Metro

HrIALTI-1

EDUCATION

'Dementia Diary'

Match Game

Memoir by local author
gives hope to caregivers.

Former Detroiter brings together
children's authors and schools.

Keri Guten Cohen

Contributing Editor

R

obert Tell of Farmington
Hills recently published
his book-length mem-
oir, Dementia Diary, which tells
the story of his mother's slide into .
dementia and the role he played as a
caregiver and her only child.
Though names have been fiction-
alized and some of the events have
been played up for effect, Tell's book
gives a compassionate, often witty
glimpse into the roller-coaster emo-
tions and daily stresses he encoun-
tered balancing family and work with
his mother's worsening condition.
Not only does he discuss the little
physical signs families often miss
when a loved one begins losing cog-
nitive ability, but he also gives male
caregivers a voice in his quickly paced
memoir.
Several years ago, Tell was urged to
be a panelist at a program discussing
caregiving for those with dementia.
Organizers thought a male perspec-
tive would be important. He resisted
because he didn't want to invade his
mother's privacy, but he finally gave
in. Afterward, men in the audience
urged him to write a book about his
experiences.
Through plain talk and anecdotes,
his Dementia Diary gives useful
insight

T

Robert Tell

— and support — especially to those
in similar situations.
Tell's mother's dementia became
noticeable in her late 70s, after her
husband died. She's now 92, in a total-
care nursing home in West Bloomfield
and, "though her quality of life is
awful, she clings to it:' Tell says.
He visits her regularly, and she
knows he's someone important in her
life, but she may not know exactly who.
"For me, the concept of heneini
— being there for somebody — is
very important," Tell says. "When the
situation was making me nuts, that
Jewish concept made it easier to cope
with the difficult times. And to her,
her Jewish background and identity
was important, so having her in a
Jewish home [earlier, at Fleischman
Residence and at the Brown Center]
was important. I was very pleased
with that."
For Dementia Diary, Tell says he
drew on "memories and anecdotes so
powerful and vivid, they lived in my
memory"
"They made me crazy when they
happened, but with my cretrospec-
tivescope: I can approach it with
humor and laugh about it now," he
says.
Tell is married, with adult
children, and retired. He writes
poetry, articles and has a novel
he's trying to sell.
To purchase Dementia
Diary, go to www.lulu.com or
amazon.com .

❑

22

June 1 • 2006

Katz does it for them, everything from
designing class curricula to comple-
ment the author's visit, to choosing
he subject was Ginger.
where in the world (though most of
Her dog was, quite possi-
her bookings are in the United States,
bly, the most interesting crea- she works with international clients,
ture in the whole world. So 5-year-old
as well) the writers will speak.
Susan Katz decided to write a book
Until now, the way in which authors
about him.
and schools got together was haphaz-
Today, the former West Bloomfield
ard. Some publishers help promote
native is an author, illus-
their writers, but not
trator and founder of Katz
all that often. "There's a
Connects, which brings
need, a desire to bring
children's authors and
writers into the schools.
schools together.
But a piece of the puzzle
After graduating from
was missing. I've found,
West Bloomfield High,
for lack of a better term,
Katz, who now lives in
a niche:' Katz says.
San Francisco, joined
She already has more
Teach for America, a
than 20 clients and is
Peace Corps-like program
looking forward to the
that places teachers in
publication of her own
Susan Katz : Book 'em.
high-needs schools in the
first book this fall.
United States. Katz, who
Katz, who says she
speaks fluent Spanish, went to work
has a unique skill for "connecting dif-
at a school in Oakland, Calif. She also
ferent people with each other:' says
served as a consultant to the superin-
that arranging for an author visit isn't
tendent of schools in San Francisco,
simply a matter of saying Author X
and later taught second grade at the
will speak at School Y. Some schools
American School of Valencia, Spain.
are looking for an author for a 10- to
Katz, 34, often attends conferences
12-year-old audience. Other schools
of the Society for Children's Book
want an author with an expertise in
Writers and Illustrators. She loves
Chinese-American children's litera-
teaching, she loves children's books
ture.
and the two, she knew, were a "per-
Katz has a number of Jewish
fect connection of worlds?' How, she
authors among her clients. Ira Scott
wondered, could the two be better
Levin, and his wife Julia Bordenaro
integrated?
Levin, are not only authors, they are
Now they are, thanks to Katz
"singing storytellers extraordinarie,"
Connects, Susan Katz's program which she says. "And Julia is a member of a
brings children's authors, musicians
Jewish a capella group that sings in
and illustrators into schools.
Hebrew, Ladino and English?'
"When I was little, my mother was
Another of her clients is Caryn
an art teacher in the West Bloomfield
Huberman Yacowitz, whose forthcom-
Schools," Katz says.
ing Jewish book "will knock your
Students often heard from an art-
socks off."
ist-in-residence,"and I remember how
Katz's only lament: money. Schools
influential the artist was. Children are
today are not exactly rolling in big
really impacted by this" – and schools
bucks, which makes bringing authors
and libraries are eager to invite the
to the students a challenge. Katz
guests.
remains hopeful, though, that corpo-
Authors, in turn, "really love chil-
rate sponsors will do the write thing,
dren:' but often don't have time for
so to speak, and send donations.
making the many necessary arrange-
ments for getting to the schools. "They For more information, visit
tell me, (We want to dedicate our time
www.katzconnects.com .
to our craft, not marketing:" — so

Elizabeth Applebaum

Story Development Editor