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`You Knew He Cared'
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
M
orton Wolin was a sur-
vivor in the truest sense
of the word — and he
left a legacy of kindness
and remembrance that will live on
among his devoted family members and
countless friends.
Mr. Wolin, who lived in
Southfield, died of heart failure on
Nov. 30 at the age of 82.
Mr. Wolin served as district
HO
manager for the Detroit-based
Winkelman's department stores for S
30 years. After his "retirement" in
the mid-1980s, he began teaching
classes in Hebrew and Jewish studies at
Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, where
he was a past president and a valued and
active member.
Born in Poland, Mr. Wolin escaped
on the last boat to leave his homeland
before the outbreak of World War II in
September 1939. After a dangerous
journey under blackout conditions to
deter the German U-boats who were
tracking his vessel, he arrived safely on
the shores of New Jersey.
way about him," said Leibson. "He told
He later learned that his entire family,
me 'to always remember the Holocaust
including his parents, Chaim and
and to always remember Israel.' He
Naomi Wolin, his brother, Moshe
never said anything about
Wolin, and his sister,
remembering himself. Mort
Miriam Wolin, had been
was a true tzadik (righteous
imprisoned in concentra-
person).
tion camps and eventually
"No encounter with Mort
killed by the Germans.
could ever be considered
Mr. Wolin wrote about
superficial," said Steve
his experiences in a
Klaper of Oak Park during
Holocaust remem-
Wolin's funeral service. "He
brance book pub-
took your hand, he looked
lished by Temple
you in the eye, and you
Emanu-El in 1992.
kneW he cared. He changed
17ST His positive attitude
my life in a very profound
toward life in general
way. "
was reflected in the
Mr. Wolin's daughter
words he wrote
Morton Wolin
Jennifer Patterson recalls the
about why he chose not to
numerous times people
discuss the tragedies he and
approached her to tell her what a great •
his family had suffered during the war:
inspiration her father had been.
":„ this is the way I was raised by my
"That word, inspiration, came up
mom and dad ... Share the joys with
time and time again," she said. "My
others! Keep pain and suffering to your-
father was an ambassador to the world."
self!"
"Morton was a life force in and of
He taught a class about the Holocaust
himself," said Davis Gloff of Pleasant
at Temple Emanu-El, which is now
Ridge, a friend of Mr. Wolin from
taught by his close friend Michael
Temple Emanu-El. "The wonderful
Leibson of Oak Park.
thing about being with Morton was not
"Mort had a gentle, self-deprecating
) 3
Poris, who was also born in Israel,
met the Weiners when they first relo-
cated to this area; the two women
developed a close friendship that sur-
vived time and distance.
accident is still under investigation, and
"No matter where we lived, we always
police believe the icy road conditions
kept the friendship in high gear," said
that night were a factor.
Poris. "She was like a sister to me —
Born in Tel Aviv, Mrs. Weiner met
the first person I'd turn to when I need-
her husband when they were both in
ed anything — and she'd
high school. They were mar-
always be there. "
ried in 1983.
"Idit was the 'unofficial
After serving as a driver in
social worker' to everyone
the Israeli Defense Forces for
around her," said Dr.
two years, Mrs. Weiner
Weiner. She was such an
attended Hebrew University,
optimistic person, and she
where she earned a master of
loved freedom.
social work degree.
The Weiner family are
The couple came to the
members of Congregation
United States in 1994, start-
Shaarey Zedek West
ing out in the Detroit area
Bloomfield, B'nai Israel
and then living in Cleve-
Center.
land, Boston and New York
"Idit had a.talent for
before returning to West
connecting with people,
Bloomfield 15 months ago.
Idit Weiner
said her husband. "She
Close friend Amalia Poris
attracted people to her
and son Aaron of West
because she always made everyone feel
Bloomfield were riding in the car with
important."
Mrs. Weiner and Yotam when the acci-
"She wasn't just my angel — she was
dent happened. They sustained minor
many people's angel," said Poris. "If
injuries.
Mother And Angel'
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
I
dit Weiner, who was described as
an "angel" by those who knew
her best, died on the evening of
Nov. 26 in a automobile accident
on an -icy road in West Bloomfield. She
was 43.
Mrs. Weiner, who lived in West
Bloomfield, is survived by her husband,
Dr. Asher Weiner, and their three sons,
Adam, 15, Yotam, 11, and Jonathan, 4.
Mrs. Weiner was killed when a GMC
Yukon SUV struck the Nissan Quest
minivan she was driving on Drake
Road south of Walnut Lake Road in
West Bloomfield. Her son Yotam, who
was seated behind her, was seriously
injured and rushed to Beaumont
Hospital in Royal Oak after being
trapped inside the damaged vehicle for
more than 30 minutes.
The 34-year-old West Bloomfield
woman driving the other vehicle was
not injured seriously. The cause of the
3)
)3
only how great he was, but also how
great he made you wan _ t to be. You left
his presence energized and full of possi-
bilities."
"He was a great teacher not only to
his students, but to us all," said great-
niece Rachel Kaplan of Buffalo Grove,
Ill.
Morton Wolin is survived by his daugh-
ters and son-in-law, Jennifer and Dennis
Patterson of Farmington Hills, Lynn
Wolin of Southfield; grandsons, Michael
and Jeffrey Patterson; and sisters-in-law,
Dorothy Diamond and Laura Diamond.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Esther Lee Wolin; the loving father
of the late Marianne Wolin; the dear
brother of the late Moshe Wolin and the
late Miriam Wolin; the cherished son of
the late Chaim and the Naomi Wolin;
and the dear brother-in-law of the late
Max Diamond, the late George
Diamond, the late William Diamond
and the late Anita Diamond.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
the Lee Wolin Memorial Aitzim-
Chayim Fund, do Temple Emanu-El,
14450 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park, MI
48237 or the Israel Emergency Fund,
do Jewish Federation, P.O. Box 2030,
6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48303. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. U
anybody had to be with her when this
happened, then I'm glad it was me."
Yotam was released from the hospital
after coming out of a coma resulting
from the injuries he incurred during the
crash. Dr. Weiner rallied family mem-
bers and friends to keep a continuous
vigil at Yotam's bedside, talking to him
and playing music they brought from
his CD collection.
"Whatever we did must have worked
because his first words when he woke
up were, 'Turn it off," Dr. Weiner said,
referring to his son's regaining con-
sciousness as a "miracle."
Idit Weiner is survived by her hus-
band, Dr. Asher Weiner; sons, Adam,
Yotam and Jonathan; and of Israel: par-
ents Aharon and Shoshana Bar-Noam;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Amir and
Iris Bar-Noam and Eitan and Tamar
Bar-Noam; father-in-law and mother-
in-law, Israel and Hedva Weiner; and
brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Varda
and Gili Treiser.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.