Philanthropy In Motion

The vision, drive and charisma of the Bermans
yield vast benefits for the Jewish world.

Bill Carroll

Special to the Jewish News

W

hen Mandell L. "Bill" Berman
was preparing to be dis-
charged from the U.S. Navy in
1946, he received a letter from his father,
Julius. The 28-year-old learned that his
father was investing $12,000 for him to
go into the building business with the

younger Berman's brother-in-law, Bert L.
Smokier.
"I didn't want to be in the building busi-
ness," 91-year-old Bill Berman reflected
recently, "but I went through with it."
He's glad he did. He and Smokier, who
died in 1980, sold the business for dra-
matically more money in 1969. Not bad
for a $12,000 investment. The proceeds
led to a number of new business ventures,

Madge's Quest

Lifelong love of the arts fuels
her philanthropic passion.

Bill Carroll

Special to the Jewish News

W

Madge Berman

hen it comes to philanthropy and communal leader-
ship, Madeleine "Madge" Berman takes a back seat to
no one — least of all her husband, noted philanthropist
Mandell L. "Bill" Berman.
"Bill and I really are cut from the same philanthropic cloth," she
said. "It's just that we operate in different arenas. He has devoted
much of his life to improving Jewish education; I have a passion for
the arts and humanities."
Married almost 60 years, the Bermans have a deep commitment
to the Detroit Jewish community and make a perfect team in "giving
back" to that community and beyond. Madge has dedicated almost
50 years of her life to the support of the arts, both locally and nation-
ally.
Born Madeleine Harris Brodie, she quickly acquired "Madge"
for a nickname — similar to "Bill" for Mandell — and grew up in
Detroit's Chicago Boulevard area. Her father, Aaron, was an engineer
who worked on many buildings designed by Jewish architect Albert
Kahn.
"I got the love of art from my parents, who brought much lovely
artwork into our home," she said. "Bill and I now have an extensive collection of
Abstract Expressionism art in our [Franklin] home
Madge attended the former Miss Newman's School for Girls in Detroit; she then
obtained a music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She added
a master's degree in speech, communication and journalism from Wayne State

Madge on page A19

pushing the current return on investment
to millions more.
And most of the Detroit Jewish com-
munity has benefited from it because
Berman, of Franklin, is one of Detroit
Jewry's most generous philanthropists,
especially when it comes to education. He
has devoted decades to leadership in edu-
cation; his commitment and vision have
resulted in many groundbreaking educa-
tional initiatives.
"Philanthropy and education are my
passion," he said. "I'm now what amounts
to a full-time volunteer in the Jewish com-
munity, and my biggest challenge is find-
ing enough time to do everything."
Looking and sounding spry, he still
spends a lot of time attending educational
events, talking to students, teachers and
parents and getting a feel for the future
educational needs of the community.
Berman's philanthropy also reaches
across secular lines, with 25 percent of
donations from the Berman Foundation
going to non-Jewish causes and charities.
Now Berman has given $4 million to
build a 15,000-square-foot state-of-the-
art theater on the grounds of the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield
that will be used by the Jewish community
as well as the general community.
"I'm a Detroiter through and through,
and I want to continue my activism and
do what's best for the people of the com-
munity," he said from his Southfield office
for MLB Investments.
He goes to the office every day that he's
in town, arriving later in the morning
three days a week because he works out
at home with a trainer for an hour and 20
minutes — followed by short nap.
"Those are orders from Madge he said.
"She won't let me out without a nap after
the workout."

Staying Young
Madge is Madeleine Berman, his wife of
almost 60 years — and his partner in phi-
lanthropy and in a joint commitment to
the Jewish community.
The Bermans have a son, Dr. Jonathan
Berman, an emergency room doctor in

Philanthropy on page A16

June 4 2009

A15