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Healer And Teacher
ALAN HITS KY
Associate Editor
EE
is father walked across
Russia, from west to east,
to escape being conscripted
into the czar's army, then worked as
a junk man in Detroit to support
his family, staying one step ahead of
the landlord.
The son, despite moving from
house to house, became a top stu-
dent in high school and college and
first in his class at Wayne State
University School of Medicine. He
worked in a junkyard and in auto
plants to pay for his schooling.
He went on to become chief of
rheumatology at Sinai Hospital of
Detroit — and one of Sinai's last
chiefs of staff — but was best
known as a caring, compassionate
human being.
Dr. Samuel D. Indenbaum, 72, of
Franklin, died Aug. 31, 2004.
At his funeral Sept. 2, hundreds
of friends, family members and
patients overflowed Ira Kaufman
Chapel to pay tribute to a man
who, according to Rabbi Joseph
Krakoff of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek, "truly believed in, people
and kindness -- believed in every
one of us."
"He was," according to close
friend and colleague Dr. Joseph
Honet of Franklin, "probably the
premier rheumatologist in the
area." Dr. Indenbaum was known
for his ability to make diagnoses,
PAULA BERLOW, 97, of Detroit,
died Sept. 3, 2004. She was a legal
stenographer.
She was a mem-
ber of the
American Jewish
Congress, United
Foundation and
Temple Israel and
its Corale Group.
She is survived
by
daughters,
Berlow
Myna Sue Zatkin
often finding underlying diseases in
his patients that were missed by
other specialists.
A family member recalled a
patient coming in a wheelchair to
her first appointment with Dr.
Indenbaum. A year later, the
patient was walking in to her
appointments.
Doctors, too, came to rely on Dr.
Indenbaum. He was Sinai's chief of
staff during the turbulent years
leading up to the sale of the hospi-
tal to the Detroit Medical Center.
Dr. Honet, who at the time was
Sinai chief of physical medicine and
rehabilitation, said, "Sam was rec-
ognized as a leader who made a
commitment and fulfilled that
commitment. He was very well
liked and very well respected."
Dr. Indenbaum was a past presi-
dent of the National Arthritis
Foundation and the WSU Medical
School Alumni Association, and
was a board member of the Wayne
County Medical Society, the Jewish
Fund created from the sale of Sinai
Hospital and the Sinai Medical
Staff Foundation.
A professor at WSU School of
Medicine, he won numerous best-
teacher awards at Sinai's residency
program. "He trained many of the
rheumatologists in the Detroit
area," said Dr. Honet, adding that
Dr. Indenbaum insisted on training
students at his medical office and
not just during rounds at the hospi-
tal.
of Detroit and Rejean Berlow-
Walker of Maryland; grandchildren,
Stephon and Patricia Walker; great-
grandchild, Liam Alexander Walker.
Mrs. Berlow was the beloved wife
of the late Walter Berlow; _the devot-
ed daughter of the late Adolph
Steinberg and the late Rebecca
Steinberg; cherished sister and sister-
in-law of the late Lottie Mirsky, the
late Maurice Mirsky and the late
Dorothy Rosenberg.
Interment at Beth El Memorial
Despite his medical involvements,
Dr. Indenbaum was highly commit-
ted to his family. Son Michael
spoke at the funeral of his father's
love for a motorcycle — which he
rode from Detroit to California one
summer.
But the motorcycle was replaced
when he met the woman who
would become his wife of 48 years,
Valerie Latt. Valerie's father, Harry
Latt, said the cycle would have to
go if Mr. Indenbaum wanted to
continue dating his
daughter.
Michael
Indenbaum related
his father's contin-
uous involvement
with his children
and grandchildren.
The family went on
annual trips togeth-
er, including canoe-
ing on the Rifle
River and theater
in Stratford. But
the 12 grandchil-
dren could also
count on Zaydie to
be at their athletic
contests, musical
performances and
plays or going for a
walk in "Zaydie's
woods" or being
the focus of his
"Grandfather's Club."
Dr. Indenbaum loved wonderful
stories. He would read to his grand-
children -- and other family mem-
bers — at any event, including
Passover seders the Indenbaums
hosted for up to 75 people. Similar
crowds of family and friends came
on Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah.
Several of his patients, asked why
they had come to the funeral, said,
"He wasn't just our doctor. He was
our friend."
Dr. Indenbaum is survived by his
wife, Valerie; son and daughter-in-
law, Michael and Leslye Indenbaum
of Franklin; daughters and sons-in-
law, Sarah and Dr. Neal Krasnick,
Dr. Amy and David Green, and
Drs. Rebecca and Harry Wasvary,
all of Franklin;
grandchildren,
Shoshana, Alyssa
and Lilly
Indenbaum,
Bradley, Brian
and Nathan
Krasnick, Adam,
Jonathon and
Jack Green, and
Maggie, Joanna
and Eve Wasvary;
sister, Yetta
Kritzer of
Southfield; broth-
er, Bernard
Indenbaum of
Oak Park.
Interment was
at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery.
Contributions
may be made to
the Dr. Samuel
Indenbaum Medical Endowment
Fund at Wayne State University
School of Medicine, Development
Office, 101 E. Alexandrine,
Detroit, MI 48201. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel. I1
Park. Contributions may be made to
Jewish Home and Aging Services,
6710 W. Maple Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel
survived by many loving nieces,
nephews, family members and
friends.
He was the dear father of the late
Dennis Bragman and Richard
Bragman and brother of the late
Anne Jacobs and Ben Bragman.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
HARRY BRAGMAN, 88, of
Southfield, died Sept. 2, 2004.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Lee Marcus Bragman of Southfield;
sister-in-law, Joyce Margolis; also