Obituaries

Obituaries from page B29

A Good Name

David Sachs
Senior Copy Edior

D

r. Lawrence Newman opened
a dental office in Dearborn in
1959 after his service in the
Navy, and it eventually became a true
"family" practice. Over the next five
decades, his son David, daughter Cheryl
and son-in-law Jeffrey all joined him
there as dentists.
"Dad enjoyed every moment working
with us',' said David."He loved being a den-
tist, and I still hear from his patients how
they loved him. They all have a story about
how warmly they were treated and how he
made them so comfortable at the office.
But it was Dr. Newman's personal and
professional ethics and his good name
that had the biggest impact on his chil-
dren and grandchildren.
"The way Dad lived his life embodied
dignity and honesty:' said David. "Dad
knew what was honest and honorable and
always acted accordingly"
Dr. Lawrence Newman, 76, of West
Bloomfield, died Jan. 14, 2009, of adre-
nal cortical carcinoma — a rare cancer
that strikes only one in a million people.
Doctors at University of Michigan
Hospital credited the loving care of Libby
Newman, Dr. Newman's high school
sweetheart and wife of 55 years, for pro-
longing his life in the face of the extreme-
ly aggressive disease.

weren't limited to driving ambulances; he
"It's a miracle he survived the two
enjoyed riding his red Honda motorcycle.
years:' Libby said. "Larry was a great guy
He immersed himself in electronics and
— so super and so quiet and, yet, in later
operated remote-control model airplanes
years, so outgoing."
and boats he built from scratch. He was
Grandson Jason Goldis of Bloomfield
Hills observed, "There are so many valu-
also well known his organic garden, espe-
cially its tomatoes.
able life lessons we learned from Zaydie,
Family, though, meant
one being the way in which
everything to Dr. Newman,
he accepted his lot of such a
and education played a
dreadful disease. Other peo-
major role. Both Larry and
ple might have complained
or been bitter, but Zaydie
Libby were graduates of
U-M and their children
just shrugged his shoulders
are alumni as well. All the
and accepted it with grace,
grandchildren attended
humor and always a positive
Hillel Day School in
outlook."
Dr. Lawren ce Newman
Farmington Hills and the
In 1967, the Newmans
older ones have gone on to
were among the original
the Frankel Jewish Academy
founders of the local chap-
in West Bloomfield.
ter of the American Red Magen David
But when it came to life's greatest les-
for Israel (ARMDI), which provides
son, Larry taught his brood himself,
ambulances and medical services for the
noted grandson Jason.
Jewish state.
"We are all proud of the way Zaydie
Dr. Newman took pride in presenting
lived his life and the role model he was
plaques to local donors of the ambulanc-
for us," he said. "Zaydie's father, Max,
es and also drove the vehicles to Hebrew
used to tell him that he was leaving him
schools and synagogues to promote the
his most valuable asset, his good name.
beneficial work the organization did.
We are forever grateful that Zaydie has
"Whatever we needed, he was there
passed that good name down to us."
— financially and physically:' said Eva
Rabbi Steven Rubenstein of
Mames, president of the John J. Mames
Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Chapter, Michigan Region. All of the
Bloomfield, who spoke at the funeral, noted,
Newmans' children continue as support-
"Larry moved through life in a quiet, digni-
ers of ARMDI.
fied way. It was important to him to leave
But Dr. Newman's spare-time activities

his family with his good name. Looking
back, he was really able to accomplish that."
Dr. Lawrence Newman is survived
by his wife, Libby; children, Dr. David
Newman, Dr. Cheryl (Alex) Goldis, Nancy
(Dr. Jeffrey) Adler; grandchildren, Jaclyn,
Susan and Jason Goldis, Mitchell, Eden
and Jesse Adler; siblings, Daniel (Elaine)
Newman, Lois (Benjie) Pearlman; broth-
er-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dr. Abraham
(Dr. Mildred Axelrod) Grant, Fay (the late
Harry) Krohner, Lillian (the late Samuel)
Glanz, Rose (the late Albert) Ross; many
loving nieces and nephews, great-nieces
and nephews, great-great-nieces and
nephews and friends.
Dr. Newman was the son of the late
Max and the late Pearl Newman; son-in-
law of the late Nathan and the late Yetta
Grunt; brother-in-law of the late Sara and
the late Rubin Folkoff.
Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit,
32200 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills,
MI 48334; American Red Magen David
for Israel, 23470 Riverview Dr., Southfield,
MI 48034; Congregation Beth Ahm, 5075
W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322;
or U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Adrenal Cancer Program, in memory of
Larry Newman, do UMCCC Development
Office, 301 E. Liberty, Suite 130, Ann
Arbor, MI 48104. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

❑

Love Of Music

L

illian Zellman, of Oak Park, died
Jan. 15, 2009, exactly two months
before her 103rd birthday.
Born Lillian Rabinowitz on March
15, 1906, in Mt. Carmel, Pa., where her
father was the town's rabbi, she moved
to Detroit with her parents and six of her
seven brothers and sisters in 1918.
From an early age, she exhibited a love
and affinity for music that, along with
her family and her faith, became the
foundation on which her life rested. After
graduating from the Institute of Musical
Arts in Detroit in 1927, she embarked on
a career as teacher, performer, musical
director, accompanist and composer that
continued until into her 90s.
For close to 40 years, she was part of a

B30

January 22 • 2009

permitted. She was a recipient in 2000
chamber trio that gave numerous recitals
throughout the area; she wrote the scripts of Jewish Apartment & Service's annual
Eight Over Eighty award. This stemmed
for and directed confirmation ceremo-
in large measure from her
nies at several Detroit area
work at the Federation and
temples and synagogues;
JCC, organizing, writing and
and she was a much sought-
presenting concerts for the
after accompanist for many
various holidays and other
cantors and other singers for
occasions and from the
recitals and other programs.
recognition by many of the
Her last public performance
JCC staff that they had an
was in 1999 at the Oak Park
extraordinary and invalu-
JCC with the late cantor Sid
able resource in Lillian. She
Resnick, a longtime collabo-
Lillian Zellm an
was an active member of
rator.
Hadassah for many years.
Mrs. Zellman was a
Lillian was married to Ed Zellman for
devoted member of Congregation Sharrey
37 years, and will now rejoin him after
Zedek for some 60 years and was active
a separation of 23 years. She is missed
in Jewish affairs for as long as her health

by many, many people, especially those
in her family. Her heart contained all of
them; theirs will continue to contain her.
Mrs. Zellman is survived by her son,
Mel, and his wife, Arlene Eskilson, of
Evanston, Ill.; grandchildren, Shaila
Newman and husband Keith, Daniel
Zellman and wife Melinda Porter; step-
grandchildren, Christine Eskilson and
husband Russ Sergeant, Stephen Eskilson
and wife Jordana Friedman; brother,
Albert Robbins, and sister-in-law, Mimi
Robbins.
Services and interment at Machpelah
Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions
may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.