Obituaries
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Builder Of Dreams
I
rvin H. Yackness believed in a
strong, vigorous building industry
because builders satisfy one of
humanity's basic needs and sources of
security — shelter for themselves and
their loved ones.
Mr. Yackness, of Bloomfield Hills,
died on July 15, 2007, at age 90.
For more than a half-century, he led
the Building Industry Association of
Southeastern Michigan with vision,
vigor and expertise.
One of the accomplishments he
was most proud of was Victoria Park
on Detroit's east side. In 1992, it was
the first new housing community in
the city in more than 35 years. In the
words of Time magazine, "In the bleed-
ing heart of downtown, near a city
power works and a Chrysler assembly
plant, Victoria Park offers serene, curv-
ing streets and handsome colonial- and
Cape Cod-style homes."
"The success of Victoria Park," Mr.
Yackness remarked 10 years later,
"could be a model for all the older cit-
ies in the United States — but it would
take federal funds equivalent to what
was expended by the Marshall Plan on
the restoration of the bombed out cit-
ies of Europe after World War II.
"Certainly, visiting Victoria Park a
decade after its rebirth and seeing that
it remains as well maintained as it did
in 1992 indicates that such a commit-
ment would be very worthwhile."
During World War II, Mr. Yackness
was a Navy deck officer in the Pacific
Theater. A skilled attorney, he was
retained by BIA in 1951.
the Farmington Hills-
His first responsibility was
based BIA's Hall of Fame.
to negotiate collective
bargaining agreements
Aided Builders
with the major building
And Buyers
trade unions. That same
During his more than 50-
year, he was appointed
year tenure, Mr. Yackness
executive vice president
employed the legal sys-
and general counsel of the
tem to broaden housing
association and, subse-
construction opportuni-
quently, of the Apartment
ties by successfully con-
Irvin Yackness
Association of Michigan.
testing excessive zoning
He became known as
and code regulations, land
an incisive thinker, mentor and leader
use impediments and discriminatory
— and always a friend — responsive to
taxes. He successfully challenged in the
the needs of the association's mem-
U.S. Supreme Court an illegal charge
bers and staff. It was a rare day when
against home builders for taps into
a builder didn't come to him with an
municipal sewer systems — to the obvi-
issue to be resolved.
ous benefit of builders and home buy-
To help bring the industry out of the
ers everywhere — and won a refund of
1980 recession, Mr. Yackness brought
over $6 million for the area's builders.
the Homearama program to this area
He also drafted the law preempt-
and built one of the Homearama
ing rent control exclusively to the
homes, donating the proceeds from its
state and drafted legislation requiring
sale to the March of Dimes charity.
local building departments to secure
Mr. Yackness was the first local
the permission of each tenant before
association executive officer in the
entering their apartment to conduct
nation to be inducted into the National
an inspection and limiting the cost of
Housing Hall of Fame in Washington,
such inspection.
D.C., and to be named a senior life
In 2001, he secured the enactment of
director on both the board of directors
Senate Bill 351 (which made the state's
of the National Association of Home
administration of home buyer com-
Builders (NAHB) and the Michigan
plaints more equitable and expeditious)
Association of Home Builders.
and of the Uniform State Building Code
He also served as president of
(which eliminated unnecessary and
NAHB's executive officers council and
costly restrictions and requirements by
was given the coveted Seldon Hale
local building departments).
Award for career achievement by that
Mr. Yackness balanced his career
group. In 2001, he was inducted into
with intense participation in sports
activities, including an early-morning
or late-evening tennis game or work-
out and as skipper to a crew of 10 on
his 40-foot racing sloop in the Detroit
River Yachting Association regattas on
Lake St. Clair. A past commodore of the
Great Lakes Yacht Club, he has, among
his other awards, a first-place trophy in
the highly competitive Bay View-Port
Huron-Mackinac Race.
He shared every facet of his life with
his wife, Dr. June Goldin Yackness, for
46 years, until her death in 2000. In
her memory, he established a chari-
table fund within BIA Charitable &
Educational Foundation and donated
the flagstaff that flies the American
flag at the association's headquarters.
Mr. Yackness is survived by his sis-
ters-in-law and brothers-in-law Ann
(Sidney) Zirulnik, Lee (Joyce) Goldin
and Edith Goldin; many nieces and
nephews including Sandee (Bernie)
Glieberman, Rima Rabb and Alex (Ellen)
Polsky; many great-nieces and neph-
ews; great-great nieces and nephews
and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Dr. June Yackness; brother of the
late Thelma Yackness Polsky and the
late Bertha Yackness Lachman.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to BIA Charitable & Educational
Foundation Irvin H. Yackness and June
G. Yackness Fund, 30375 Northwestern
Hwy., Suite 100, sFarmington Hills, MI
48334. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. II
DOROTHY ALDERMAN, 85, of Oak Park,
Bank and Florence Stolman.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Howard Alderman; dear sister of the late
Martin Bank.
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
American Cancer Society or to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
MATTHEW BITTKER, 6, of West
Ellie Bittker; brother,
Jason Bittker, sisters,
Susie Bittker, Elana
Bittker; grandparents,
Phillip Bittker, Jack
Silverman; many aunts,
uncles and cousins.
He was the beloved
Bittker
grandson of the late
Rosalind Silverman and
the late Susan and the late Gerald Saltzberg.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the Matthew Bittker Memorial Fund,
University of Chicago, Office of Medical
Center Development, 1170 E. 58th St.,
Chicago, Il 60637, attn: Stephanie Dahl.
Arrangements by Kaufman Chapel.
Bloomfield, died July 20, 2007. He was a
student.
He is survived by his parents, Allan and
Obituaries on page 74
died July 17, 2007.
She was in retail sales and worked in
the hosiery department for Hudson's and
in retail for Sears for many years. She was
also a member of the Sears Retirement
Group. For 50-plus years she submitted her
baked goods to the State Fair, where she
was honored with numerous blue ribbons.
Mrs. Alderman is survived by her sons
and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Carol
Alderman of Farmington Hills, Michael
"Mickey" and Sheila Alderman of Oak
Park, Stuart and Karen Alderman of
Sterling Heights; grandchildren, Randy
Alderman, Scott Alderman and Carol
Croll, Jeffrey and Arianne Alderman, Todd
and Dianna Alderman, Derek Alderman,
Brett Alderman, Andrea Alderman;
great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Connor and
Jackson Alderman; sisters-in-law, Janet
MIRIAM APT, 79, of Oak Park, died July
16, 2007.
She is survived by her son, Rabbi David
Apt of Oak Park; daughter and son-in-law,
Bernice and Rabbi Avrohom Hershoff of
Israel; daughter-in-law, Brenda Apt of Oak
Park; brother and sister-in-law, Benno and
Ruth Levi of Oak Park; brother-in-law,
Menachem Gundersheimer of Jerusalem,
Israel; grandchildren, Yisroel and Rochel
Hershoff, Gavriel and Shira Hershoff, Chana
and Rabbi Sholey Klein, Soroh and Rabbi
Moshe Tropper, Esti Apt, Naftali Apt, Deenie
Apt, Rivkah Fraidel and Moshe Stern, Rabbi
Avrohom and Rena Apt, Naomi Minna
Apt, Shlomo Yaakov Apt, Tova Yehudis Apt;
many great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Apt was the beloved wife of the late
Hugo Apt; loving mother of the late Eli Apt;
dear mother-in-law of the late Sarah Apt.
Contributions may be made to Yeshiva
Gedola, 24600 Greenfield, Oak Park, MI
48237; Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, P0. Box
2044, Southfield, MI 48037; or to a charity
of one's choice. Interment at Beth Tefilo
Emanuel Cemetery. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
July 26 • 2007
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