Obituaries

Obituaries are updated and archived on JNOnline.com .

War Hero, Attorney

n Dec. 16, 1944, 20-year-old
Staff Sergeant Sid Pollick of the
28th infantry Division lay in the
snow in the woods outside Diekirch,
Luxembourg, pinned down by a
German machine gun. Although he did
not know it at the time, Sergeant
Pollick and the squad he led were fac-
ing the greatest military onslaught in
the history of American warfare — the
opening barrage of the Battle of the
Bulge.
While other squads in his company
were being captured or killed, Sergeant
Pollick, with calm and determined
leadership, held his position until
nightfall when, in the darkness, he
safely led his men through the sur-
rounding German forces back to
American lines.

0

EDWARD BERMAN, 91, for-
mery of New York of West
Bloomfield, died Nov. 4, 2005.
He was a World War II veteran
and a Yankees fan.
Mr. Berman is survived by
his wife of 65 years, Jeanette
Berman; children, Judith
Berman Kohn and David Kohn
of New York, Jay and Nancy
Berman of West Bloomfield;
grandsons, Jeremy and Daniel
Berman.
Contributions may be made
to the Jewish War Vererans,
Hospice of Michigan or to the
New York Public Library. This
announcement was placed at
the request of the family by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

MARIA BIRNHART, 79, of
Livonia, died Nov. 7, 2005. She
was originally a seamstress and
then co-owned
with her hus-
band Maria's, a
restaurant
near the
Eastern
Market. She
also became a
Birnhart
floral arranger.
She was a
member of the Temple Beth
Elders.
Mrs. Birnhart is survived by
her husband of 53 years, Jacob
Birnhart of Livonia; daughter

114

November 10 . 2005

Sid Pollick, of
Bloomfield Hills, World
War II combat veteran,
lawyer, devoted husband
and father and lifelong
Detroiter, died of cancer
at his home on Nov. 3,
2005. He was 81.
Born in Detroit in
1924, Mr. Pollick grew
up poor during the
Great Depression. He
Sid Pollick
graduated from Central
High School in 1942 and in March
1943, at 18, joined the Army. As a rifle-
man in the 109th Infantry Regiment,
28th Division, Mr. Pollick fought in the
Normandy hedgerows, St. Lo, Gathemo,
Huertgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge
and Colmar. He received a silver battle
star for his participation in each of the
five northern and central European
campaigns and a Purple Heart for

and son-in-law, Judy and
George Bogart of Livonia; son,
Mark Birnhart of Northville;
grandchildren, Julia and David
Bogart.
Interment at Beth El
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to
the American Cancer Society,
18505 W. 12 Mile Road,
Southfield, MI 48076; the Lupus
Foundation, 26202 Harper
Avenue, St. Clair, MI 48081; or
Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph
Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

MURRAY J. CHODAK, 71, of
Canton, died Nov. 1, 2005.
He is survived by his beloved
companion, Diana Bisio; son,
Matthew Chodak of West
Bloomfield; daughter, Lesley
Hershman of Wilmette, Ill.; sis-
ters and brothers-in-law, Hilda
and Mitch Bloom of West
Bloomfield, Esther and Howard
Davidow of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Molly
Hershman, Hannah Hershman.
He was the loving son of the
late Rebecca Chodak and the
late Abe Chodak; dear brother
of the late Irvin Chodak.
Contributions may be made
to Michigan Humane Society,
7401 Chrysler Service Drive,
Detroit, MI 48211 or

wounds received at Colmar.
After the war, Mr. Pollick
attended the University of
Michigan on the G.I. Bill,
graduating from its under-
graduate and law schools.
In 1949, he married fellow
U-M graduate Esther
Stulberg.
Mr. Pollick's legal career
spanned 45 years, during
which he became of the
city's leading trial lawyers.
He was widely respected in the legal
community for his integrity and civili-
ty, traits he successfully combined with
an unwavering determination. For
many years, Mr. Pollick's law partner
was the late Arthur Bonk.
In the last several years of his prac-
tice, his partner was his daughter
Marissa. "His word was his bond" is
how other attorneys would describe

Parkinsons Foundation, 30161
Southfield Road, Suite 119,
Southfield, MI 48076. Interment
at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

SONYA DRIZIK, 90, of
Southfield, died Nov. 2, 2005.
She is survived by her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Bella and
Mikhail Milikhiker of Oak Park;
grandchildren, Boris
Milikhiker, Igor and Galina
Milikhiker; great-grandchil-
dren, Max, Sam. She was the
beloved wife of the late Leib
Drizik.
Interment at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

BERTRAM S. ELLSTEIN, 79, of
Redford, died Oct. 30, 2005.
He is survived by his beloved
wife, Eleanore Ellstein; sons
and daughter-in-law, Mark
Ellstein of Redford, Matthew
and Joann Ellstein of
Lawrenceville, Ga.; daughter-in-
law, Dr. Carol Ellstein; grand-
children, Brian Ellstein, Joshua
Ellstein, Sarah Ellstein, Alyssa
Ellstein, Jordan Ellstein and
Melissa (Rabbi Daniel)
Fellman. He was the dear father
of the late Charles Ellstein.
Interment at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be

Mr. Pollick, his daughter said.
"He was the greatest dad a person
could ask for," said his son John, "and
he was a great American, too."
Beloved for his sound judgment,
sense of humor, humility and devotion
to family, Mr. Pollick is survived by his
wife, Esther Pollick; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Mark and Lori Pollick, John
and Yuan Pollick; daughter, Marissa
Pollick; grandchildren, Lauren, Jeffrey,
Rebecca and Thomas Pollick; sister and
brother-in-law, Jacqueline and Zolman
Cavitch; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-
law, Morris and Sue Stulberg, Sam and
Sarah Stulberg.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the American Cancer Society or to
Odyssey Health Care of Detroit, Ste.
301, 26111 Evergreen, Southfield, MI
48076. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑

made to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

FREMA EVA FELL, 74, of
Ypsilanti, died Nov. 3, 2005. A
teacher in the Detroit Public
School System
for over 39
years, Miss
Fell received a
Teacher of the
Year award in
the 1950s.
She is sur-
Fell
vived by
brothers and a
sister-in-law, Norman and Alice
Fell of Ann Arbor, Jacob Fell of
Las Vegas, Nev.; nieces, Shayna
and Amanda Fell.
Interment at Arborcrest
Cemetery in Ann Arbor. Contri-
butions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. arrange-
ments by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

JUDITH ZIDE FREED, 59, of
Farmington Hills, died Nov. 3,
2005. An x-ray therapist for
over 30 years, she was also a
volunteer with
the Governor
Warner
Garden Club.
Ms. Freed is
survived by
her compan-
ion for over 22
years,
Dan-
Freed
Cooper of
Farmington Hills; sisters and
brothers-in-law, Susan and Bob
Schneider of Royal Oak, Sandra
and Martin Nessel of West
Bloomfield; nieces and
nephews, Caryn and Ron
Bittker, Dana Nessel, Ari and
Rebecca Nessel, Stephanie
Schneider; great-nieces and
great nephews, Hallie Bittker,
Shoshana Bittker, Alex Nessel
and Zachary Nessel. She was
the beloved wife of the late Don
Freed and the devoted daughter
of the late Sylvia Zide and the
late Carl Zide.
Arrangements by Kaufman
Chapel.

HARRIET FOX, 99, of Oak
Park, died Oct. 31, 2005.
She is survived by her broth-
er, Arnold Fox of Oak Park. She
was the loving sister of the late
Leonard Fox, the late Rosalind
Sherman; loving sister-in-law of
the late Mildred Fox, the late
Ernest Sherman.
Contributions may be made
to a charity of one's choice.
Services and interment at

Obituaries on page 90