Maze' Toy! The Century Mark Ruth Redstone, family and friends celebrate her active life. Leonard Poger Copy Editor R uth Redstone watched her architect husband, Louis, design many of the Detroit region's architectural landmarks. Celebrating her 100th birthday recently, she displayed the energies and talents that showed how she created her own legacy of personal and professional achievements. While raising twos sons and taking syn- chronized swimming lessons, she found the time and energy to serve as president of numerous Jewish organizations. Another dimension of her varied life was being the co-author with her husband, who died several years ago, of Public Art - New Directions. Mrs. Redstone, who reached the centu- ry mark March 20, celebrated her birth- day the previous day with a party at the Heritage of Southfield seniors' residence complex. She was surrounded by family and friends. "I've been blessed',' she commented about her milestone birthday, but jok- ingly admitted that "I don't know how I got here referring to her longevity. "It may have been the chicken soup from what I hear',' a reference to her family reputation of being kitchen-chal- lenged. For a recent visitor, Mrs. Redstone insisted on playing several piano selec- tions — from memory. What also helps Mrs. Redstone to stay sharp is her exercise routine of swim- ming, yoga and tai chai. A son, Eliel, who followed his father's career path, said Mrs. Redstone was "not your typical mother by any stretch of the imagination:' It wasn't so much that she wasn't a stay-at-home mom, but she had so many interests and activities. When he was a teen, Eliel said, his mother would not just drop off him son at the JCC for swimming or other sports. She would join a synchronized swim class. Years later, at age 69, her team captured a national championship in Amateur Athletic Union competition. Mrs. Redstone brought her own type of intensity to new activities and inter- ests — such as cooking. With most of the family's meals pre- pared by a cook, the Redstones dined at restaurants on the cook's day off. But eventually, Mrs. Redstone decided to gain kitchen skills. Starting with desserts, it took several months before she perfected her sponge cakes. A niece, Miriam Redstone, lov- ingly recalled that cooking was not Mrs. Redstone's first choice of activities; but Feb. 21 Bylinowski. Steve and Karyn (Moss) Bylinowski are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Brooke Ashley. Brooke was welcomed home by her enthusiastic big brother Jake, 3. Proud grandparents are Linda and Ken Lenchner of Bloomfield Hills, Norman Moss and Cathy Andrews of Orlando, Jackie and Bernie Earli of Chicago and Ray and Kathy Bylinowski of Indianapolis, Ind. Excited great grandparents are Kay Hibel and Stanley Bylinowski, both of Chicago. Brooke was named in loving memory of maternal great-grandma Ida Moss and paternal great-grandma Angeline Dec. 6 Jessica Cohen-Lubek and Joshua Lubek of West Bloomfield announce with love the birth of their daughter, Samantha Faith (Shoshanah Faigel). Very proud grandparents are Melanie Bishop-Solomon and Arthur Solomon of Orchard. Lake, Brian and Fran Cohen of Novi and Marvyn and Baila Lubek of Toronto, Ont. Also sharing in their joy are great-grandpar- ents Mill)/ and Nat Hocherman, Elaine Cohen and Tzipporah Weis. Samantha is also the great- granddaughter of the late Robert Bishop, the late Harry Weis and when she decided she wanted to learn to cook she became com- pletely focused. As a young adult, Mrs. Redstone refused to follow the soci- etal expectations for young women in the mid-1920s. The class vale- dictorian at her upstate New York Ruth Redstone at her birthday celebration high school, she continued her . education at St. just come to meetings but jumped into Lawrence University, earning Phi Beta leadership roles. She was president of Kappa honors before becoming a social the Women's Division of the American worker early in the Great Depression. Jewish Congress, the League of Jewish She married her husband in 1939 Women's Organizations of Metropolitan and raised two sons, Daniel, who heads Detroit and the Detroit Women's Round the Southfield-based architectural firm Table of Christians and Jews. She also started by his father, and Eliel, who has served on the boards of many other his own architectural practice in the San Jewish and secular organizations. Francisco area. At her birthday celebration last month, In the early years of her career, Mrs. son Daniel said his mother "has shown Redstone was a family caseworker for me that the important things about life the Detroit Jewish Family and Children's are not what we get but what we give Service and later a supervisor for the City back ... She has been the important role of Detroit's Public Welfare Department. model in my life." In the Jewish community, she didn't the late Joseph and Mary Lubek. Samantha is named in loving memory of her paternal great- great-aunt Harriet (Sara) Radam and maternal great-great-grand- mother Frances Boxman. Dec. 1 Jennifer (Pavlov) and Larry Thurswell of Birmingham are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Luke Greyson (Gavriel Yechezkel). Sharing in the Thurswell excitement are proud grandparents Lynn and Harvey Rubin of West Bloomfield and Gerald and Sarah Thurswell of Bloomfield Hills. He also is the grandson of the late Alexander Pavlov. Luke is named in loving memory of his grandmother Galina Pavlov. Nov. 8 Keri (Stahl) and David Young of New York are thrilled to announce the birth of their twin son and daughter, Evan Hayden and Remi Brooke. Sharing in their joy are proud grandpar- eats Susan and Jeffrey Young of Farmington Hills and Nina and Martin Stahl of New York. Happy great-grandparents are Blanche and Ben Klar of Southfield and Marsha and Martin Sherman = s of Monroe Tow nship. N.J. Evan is named in loving mem- ory of his pater- Remi Young nal great-grand- parents Emma and Harry Young. Remi is named in boy- Mg memory of maternal great- • 1 grandmother Evan Young Rose Stahl, great-great- grandmother Bella Sherman and great-great- aunt Bea Stern. April 6 2006 75