Obituaries

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Generous 'Mrs. Murray'

Steve Raphael

Special to the Jewish News

F

amily and friends lov-
ingly called Sarah Pitt
"Mrs. Murray," in recogni-
tion of her years at Murray's Ace
Hardware on Plymouth Road-in
Redford Township, the
hardware and jewelry
store she founded with
her husband, Irving.
"My mother was
one of those gifted
people," said son
Murray Pitt. She just
loved everybody; and
if someone needed a
break, she gave them
Sarah Pitt
a break.

Sarah Pitt, 94, of
Farmington Hills, died on Sept. 13,
2006.
At age 12, Sarah, her mother
and younger brother moved to
Detroit from a desolate village in
Russia to reunite with her father,
who had established a home
here.
"She arrived from Russia with
nothing, and she never forgot
where she came from and was
grateful for what she had," Murray
said.
She and Irving, her husband
of 66 years who died five years
ago, were generous supporters
of numerous Jewish charities
and organizations. They donated
the funds to build the Sarah and
Irving Pitt Child Development
Center, a full-service child-care
and preschool facility at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield. Yad Ezra, the kosher
food pantry in Berkley, was a par-
ticularly special cause of hers.
In addition to Mrs. Pitt's stead-
fast commitment to Jewish con-
cerns, she was known for her keen
sense of humor and the love she
shared with her family and the
community, said David Techner,
a family friend and funeral direc-
tor of Ira Kaufman Chapel in
Southfield.
Sarah and Irving Pitt founded
Murray's, the blocklong family
business that opened in 1956 as a
toy store. It expanded quickly to
include hardware and auto parts,

although she had her eye open for
a more diverse retail line.
In 1971, Mrs. Pitt made a chance
visit to visit a friend who owned
a jewelry shop on Detroit's east
side, recalled son Barry Pitt.
She helped her friend behind
counter and saw opportuni-
ties in the business.
When she returned to
Murray's hardware, she
announced that they
were going to expand
into jewelry sales.
As the volume of
retail goods began
taking over precious
store space, Irving, son
Murray and brother-in-
law Albert Pitt in 1971
moved the auto parts
business a few miles away into a
new store and opened Murray's
Auto Parts, Barry said.
On the home front, Mrs. Pitt
gave her family and children
unconditional love, and they gave
it right back, Murray said.
"She was like a miracle woman;
we are proud to be known as
Sarah Pitt's sons," he said.
"Her family, Judaism and the
store were her life."
Sarah Pitt is survived by
her sons and daughters-in-
law, Murray and Ina Pitt of
Bloomfield Hills, Leonard Pitt of
California, Barry and Jane Pitt
of Birmingham; grandchildren,
Erin and Jon Frankel, Jeffrey and
Emily Pitt, Stephen Pitt, Jesse
and Aviva Pitt, Joanna Pitt; great-
grandchildren, Asher Richards
Frankel, Ariella Frankel, Isaac
Pitt; sister, Ada Bohn; nieces and
nephews.
She was the beloved wife of
the late Irving Pitt; devoted
grandmother of the late Gregory
Richards; loving sister of the late
Arthur Doctor; dear sister-in-law
of the late Herman Bohn, the late
Albert Pitt, the late Doris Pitt, the
late Ruth Lichterman and the late
Gerald Lichterman.
Interment was at Beth El
Memorial Park. Contributions
may be made to Yad Ezra, 2850
W. 11 Mile, Berkley, MI 48072.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

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