Obituaries

Providing A Home

when both were helping to raise sup-
plies for Holocatist survivors after
World War II. They married in 1950.
Norman was a commercial and resi-
elen Naimark was a tire-
dential developer who, like Helen, was
less advocate of housing
a champion of affordable housing.
for the Jewish elderly.
He preceded her in death this past
When she took the reins of Jewish
September.
Federation Apartments in 1978, the
The Naimarks loved to travel,
agency consisted of just one build-
especially to visit their four children
ing. Over the next 13 years, she built
spread across the country and their
two more facilities in
five grandchildren. They
Oak Park and began
noted that they had a
expansion into West
son or daughter resid-
Bloomfield with two
ing in every time zone
others.
— in Massachusetts,
"Helen felt that
Illinois, Colorado and
providing sound hous-
California.
ing would enhance
As a highly respected
older people's lives
communal executive,
... and she went
Mrs. Naimark's integ-
way beyond that, "
rity and ethics were
said geriatric social
the very fiber of her
worker Karen Amber,
character, noted daugh-
a former employee.
ter Judith Naimark
"Helen worked
Helen Naimark
Sullivan.
from her heart," said
While executive direc-
Marsha Goldsmith
tor of Jewish Federation Apartments,
Kamin, who succeeded Mrs. Naimark
Helen, always seeking fairness,
as executive director of what is
implemented what today is called
now Jewish Apartments & Services.
the "Naimark Rule" — insisting that
"Everything she did was ethical and
people on the waiting list for senior
with dignity."
apartments could not use special.
Mrs. Naimark, 82, of Carbondale,
"pull" to leapfrog ahead of others.
Colo., died Nov. 26, 2006.
"It had gotten to the point that
A native of Watertown, N.Y., she
some of the buildings had wait lists
studied English at the University of
in excess of two years," her daughter
Michigan and was active in the cam-
said.
pus Hillel; her first job after graduat-
And after the Naimarks themselves
ing in 1946 was director of the B'nai
retired and sought to move into her
B'rith Youth Organization in Detroit.
former agency's Meer Apartments in
She remained involved in Jewish
West Bloomfield, they followed the
causes throughout her life, serv-
Naimark Rule — and patiently waited
ing as vice president of the Jewish
21/2 years for their turn to come up.
Federation Women's Division and
Helen Naimark is survived by her
founder of Dor L' Dor, or Generation
sons and daughters-in-law, Michael
to Generation, a program provid-
Naimark and Marie Sester of Los
ing older people the chance to get
Angeles, David Naimark of Wheaton,
together with one another, as well as
III.; daughters and sons-in-law, Judith
to meet young students. The National
and Robert Sullivan of Carbondale,
Association of Homes and Housing
Susan Naimark and John Rowse of
for the Jewish Elderly cited her for
Boston; brother and sister-in-law,
her work.
Arthur and Rosalyn Alpert; grandchil-
In 1986, while running Jewish
dren, Charles Naimark, Rose Sullivan,
Federation Apartments, Mrs. Naimark
Joseph Sullivan, Benjamin Naimark-
returned to U-M to earn a master's in
Rowse and Jesse Naimark-Rowse.
social work — exactly 40 years after
She was the beloved wife of the
receiving her bachelor's degree.
late Norman Naimark.
Upon retirement, she became part
Interment was at Adat Shalom
of a team at U-M doing research on
issues involving the elderly. She start- Memorial Park. Contributions may be
made to the Helen Naimark Fund at
ed a company with another woman
Jewish Apartments & Services or to a
that conducted workshops on life
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
review and. reminiscence for seniors.
by Dorfman Chapel. ❑
Helen met her husband, Norman,

Steve Raphael

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JEWISH NEWS

December 7 • 2006

89