Obituaries

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A Mentsh And Inspiration

D

r. Elmer Ellias, a general sur-
geon at William Beaumont
Hospital, was a mentsh who was
known to write off bills for his elderly
patients, indicating "no charge
During his professional career, Dr.
Ellias received many honors and presided
over the construction of the expansion
of Beaumont Hospital in Troy. He was
also a stalwart at Wayne State University
Medical School, teaching the students and
sleeping at Detroit Receiving Hospital.
Prior to his death at age 94 on Aug. 13,
2008, Dr. Ellias, of Bloomfield Hills, was
a patient for 10 months at Beaumont. His
kindness and goodness in accepting his
condition with equanimity amazed the
nurses. It was equally amazing that he
was in a coma for nearly four months and
then awoke and was alert for the last four
months of his life.
He was a great man whose heart and
spirit inspired everyone. His strengths
were many. He loved sports and was
especially fond of baseball since he was

REGINA GILBERT
BASKIN, 79, of West
Bloomfield, died Aug.
22, 2008. She was a
Holocaust survivor.
Mrs. Baskin is sur-
vived by her beloved
husband, Michael
Baskin
Baskin; children, Arnold
Gilbert of Palm Desert,
Calif., Helen Gilbert of
Skokie, Ill., Lori and
Alan Lenef of Belmont,
Mass., Ronald Baskin of
Farmington Hills, Susan
Baskin of Studio City,
Calif., Trudy and Michael
Pianko of E. Brunswick, N.J.; grandchil-
dren, Jacki (Jeff) Graham, Dayna Gilbert,
Julia Lenef, Jacob Lenef, Rick Pianko,
Lauren Pianko and Andrew Baskin; many
other loving family members and friends.
She was the loving wife of the late Jack
Gilbert.
Interment at Oakview Cemetery in
Royal Oak. Contributions may be made
to the Holocaust Memorial Center or to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

IRA BOYKANSKY, 77, of West
Bloomfield, died Aug. 20, 2008. He was a
lifetime member of Young Israel of Oak
Park.

a young man. He enjoyed playing cards
and was extremely fond of animals. In
his love of travel, he and his wife took
many cruises; and on one notable one,
he was responsible for saving the life of a
stricken passenger.
Dr. Ellias graduated Wayne University
in Detroit with a medical degree in 1940
and did his residency in general surgery
at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los
Angeles. He was licensed to practice
medicine in California, Michigan and
Florida. After his residency, he returned
to Michigan and enlisted in the Army. He
was sent back to California and then on
to the Pacific.
During World War II, Dr. Ellias served
as a captain at the 128th Station Hospital
in the South Pacific. Two days after the
dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered; and
the next day, he landed in Tokyo to work
in a hospital. There he met Rabbi Morris
Adler of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Detroit, who was a chaplain. Dr. Ellias was

surprised to see the rabbi there; the rabbi
offered that he had special connections
"higher up." Dr. Ellias earned the rank of
major before being honorably discharged
in 1946.
Dr. Ellias had been a dedicated
Republican since serving in the Army. His
wife, Peggy, regrets he will not be able to
cast a vote again, but she will do her best
to represent him in the polling booth.
Dr. Ellias will be missed by all who
knew and respected him for his indepen-
dence, perception and kindness. He was a
shining example of the difference a loyal,
dedicated doctor can make in the world.
Dr. Ellias is survived by his wife of 50
years, Peggy Yassky Ellias; daughter and
son-in-law, Lauri Ellias and James D.
Murphy Jr.; grandchildren, Dr. James D.
Murphy III and Dr. Heidi Young; loving
nieces and nephews, Charles Yassky, Mark
Yassky and Susan Yassky Kipperman,
Francis and Kenneth Eisenberg, Amada
Aftel, Nancy Lole, Franklin and Betty
Ellias, Dr. Andrew and Judith Ellias, Anne

Mr. Boykansky is survived by his
brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Stanley and
Sandra Boykansky of Bloomfield Hills; sis-
ter and brother-in-law, Elaine and Dr. Jack
Kaufman of Clarkston; nieces and neph-
ews, Dr. Michael and Rhonda Kaufman,
Dr. Brenda and Dr. Samir Zureick, Steven
and Nancy Kaufman, Cheryl and Milton
Kovinsky, Laura and Mark Rosen; great-
niece and great-nephew, Julie and Jeff
Hoskow; great-grandnieces and great-
grandnephews.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
National Fund, 24100 Chagrin Blvd.,
Ste. 100, Cleveland, OH 44122. Services
and interment at Machpelah Cemetery
in Ferndale. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

MITCHEL FISHMAN, 80, of Novi, died
Aug. 23, 2008. An insurance executive with
Fishman Agency, he had been a lieutenant
in the Army during World War II. He was
also a member of Jewish War Veterans.
Mr. Fishman is survived by his children,
Del and Kathy Fishman of Davisburg and
Sheryl and James Siegel of Grand Rapids;
grandchildren, Levi Fishman, Aleah, Jaron
and Ari Siegel; great-granddaughter, Shiah
Siegel; sister and brother-in-law, Dena and
Paul Doner; nieces, nephews, other rela-
tives and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Audrey Fishman.
Interment at Oakview Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to JARC, 30301
Northwestern Hwy. #100, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334, (248) 538-6611, www
jarc.org; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

LYDIA EKUS, 66, of West Bloomfield, died
Aug. 19, 2008.
She is survived by her beloved husband,
Seymour Ekus; sons and daughters-in-law,
Bryan and Cindy Ekus of Orlando, Fla.,
Jason Ekus of Las Vegas, Nev., Kevin and
Charlyn Ekus of Las Vegas; brother and
sister-in-law, Neil and Dawn Osoff of Holt,
Mich.; sister and brother-in-law, Sheila
and James Prenzlauer of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Alix and Miriah; many
other loving family members and friends.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

LEO GLENN, 86, of Sterling Heights, died
Aug. 19, 2008.
When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939,
he left his family at the age of 17 and crossed
the front lines into the Soviet Union, where
he served in the Russian Army. After World
War II, he learned that his parents, brother
and sister had been murdered in Treblinka.
He lived in Germany for two years
before moving to Detroit. Eventually he
became a home builder. and was retired
more than 40 years.

Dr. Elmer Ellias
c. 1980

and Eugene Greenstein, Roberta and Paul
Ingber, Deborah and Thomas Williams
and Frank and Lisa Ellias; sister-in-law,
Delores Yassky.
He was the beloved son of the late Anne
and the late Frank Ellias; loving young-
est brother of the late Ruth Aftel, the late
Harold Ellias, the late Dr. Sydney Ellias;
brother-in-law of the late Harold Yassky;
uncle of the late Robert Yassky.
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah, 15751 W. Lincoln Road,
Southfield, MI 48076; or American
Red Magen David for Israel, 23470
Riverview Drive, Southfield, MI 48034.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑

Mr. Glenn is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Bernard and Nina Kent
of Franklin; grandchildren, Spencer and
Chloe Kent. He was the former husband
of the late Ruth Kent.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
Home and Aging Services Program for
Holocaust Survivors and Families, 6710
W. Maple ,West Bloomfield, MI 48322.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

FREDA GOLDMAN, 87,
of Potomac, Md., died
Aug. 19, 2008.
She is survived by her
daughters and sons-in-
Ho trgr law, Pearl and Martin
R Waldman of Bloomfield
Hills, Susan and Isaac
Abraham of Potomac, Md.; sisters, Bell
Storchan of West Bloomfield, Peshel
Mamulis of Ashkeon, Israel; grandchil-
dren, Arie Abraham, Tamar and Aaron
Barnett, Alexander Waldman, Brian
Waldman, Lisa Waldman.
Mrs. Goldman was the beloved wife of
the late Leon Goldman.
Contributions may be made to the
Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard
Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334.
Services and interment held at Machpelah
Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

Obituaries on page B36

MI

August 28 • 2008

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