Debbie Basch and Alissa Katzman,
both of West Bloomfield

•

Barry and Stephanie Zekelman of Windsor, Ont./

Fabulous At 40

The "man of steel" celebrates in style.

David Basch of
and Rob Katz

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est ,Bloornfield, Baily gkelman
likWest Bloomfield;

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN

The Ritz-Carlton ballroom in Dearborn was transformed into a posh nightclub for a 40th-birthday
bash fit for the "man of steel." That's what family members and friends affectionately call birthday-
boy Barry Zekelman of Windsor, the CEO of Atlas Tube, a leading manufacturer of structural steel
tubing. "Forty is a big milestone," says Barry's wife, Stephanie Zekelman, who threw the Feb.
10 soiree with the help of event planner Leslie Jacobs of Bloomfield Hills. "We pulled out all the
stops!" For example: Forty couples received invitations that were literally made of steel. Guests all
ROBIN SCHWARTZ,
were treated to an overnight stay at the Ritz, plus a fabulous party featuring an enormous ice bar,
COLUMNIST
decadent food stations and plasma TVs flashing a video montage of Barry's life. "We even recarpeted
the room and built different levels with seating," Jacobs explains. "My husband is a very generous, kind person," says
Stephanie — this year, the family donated $10 million to the Zekelman Family Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington
Hills. "He deserved an incredible party." 0

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evi Soweri'-of Illoomfield Hit ;t;
Stephanie Zekelman and
Debbie Basch of West Bloomfield

4_4

The ice bar offers birthday greeti

Michele and Kerry Nagle
of West Bloomfield

1 0 • MAY 2007 • platill11111