I Obituaries
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A Fighter For Social Justice
Leonard Poger
Copy Editor
D
r. Sidney Dillick had many sides
to his life. As a retired dean of
the Wayne State University
School of Social Work, he championed
causes of the underprivileged.
When he moved his family to Detroit
in the summer of 1964 from a small
Rhode Island town, Dr. Dillick sold the
family home to an African-American
minister — which stirred a hostile reac-
- tion to the Dillicks from some neighbors.
• Within the family, he had a "keen, dry
sense of humor:' said his wife, Nena
Dillick. His son, Steven, recalled his
father's favorite reply when someone
asked how he was feeling: "I can't com-
plain — nobody listens."
Dr. Dillick, 89, of West Bloomfield,
died from heart failure Jan. 26, 2006.
He was active until hiS death, swim-
ming and exercising at the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield.
Just a few years ago, he was engaged in
white-water rafting and other activities.
CHARLES M. ABRAHAM, 82,
of Southfield, died Jan. 26, 2006.
He was born in Canonsburg,
Pa., in 1923. He was a member
of America's "greatest genera-
tion" and served his country in
World War II. He had many pas-
sions.
As busy as he was running
businesses that sold millions of
tires to Michigan drivers, he was
never too busy to spend time
with his wife and family. They
say they never heard him raise
his voice or say a harsh word.
He was an avid bowler and
loved bowling with his family.
Whether bowling, working or
teaching his children about
their heritage, his life was a
tribute to his belief of the
importance of family.
He is survived by his wife,
Blanche Abraham; sons and
daughters-in-law, Robert and
Jean Abraham of Novi, Jeff and
Shoni Abraham of Oak Park,
Yehoshua and Devorah
Abraham of Southfield, David
and Susan Abraham of Royal
Oak, Phillip and Linda Abraham
of West Bloomfield, Joseph and
Jennifer Abraham of Canton;
Born in Canada, Dr.
Dillick played hockey
and loved fishing and
camping.
He maintained life-
long friendships with
those he met in his
preschool years.
"Anyone who had
contact with him
knew that he cared
for them and cared
for their ideas:' his
wife said.
At the Jan. 29 serv-
Dr. Sidney Dillick
ice, Rabbi Daniel
Syme of Temple Beth
El. commented that Dr. Dillick was "a
Jewish guy who could fix things."
Steven added that his father did
plumbing, electrical, tile and drywall
work at all of the family homes.
Symbolic of his social justice values
was his refusal to buy products from
companies being boycotted or struck by
a union; said Steven.
As a dean at- WSU from 1964 to 1981,
daughters and sons-in-law,
Karen Obreiter of Kalamazoo,
Debra Quigley of West
Bloomfield, Linda and Rabbi
Simcha Ross of Oak Park, Julie
and Martin Lepper of Pinckney;
brother, Bob Abraham of -
Toledo, Ohio; sisters and broth-
ers-in-law, Shirley and Harold
Devercer of West Palm Beach,
Fla., Sylvia Boesky of West Palm
Beach, Fla.; 48 grandchildren;
one great-grandchild. He was
the loving father-in-law of the
late William Quigley; dear
brother-in-law of the late Harry
Boesky; dear brother of the late
Florence Steinberg.
Contributions may be made
to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P.O.
Box 2044, Southfield, MI 48037;
Kollel Institute, 15230 W.
Lincoln, Oak Park, MI 48237;
Chicago Telz Yeshiva. Interment
at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
SOL COHEN, 77, of Farmington
Hills, died Jan. 27, 2006. He was a
teacher and administrator. He
was also the former owner and
director of Wolverine Day Camp.
Dr. Dillick was known
for spearheading inno-
vative social work cur-
ricula that were later
used nationwide and for
dramatically increasing
the school's number of
faculty and students. He'
retired from the school
as a professor in 1985.
He earned his bache-
lor's, master's and doc-
toral degrees from the
University of Toronto
and his master of social
work degree from the
University of Pittsburgh.
During World War II, he
served in the Canadian
army as an infantry instructor and social
work assistant.
His 1953 textbook, Community
Organization for Neighborhood
Development -- Past and Present, was
used at many schools.
Phyllis Vroom, dean of lArayne's School
of Social Work, whom Dr. Dillick hired as
a faculty member, said Dr. Dillick led the
development of the school's undergradu-
Mr. Cohen is survived by his
wife, Sharon Cohen; sons and
daughters-in-law, Lonny and
Suzy Cohen of Waterford, Tony
Cohen of Florida, Michael
Gordon Cohen and Nancy Cohen
of Royal Oak, Steven Gordon
Cohen and Sarah Cohen of West
Bloomfield; grandchildren,
Alysse Cohen, Alexander Cohen,
Lauren Cohen, Jessica Cohen,
Jonah Cohen. He was the dear
brother of the late Helen Pikstein
and the late Annabelle Pollack.
Interment at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to the American Heart
Association or to Yad Ezra.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
VICTORIA W. COHEN, 93, of
West Bloomfield, died Jan. 24,
2006.
She is survived by her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Rhoda and
Dr. Russell Horton of West
Bloomfield; sons and daughter-
in-law, Bernard Cohen of
Baltimore, Md., Dr. David and
Shelley Cohen of Gainsville, Ga.;
grandchildren, Holly (William)
Birndorf, Julie (Jonathan)
ate program. In 1974, it was one of the
nation's first to be accredited. He also
expanded the graduate program to-
include a community social work curricu-
lum.
Dr. Dillick also spurred the develop-
ment of learning centers in which agen-
cies, students, courses and faculty mem-
bers focused on health, mental health,
family, children and youth.
Survivors include his wife, Nena; son
and daughter-in-law, Steven and
Stephanie Dillick of California; daughter
and son-in-law, Susan D. Davies and Bill
Fromowitz of New Jersey; two grandchil-
dren, Sarah Davies and Maya Dillick; sis-
ter, Marcia Rose of Toronto.
Dr. Dillick was the father of the late
Patricia Dillick and the brother of the late
Frances Schneck.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Donations may be sent to the
Patricia L. Dillick Memorial Endowed
Scholarship Fund, Wayne State
University School of Social Work, Office
of the Dean, 4756 Cass Ave., Thompson
Home, Detroit, MI 48202, attention:
Marguerite Carlton. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. Li
Dorfman, Tracey (Jon) Flynn,
Zachary Cohen and Aaron
Cohen; great-grandchildren,
Matthew, Adam and Jessica
Birndorf, Bryana, Cooper and
Riley Dorfman, Ryan Flynn. She
was the beloved wife of the late
Harold Cohen.
Contributions maybe made to
JARC, 30301 Northwestern
Highway, Ste. 100, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334 or to a charity of
one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
ROSE FARBER, 93, of
Bloomfield Hills, died Jan. 23,
2006.
She is survived by her daugh-
ter. and son-in:law, Sheila and
Roy Stein of Toledo, Ohio; son,
Avram Farber; brother and sis-
ter-in-law, Sol and Judy Elkin of
Ann Arbor; sister and brother-in-
law, Bette and Joseph Utchenik of
Detroit; grandchildren, Julie
(Moshe) Rothenberg, Karen
(Yaakov) Torrano; great-grand-
children, Shmuel, Esther and
Yosef. She was the beloved wife of
the late Walter Farber; mother of
the late Howard Farber.
Contributions may be made to
the American Heart Association,
3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago,
IL 60674 or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by
- Dorfman Chapel.
SAMUEL FEINBERG, 94, of
West Bloomfield, died Jan. 28,
2006.
He is survived by his wife,
Goldie Feinberg; children, Vivian
and Matthew Lazar of New York,
Deborah and Samuel Newborn of
New Rochelle, N.Y.; Dr. Vivian
and Dr. Stan Eskin of New York,
Barbara and Dr. Stan Cohen, Dr.
Steven and Libby Eskin; sisters,
Helen Napp of Sunny Isles, Fla.,
Esther Levin of Sunny Isles;
grandchildren, Rabbi Ariel and
Sabrina Burger, Lauren Burger,
Dana Newborn, Akiva Newborn,
Yaniv Kot, Joshua Cohen,
Amanda Cohen.
Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice.
Interment at Montefiore
Cemetery in New York.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
Obituaries on page 82
February 2 2006
81