Obituaries

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"The Epitome Of A Teacher"

Robert A. Sklar
Editor

udaism helped Ben Chinitz thrive.
It represented a code for how he
lived. At his beloved Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, he immersed himself in
religious school teaching and syna-
gogue leadership. And he never would
just recite the blessing over bread; he
would offer a thought about life or a tid-
bit to contemplate.
"Ben believed in the dignity and
equality of all people, the worth of all
human beings, no matter the color of
their skin or their economic status:'
said Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Joseph
Krakoff. "With Ben, there were no artifi-
cial boundaries. In Ben's eyes, each and
every one of us was created in the
image of God."
Grandson Joshua Chinitz echoed the
rabbi. "He was a man of multicultural-
ism before the term really came into
modern use. Living in the '30s, '40s,
'50s and '60s, he was an unprejudiced
man in a prejudiced time Joshua said.
Mr. Chinitz, 90, of West Bloomfield
died on Oct. 25, 2005, of complications
from a stroke. He and his wife, Lillian,
were married 65 years.
Born in the Ukraine, Mr. Chinitz fled
at age 8 with his parents and three sis-
ters from a Cossack pogrom. They
found safety in what is now Belarus

j

HARRY BERLIN, 90, of Beverly
Hills, Calif., died Oct. 28, 2005.
He was a food industry execu-
tive.
Mr. Berlin is survived by his
wife, Helen Berlin; son, Dr.
Michael Berlin of California;
daughter and partner, Adrienne
Berlin and Frances Edwards of
California; daughter and son-in-
laws, Marla and Randy Cooper of
California; grandchildren, Daniel
Cooper, Bryan Berlin Edwards,
David Berlin Edwards; sister,
Rose Racimore. He was the lov-
ing brother of the late Susie
Chesla and the late Norman
Berlin.
Interment at Beth Ahm
Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

before immigrating to Detroit. By 1938,
Mr. Chinitz, a Wayne State University
graduate, began to make his mark as a
teacher in the Detroit Public Schools. He
met Lillian the next year at B'nai Moshe
while he was religious school principal
and she was getting involved in volun-
teer work there.
In 1946, following three
years of Army service in
England, France and
Germany, Mr. Chinitz
returned to Detroit
schools as a teacher. From
1946 to 1950, he was a
leader at the religious
school of Shaarey Zedek.
He found his ultimate
calling in 1952 as a coun-
selor. "Ben excelled in this
area," Rabbi Krakoff said,
"because he took to heart Ben Chinitz
the talmudic dictum that
the world rests on the breath of children
in the schoolhouse!'
In 1957, Mr. Chinitz became assistant
principal at Henry Ford High School. He
became principal at Cooley in 1961, the
first Jewish male principal in Detroit.
From 1968 until retiring in 1975, he was
a regional superintendent in southwest
Detroit.
"Over the years," Rabbi Krakoff said,
"Ben embodied the notion that teaching
is a fragile art, and he was truly an

MAE BOXMAN, 91, of
Southfield, died Oct. 25, 2005.
She is survived by many loving
nieces and nephews. Mrs.
Boxman was the beloved wife of
the late Oscar Boxman; loving
mother of the late Harvey
Boxman; dear sister of the late Al
Smith, the late Minnie Lesser, the
late Florence Kahan.
Services and interment at
Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

ARTHUR BYCK, 72, of West
Bloomfield, died Oct. 27, 2005.
He is survived by his wife,
Shoshana Byck; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Michael and Stacey
Byck of Southfield, Paul and

artist with his students, developing a
wonderful rapport with each and every
one of them. Ben went to the ends of
the earth to get help for students who
needed it!"
After retiring from the Detroit Public
Schools, Mr. Chinitz joined a local fami-
ly dentistry office, serving as a consult-
ant and general manager until 1989.
Mr. Chinitz joined Shaarey Zedek in
1947 and influenced every
sector of the synagogue —
from the board, to the men's
club to, most recently, the
Synagogue 2000 renewal
committee.
"He inspired many mem-
bers to also get involved in
the life of the shul through
his passion and his example,"
Rabbi Krakoff said. "It was
Ben who always encouraged
us to keep the synagogue
moving forward by making
thoughtful changes."
Mr. Chinitz was a co-
founder of the Farmington Hills-based
American Dysautonomia Institute
(www.adiwebsite.org). The national
nonprofit is designed to spur greater
awareness of and research funding for
this autonomic nervous system disorder
that afflicts 1 million Americans, 80
percent women, many initially misdiag-
nosed. The hope is to find better treat-
ment and a cure.
"A member of the family was stricken
with the disease and my father was dis-

Gayle Byck of
Deerfield,
Illinois; daugh-
ter and son-in-
law, Annette
and Mitchell
Benson of West
Bloomfield; sis-
Byck
ter and broth-
er-in-law, Rena and Dave Kresch
of West Bloomfield; grandchil-
dren, Seth, Samantha, Hannah,
Jacob, Jonah, Lia, Noah.
Contributions may be made to
the Friendship Circle, Meer
Family Friendship Center, 6890
W Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
MI 48322 or to a charity of one's
choice. Interment at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

traught at the lack of attention paid to it
and the cuts made in federal research
funding," said Mr. Chinitz's son Gilbert.
"The lack of frankness about the cuts
energized him to seek fairness and sup-
port through the Institute!"
Despite health ailments for 35 years,
Mr. Chinitz maintained a zest for life —
right to the end, "a man of youthful -
spirit, with a vibrant mind and fresh,
exciting ideas," Rabbi Krakoff said.
"In every way:' the rabbi said, "Ben
was the epitome of a teacher!'
Survivors include his wife, Lillian;
sons and daughters-in-law, Mel and
Karol Chinitz of Farmington Hills and
Gil and Karen Chinitz of Farmington
Hills; grandchildren, Deborah Chinitz,
Steven and Jennifer Chinitz, Joshua
Chinitz and Meagan Labriola, and Julie
Chinitz; great-grandchildren, Grace,
Eliana and Jonah Chinitz; sister,
Florence Wax of Florida; sisters-in-law
and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Jerry
Rapoport of Palm Desert, Calif., Frieda
Olen of Southfield.
Mr. Chinitz was the loving brother of
the late Sonia Eisenberg and the late
Sylvia Goldsmith; the dear brother-in-
law of the late Dr. James,E. Goodfriend.
Burial was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. The family suggests that
contributions be made to the American
Dysautonomia Institute, 28879 Willow
Creek, Farmington Hills; MI 48331.
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑

KATE COHEN, 91, of Southfield,
died Oct. 29, 2005.
She is survived by her hus-
band, Bert Cohen; daughters and
sons-in-law, Soralee and Gerald
Broida of Walled Lake, Susie and
Frederick Melamed of Southfield;
sister and brother-in-law,
Rebecca and Mutchie Cutler of
Southfield; niece, Irene Cutler;
nieces that she raised, Sheree
Latif and Janice Margolis; grand-
children, Ilene and Gary Stone,
Alan and Shawn Broida, Ronald
and Melanie Melamed, Marc and
Rebecca Melamed, Sarah
Melamed; great-grandchildren,
Brandon Stone, Alyssa Stone,
Jacob Broida, Abigail Broida, Max
Melamed. She was the dear sister
of the late Robert Margolis.

Contributions may be made to
American Heart Association,
Memorial & Tribute Program,
Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, IL
60678-3968; Jewish Women
International, 2868 Woodbine
Drive, Waterford, MI 48328; or to
a charity of one's choice.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

DAVID GARMEL, 83, of
Farmington Hills, died Oct. 30,
2005. He was born in Detroit and
attended Northern High School
and the University of Michigan.
He served honorably in the
European Theater of the U. S.
Army during World War II. Mr.
Garmel was co-owner of Crystal

Obituaries on page 98

November 3 . 2005

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