A Philanthropic Pillar

TESTIMONIALS & MEMORIES

Detroit's Mr. D

Jewish community members
recall kindnesses large and small.

Crossing Paths

My friendship with Bill Davidson began at Hutchins
Intermediate School in Detroit. Over the years, our paths would
cross in many areas, all related to helping the Jewish community.
Bill was competitive, but he was also very complimentary.
Over the years, I received notes from him about some things that
I had accomplished. This was very unusual for someone with the
schedule and responsibilities that Bill always carried.
The climax of our friendship came in the form of my grand-
son Jeremy Baruch, who was awarded a Wexner Fellowship, spe-
cifically designated as a Davidson scholar.
Bill will always remain near and dear as a loyal friend and an
outstanding mentsh.
— Leonard P Baruch, Southfield

Small Gestures

An example of Bill Davidson niceness: I asked him if my son
Andrew Moers (a freshman at Andover High School in 1984)
could be a ball boy. He replied,"He is a ball boy!"
Another time, I called him wanting to offer him a vintage bas-
ketball object on behalf of a friend. He graciously welcomed me
into his office to look at it.
How nice is that!!
— Sandra Moers, Bloomfield Hills

Wine From Mr. D

Just after the Detroit Pistons won the 1989 National Basketball
Association Championship, I was having dinner with colleagues
at the former Pike Street restaurant in Pontiac.
At a nearby table were Bill Davidson and his wife, Karen. I had
never met him. I only recognized him because I saw him on the
bimah at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield on the High
Holidays every year.
I got up and walked over to his table and congratulated him
on the great season that the Pistons had. He thanked me; noth-
ing else was said, and I returned to my table.
About three minutes later, our waitperson delivered a lovely
bottle of champagne to our table, compliments of the Davidsons.
What more can anyone say?
— Robert D. Starkman, Southfield

Good To The Last Letter

W

illiam Davidson — international businessman, philanthropist, sportsman
and Zionist — died March 13 at his Bloomfield Hills home and was laid to
rest March 17. Not only did this quiet billionaire and devoted family man
leave his mark on the world, but also on the lives of those in our Jewish community. The
following memories of Bill Davidson come from Detroiters.

The late Bill Davidson was a busy businessman, sportsman and
philanthropist, but many agree one of his best qualities was that
he was "a great Jew"
And one of his biggest thrills as a Jew was to write the final let-
ter of a Sefer Torah, which he performed at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek in Southfield. Rabbi Eric Yanoff explained the incident in a
tribute at Davidson's funeral.
"One of Judaism's greatest mitzvahs is to actually write a Sefer
Torah, a Torah scroll," related Rabbi Yanoff. "We arranged a cer-
emony, at which Mr. Davidson himself would actually write, with a
quill and ink, the final letter of the entire text.
"Now, very few Jews ever have the opportunity to do this mitz-
vah. Here was Mr. Davidson, a world figure! And he was so excited
to perform this deed that his hand was trembling a bit. There are
over 300,000 letters in a Torah, so the scribe had worked hard. Mr.
Davidson looked up at him with a smile, and said, `So if I mess up
this one last letter, do you have to start this thing all over?'
"But at that moment, his Jewish soul was beaming. He was so
happy. After he completed it, the Torah scroll was taken directly to
Israel."
— Bill Carroll, special writer
Memories on page Al2

March 26 2009

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