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Woman Of Art

SHARON LUCKERMAN
Staff Writer

p

atron of the arts and gallery owner Lee
Hoffman emanated an enthusiasm for life,
art and people.
"I've never met anyone who encompassed all the
juiciness of life as my passionate friend Lee," said
Ruth Driker Kroll of Southfield, a friend for more
than 30 years.
Lena "Lee" Hoffman, 85, of Bloomfield Hills, died
of cancer on Aug 21, 2004.
On May 2, she received a Jewish Women in the
Arts award, honoring local women who have
enhanced the community's quality of life through a
lifelong commitment to art.
A member of art boards including the Detroit
Institute of the Arts and Cranbrook Art Museum,
Lee Hoffman was called "the doyenne of art dealers
in this area," by Roy Slade, former president of
Cranbrook.
Hoffman's love of art, music, architecture and liter-
ature stemmed from the rich Jewish heritage of her
childhood home, which she recalled in an April 23
Jewish News interview as "the center of culture, even
during the depression."
As a young girl, the highlight of her week was
when her father came home with several library
books for her, said Mrs. Hoffman's daughter Carla
Levin of Chicago. In her later years, Mrs. Hoffman
remained active in three book clubs.

Survivor Shared Life

LEONARD POGER

Copy Editor

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ranka Charlupski lived several lives — one as
a child and young woman in her native
Poland; the other in America as a homemaker,
devoted mother and strong supporter of Jewish and
Israeli causes.
In between, however, she spent most of World War
II in several Nazi Germany death camps, including
Auschwitz in Poland and Bergen-Belsen in Germany,
from which she was liberated by Allied troops in early
1945.
Mrs. Charlupski, 84, of West Bloomfield,
died of cancer on Aug. 23, 2004.
Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek called Mrs. Charlupski "an
unbelievable woman," someone who was
always there to help others.
"She was the 'community center,' giving
advice and counsel to others and always help-
ing people in need," he said.
Mrs. Charlupski was a past president of the
Women's Division of Israel Bonds and was a recipient
of its Golda Meir Award. She was a life member of
Hadassah, active with Magen David Adorn, ORT,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and its sisterhood. She

Mrs. Hoffman was also an avid
letter writer — to friends and the
famous alike — and she received
replies from the likes of former
first lady Eleanor Roosevelt,
French President Francois
Mitterand and President Bill
Clinton. But the most important
letter she wrote was in 1963 to
request a position at the distin-
guished J.L. Hudson Gallery in
Lee Hoffman
Detroit, said her son Dr. Daniel
Hoffman of Denver.
"She hand wrote a letter on her pink stationery
with a P.S. stating that she adored the Francis Bacon
show she just saw in New York City," her daughter
said.
Although Mrs. Hoffman was a housewife with a
teaching degree from Wayne State University and no
formal art training, she got the job of assistant direc-
tor of the gallery. Later, she learned that over 200
others with advanced art degrees and typed resumes
had also applied.
"It was a glorious decade at Hudson's," she told the
Jewish News in April. "We got the top artists from all
over the world — De Kooning, Stella, Picasso, Matisse."
In 1975, Mrs. Hoffman opened the Lee Hoffman
Art Gallery in Birmingham. It remained in operation
until 1980. ,
"It was like a wonderful museum," recalled artist
and WSU teacher Glen Michaels of Troy, who sent
his students to visit the gallery because of the time
Mrs. Hoffman took to discuss art with them.

"My mother made everyone around her feel
special," said Carla Levin.
Granddaughter Rachel Levin, 26, of Chicago
remembers her grandmother for her great
strength and independence. "She was a unique
person, with energy and a rare spirit," she said,
adding, "She also knew all about my friends and
took a genuine interest in them. Even my friends
were amazed how with-the-times and down-to-
earth grandma Lee was. Not a typical grand-
mother-granddaughter relationship, she taught
me to have a broader appreciation of life."
Mrs. Hoffman's nephew Jeffrey Baron of
Seattle said, "Lee got better and deeper as she got
older. She was so colorful, with her bright red hair
and her wonderful sense of fashion and aesthetics.
She had a great eye, enjoyed all the senses and had a
continual wonderment of life and of people."
Lee Hoffman is survived by her son and daughter-
in-law, Dr. Daniel and Janet Hoffman of Denver;
daughter and son-in-law, Carla and Michael Levin of
Chicago; grandchildren, Jessica Hoffman, Uri
Hoffman, Rachel Levin and Ari Levin; brother and
sister-in-law, Eugene and Evelyn Baron of Oak Park.
She was the loving wife of the late Dr. Harry Y.
Hoffman and beloved daughter of the late Rose and
the late Samuel Baron.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Park. Contri-
butions may be made to Detroit Institute of Arts,
5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202; or Cranbrook
Academy of Art, 39221 Woodward, Box 801,
Bloomfield Hills, 48303-0801. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. ❑

"Her family was very important to her,
was an ardent supporter of the State of
she added. The family included her two sis-
Israel and other charitable causes.
ters and their families. "Keeping the family
She was 19 when World War II began.
together was critical."
She and her family stayed in the Lodz
Her mother had the body of an 84-year-
ghetto before being transported to a con-
old but the spirit of a 50-year-old, Helen
centration camp. Many in her family per-
said. "She had little formal education but
ished in the Holocaust.
was incredibly wise and astute about life."
Shortly after the war's end, while she
Mrs. Charlupski is survived by her hus-
was recuperating in the Allied hospital set
band of 58 years, Allen Charlupski; daugh
up at Bergen-Belsen, Allen Charlupski
Franka Ch arlupski ter and son-in-law, Helen Charlupski and
visited her. Both had lost their spouses
Dr. Joseph Biederman; son and daughter-
during the war and knew each other
in-law, Larry and Elyn Charlupski; grandchildren, Itai
while in the camps. They were married a year later.
They came to the United States in 1949, living in five Biederman, Daniela Biederman, An Biederman,
Rachel Charlupski, Cory Charlupski and Jordan
states within one year before settling in Michigan.
Charlupski; sisters and brother-in-law, Rosa and Julius
Son Larry Charlupski remembered his
Schaumberg and Mala Dorfman.
mother as a dynamic woman who shared
She was the sister of the late Beresh Weintraub, the
her memories of the Holocaust with her
late Menasha Weintraub, the late Mindel Weintraub
family — something not every survivor had
and the late Lola Weintraub. She was the sister-in-law
been able to do. Some 20 years ago, she was
of the late Dora Klein, the late Ida Omer and the late
one of the first Holocaust survivors who
Henry Dorfman. Interment was at Clover Hill Park
agreed
to
have
her
story
videotaped
by
'UST
Professor Sidney Bolkosky of the University
Cemetery.
OR
Contributions may be made to the University of
of Michigan-Dearborn at the start of a pro-
gram to tape survivors so their stories would
Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, do Dr.
Max Wicha, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann
be available to students and scholars.
Daughter Helen Charlupski remembered her moth- Arbor, MI 48109-0942; or the American Red Magen
David for Israel (Magen David Adorn), Michigan
er as a woman who was "intelligent, caring, dynamic
Region, 23470 Riverview Drive, Southfield, MI
and strong," a person who was always there for oth-
48034. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑
ers.

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8/27

2004

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