Obituaries Obituaries are updated and archived on JNonline.us . 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 Monuments & Markers • Monument Duplicating BY: HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL SERVING ALL CEMETERIES (248) 543-3874 Fax #(248) 543-7421 26640 Greenfield Rd. Oak Park, MI 48237 Expert Consultation - Select Quality Granite 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 Honor the Memory of a Loved One... With a Tribute A Jewish Mental Health Agency offering to Kadima residential options and counseling to HEBREW MEMORIALS ZInts gacob art a pillar upon ,er grant: that is tbe pillar ot Katbel's ¢ rate unto tbia bap gentang - adults suffering from mental illness. 2 248.559.8235 • Fax: 248.559.0229 www.kadimacenter.org KadimaPlus@msn.com