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Diabetes Researcher Dr. Piero Foa

D

r. Piero P. Foa was a dedicated
medical researcher who spent
his adult life studying the
endocrine pancreas and its relationship
to diabetes.
Dr. Foa's contributions included the
first convincing demonstration that
glucose stimulates the secretion of
insulin and that hypoglycemia stimu-
lates the secretion of a second pancre-
atic hormone named glucagons, said
son Richard.
Dr. Foa, 94, of West Bloomfield, died
Nov. 12, 2005. His funeral, set for 11
a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Ira Kaufman
Chapel, is on the same day he had been
scheduled to be honored by the Dante
Alighieri Society, an Italian cultural
organization.
Born in Turin, he began his research
career at the University of Milan, which
awarded him his medical degree in
1934 and his doctor of science in 1938.
He escaped fascist Italy in 1939.
After arriving in the United States,
he was a research fellow at Yale
University in New Haven, Conn., and

HELEN (RACHMELL) BELL, 89
of Philadelphia, died Nov. 6,
2005.
She is survived by her daugh-
ters and sons-in-law, Joan and
Ned Winkelman of Bloomfield
Hills, Marjorie and Louis
Mendelson of West Hartford,
Conn., Emily and David Lowe of
Rydal, Pa.; sister and brother-in-
law, Louise and Ira Weiss; sisters-
in-law, Roslyn Hauser, Bernice
Mogul; grandchildren, David
Mendelson, Andrew Mendelson,
Laura Winkelman, Mark and
Dara Winkelman, Elizabeth
Lowe, Kate Lowe, Jonathan Lowe;
great-grandchild, Jordan
Winkelman.
Contributions may be made to
Food Allergy and Anaphlaxis
Network, 4744 Holly Ave.,
Fairfax, VA 22030. Arrangements
by Goldsteins Rosenbergs
Raphael-Sacks in Philadelphia.

JOSEPH BRAVER, 81, of Delray
Beach, Fla., and Michigan, died
Nov. 9, 2005. An executive and
owner of Braver Lumber in
Detroit on E. Nevada for over 40
years, he had been a first lieu-

November 17 . 2005

later at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor, where he met his wife,
Naomi, who was his research lab part-
ner.
Dr. Foa spent many years as a profes-
sor of physiology and pharmacology at
the University of Chicago
Medical School. He came
to Detroit in 1962 as the
first chairman of the
newly created depart-
ment of research at
Detroit's Sinai Hospital as
well as a research teacher
of physiology at Wayne
State University. After
retiring from Sinai, he
became a full-time pro-
fessor at Wayne before
retiring in 1982.
During his career, Dr.
Dr. Piero Foa
Foa authored four books
and edited 15 anthologies
of essays. He also has been published
in more than 250 publications on the
physiology of the endocrine pancreas
and its relationship to diabetes.

tenant in the
Army during
World War II
and received
the Purple
Heart. A mem-
ber of the
Jewish War
Braver
Veterans, he
was also a 32nd degree Mason, a
past president of Congregation
Beth Achim as well as past presi-
dent of the Michigan Lumber
Association and of Hamlet
Country Club in Florida. In addi-
tion, he had served as a vice
president of Tam O'Shanter
Country Club.
Mr. Braver is survived by his
wife of 60 years, Fay Braver of
Delray Beach; daughters and a
son-in-law, Sharon Sheldon of
West Bloomfield, Laurie and
Steven Lewin of Orchard Lake;
grandchildren, Juli Gilliam,
Jennifer Midell, David Mindell,
Jami Lewin, Melissa Lewin;
brother, Edward Braver of
Commerce; sisters and a brother-
in-law, Edith Linden of Livonia,
Irene and Izzy Kleinbard of
Livonia.

Dr. Foa was honored many times for
his research, including gold medals
from the University of Milan as well as
the Italian Diabetes Socety, the Wayne
State President's Award for Excellence
in Teaching, its Distinguished Services
Award, the Sigma Xi
Faculty Research
Award, election to the
Wayne Academy of
Scholars, and an award
given by students for
being the year's best
teacher.
Over the years, he has
lectured in North and
South America, Spain,
Italy, Japan, Switzerland
and Nigeria. More than
30 of his former stu-
dents are continuing
research he initiated in
the United States,
Canada, Italy, Japan, Spain and
Switzerland.
Aside from medical research, Dr. Foa
also studied an interesting Jewish

topic: the history of the Magen David.
In the 15th century, his son noted, the
six-pointed star was used by an ances-
tor as the family seal and as the mark
of his work as a printer.
Dr. Foa is survived by Naomi Foa, his
wife of 64 years; son and daughter-in-
law, Dr. Richard and Lin Foa of
Colorado; daughter and son-in-law,
Helen and Martin Katz of Bloomfield
Hills; grandchildren, Jason and Korine
Foa, Robert and Molly Foa, David Katz,
Richard Katz; great-granddaughters,
Maggie and Paige; sister, Ornella Calabi
of Italy.
Contributions may be made to the
Piero P. Foa Annual Lecture, Wayne
State University Medical School, Office
of Development and Alumni Affairs,
101 E. Alexandrine, Detroit, MI 48201;
American Diabetes Association-
Michigan, 30600 Telegraph, Bingham
Farms, MI 48025; or Jewish Woman's
Foundation, 6735 Telegraph,
Bloomfield Township, MI 38303.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑

Copy Editor Leonard Poger contributed
to this story.

Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to
the National Kidney Foundation
of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or
American Technion Society,
32522 Northwestern Highway,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

grandchildren, Dustin Marx, Josh
Calef, Abby Calef, Garnet Bruell,
Monica Bruell, Charlotte Bruell,
Emily Bruell, Renee Bruell;
brother, Jacob Brull of Oak Park.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

JOSEF BRUELL, 80, of
Southfield, died Nov. 7, 2005. The
founder and owner of Carpets by
Josef, he began in 1965 and
retired in 1987.
A Holocaust
survivor, he
also was a past
president of the
usw Livonia Jewish
Congregation.
Mr. Bruell is
survived by his
wife, Mariya Bruell of Southfield;
daughter and son-in-law, Melanie
and Steve Calef of Ann Arbor;
sons and daughters-in-law,
Daniel and Wendy Bruell of Ann
Arbor, Dr. Marc Jacob and Debbie
Bruell of Carbondale, Colo.;

BEATRICE S. COHEN, 92, of
Southfield, died Nov. 12, 2005.
She retired after a long career
with Detroit Public Schools,
where she taught third grade as
well as junior high math. She
spent many
years teaching
at Vernor
school in
Detroit. After
retirement,
Mrs. Cohen was
a president of
her local ORT
Cohen
chapter. She
also tutored students in Kumon
Mathemetics well into her late
70s. She was interested in Jewish
culture and dances and taught

dancing to other seniors late in
her life. She was also an avid
bridge and mahjong player, play-
ing bridge with her son Stuart
and teaching majhong to her
grandchild Rachel. She traveled
to many places, including
Australia, New Zealand, Florida,
the Southwest and Israel.
Mrs. Cohen is survived by her
daughters and son-in-law, Judy
Harwood of Cambridge, Mass.,
Sheila and Dr. Lester Kalisher of
Livingston, N.J.; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Stuart and Connie
Cohen of Southfield; sister, Ann
Kutnick of Southfield; grandchil-
dren, Seth (Joelle Barrios)
Harwood, Jessica Harwood,
Aaron (Deborah) Kalisher, Lisa
(Luis) Rivero, Jill Hudson and
Rachel Cohen; great-grandson,
Samuel. She was the beloved wife
of the late Jack A. Cohen.
Interment at Beth Moses
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Women's American ORT,
6735 Telegraph Road, Ste. 150,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 or to
a charity of one's choice.

Obituaries on page 106

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