Obituaries n this the 8th Anniversary of Alex's death, we would like to thank all of you that have taken part in keeping her memory and spirit alive—from your participation or donation to The West Bloomfield Re- lay for Life--Team Alex--Make A Wish --Alyn Hospital or your donation to the Alex Graham Travel and Education Fund at Adat Shalom Syn- agogue—Your involvement in Hillel Middle School Student Congress Tzedakeh Project, or the Alex Graham Hillel Intra- mural Sports Program—at the University of Michigan, Michi- gan State University and Eastern Michigan University. Through your continued support, our family has been strengthened and the world has become a much better place. Architectural Magic David Sachs Senior Copy Editor W Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Bill, Susie, David, Robyn and Robert Graham 1209690 Tlie EWIS H6SPICE & CHAPLAINCY NETWORK - SALUTES ANOTHER HOSPICE HERO 2 By writing a check, Jerry Bielfield helped launch The Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network. But becoming a volunteer for the Network touched his heart and changed his life. "He nurtured his passion through volunteer work with hospice patients," Rabbi E.B. Freedman said of the late hospice goodwill ambassador. "While he thrived in business, Jerry found even greater meaning in retirement through his work as a hospice volunteer. He befriended his hospice buddies. He listened. He comforted them." Jerry's wife, Eileen, has continued her late husband's legacy by generously supporting JHCN programs each year. Jen7r- mkt Eileen Bielfield are tuo of the I-1( 'spice Herocs ensitre No Jew Is Ever Alone 6555 W. Maple Rd. • West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248.592.2687 • www.jewishhospice.org *of blessed memory 1208210 Monuments & Markers • Monument Duplicating IIEBRE IV MEMORIALS BY: HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL n b o b Set a pillar upon ber crrabe: that ig tbe pillar of Akarbel'S arabe unto tbist bap c&enrsis SERVING ALL CEMETERIES (248) 543 3874 Fax #(248) 543-7421 - 26640 Greenfield Rd. Oak Park, MI 48237 Expert Consultation - Select Quality Granite * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82 January 25 • 2007 hen Rabbi Dannel Schwartz asked con- gregant Ken Neumann to design Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield 15 years ago, the architect listened intensely to the rabbi and proceeded to sketch out on a paper napkin plans for the intimate circular sanctuary sur- rounded by a multi-use balcony. "I wanted this building to be a jewel, to be timeless," said Rabbi Schwartz. "He took my words and made them magic, architecturally. "Ken knew how to make magic. God endowed him with that." On Jan. 19, 2007, cancer claimed Stuart Kenneth Neumann, 67, of Franklin. Two days later, he was eulogized by his admiring rabbi at a funeral service held at Temple Shir Shalom, the timeless jewel he had crafted. Ken left an enormous legacy across the Detroit Jewish commu- nity. His spiritual and intellectual understanding of Jewish life is infused in all his creations. In addition to Shir Shalom, Ken designed Congregation Trial Moshe and the Jewish Family Service in West Bloomfield, the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Young Israel of Southfield and Temple Beth El in Flint. He also designed renova- tions to Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Adat Shalom Synagogue and Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills and the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park. He designed the headquarters for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit when it took over a Bloomfield Township office building and created the Max Fisher Conference Center therein. His firm is currently designing a permanent home for the Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit at the JCC in West Bloomfield. As principal in charge of design at his firm, Neumann/Smith Architecture in Southfield, Ken created artistry to be found all over the community. Some examples are the One Kennedy Square office building in downtown Detroit, the New Detroit Science Center and three buildings at Wayne State University in the Cultural Center, and the Warren Civic Center. He designed the Galleria Officentre in Southfield 19 years ago before his firm moved in. A car enthusiast, Ken con- ceived the racecar-sleek National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. "Ken spent his life devoted to creating beautiful architec- ture," said sister Ceil Rothbart of Glencoe, Ill. "I loved his style, and I loved how he said the word 'beautiful." Ken strove for creativity and meaning in his designs. One of his most controversial was the Holocaust Memorial Center on Ken Neumann Orchard Lake Road, north of 12 Mile. The center — whose outside walls metaphorically suggest striped prisoner garb, a crema- torium chimney and barbed wire — was designed to command attention and evoke emotions. "It's not an easy building, but it's meant to tell a story," said Ceil. "It needed to be strong, and it needed to be big." Ken was considered to be a child prodigy. A Chicago native, he received his bachelor's in archi- tecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago and his master's at Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. He began his professional career as an architect-planner with the Detroit City Planning Commission. His master plan of Detroit's Cultural Center and cen- tral city received a National Award of Honor from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.