Obituaries

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Caring For Children

ESTHER ALLWEISS
TSCHIRHART
Special to the Jewish News

counselor at Nahelu, a Jewish summer
camp operated by Stan Michaels near
Pontiac.
"We fought like mad," Nell said.
r. Aaron Milton Stern suf-
His invitation to the girls to come
fered from severe scoliosis
see the doctor always seemed to occur
as a child. To treat this
when she wanted them cleaning their
spinal curvature, he was
cabins. "'You don't need to see those
placed into a full-body cast.
kids; they're fine,'" Nell would say.
His daughter Julie Jacobs said the
And he'd tease her and refuse to
painful experience made her father
change the appointment time.
determined to help "children with
The Sterns enjoyed travel, especially
medical problems — and he devoted
cruises; and Julie's shutterbug dad
his life to doing that."
would develop "a stiff
ptifkk,
Dr. Stern, 82, of Ann
neck from carrying the
Arbor, who died April 23,
heavy cameras around."
2003, founded the
He also played golf and
University of Michigan
loved a good bargain.
Division of Pediatric
Granddaughters Jessica
Cardiology, helping
and Elizabeth Jacobs
youngsters with congenital
showed they inherited
heart problems.
their grandfather's fine
Among his achieve-
voice singing "Oseh
ments as a pediatric cardi-
Shalom" at his funeral.
ologist was working with
Judaism was important
cardiac surgeons Drs.
to Dr. Stern. "In the last
Herbert Sloan, Burt Perry
year of his life, when he
and Joan Sigmann to pio- Dr. Aaron Stern
was losing some of his
neer the first heart surger-
memory, he wanted to
ies for infant children.
be in the minyan [prayer
"He was a people person and a
quorum] at Beth Israel every day,"
tremendous problem solver," said
Julie said.
Rabbi Robert Dobrusin of Ann
Her husband, Seth Jacobs, remem-
Arbor's Beth Israel Congregation. "He
bered nervously meeting Dr. Stern for
would go the extra mile for his
the first time. He surprised the young
patients and their families."
man with some unused saddle shoes.
Dr. Stern mentored generations of
"That exemplified our relationship
pediatric physicians, sharing with them for the next 24 years," Seth said. "He
"his warmth, his excitement and his
shared whatever he felt I needed."
passion for his field of research," the
The physician and educator, whose
rabbi said.
family meant everything to him, died
Many former students, prominent
peacefully at home.
in their field, attended last October's
Dr. Stern is survived by his wife,
dedication of the 'Aaron Stern, M.D.,
Nell Stern; daughters and sons-in-law,
Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Julie and Seth Jacobs, Janet and Ronny
Faculty Library" in their mentor's
Fathy; son and daughter-in-law, Joel
honor.
and Rita Stern; and grandchildren,
Dr. Stern, the son of Lithuanian
Jessica, Elizabeth and Samuel Jacobs,
immigrants, received his undergradu-
Jennifer, Kelly and Erik Fathy,
ate degree from U-M 1942. But when
Samantha, Melissa and Rebecca Stern.
he first applied to U-M medical
He was the dear brother of the late
school, he was told there were "too
Harold Stern, Ph.D., and the late
many Jews," said Julie. But he stub-
Dorothy Hochman.
bornly pursued his dream and was
Interment was at Arborcrest
eventually admitted, completing his
Cemetery. Contributions may be
pediatric cardiology residency in 1951
made to Dr. Aaron M. Stern Pediatric
to become one of the university's stars
Cardiology Fund, do University of
— not to mention, as son Joel Stern
Michigan Development Office, 301 E.
recalled, a die-hard U-M football fan.
Liberty, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI
Stubbornness was also a trait he
48104 or Beth Israel Congregation,
showed courting Nell, his wife of 47
2000 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, MI
years. He was 34, the camp doctor,
48104. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
and Nell Goldstein was 24, girls' head
Chapel. ❑

D

MATHILDA ADELSON, 95, of New
York, formerly of Detroit, died April 22,
2003. She was a 50- year member of
Temple Beth El, member of Women's
American ORT, of Hadassah and the
Ladies Home Relief Society.
Mrs. Adelson is survived by her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Esther and Ronald
Gross of New Jersey; 13 grandchildren.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Murray J. Adelson; loving mother of the
late Lloyd Adelson and the late Alan
Adelson.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

STEVEN J. BIEGEL, 59, of Farmington

Hills, died April 26, 2003. He was a for-
mer partner for 33 years of MSW
accounting firm.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie
Biegel; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law,
Patricia Clep, Charles and Lillian
Makowsky, James and Sharon Makowsky,
Bob and Barb Watson. Mr. Biegel was
the beloved husband of the late Susan
Biegel.
Contributions may be made to
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Meyer
Prentis Cancer Center, 110 E. Warren
Ave., Detroit, MI 48201-9987 or to a
charity of one's choice. Interment at
Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

SEYMOUR "SONNY' BROWN, 70,
of Southfield, died April 23, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta
Brown; brother and sister-in-law, Gary
and Nanci Brown of Farmington Hills;
sister, Beverly Hords of Southfield; sister-
in-law, Beverly Supian. He was the loving
son of the late Jack and Mary Brown;
dear brother-in-law of the late Bob
Supian; loving brother of the late
Harriette Baron.
Contributions may be made to March
of Dimes, 17117 W. Nine Mile Road,
Southfield, MI 48075; Parkinsons
Foundation, 30161 Southfield Road,
Suite 119, Southfield, MI 48075 or to a
charity of one's choice. Interment at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

SELMA B. DUBB, 83, of Pompano

Beach, Fla., died April 18, 2003.
She is survived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Larry and Barbara Dubb of
West Bloomfield; daughters and sons-in-
law, Dr. Louise and Dr. Walter Gutowski
of Scottsdale, Ariz., Martha and Richard
Glock of Marietta, Ga., grandchildren,
Emily and Mark Eaton of Farmington
Hills, Brittany Glock of Marietta. She

was the beloved wife of Robert Dubb.
Interment in Albany, N.Y.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice.

HAROLD ELSON, 78, of Farmington

Hills, died April 28, 2003. He was a life
insurance agent. Mr. Elson was a World
War II veteran, who had served in the
European Theatre in Scotland, England,
Germany and Belgium. He was also a
member of the Jewish War Veterans and
active with the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Mr. Elson is survived by his wife,
Thelma Elson; son and daughter-in-law,
Bill and Rochelle Elson; daughter and
son-in-law, Edie and Rob Wolk; grand-
children, Dana and Jon Sturtz, Lauren
Elson, Stefanie Elson, Katie Wolk and
Jimmy Wolk.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery Contributions maybe made to
the American Cancer Society, Karmanos
Cancer Institute or a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

ISADORE EPSTEIN, 83, of Southfield,
died April 22, 2003. He was a co-founder
and past CEO of Banner Lumber. He
was also a 32nd Degree Mason, member
of Perfection Mosaic Lodge, member of
Zieger B'nai B'rith, member of the
Detroit Northern High School Club, the
Titans, and very generously donated to
many organizations.
Mr. Epstein is survived by his sons and
daughters-in-law, Robert and Janet
Epstein of West Bloomfield, Kenneth and
Nancy Epstein of Franklin, Smart and
Suzi Epstein of West Bloomfield; grand-
children, Lauren and Jason, Jeffrey and
Dana Epstein; sisters-in-law and brother-
in-law, Marcia Weisberg, Estelle and
Irving Gladstone. He was the beloved
husband of the late Sylvia Epstein.
Interment at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the
Gastrointestinal Research Foundation
(GIRF), 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1015,
Chicago, IL 60601-5907 or Gilda's Club.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

DOROTHY FINK, 92, of Farmington
Hills, died April 22, 2003. For 20 years,
she was a clerical worker at J.L. Hudson's
Northland. She was also a member of
Temple Israel.
Mrs. Fink is survived by her daughter
and son-in-law, Enid and David West of
California; son and daughter-in-law,
Mark and Judy Fink of Huntington
Woods; grandchildren, Julie West, Allison
and David Sostchen, Adina Fink, Ethan

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