nai B'rith and was a Mason. Mr. Chernick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Frances "Fay" Chernick; daughters and son-in-law, Karen "Katy" Max of Bloomfield Hills, Alene Chernick of West Bloomfield, Marcy and John Gottesman of Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren, Carly Max, Kimberly Max, Jaclyn Gottesman, Joshua Gottesman; sister, Sallee Rosen and her fiancee, Philip Vainik of West Bloomfield. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. LOUIS M. DAVIS, 91, of Mt. Clemens, died June 18, 2002. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Helene Davis of Grosse Pointe Park; daughters, Frances Davis of Minneapolis, Minn., Barbara Davis of Portland, Ore.; brother, Harry Davis of California; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ada and Ike Eisenfeld of Mt. Clemens, Betty and Al Meyers of Naples, Fla., Elaine Warshaw of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren, Philip Davis, Emily Davis, Peter Davis. Mr. Davis was the beloved husband of the late Rose Davis; loving father of the late Nina Davis; dear brother of the late William Davis, the late Florence Raben. Contributions may be made to Beth Tephilath Moses Synagogue, 146 South Avenue, Mt. Clemens, MI 48043. Services at Beth Tephilath Synagogue. Burial at Beth Tephilath Moses Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. DAVID DOREN, 83, of Farmington Hills, formerly of Howell, died June 24, 2002. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Jeanne