MI I Obituaries

Obituaries are updated regularly and archived on JNOnline.com .

The 'Write' Stuff

LEONARD POGER

announce to the family, 'I'm in the Jewish News."
Her letters, he said, dealt with seniors' activities
and events, such as concerts, dances and luncheons.
The letters were always upbeat and thanked per-
sons or groups for providing them, Mark added.
"She was very grateful" for those programs, he
stressed.
Besides her frequent letters, Mrs. Pittman made
the Jewish News in a bigger way. She was on the JN's
July 5, 2002, cover as part of a series of stories about
Jewish persons whose lives reflected the American
dream.
Mrs. Pittman, born in Minsk, Russia, was part of
a well-to-do family.
But they left after the end of World War I because
of political instability in Russia. They left with only
suitcases for their family belongings, living for short
periods in Poland, Germany, France and England
before arriving in New York City in 1923 when
Mrs. Pittman was 14.
With her parents and three siblings, the family
received help from relatives to open a small grocery
store in Detroit on Beaubien and Frederick, east of
Woodward. Several years later, they relocated to
Dexter and Richton on the West Side.
"It was not an easy life for the family," Mark said.
"They were up early and closed the store late."
When Mrs. Pittman turned 30, her son said, she
told her mother "I'm not going to do it any longer,"

referring to work-
ing in the grocery
store. The business
was sold with Mrs.
Pittman going to
work at Sam's Cut-
Rate, a discount
department store in
downtown Detroit
as a sales clerk,
accompanied by
occasional book-
keeping.
Sonia Pittman is Sonia Pittman
survived by her
son, Mark Pittman, and his partner, Janice
Steinhardt; grandchildren, Joshua Pittman and Dr.
Joel Pittman; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Fran
Morrison, Madeline Udow and Stanley (Phyllis)
Levine; she was mother-in-law of Sydney Pittman.
Mrs. Pittman was sister of the late Sylvia Levine,
the late Jack Udow and the late Joseph Morrison.
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions can be made to JARC, 30301
Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334 Phone: (248) 538-6611 or to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel. ❑

Mr. Richman was a member of Congregation
he consummate volunteer hardly begins to
B'nai David for 50 years and served as president for
describe Melville Richman. Throughout his
life, he gave willingly and lovingly of himself two terms. He was co-chairman of the building
committee and was directly responsi-
in the service of family, friends and
those in need.
ble for creating B'nai David's innova-
tively styled former synagogue build-
"My dad taught me what it means
ing in Southfield.
to give back to the community," said
He was also an active member of
daughter Gail Stewart-Berman of
the synagogue choir. His distinctive
West Bloomfield. "He knew the inner
and beautiful voice will be remem-
joy that comes from giving of one-
self."
bered well by his family and the mem-
bers of the congregation.
Mr. Richman, of West Bloomfield,
died on July 28, 2005, at age 91. He
As a volunteer at Jewish Vocational
Service, he was active in the outreach
was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the
program, which led to him becoming
youngest of 11 children. At age 19, he
one of the founders of Kadima. He
joined his two older brothers, David
served many years on the Kadima
and Norman, in Detroit to begin a
board and later as an honorary board
new life as an American citizen.
member. He understood the needs
Raised as an observant Jew, he never
and the struggles of men and women
forgot his heritage. "My father was a
Melville Richman
with psychiatric disabilities and strived
man of simple means, whose values
to establish quality homes and services for them.
were rooted in family, tzedakah and learning," said
In his volunteer career, he was recognized for his
son Dr. Jay Richman of Clarkston.
work by a variety of organizations. He was awarded
A man of many talents, he had multiple careers
"Volunteer of the Year" for his work at the Dorothy
throughout his lifetime. He managed real estate, was
and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day
a home builder and sold steel. He was the ultimate
Care Program. He received the State of Israel Bonds
salesman, which he put to good use in his volunteer
"Scroll of Honor" award for his fund-raising efforts
career engaging people to donate goods and services
on behalf of Israel Bonds at B'nai David.
to those in need.

Mr. Richman's grandchildren and great-grandchil-
dren were his pride and joy. They loved to be with
him as much as he loved their companionship.
"Zaydie instilled a love of family and Jewish heritage
in all of us that we will pass on to our children,"
said his oldest grandson, Jeffrey Richman. "This is
his true legacy."
Melville Richman is survived by his wife of 66
years, Sophie Richman; children, Dr. Jay and Denise
Richman of Clarkston, Gail Stewart-Berman and
Alby Berman of West Bloomfield, and former
daughter-in-law Geta Richman of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Jeffrey and Lynn Richman, Drs.
Wendy and Marc Hirsch, James and Einav Stewart
and Scott Stewart; great-grandchildren, Ari and
Jordyn Richman and Arin and Justin Hirsch; sister-
in-law, Bess Ehrenpreis; brother-in-law, Marvin
Zisman.
He was also the loving grandfather of the late
Tony Richman.
Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the Tony Richman
JOIN Scholarship Fund at Kadima, 15999 W. 12
Mile, Southfield, MI 48076 or the Tony Richman
JOIN Scholarship Fund at JARC, 30301
Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel. ❑

Copy Editor

S

onia R. Pittman always appreciated programs
and services provided to her fellow seniors
living in the Jewish Federation Apartments in
Oak Park. To show how much she and her friends
and neighbors enjoyed the programs, she frequently
wrote letters to the Jewish News to spread the word.
Her writings ended with her death on July 25,
2005. She was 97.
Mrs. Pittman's writing skills weren't limited to let-
ters to the Jewish News. She received certificates of
excellence from the Detroit-based Wayne State
University Institute of Gerontology Senior Personal
Essay Writing Opportunity Program for her essays
about her early life in America.
Her works also appeared in the Writer's Journal of
Creative Writing by Senior Adults, part of the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit's
Writer's Corner Group.
Her son Mark of Birmingham said his mother was
alert and lucid for most of her life before her decline
earlier this year. Her latest setback was three weeks
ago when she suffered a broken hip.
Mark said that his mother "was fairly outspoken
and wrote many letters to the Jewish News. She
never told me ahead of time that she was writing.
But when the letters were printed, she would

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