Obituaries
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Beloved Role Model
ESTHER ALLWEISS TSCHIRHART
Special to the Jewish News
N
orma Shifrin was a life-
long learner, a wise
woman to many, who was
admired for her quietly
passionate embrace of ideas and
ideals, nature and humankind.
A respected Wayne State University
professor and, in 1966, the first
woman to earn a Ph.D. in biology
from WSU, she earned her degree
for the "thrill of learning, not the
title." She jokingly told her children
she'd "swat" them if they ever called
her "Doctor," said her son, Paul
Shifrin.
Mrs. Shifrin, 77, died of cancer on
Jan. 29, 2003, at her home in
Southfield.
An emotional highlight of her
funeral service saw her many friends
— social activists, Yiddishists, profes-
sional colleagues, folk dancers, neigh-
bors and others — joining the family
in singing or humming her favorite
Yiddish folk song, "Rozhinkes mit
Mandlen" ("Raisins and Almonds").
With Paul playing flute, it was a
heimish (warm) moment befitting her
memory. Granddaughter Mira joined
her father playing flute at the service.
Born in Staten Island, N.Y., Mrs.
Shifrin was a graduate of Brooklyn
College and Columbia University.
Her Polish-born parents, Helen and
Abraham Louis Eisenberg, were
Orthodox, but the young scientist
found a more fulfilling path in secu-
lar Jewish, social activist pursuits.
She shared this life with Edwin
Shifrin, a welding engineer for
Detroit Edison. They were cousins
by marriage who met at a family
reunion here and married a year later
in 1948. Daughter Wendy Shifrin
said her mother almost single-hand-
edly took care of Ed until his death
from a Parkinson's-related ailment in
1994.
The Shifrins founded a new
university's Weekend College and
"young people's branch" of
retired in 2002 from the
Workmen's Circle in 1955 and stayed Interdisciplinary Studies Program,
loyal members. Family friend Stan
then part of the College of Lifelong
Ovshinsky said Mrs. Shifrin brought
Learning. Maier noted her "passion
a "purity of purpose" to the organiza- for people — she was very student-
tion and demonstrated "leadership
oriented."
by example."
Mrs. Shifrin loved nature. Once,
WC Michigan District
Paul said, she uncharac-
Director Ellen Bates-
teristically shouted, "Ed!
Brackett said, "We
Stop the car!" in the mid-
learned from Norma the
dle of the road in a
many ways we can sup-
national park so she might
port our community,
glimpse her first brightly-
from creating holiday
feathered scarlet tanager.
ceremonies to helping in
Other pleasures includ-
the office, donating and
ed traveling with Wendy
raising money, serving
and doting on her grand-
on the school board and
children. Each bar or bat
the [governing] District
mitzvah received a hand-
Committee, singing in
knit afghan from
the chorus and actively
"Bubbe." Grandson Jonah
welcoming a new genera-
Shifrin gratefully recalled
Norma Shifrin
tion of leaders and
her discussing the Torah's
activists."
teachings on righteousness
One of them, Charles Lorber, said,
— "one of the first times anyone
"Norma was always the voice of rea-
talked to me like an adult."
son, able to take different points of
Paul said his mother "self-appoint-
view and find the common ground
ed" herself to help others, "fearing no
that most everyone could rally
one else would step in otherwise.'
around." When writing remarks,
Even her simplest acts of kindness
District Chair Arlene Frank relied on were not forgotten, he said.
her for finding the correct Yiddish
Bates-Brackett of Workmen's Circle
words to say.
stated, "Our job is to carry on her
The Shifrins participated in the
legacy."
intellectually stimulating Shabbos
Mrs. Shifrin is survived by her
Study Group and Sholem Aleichem
daughters and son-in-law, Wendy
Institute. They attended Detroit
Shifrin and Steven Moritz of
Symphony concerts and filled their
Massachusetts, Laura Shifrin of
home with music.
Southfield and friend Jenny Baldwin;
In the 1960s, Mrs. Shifrin was lab-
son and daughter-in-law, Paul and
oratory assistant to Dr. Laurence
Sari Shifrin of Ann Arbor; grandchil-
Levine at WSU. Working mothers
dren, Jonah, Rachael, Kayla and
were uncommon then. "She was a
Mira Shifrin.
feminist before people knew the
She was the beloved wife of the
word," said Wendy.
late Edwin Shifrin.
Professor Emeritus Cliff Maier
Contributions may be made to the
hired Mrs. Shifrin for the faculty of
Workmen's Circle Educational
Monteith College, WSU's former
Center, 26341 Coolidge, Oak Park,
interdisciplinary, undergraduate col-
MI 48237. Arrangements by Ira
lege. She helped with structuring the
Kaufman Chapel. El
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ANN G. ALEKMAN, 54, of
Farmington Hills, died Jan. 29, 2003.
She was a secretary at the Jewish
National Fund.
Mrs. Alekman is survived by her
daughters and son-in-law, Fawn and
Adam Chayet of West Bloomfield,
Hayley Alekman of West Bloomfield;
sons and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Joy
Alekman of Farmington Hills, David
Alekman of West Bloomfield; grand-
children, Matthew Chayet, Mitchell
and Dean Alekman; brothers and sis-
ters-in-law, Neil and Linda Goldstein
of New York, Gary and Susan
Goldstein of New York.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the
Jewish National Fund, the American
Heart Association, JARC or the
Children's Hospice of Michigan.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
RUTH BLUMBERG, 99, of
Southfield, died Jan. 31, 2003.
She is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Joanne and Ronald
Goldfarb; son and daughter-in-law,
David and Marian Jacob; grandchil-
dren, Steve and Katie Jacob, James and
Denise Jacob, Tom and Deb Jacob, Jon
and Joetta Jacob, Jody Owen, Samuel
Goldfarb, Max Goldfarb and Allyson
Strafella, Nicholas Goldfarb and Tracy
Gosein, Judi and Joe Schneider, Sheri
and Richard Jaffa, Dana Jacob and
Francesco Precici, Erin Jacob and Dirk
Kinkeloo, Mia Jacob and Paul
Freimuth, Moria Jacob and Peter Corts,
Sara Jacob and Bob Blair; great-grand-
children, Anabel Samuels, Michael,
Julie, Ari, Kasia, Eero, Rebecca,
Nicholas, Megan, Cassidy, Elija,
Andrew, Erica, Sydney, Kristen,
Benjamin, Alex, Andrew, Anna Jason,
Connor, Sarah, Daniel, Scott, Ilese,
Brett and Heather, Bryan and Arryn,
Brad and Molly and Branden; great-
great-grandchildren, Cadye, Zack and
DJ; sister, Miriam Jacob. She was the
beloved wife of the late Morris
Blumberg and the late Saul Jacob; lov-
ing mother of the late Herbert Jacob
and his wife, the late Claire Jacob; dear
OBITUARIES
on page 118
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