Obituaries
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The Slogger Who Inspired
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Senior Writer
M files Levin could never have
imagined his chronicle of
the emotions, challenges
and insights of living with cancer would
make its way around the world.
After he was diagnosed in June 2005
with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare pedi-
atric cancer of the soft tissue, Miles
began posting entries on the William
Beaumont Hospital-affiliated Web site
carepages.com , under the heading
"levinstory."
On Aug.19, 2007, two years into
the Web journal, Miles Alpern Levin of
Bloomfield Hills died at age 18.
The blog that began as a way to
update family and friends soon became
a source of hope, determination and
inspiration for others touched by can-
cer. Miles' writing gained far-reaching
attention, with an estimated 20,000
individuals logging onto the journal site
after Cable News Network (CNN) pro-
ducers saw a Web version of a Detroit
News story. It led to an interview on
the nationally syndicated CNN televi-
sion show, Anderson Cooper 360.
"But as amazing as his blog is, he
was even more impressive in person,
talking about divine providence and the
MADELINE BARKIN,
80, of West Bloomfield,
died Aug. 13, 2007.
Co-owner, with her
husband, and manager
of a scrap metal busi-
ness, Mrs. Barkin was a
graduate of Central High
Barkin
School and a longtime
member of Hadassah.
She is survived by sons and daughters-
in-law, Richard and Marilynn Barkin of
West Bloomfield, Bruce and Helen Barkin
of West Bloomfield, Steven and Teri
Barkin of West Bloomfield; daughter and
son-in-law, Janice and David Gordon of
Southfield; grandchildren, Jeffrey Barkin,
Laurie and Vince Adamo, Ariana Barkin,
Alexis Barkin, Marla and Andrew Russell
and Lauren Blitz; great-grandchildren, Lily
Russell and Carter Blitz-Altruda; caregiv-
ers, Raymona Moton and Mildred Cotton.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Marvin L. Barkin; devoted daughter of the
need for kindness and creating com-
munity," said Rabbi Boruch Cohen of
the Birmingham Bloomfield Chai Center
in Bloomfield Hills, where Miles' father
Jonathan is a regular participant. "He
had a presence, a grace, a connected-
ness, a humor, a gentleness, a spiritual
intuitiveness," the rabbi said. "From a
Jewish, spiritual perspective, he had
the wisdom, insight and the soul of
a 70-year-old man. The world lost a
beautiful soul."
Rabbi Cohen was moved by Miles'
July 2005 blog that compared life to a
bucket of golf balls, urging readers to
"live every day shooting as if it's your
last shot."
The rabbi was struck by Miles' accep-
tance of his illness. Last March, Miles
wrote: "I'll try and explain why this is
the best thing that could happen to me.
There is only one path to greatness
and it runs through hell. The greater
the ordeal, the more strength you'll
attain upon surmounting it or the fur-
ther you will fall.
"So while I have been given a terrible
curse, I have also been given a rare
opportunity. I would go so far as to call
it an ugly blessing. While it has been
challenging, I've had friends, family and
resources to help me through it."
late Charlotte and the late Samuel DeRoven;
cherished sister of the late Irma Freed.
Interment at Nusach Harie Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555
W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
or Israel Guide Dog Center, Howard
Kersch Memorial Fund, c/o Levanthal,
732 Settlers, Warrington, PA 18976.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ZENA BAUM, 82, of
Bloomfield Hills, died
Aug. 18, 2007. For 30
years, she was a social
worker at Jewish Family
Service. She also served
as a trustee of Luella
Hannan Foundation
Baum
for 30 years, attended
Wayne State University
and the University of Michigan and
was previously very active along with
her husband, Judge Victor Baum, in the
Good In Others
As class speaker at his commence-
ment ceremony in June at Cranbrook
Kingswood Schools in Bloomfield Hills,
Miles expressed his hope at inspiring
goodness in others. Classmates had
been inspired to fundraise for cancer
research, selling shirts
printed with Miles'
motto, "Keep Fighting.
Stop Struggling."
Last month, a local
bicycle group spon-
sored the "Day and
Night Miles" bike ride,
raising funds for the
Alpern Levin RMS Fund
at Memorial Sloan-
Kettering Cancer Center
in New York.
Miles Levin
As a Cranbrook
senior, Miles received
a Strickland Creative Writing Award
and a Booth Citation. He was also hon-
ored with the Sarcoma Foundation of
America's 2008 Leadership in Courage
Award.
"Never have I been so drawn to
a person's writings as I have been,
for two years, to the blog of Miles
Levin," said Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg
of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy,
where the Levin family are members.
"With the insight of an elder, Miles pen-
etrated the human condition in a way
that allowed tens of thousands to gain
insight into their own hearts.
Democratic party and NAACP.
Mrs. Baum is survived by her son and
daughter-in-law, Daniel and Hiromi Baum
of Japan; daughters and sons-in-law,
Barbara Baum of West Bloomfield, Eleanor
Reisener of West Bloomfield, Jacqueline
and Robert Bechek of Massachusetts;
grandchildren, Michael, Rachel and Sophia
Bechek, Momo and Hanna Baum; sister-
in-law, Toby Etkin.
She was the beloved wife of the late Judge
Victor Baum; dear sister of the late Alex
Etkin and the late Esther Russell; sister-in-
law of the late Dr. Pearl Baum Hauser.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the Zena Baum Senior Service Center,
c/o Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation,
4750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
"Miles wrote about life, its grit and
glory, painting vivid images with words
that can inspire each of us to live a
good life, a life that counts for some-
thing real and enduring. And Miles mod-
eled living an exemplary life. Miles Levin
shall continue to inspire me and count-
less others to make the
most of our lives. A greater
legacy is not possible."
Miles is survived
by his parents, Nancy
and Jonathan Levin of
Bloomfield Hills; sister,
Nina Levin; grandpar-
ents, Robert and Marge
Alpern; aunts and uncles,
Wayne and Nancy Alpern,
Harlan and Sandee Alpern,
Jonathan and Carolyn
Vitriol, Robert Levin, David
and Jane Akiba; cousins,
Emma Levin, Sophie Alpern, Tess
Alpern, Micah Alpern, Rebecca Alpern,
Joseph Vitriol, Anna Vitriol, Rachel,
Samuel, Isaac and Abigail Akiba.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the United Jewish Foundation (UJF)
Miles Alpern Levin Fund for supporting
initiatives in pediatric cancer research
and patient care, at UJF Miles Alpern
Levin Fund, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield
Hills, MI 48303, Attn: Susie Feldman.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. 1 1
in Detroit. He was also a lifetime member
of Perfection Lodge, member of Crescent
Shrine Club, B'nai B'rith, Scottish Rite,
Oakland Century Club, former B'nai David
member and an avid golfer and bowler.
Mr. Brant is survived by his wife,
Blanche Brant; son, Norman Brant of
Bloomfield Hills; daughter and son-in-
law, Elaine and Jeffrey Surnow of West
Bloomfield; grandchildren, Scott Brant
and fiancee Megan Dexter, Ronnie and
Noah Brant, Sam, Max and Lisa Surnow.
He was the loving father of the late
Jacqueline Brant.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Make-
A-Wish Foundation, 230 Huron View
Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48103-2948.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
BENJAMIN BRANT, 80, of West
Bloomfield, died Aug. 17, 2007. He was the
president of American Pipe and Supply
Obituaries on page 74
August 23 • 2007
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