Obituaries are updated regularly
and archived on JNOnline.com
Builder And Fami ly
While his father was clearly a
capitalist, he taught his children
Copy Editor
to be freethinkers, Peter said.
While
there was a socialist streak
ester S. Burton won the love of everyone
in their early years, they later
with whom he had contact — from the men
entered different professions.
who swept restaurant floors to the nurses at
Three
are teachers, one a med-
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He will be
ical
doctor
and one a social
remembered, said family members, for his zest for
worker.
Peter
was the only sib-
life, compassion, integrity and — to the end — his
ling
to
go
into
business.
Lester Burton
humor.
Lester
Burton
was well known
Mr. Burton, one of the Detroit area's major
for
his
support
of
numerous
builders, is best known for the Bingham Office Park
Jewish organizations and causes as well as his leader-
on Telegraph Road north of 12 Mile Road. His
ship role in the construction industry. He also
other accomplishments include the constuction of
served on many boards, providing untiring effort
more than 5,000 homes and the development of
and invaluable leadership up to the time of his
acres of light industrial property.
death, family members said. He had served as chair-
Mr. Burton, 90, of Bingham Farms, died of heart
man of the Fresh Air Society, which operates Camp
failure Jan. 22, 2005.
Tamarack,
and the Jewish Home for Aged, both of
On a personal level, Mr. Burton was known for
which prospered under his leadership.
his commitment to his family and his guiding rule
Along with Evelyn, his wife of 60 years, they
of always being home for dinner with the family.
devoted
countless hours of services to the Multiple
One of his oft-repeated phrases was the Yiddish
Sclerosis
Society along with financial support of the
maxim alles fur der kinder or "everything for the
Weizmann
Institute of Science in Israel.
children."
On
a
business
level, Mr. Burton served as presi-
Peter Burton, one of five sons, remembers how his
dent
of
the
Building
Industry Association of
father frequently spent weekends with his children
Southeastern Michigan (BIA), receiving numerous
on treks to parks, the Detroit Institute of Arts, a
honors and was the winner of its first Distinguished
railroad station to watch the trains come and go,
Lifetime Service Award. He has been inducted into
and to undeveloped land for the kids to play cow-
the Builders' Hall of Fame. He was also the first
boys and Indians where new Burton homes and
appointed chair of the State of Michigan Builders'
offices were to be built.
Licensing Board. Later, he served as chair of the
"My father had a phenomenal sense of humor and
Home Owners' Warranty Program. He was honored
was always engrossed with life," said Peter. "He was
for 60 years of service to the BIA on Nov. 30.
also an avid traveler, taking at least two trips a year
Even in retirement, he remained involved in the
with the family."
LEONARD POGER
L
HYMIE ADELSON, 84, of West
Bloomfield, died Jan. 24, 2005.
He is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Dale and Kathy
Adelson of Berkley; daughter, Marcy
Adelson of Novi; grandchildren,
Elyse and Dan Karpel, Erik Adelson;
sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law,
Janet Adelson, Leah Adelson, Al
Kaplowe, Sophie Schwartz, Ben
Gershon. He was the beloved hus-
band of the late Doris Adelson.
Interment at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to the American Cancer
Society or the Jewish Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ELEANOR KAHN ETTLINGER,
98, of Southfield, died Jan. 20,
2005. She was a past president of
Temple Beth El Sisterhood, a Sinai
Hospital Volunteer, a member of
business, which eventually evolved into the Burton-
Katzman Development Co. under the leadership of
son Peter.
Born in Detroit to Russian immigrants Barnet and
Frieda Burton, Lester Burton graduated from what
is now Wayne State University Law School.
Following his father's death in 1938, he became the
head of the family at age 23 and decided to contin-
ue the building business that his father had begun in
1912. Later, he formed Burton-Share Inc. with Nat
Share, which continues to thrive.
Mr. Burton is survived by his wife, Evelyn Burton;
sons and daughters-in-law, Eric Burton and Lois
Maharg of Ann Arbor, Lee Burton and Roberta
Shaw Reeves of Brighton, Tony and Jane Burton of
Ann Arbor, Peter and Sandi Burton of Bloomfield
Hills, Tim and Carol Burton of Ann Arbor; daugh-
ter and son-in-law of Jody and Joe Slowins of Ann
Arbor; grandchildren, Zoe, Owen, and Chris
Burton; brothers and sisters-in-law, Irving Burton of
Huntington Woods, Russell and Brit Burton of Los
Angeles, Martin and Mary Burton of Rancho Palos
Verdes, Calif.; and sister, Betty Katzman of
Bloomfield Township.
Interment was at Beth El Cemetery. Contributions
may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of
Michigan, 21311 Civic Center Drive, Southfield
48076; Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301;
American Heart Association, Dept. 77-3968,
Chicago, IL 60678; or the Southern Poverty Law
Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL
36104.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. Tfi
Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48034.
National Council of Jewish Women
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
and a volunteer with the American
Chapel.
Red Cross during World War II.
Mrs. Ettlinger is survived by
SOPHIE FELDMAN, 105, of
daughter and son-in-law, Claire and
Huntington Woods, died Jan. 20,
Arthur Kretchmer of Huntington
2005. A bookkeeper until the age of
Woods; son and daughter-in-law,
85, she worked for Michigan Scrap
Roger James and Chris Ettlinger of
and
the I. Irving Feldman Gallery.
West Bloomfield; grandchildren,
Mrs. Feldman was an immigrant
Linda Tikey, Geoffrey Kretchmer
from Turover Farein in Russia; her
and Jody Lipton, Eylsa and Chuck
family sponsored many immigrants
Newman, Brant and Meredith
moving to Detroit. She was a life-
Ettlinger, David Ettlinger, Matthew
time member of Eastern Star and
Ettlinger; great-grandchildren, Ryan
Jewish Women's International.
and Blaine Tikey, Noah and Emma
Mrs. Feldman is survived by
Kretchmer, Amanda, Daniel and Ava daughters and a son-in-law, Marjore
Newman, Jed Ettlinger. She was the
Grossman of Huntington Woods,
beloved wife of the late Roger
Dulcy and Allan Swidler of
Ettlinger; devoted sister of the late
Huntington Woods; grandchildren,
James Murray Kahn.
Barbara and Jules Olsman, Gary
Private interment. Contributions
Grossman, David Grossman, Mark
may be made to National Council of Swidler, Barry and Cynthia Swidler
and Lee Swidler; great-grandchil-
Jewish Women, 26400 Lahser Road,
.
dren, Carly Olsman, Jake Olsman,
Abby Swidler. She was the beloved
wife for 65 years of the late Sam
Feldman; devoted mother-in-law of
the late Harold Grossman; loving
sister of the late Ben Gurvis, the late
Harry Gurvis, the late Herbert
Gurvis, the late Jenny Korchek and
the late Ida Miller.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to JARC, 30301 Northwestern
Highway, Farmington Hills, MI
48334 or Citizens for Better Care,
4750 Woodward, suite 410, Detroit,
MI 48201. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
MICHAEL FORDONSKI, 80, of
Oak Park, died Jan. 12, 2005. He
was a retired residential electrician,
working for 30 years for Kasmer
OBITS on page 86
1/27
2005
85
N