Obituaries

The Chapel
)41
that recognizes
each family's individual needs.

Not Your Ordinary Guy

fundraising for cancer research following
the death of their daughter, founding
Staff Writer
the Suzanne Korman Morton Research
any Korman was a force _ Center at the Barbara Ann Karmanos
a brilliant force," said Rabbi Cancer Institute in her memory.
"When Suzy died of cancer 29 years
Paul Yedwab of Temple
ago, Dad and Mother wanted to do
Israel. "When Harry was in
something to try to make sure nobody
a room, you were looking at Harry, you
would suffer like she did," Ring said.
were listening to Harry and you were
"They wanted to memorialize her by
affected by Harry."
starting a cancer research
And those affected by
fund in Detroit that later
Mr. Korman, who died
became part of Karmanos."
June 5, 2003, at age 92,
Anna and Harry Korman
ranged from youngsters to
also sponsored the annual
seniors and from his family
Suzanne Korman Morton-
and fellow synagogue con-
Geraldine Rissman Annual
gregants to patients who
Partners Golf Tournament
benefited from cancer
and Ball, a Karmanos fund-
research he helped fund.
raiser, in memory of
Born in Smorodsk,
Suzanne and another daugh-
Russia, Mr. Korman
ter Geraldine.
arrived in Detroit at age 9,
"My father started it to
was sent to work instead of Harry Korman
get
young people to get
school, and learned English
involved in fundraising for cancer
on the streets selling newspapers, eggs
research, including our whole family"
and vegetables.
Ring said. "He used to call the fund-
Eventually, he co-founded Midwest
raisers his 'garden of seedlings.' Geri was
Waste Material Company, Midwest
very
instrumental in the first ball, but
Export and Import Company and
died
shortly
after. The event has raised
American Tape Company.
over $3 million in nine years."
"He was one of the first businessmen
The Kormans also established the
to do business in Europe after World
children's playground at the Detroit Zoo
War II," said Mr. Kormarig- daughter,
in memory of Rissman.
Eunice Ring of Franklin. Closing his
"My father was a most remarkable
company and moving to Boca Raton,
and generous man," Ring said. "He
Fla., at age 82 — while retaining a
cherished his family — adored the time
home in West Bloomfield — didn't
he spent with his grandchildren and
mean retirement. In Florida, he became
great-grandchildren — and he was so
a commercial builder and land develop-
much fun. We have pictures of him, in
er.
his 50s, sledding."
"He went to work every day, up until
He was spry into his later years. Rabbi
last week," Ring said. "He went from
the horse-and-wagon days to the days of Yedwab remembers trying to assist Mr.
Korman up a stairway. "He was more
the Concorde. And when he traveled to
than 90, and he yelled at me, asking
Europe on business when we were kids
why
I was trying to help him as if he
— never, never did he go without my
was
an
old man. Harry was an amazing
mother."
person — not your ordinary guy."
Mr. Korman was married for 73 years
The Kormans also brought their gen-
to Anna Korman, who died in May
erosity to Florida, establishing the Anna
-
2002.
and Harry Korman Music Esplanade at
"My mother didn't like the
the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged.
Concorde," Ring said. "She said it was
They were also very charitable with
too small, too hot and too fast, but my
their synagogue associations. "When we
father loved it. My mother enjoyed tak-
were members at (Congregation) B'nai
ing her time. She was in no rush. My
Moshe, my parents donated all the class-
father was always in a rush. They were a
rooms," Ring said. "They became
team.
involved at Temple Israel, becoming very
"My parents' marriage was a very
close with Rabbi (M. Robert) Syme,
interesting, wild ride — with a lot of
when his son Michael, and my sister
happiness. He promised her: Some day
died a week apart."
you'll have a.yacht and an airplane 777
Said Rabbi Yedwab: "Harry loved
and she did."
The Kormans became immersed in
HARRY KORMAN on page from 103

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

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Our heartfelt
condolences
to the families
we have served

L

WILLIAM OLESHANSKY

Cantor: Howard Glantz
of Adat Shalom Synagogue
Hebrew Memorial Park

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Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery

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BERNARD KLEIN

Rabbi: Elliot Pachter
of B'nai Moshe Synagogue
Rabbi: Jonathan Berkun
Shaarey Zedek Synagogue
Cantor: Chaim Najman
of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue
Oakview Cemetery

26640 Greenfield Road
Oak Park, Michigan 48237

4

Rabbi Boruch E. Levin

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Robert H. Bodzin

Funeral Director

Executive Director, H.B.S.

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Asher T. Tatelbaum

6/13
2003

102

Funeral Coordinator

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From Generation to Generation

Mark E. Klinger

Funeral Director