Obituaries Obituaries are updated and archved on JNOnline. corn. Fighting For The Little Guy Leonard Poger Copy Editor B ernard Davis used the law to fight for employees in labor relations. During his lengthy career as a lawyer, Mr. Davis represented the Teamsters as well as unions covering bar- bers, musicians and paint makers. During his career, he helped unions develop pensions and fair contracts with benefits and decent wages. Outside his law practice, he was an avid reader, retaining much of What he read and could spout famous dates in history as well as provide the entire background of an issue at a moment's notice. Mr. Davis, 100, of Southfield,.died Dec. 16,2005; just six weeks short of his101st birthday. Last January, Mr. Davis was the subject of a Jewish News story marking his 100th birthday. In that story, daughter Judith Freund said her father's views on labor unions and social justice came from his • Jewish values. She remembers many family dinner conversations as a youngster, hearing her father talking about contract negotiations and "fighting for the little guy." She described her father as a "man of grace ... He embraces people with humor and curiosity. He enjoys learning about people's backgrounds, where they come from, what they do and how they live He was also a lover .of classical music and the fine arts. The third youngest of 10 children, he was the first in his family to graduate high school. After entering New. York University, he planned to become a doctor. But he changed directions after dissecting frogs and worms in a biology class. He earned his bachelor's degree in law from St. John's University. He worked mostly in the.NewYork city .., From War Hero To Surgeon digging. "Because ifs my Jeep': said Sakwa. "That's why I like you': Patton replied. In the closing months of the war, some- one told Patton that Sakwa wanted to enroll r. Saul Sakwa was an Army infantry captain when he saw a in the Wayne University School of - Medicine, but his scheduled discharge was pilot shot down over Germany two months after the new school year dangling from his parachute in a tree. began. The general Ignoring German gunfire, arranged for Sakwa to be Sakwa climbed the tree, discharged early. freed the pilot and got him to Born in Detroit, Dr. safety. Sakwa received his bachelor The rescue was witnessed degrees in chemistry and by 3rd Army Gen. George pharmacy from Wayne. Patton, who immediately After medical school, he- picked Sakwa to join his served an internship at staff. Later, Patton named Saki,va and others to a spe- Highland Park General Hospital and a residency at cial unit, which went into a the Veterans Administration combat ahead of the rest of Dr. Saul Sak wa the infantry Hospital in Allen Park and During the war, Sakwa earned two Detroit Receiving Hospital before joining Bronze Stars, a presidential citation . and two the staff at the new Sinai Hospital, starting as chief resident in surgery and later pro- Purple Hearts. moted to chairman of the surgery depart- He refused to tell his mother about the medals "because he didn't want her to get ment. He held that position for 24 years before retiring in 1998. frightened': said a son, Marc. At Sinai, he served as chairman of the Dr. Sakwa, 87, of.Farmington Hills, died operating room committee and member of Dec. 12, 2005, after a lengthy illness. - the committees on education, medical staff Marc related several stories about his relations, and emergency room-ambulatory father's relationship with Patton. In one instance, during the Battle of the care. Although he held major positions at Bulge in December 1944, Patton saw Sakwa Sinai, he shunned recognition, said Marc, digging a Jeep out of a ditch. Patton ques- also a doctor. "There was no arrogance tioned why Sakwa, a captain, was doing the Leonard Poger Copy Editor D 82 December 22 • 2005 area. In the late 1940s or early`50s, he mentored his office suite mate, Bella Abzug, who had just grad- uated law school. Abzug later became a U.S. Congresswoman from New Bernard Davi York City. Besides helping employ- ees join unions, he helped organize a syna- gogue in Flushing, N.Y, and was elected its president. At the age of 75, he moved to Michigan to be closer to family members. His daughter, Judith, is executive director of Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, where Mr. Davis attended services. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar Association and continued to work as an arbitrator both in Michigan and New York. Judith said it wasn't unusual for her father, then in his early 80s, to board a 7 a.m. plane for 1.\iew York Ci , preside over a about him. He would talk to the guy mop- ping the [hospital] floor or the lady serving lunch." Dr. Sakwa was a member of numerous local, state and national medical organiza- tions, serving as president and treasurer of the Academy of Surgery of Detroit. He also published numerous articles in medical journals. Dr. Sakwa was a member of Temple Israel and the Tam O'Shanter Country Club. "He was very humble, quiet, reserved and a very loyal friend': said his son. "My father's life was surgery," Marc said, but in retirement Dr. Sakwa played golf and traveled. Yet he refused to return to the war zones in Europe. Dr. Sakwa is survived by his wife, Geraldine Sakwa; daughter and son-in-law, Sharlee Sakwa Hoberman and Mel Hoberman of West Bloomfield; sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Marc Sakwa and Meryl of Bloomfield Hills, and Dr. Neal Sakwa and Linda Taubman of Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren, Jenna, Connor and Sydney Sakwa, Tony Hoberman. He was the dear brother of the late Tillie Sakwa Nusbaum. Interment was at Clover Hill-Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Dr. Saul Sakwa Memorial Fund, William Beaumont Hospital, in care of Tim Broderick, Beaumont Foundation, 3711 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073. Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman Chapel. El morning arbitration hearing and return to Detroit the same day. Mr. Davis is survived by his daughters and sons in- - law, Judith and Allan Freund of Commerce, Hemline and Jack Nitzberg of New Jersey; grandchildren, Ken and Tanya Gordon, Caryn and James McDowell, Gregg Nitzberg, Barry Nitzberg, Amy Nitzberg; great-grandchildren, Heather and Felicia Gordon, Nadia and Emily Nitzberg and Allan Freund's family - Mr. Davis was the beloved husband of the late Ruth Davis. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park, Livonia. Contributions may be 'directed to the Birmingham Temple, 28611 W 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, or Children's Leukemia Foundation, - 29777 Telegraph Road, Suite 1651, • Southfield, MI 48034. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. PAULINE ABRAMS, 88, of Davie, Fla., for- Merly of Detroit, died Dec. 13, 2005. She is survived by her brother and sister- in-law, Jack and Yetta Trustman of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, James Hetzel, Kelli Scott, Matt Scott, Brian Scott; 20 great- grandchildren. She was the beloved wife of the late Lou Abrams; loving mother of the late Debbie Scott. Contributions may be made to Jewish Federation, 6760 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Services and inter- ment at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. MARIA KARDAS BARNA, of Ann Arbor, died Dec. 10, 2005. A European concert pianist and teacher in Moscovv, Budapest, Bucharest, Jerusalem and Michigan, she was a member of Mu Phi, an international music fraternity, and Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor. Mrs. Barna is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Orit Cohen and Dr. Dan Antonescu of Bayside, N.Y.; grandson, Evan Jonathan Cohen; brother and sister-in-law, Emeric and Vasilica Kardos of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was the beloved wife of the late Ion Barna. Interment at Arborcrest Cemetery . . Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.