Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JN Online: vvwvv.detroitjewishnews.corn `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.