Obituaries

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A Cultured P earl

Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News

p

earl Zeltzer, ardent supporter of
the arts, dedicated volunteer, and
devoted wife, mother and grand-
mother, died on April 11, 2007, at age 81.
She lived in West Bloomfield with her hu s-
band of 58 years, George "Mike" Zeltzer.
Rabbi Norman Roman of Temple Kol
Ami in West Bloomfield, who spoke at the
funeral, extolled her as "a cultured Pe rl,
who in so many ways brought beauty and
class — and symmetry and love — to her
family, to our community, to her pe ople, to
our world."
During World War II, Pearl joined the
Cadet Nurse Corps, earning her creden-
tials at Grace Hospital. She met Mike at
Fresh Air Camp in the summer of 1948.
She was the camp nurse, and he was the
senior camp director.
"I saw this very beautiful blond nurse,
and she always had a smile," said Mike. "I
got teased a lot for spending so much time
away from the senior side of camp that
summer.
The two were married a few months
later. Together they raised four sons,
Jeremy, Elliot, Gary, and David, and gener-
ously contributed their time and resources
to a variety of organizations and causes.
"She and I were partners; we were active
in different ways;' said Mike.
Pearl was devoted to her family and was
always a consummate homemaker, even
with four growing sons in the house.
"Things always had to be in place said
Mike. "We never had a meal without a
placemat and a linen napkin!'
The Zeltzers were members of the

SYLVIA ADASKIN, 92, of West
Bloomfield, died April 15, 2007.
She is survived by her nieces and neph-
ew, Naida and Dr. Stephen Migdal, Mary
Ann Schiff; great-nieces and nephew,
Debbee Schiff, Linda (Adam) Monblatt
and David Migdal; great-great-niece,
Lordyn Leah Monblatt; many other loving
family members and friends.
She was the sister of the late Leah (the
late Sidney) Schiff; aunt of the late Burton
Schiff.
Interment at B'nai Israel Memorial
Gardens. Contributions may be made to
the Hechtman Jewish Apartments in West
Bloomfield or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

80.

April 19 2007

Sholem Aleichem Institute,
where all four of their sons
celebrated their bar mitz-
vahs. Pearl was an active
participant, writing many
articles for their newsletter
Emphasis.
"She was the strongest
person you've ever seen;'
said Mike. "Once, I had a
heart attack on a plane to
Rome and Pearl managed
everything."

Pearl Zeltzer

Patron Of The Arts
Outside of her family, Pearl's greatest pas-
sion was the arts. She loved ballet, opera,
literature, art and music.
"She was a patron of the arts for the
sake of the arts," said son Elliot.
As a trustee of the Michigan Opera
Theater, she played a key role in establish-
ing its dance program.
"She truly knew opera," said her son
Jeremy. "Whenever the Met [Metropolitan
Opera Theater] was in town, our parents
would virtually disappear for 10 days."
For almost 47 years, Pearl was active
in the National Foundation for Jewish
Culture (NFJC), of which Mike was a
founder and past president. She estab-
lished the Pearl Zeltzer Fund for Jewish
Choreography, which provides support for
contemporary dance.
"She was able to understand that you
could demand very high quality and
scholarship in the performing arts and
still have high quality Jewish content:' said
Jim August, NFJC past president and long-
time friend of Mrs. Zeltzer. "She raised the
standards of everyone she worked with."

LOUIS ADLER, 94, of West Bloomfield,
died April 11, 2007. He was a home
improvement salesperson.
Mr. Adler is survived by his children,
Francine and Robert Levine of West
Bloomfield, Stephen and Susan Adler of
Manchester, N.H., Florence Mars; grand-
children, Aaron Levine, Avi Levine, Jonas,
Sasha and Obadiah Adler, Benjamin,
Samuel and Nathan Adler, Barbara and
Gary Pollack, Nicky and Kelly Sol, Jill and
Robert Friedman; great-grandchildren,
Marla, Seth and Devin Pollack, Ethan and
Allie Friedman, Spencer Sol; great-great-
grandchildren, Owen and Jonah Pollack.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Rose Adler; devoted son of the late Celia
and the late Herschel Adler; dear brother

leave a wall bare said Mike.
The Zeltzer's first daughter-in-law,
Janice, remembers how warmly she was
welcomed into the family when she mar-
ried Gary Zeltzer 35 years ago.
"I was from New York; I didn't have any
family here she said. "Pearl was like a sec-
ond mother to me. She told me how happy
she was to finally have a daughter!'
Pearl was a fellow at Brandeis
University, where she generously sup-
ported its Center for Judaic Technology.
She also served as president of the local
Brandeis chapter.
She and her husband sponsored an
annual lecture on Women in Judaism
at the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic
Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit.
Pearl Zeltzer is survived by her hus-
band, George "Mike" Zeltzer; sons and
daughters-in-law, David Zeltzer and Rita
Addison of Massachusetts, Gary and
Devoted Volunteer
Janice Zeltzer of New York, Elliot and
Whenever she saw a need in the com-
Dr. Susan Zeltzer of Farmington Hills,
munity, Pearl pitched in. She worked in
Jeremy Zeltzer of Northville and his part-
the emergency room at Sinai Hospital in
ner, Kevin Dennis; sister, Lillian Horn of
Detroit during the 1967 riots and offered
her services to the Oakland County Health Maryland; grandchildren, Marc and Miha
Department during the Swine Flu inocula- Zeltzer, Joe Zeltzer, Ari Sachter Zeltzer,
Ruth Zeltzer, Stuart Zeltzer, Paul Zeltzer
tion.
and Barry Zeltzer.
"She always volunteered to work on
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Christmas and Easter so the non-Jewish
Memorial Park. Contributions may be
nurses could have those days off;' said
made to National Foundation for Jewish
daughter-in-law Janice Zeltzer.
Culture, Pearl Zeltzer Endowment for
The Zeltzers traveled extensively
Jewish Choreography, 330 Seventh Avenue-
throughout their marriage, enjoying trips
to Europe, Asia and South America, as well 21st Floor, New York, NY 10001; Michigan
as frequent visits to Israel. Their home was Opera Theater, 1426 Broadway, Detroit
MI 48226; or Sholem Aleichem Insitute,
filled with paintings, antiques and other
28690 Southfield Road, Suite 293, Lathrup
works of art collected by Pearl from all
Village, MI 48076. Arrangements by Ira
over the world.
Kaufman Chapel. I I
"She believed that you should never

Pearl was a generous
patron and Associate Fellow
of the Detroit Institute of
Arts. She also supported the
Detroit Jewish Film Festival
as well as the Stratford and
Shaw Festivals in Canada.
"Our mother imbued in
us her appetite for reading
and for the arts — opera,
ballet, theater:' said Jeremy,
who is a trustee of the
Michigan Opera Theatre. "She did it not by
force, but by her own love for these things.
And she had a `give-till-it-hurts' attitude
about giving back to the community that
we also inherited!'
"She was never hovering or smothering':
said Elliot. "She gave us a lot of latitude,
but she also provided good direction."

of the late Hymie, the late Max, the late
Archie and the late Sydney Adler, the late
Pearl Ladowsky, the late Lillian Sax and
the late Betty Garnet.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to the
American Cancer Society, 18505 W. 12
Mile, Southfield, MI 48076 or a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

Bonin

LEONARD BORIN,
87, of Seattle, Wash.,
formerly of Birmingham,
died April 9, 2007.
He is survived by
his beloved wife of 65
years, Lillyan Bonin;

children, Garry and Susann Bonin, Lynda
and Donald Moses and Donald Bonin and
Dr. Theresa Cheng; grandchildren, Jill
(Dr. Howard) Goldberg, Howard (Beth)
Bonin, Jonathan (Heather) Moses, Jason
Moses, Joseph, Jacob and Joshua Bonin;
great-grandchildren, Ilana, Hannah and
Samantha Goldberg, Jessica and Mitchell
Borin and Ari and Ayla Moses; sister,
Marian Serwer.
He was the dear brother of the late
Milton Bonin.
Services and interment in Seattle.
Contributions may be made to the Kline
Galland Home, 7500 Seward Park Ave.,
Seattle, WA 98228 or a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.