I
s it the new 1,000 square foot master suite with its
cypress beamed ceiling? Or the amazing living
room/dining room combination that changed
everything about Jim and Judith Burdick's 1963
tri-level?
National Man of the Year Award.
"I'm pleased that this national
honor, named in David's memo-
ry, has come to Detroit and is
being given to our friend, Irving
Nusbaum," stated Hermelin's
widow, Doreen Hermelin of
Bingham Farms.
"Irving's tireless efforts and
generosity on behalf of the
Detroit Jewish community for
over 40 years make him a most
worthy recipient:' added Robert
S. Colburn of Bloomfield
Township, current Detroit ORT
Chapter president.
Previous Hermelin Award win-
ners are New York Sen. Hilary
Clinton, National Basketball
Association Commissioner
David Stern and New York busi-
nessman Murray Koppelman.
"It's gratifying to have a
Detroit area person win the
award for the first time said
Detroit Chapter Director Mark
Lichterman.
Founded in 1922, the nonprof-
it American ORT supports a
global network of schools and
training programs that has
about three million graduates
and now educates and provides
marketable skills to about
300,000 students in 60 countries
annually.
Detroit Roots
Nusbaum has followed in the
footsteps of his parents, Abe and
Laura Nusbaum, both as a busi-
nessman and a communal
leader. He graduated from
Detroit Central High School, but
left Wayne (State) University to
run the old New York Linoleum
and Carpet Co. in Hamtramck
after his father died in 1957. The
elder Nusbaum, a firm believer
in Jewish education, was one of
the founders of Israel's Bar-Ilan
University, holding many com-
mittee planning meetings in his
home on Detroit's Outer Drive.
Moving to Michigan Avenue,
the business became New York
Carpet World and used TV per-
sonality Bob Allison as the com-
mercial spokesman.
"One time, Bob interviewed
me to answer a letter from a
viewer on how to clean her car-
pet:' said Nusbaum. "I guess
everyone liked the way that came
November 10 . 2005
out. Then, I made a season's
greetings ad with my family and
just took over doing the com-
mercials. We shot two or three a
week, using the slogan: 'The
Better Carpet People'."
Nusbaum received some nice
letters from viewers, but also
some hate mail with anti-Semitic
overtones. "But I tried not to let
them bother me he said. "All in
all, being on television was a fas-
cinating experience. And we
donated a lot of carpeting to
charity"
His main TV pitchman com-
petition was another Jewish
businessman, "Mr. Belvedere"
(Maurice Lezell)."We had a
reunion on the Dick Purtan radio
program recently:' Nusbaum
mused.
He says New York Carpet
World became a $450 million a
year business at its peak, and he
sold it in 1996.
Married for 48 years,
Nusbaum and his wife, Barbara,
have two sons, Arthur of Ann
Arbor and Robert of Franklin,
and five grandchildren. Barbara
is a past president of Farmington
Hills-based JARC, and-Robert is
now active in that organization,
which assists adults with devel-
opmental disabilities and fami-
lies of children with any disabili-
ty. In addition to his many com-
munal activities and support of
Jewish charities, Nusbaum is on
the board of Congregation Beth
Ahm in West Bloomfield, the
successor to Congregation Beth
Abraham, where his father
belonged — and where he had
his bar mitzvah at the old
Linwood Avenue location in
Detroit. 0
While Judith can't decide what her favorite new space
is, of one thing the couple is certain — Gittleman
Construction Company delivered on every promise, on
time, without hassle, within budget...and then some.
"The thing that impressed me most," said Judith of
Gittleman, "was their attentiveness to every detail. And,
if there was a problem, it was no problem."
"A tri-level brings out all sorts of things that are
difficult to manage, all of which Gittleman managed
perfectly," said Jim. "All the weird things, they took
care of."
When done, the family home was transformed into
"exactly the house we wanted" he said, without having
to move from a "neighborhood we love." Four months after the renovation began, the Burdick's, their
two children Andrew, 21 and Laura, 18 and the family dogs Molly and Lucy, came home to all new
hardwood floors, a new mud room, a back stairwell, a huge three can garage, an updated roofline,
remodeled bathrooms and not much more that could be done, said he. Or is there? said she.
"I'd like to, maybe, extend the kitchen," said Judith. "And if we do," interjected Jim, "Gittleman will be
the one to do it."
So if you love your neighborhood but don't feel quite the same about the roof over your head, check in
with Gittleman and let the region's most appreciated construction company make a dream home out of
the house you're in.
JUST ASK JIM AND JUDITH BURDICK.
GL ; GITTLEMAN
CONSTRUCTION inc
28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334
248.538.5400
www.gittleman.net
CUSTOM
RENOVATIONS
fl
###
It at your
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• Major name brands in carpet,
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Irving Nusbaum will receive
the Ambassador David B.
Hermelin Award from
American ORT at the
Knollwood Country Club,
5050 West Maple, West
Bloomfield, Thursday, Nov. 17.
Reception is at 6 p.m. and
dinner at 7, followed by the
program. For further infor-
mation and reservations, con-
tact Mark Lichterman at
(248) 855-8470, or
Detroit@aort.org .
• Easy access from 1-696 —
only 20 minutes from
Telegraph Road
• Savings on the flooring you
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Call Mickey Alterman!
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atO
latetra
Flooring
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20750 Hoover Road (3 miles south of 1-696)
Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment.
Call Mickey at 586-756-2400.
1043000
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