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`She Brought Beauty Into The World'
DIANA LIEBERMAN
StaffWriter
A
young woman with a zest for life, an eye for
beauty and, above all, a love of family is
how Florence Unger was remembered at
her funeral, attended by more than 700
people.
Mrs. Unger, 37, of Huntington Woods was found
dead Oct. 25, 2003, at the edge of Herring Lake in
Arcadia, in the northern Lower Peninsula near Lake
Michigan. She had been on a weekend vacation with
her husband of 13 years, Mark Unger, and their sons,
Max, 10, and Tyler, 7.
Her death is under investigation by the Benzie
County Sheriff's Department and the Michigan State
Police. The boys are in the custody of maternal rela-
tives.
"This is a particularly tragic loss for the family and
the community," said Rabbi Joseph Klein of Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park, who spoke at the funeral. "She
was a beautiful woman who saw the world for all its
beauty and grandeur. She really brought beauty into
the world."
Mrs. Unger, a Huntington Woods native who earned
a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the University of
Michigan, was a talented photographer and interior
designer. She loved horseback riding and hiking and
valued the natural environment.
But, said her friends and family, perhaps her greatest
talent was her ability to see the beauty in all people,
making lasting friends wherever she went.
"She was a lovely, positive person; and her sons
inherited her positive personality," said Huntington
Woods neighbor Sherri Loeb.
According to cousin Elizabeth Stern of Cleveland,
Mrs. Unger absorbed her love of beauty and her giving
character from her mother, Claire Stern of Huntington
Woods.
"Her family [Florence, her mother, father and
brother] would make Thanksgiving trips to New
York, where I grew up, to be with my family;
and I would come here to visit her," said
Elizabeth Stern, who called her younger cousin
"savvy and kind."
"We would write each other letters, back and
forth, and trade paper dolls. She had a wonder-
fill eye for anything special. She was the person
you'd want to be with at a flea market."
Mrs. Unger's warmth was apparent to Dr.
Linda Schneider-Rediske, principal of Burton
Elementary School in Huntington Woods, where
Mrs. Unger's sons are fifth- and second-graders.
"When I came to Burton seven years ago, Flo was
one of the first parents to call and ask me what she
could do," Dr. Schneider-Rediske said. "I'll never for-
get that call. It really makes you feel welcome when
someone does that."
In addition to working as a loan officer at Flagstar
Bank, Mrs. Unger was very active with the school, the
Burton principal said. Most recently, she was a "mys-
tery reader" — someone who surprises the class by
coming in unannounced to read to the children.
Mrs. Unger was very dedicated to her children, Dr.
Schneider-Rediske said. "She was a very fair mom,
diplomatic and objective in her thinking. Whatever the
situation, she always looked for the positive; she always
said, 'How can I help?""
In a notice to the families of Burton School, Dr.
Schneider-Rediske suggested that parents emphasize to
their children the importance of supporting their class-
mates Max and Tyler at this difficult time.
At the funeral, Rabbi Klein, who has known the
Unger family for several years as Temple Emanu-el
members, said that her many friends are "unwilling
and unable to accept Flo's death."
Rabbi Klein said that, during the hustle and bustle of
daily life, we "sometimes take for granted those special
Florence Unger with her sons Tyler, now 7, and
Max, now 10.
people in our life; we see these bright and beautiful
people without fully appreciating their gifts."
Florence Unger is survived by her husband, Mark
Unger; sons, Max and Tyler; parents, Harold and
Claire Stern of Huntington Woods; brother, Peter
Stern; grandmother, Marian Broder; mother-in-law,
Betty Rosenthal; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Kim
McWhorter, Connie and Gerald Wolberg.
She was the loving granddaughter of the late Meyer
Broder; dear daughter-in-law of the late Julian Unger.
Contributions may be made to the Grand Traverse
Regional Land Conservancy, 3860 N. Long Lake
Road, Traverse City, MI 49864. Interment was at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
. . .
.
While stationed in Iraq, Lt.
Bernstein communicated once
every couple weeks by phone
or e-mail with his parents,
including his mother, Gail.
They didn't talk about the war,
his father recalled. The conver- 1
sations instead focused on faml
ily-. He has two older siblings, --
Douglas and Michelle.
Richard Bernstein said that
he would like people to
„mt remember his son by honoring
and supporting the men and
women in the U.S. military:
'These soldiers are putting
their lives on the line every
day; and they were David's
brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
He'd want them to be support-
ed, whether you believe in the
war or not. LI
Jewish Soldier Killed in Iraq
FAYGIE LEVY
The JewishExponent
Philadelphia
avid R. Bernstein wanted to give some-
thing back to his country — and in doing
so, he made the ultimate sacrifice. On
Oct. 18, the U.S. Army first lieutenant
died during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was 24.
While in Taza, Iraq, Lt. Bernstein's patrol came
under fire from rocket-propelled grenades and
small-arms fire, according to the Department of
Defense. Bernstein and another soldier, Pfc. John
D. Hart of Bedford, Mass., were killed.
Lt. Bernstein enjoyed meeting and talking with
people, said his father, Richard Bernstein, in an
interview from the family's home in Tennessee. "He
also enjoyed discussions of religion, philosophy and
world affairs."
"From the minute he came into the school, I
D
could see he was a leader," said David
Rodenbough, a guidance counselor at
his Phoenixville, Pa, high school.
"His presence just stood out"
Lt. Bernstein also stood out at the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point,
where he was a member of the swim
team, attended services at the academy's
Jewish chapel and graduated in 2001
among the top 10 percent of his class.
"He believed he could give something
back to his country," said his father,
"and the military academy would pro-
vide him a superior education and help
him become a leader."
Congregants at the West Point Jewish
Chapel held a memorial for Lt.
Bernstein. Some 35 people — including
10 cadets — recited the mourner's
Kaddish in the soldier's honor.
Lt. David Bernstein
10/31
2003
109