Obituaries

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Purveyor Of Wisdom

causes, serving on the
boards of United Hebrew
School and Hebrew
ebbie Altman
Free Loan Association
had a passion
and aiding Hadassah,
for Jewish
National Council of
education.
Jewish Women and
A voracious reader, she
Jewish Federation of
studied Hebrew for 30
Metropolitan Detroit.
years and served on the
Debbie was "an ardent
boards of local Jewish
Zionist who loved Israel
schools and organiza-
Deborah Altm an
and Judaism with all
tions. Hillel Day School
her heart and soul," said
of Metropolitan Detroit in
Rabbi Krakoff. Her moth-
Farmington Hills was a focus her ener-
er, Leah Levine, grew up in pre-state
gies.
Israel and taught Hebrew in Windsor.
Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of
The granddaughter of a prominent
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, who
Lithuanian rabbi, Debbie was a main-
spoke at her funeral, called Debbie an
stay at Hillel, substitute teaching and
"astute educator" who "always seemed
serving on the board. Her three chil-
to have an interesting moral or ethical
dren and eight grandchildren were all
tale that taught an important life les-
Hillel students.
son."
"It was really important to her
Mrs. Altman, 71, of Bloomfield Hills,
to give her children a solid Jewish
died Jan. 8, 2007, of breast cancer.
education," said daughter Suzanne
Born and raised in Windsor, she grad- Gildenberg. "Mom was at Hillel for
uated the University of Michigan and,
everything."
before starting her family, taught junior
Debbie's husband, Dr. Jules Altman
high science and math in Wayne, Mich.,
said, "One of the high points for her
and Rochester, Minn.
was when she was head of the Hillel
She was devoted to many Jewish
education committee and our young-

David Sachs
Senior Copy Editor

D

He Cared About Others

Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News

S

elfless was the word most
often used to describe Mark
Allen Heller. Mark, who lived
in Oak Park, was a triplet. His broth-
ers, Cary and Daniel, along with their
older sister, Rachel, shared a special
closeness that continued into adult-
hood. Their father, Robert Heller, died
when the boys were teenagers. Their
mother, Carol Heller, passed away
three years later.
Mark took his own life on Jan. 12,
2007, at the age of 31.
"The most important thing about
Mark was his willingness to go out of
his way for others," said Rabbi Yisrael
Pinson, director of the Daniel Sobel
Friendship House, a family friend who
officiated at Mark's funeral.
"Mark's happy life was clouded by
struggles that were imposed upon his
mind. He fought it the way anyone
would fight a disease; but unfortu-
nately, in Mark's case, the illness won.
So it's important for everyone here to

know that it's a war worth fighting."
Rachel, speaking at the funeral,
reflected on her brother's death and
offered the insight that if one knows a
friend or relative in a similar situation,
don't be afraid to confront them until
they open up to you.
"Just do everything that you can do
to make sure this doesn't happen to
them," she said.
"Cary, Mark and I spent our first 18
years literally within shouting distance
of each other," said Daniel, who lives
in Chicago where he is completing a
medical residency. "We shared every-
thing, and I mean everything."
"He was the ultimate non-conform-
ist, but he struggled with this because
he knew how brilliant he was," said
Daniel. "He was always the first per-
son I'd call for advice, for help, for
anything I needed."
After graduating from West
Bloomfield High School, Mark attended
Oakland Community College, Michigan
State University and Walsh College. He
stopped attending classes just a few
credits short of finishing his degree.

est daughter, Karen, graduated. Debbie
gave her the diploma."
Debbie's passion for Judaism also
made an impact at home.
"We always had a Shabbat dinner,"
said Suzanne. "My kids say if we don't
have a guest over, it doesn't feel like
Shabbat to them. She set the traditions
and rituals of our lives and now for her
grandkids,"
She was also a pillar of strength for
friends and family.
"Debbie was an extremely bright
woman who was a devoted friend and
confidante to so many," said Rabbi
Krakoff. "Her advice always seemed
right on."
"Mom had a very selfless love for her
children and friends," said daughter
Karen Gould. "She was the kind of per-
son who would call and say, 'What can I
do for you?'"
Later in life, Debbie got real estate
license and a securities broker-dealer
license.
"My mother was tough," said son
Dr. David Altman. "She believed you
should stick up for yourself and fight
for worthy causes."
Debbie had two obsessions: eating
chocolate and keeping a meticulous
home. And she had a daily regimen
that served both interests while

expending calories.
"Mom never exercised a day in
her life," said David." But she had a
ritual of cleaning the house every day
— which would be an aerobic workout if
you'd seen it in action. The house was
spotless."
Said Rabbi Krakoff, "Heaven is just
a little cleaner now that Debbie has
arrived."
Deborah Altman is survived by her
husband, Dr. Jules Altman; daughters
and son-in-law, Suzanne and Dr. Stuart
Gildenberg of West Bloomfield, Karen
Gould of Birmingham; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. David and Jolie Altman
of Birmingham; son-in-law Seth Gould;
grandchildren, Melissa, Mitchell and
Brenna Gildenberg, Aidan, Sawyer
and Carter Altman and Hannah and
Benjamin Gould; mother, Leah Levine of
Windsor; brother, Benjamin Levine and
Beverly Roberts; brother-in-law and
sister-in-law, Larry and Mary Altman.
She was the loving daughter of the
late Max Levine.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Hillel Day School or the Frankel
Jewish Academy of Metropolitan
Detroit. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. I

He was working as a
Mark's brother Cary,
manager for the State
a professional trumpet
Theatre in Detroit,
player, remembers his
where he loved meet-
brother's patience and
ing the musicians who
selflessness during the
performed there.
time they lived together.
Mark loved sports:
"I used to practice the
hockey, golf and
trumpet six or seven hours
mountain biking.
every day," said Cary, who
Although he was blind
lives in West Bloomfield.
in his left eye since
"It drove everybody nuts
birth, he was the top
Mark Allen Heller
when I was younger. But
scorer in his hockey
Mark never once asked me
league. "He was an
to stop. We weren't just
amazing golfer," said Bill Wednieski of
brothers; he was a part of me. When
Berkley, a friend since seventh grade.
he died, a piece of me died with him."
"Mark never thought about him-
Mark is survived by his brothers
self, always about others," said Brian
and sister-in-law, Cary Heller of West
Ansel, Mark's friend and roommate for
Bloomfield, Daniel and Agnieszka
the past eight years. "If I ever came
Heller of Chicago; sister and brother-
home after a rough day at work, Mark
in-law, Rachel Heller and Craig Varner
would always sense something was
of Ferndale; niece, Isabelle.
wrong and wouldn't leave me alone
Interment was at Machpelah
until I sat down and talked out my
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
problem with him," said Ansel, "even
to the Friendship Circle's Daniel Sobel
if it meant being late for work or miss-
Fund, ao the Friendship House, 6892
ing a hockey game or a round of golf
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
with his friends.
48322. Arrangements by Hebrew
"I've never known anybody in my
Memorial Chapel. E7
life who had more friends," said Ansel.
"Everybody wanted to be around him."

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January 18 2007

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