Obituaries
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Woman Of Peace
1 Leonard Poger
Copy Editor
T
o Lillian Mellen Genser, promot-
ing peace and children's rights •
. meant more than just giving lip
service or mailing a contribution to a group.
For more than 60 years, she was instrumen-
tal in local, state, national and international
crusades against violence and intolerance.
She was active in the formation of what
is now the Center for Peace and Conflict
Studies at-Wayne State University in Detroit,
serving as its director for 20 years.
Mrs. Genser, 86, of Oak Park and
Longboat Key, Fla., died March 9, 2006, in
Longboat Key, from a stroke that she suf-
fered two weeks earlier.
A memorial service will be held noon
Friday, March 17, at Ira Kaufman Chapel in
Southfield.
Dr. Frederick Pearson, the peace center's
current director, praised Mrs. Genser as a
"tireless advocate of humanitarian values
and the welfare and rights of children."
MINNA ALPERIN, 88, of Farmington Hills,
died March 9, 2006.
She is survived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. Neil and Audrey Alperin of
Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Dr. Risa
Alperin, Mark Alperin and Jessie Alperin.
She was the beloved wife of the late Sam
Alperin.
Interment at Oakview Cemetery
Contributions may be made to Congregation
B'nai Moshe, 6800 Drake, West Bloonifield,
MI 48322, phone (248). 788-0600; or to St.
John's Hospice, 22101 Moross, Suite 102,
Detroit, MI 48236, phone (586) 723-9580.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
IRVING H. BARILL, 77, of West Bloomfield,
died March 9, 2006.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Bernice
Barill; daughters and son-in-law, Gayle and
Robert Lisiecki of Bloomfield Hills, Cheryl
Barill Gluski of Oak Park; sisters, Doris
Gottlieb and Sheila Barill, both of Las Vegas;
grandchildren, Matthew, Jeffrey, Jacob and
Rachel; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ida
(Mayer) Drasnin and Sally (Harold) Ure.
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
She was feted for her lifelong efforts by
her induction into the Michigan Women's
Hall of Fame six years ago.
Son Don Genser said his mother's legacy
is "her contribution to world peace and pro-
moting peace education and conflict resolu-
tion." She was "outgoing and gregarious and
loved to spend time with friends',' he added.
\Vhile teaching in the Detroit Public
Schools in the mid-1950s, Mrs. Genser saw
the need for peace education. She organized
programs that brought children of different
backgrounds together to increase diversity
awareness and tolerance. She incorporated
lessons on non-violent conflict resolution
into the curriculum. These lesssons would
later be used by many schools statewide.
In the early 1960s, she joined Wayne
State's Center for the Study of Teaching
About Peace and War and soon became a
pioneering educator in Michigan, winning
national recognition.
During her two decades as director
for what is now the Center for Peace and
Conflict Studies, she was instrumental in
getting the state legislature to urge local
Contributions may be made to the
Alzheimer's Association, 20300 Civic Center
Dr., Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076, phone
(248) 351-0280; or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
ESTHER CUTLER, 89, of West Bloomfield,
died March 8, 2006.
She is survived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. Mark Selitsky and Dr. Orit
Szwarcman of Huntington Woods; daughters
and sons-in-law, Judith and Dr. Michael
Samson of Bloomfield Hills, Ruth and
Lawrence Daniels of Southfield; grandchil-
dren, Robert (Julie) Samson, Daniel (Tamara)
Samson, Matthew Daniels, Talia Selitsky,
Sara Selitsky and Lea Selitsky; great-grand-
children, Jordan, Charles, Olivia and Abigail •
Samson; sister-in-law, Julia Rosin.
She was the beloved wife Of the late Philip
Cutler and the late Ruben Selitsky; sister of
the late Morris Rosin and the late Gertrude
Lipschutz.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Brown
Memory Care Pavilion do Jewish Home
and Aging Services, or to Meals on Wheels
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(248) 543-3874 Fax #(248) 543-7421
26640 Greenfield Rd. Oak Park, MI
48237
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86
March 16 • 2006
Among her many hon-
K-12 school districts to
ors, were awards from the
include conflict resolution
Committee for National
in class lessons. She felt that
Security, Women Lawyers of
if children were taught the
Michigan, the city of Detroit,
skills of non-violent interac-
Michigan Women's Study
tions during their formative
Association and the Roeper City
years, they would carry those
and Country School.
values with them throughout
Lillian Genser
Nine years ago, Wayne State
their lives.
created the Lillian Mellen
While serving as the -cen-
Genser Endowed Peace and Human Rights
ter's director, she was an advocate for the
Internship.
United Nations Convention on the Rights
Mrs. Genser is survived by her husband,
of the Child and served for many year as
Oscar; sons, Don (Jane Meixner) Genser
a human rights and peace consultant. She
of Milford Township, and Howard (Susan)
continued her work as a consultant who
created new peace education materials. Her Genser of Highland; grandson, Ben Genser;
nieces, Leslie Sarver, Sydney Pittman, Lila
study guide has been distributed through:
Reder; great-nephews, Josh Pittman, Joel -
out the world.
Pittman, Asa Sarver; brother, Al Mellen.
Mrs. Genser has said, "We must create
Contributions may be made to the
change in our institutions to reduce esca-
Lillian Mellen Genser Endowment Fund at
lating violence and help end institutional
the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies,
violence. Then We can divert the precious
Wayne State University, Room 2320 FAB,
energies of our children wasted in extreme
656 W Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202. Checks .
aggression and violent crime so that we
should include the flind's account number
may love instead of hate, build rather than
of 447116. 17
tear down and create rather than destroy"
do National Council of Jewish Women.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. •
CLARA GOLDSTON, 97, of West
Bloomfield, died March 7, 2006.
She is survived by her sons, Ronald
Goldston of Southfield, Saul Goldston of San
Diego; brothers, Nathan Partovich of Pontiac,
Edward Partovich of Oceanside, Calif., Harry
Partrich of.West Bloomfield; sister, Ceil
Stocker of Southfield; granddaughter, Lauren
Goldston. .
She was the beloved wife of the late Claude
Goldston; grandmother of the late Cory
Goldston; sister of the late Louis Partovich,
the late Max Partrich, the late Tony Partovich,
the late Lillian Mark and the late Rose
Zuckerman.
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a charity of
one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
HAROLD GRAYSON, 86, of Biloxi, Miss.,
formerly of Southfield and Ft. Lauderdale,
Fla., died March 6, 2006.
Mr. Grayson is survived by his loving wife
of 52 years, Henrietta; sons and daughter-in-
law, Murray Grayson, Daniel Grayson, Martin
and Gail Grayson; daughters and son-in-law,
Kathy Burke, Nancy and Orlando Rodriguez;
eight grandchildren, and seven great-grand-
children.
Interment in Biloxi. Contributions may be
made to the American Cancer Society or to a
charity of one's choice.
REBECCA BAKST KASS, 93, of Southfield,
died March 12, 2006.
She is survived by her son,and daughter-
. in-law, Steven and Sherri Kass of Huntington
Woods; daughters and sons-in-law, Charna
and Joel Yellen of Southfield, Debra Kass and
Steve Dennen of Reading, Mass.; sister and
brother-in-law, Mary and Hy Heller of New
York; grandchildren, David Yellen, Kim and
Bo Whipkey, Suzan and Larry Tepman, Scott
Kass, Beryl Dennen, Sam Dennen; great-
grandchildren, Brooke Whipkey, Cooper
Whipkey; dear friends; care givers, Mavis
Tomlinson, Dorothy Brown.
Mrs. Kass was the beloved wife of the late
William Kass.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery
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