Obituaries
Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com
'His Golf Course Was Always Sunny'
Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News
his word," said his wife. "If he com-
eulogy. "He loved to work, be with his
pleted a job faster and at less cost, he
two families, work, talk to people, work,
would give the customer a refund?'
hear stories, work, play golf — and
hen the Yeshiva Beth
Benz Glass had done glazing work
work. He was a real social butterfly who
Yehudah in Southfield need- on many of the area's largest office
always was the first person to arrive at
ed glass work, Fritz Fridson
buildings and hotels, and he loved to
a party and the last to leave."
had his company do it free of charge.
drive around and show people those
Rabbi Krakoff added that Fritz was a
When a neighbor who was a reading
places. He was co-
people person, a constant
teacher needed mirrors in a school to
founder of the Michigan
shmoozer. "He never for-
help students with reading disabilities,
Glazing Contractors
got a face or a name. He
Fritz came to the rescue and donated
Association, a member
could ride in an elevator
the mirrors.
of the Detroit Glass
with strangers and find
"Generous, honest and trustwor-
Dealers Association
out everyone's life story
thy are the best words to describe
and an inductee in the
before they reached the
my father," said Ross Fridson of West
National Glass Dealers
top floor.
Bloomfield. Those words were used
Association Hall of
"He loved to travel
over and over again by family and
Fame.
with Judy and delighted
friends to tell about Harry "Fritz"
Fritz also was a
in being with their many
Fridson, 90, of Southfield, who died
longtime member of
children, grandchildren
Oct. 11, 2009, after a lengthy hospital
Congregation Shaarey
and great-grandchildren.
stay.
Zedek in Oakland
A native Detroiter and
Harry "Fritz" Fridson
An avid golfer, Fritz was hoping
County. He belonged to
graduate of Central High
surgery would allow him to play golf
Tam 0' Shanter Country
School's class of 1937,
again. "That was his goal," said his wife
Club in West Bloomfield, last year
Fritz didn't let a bout with rheumatic
of 17 years, Judy Snyder Fridson. "He
becoming the oldest member to play
fever as a child get him down and
loved golf.
in the club's annual championship golf
started working in a produce store at
"No matter the weather, he said it
tournament.
the age of 11. "But his sense of honesty
was always sunny on the golf course.
Officiating at the Oct. 13 funeral,
forced him to quit rather than fol-
And he always saw beauty in other
Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of Shaarey Zedek
low the owner's orders to push rotten
people. He was a cheerful, loving man."
told of an e-mail received recently
peaches to the front of a display stand
Fritz was the owner of Benz Glass Co. by the Fridson family from a former
ahead of the fresh peaches," explained
in Detroit, a company founded in 1930
neighbor who was a reading special-
Rabbi Krakoff. "So he got a better pro-
by Joe Benz, the father of his first wife,
ist teacher. She had mentioned to Fritz
duce job at higher pay. He later was
Alice. She died in 1990 after they had
years ago that her students needed mir- co-owner of a flower shop and worked
been married for 47 years. Fritz offi-
rors in the school so they could watch
long hours, becoming an expert at
cially retired after the business closed
themselves speak and link their voices
flower arranging. He was passionate in
in 1995, but he continued to work part
to the sounds. The next day, Benz Glass
anything he did."
time until earlier this year as an esti-
workers installed three huge mirrors
Although he admitted to getting
mator for Modern Mirror & Glass Co. in free of charge.
seasick on boats, Fridson served in the
Roseville.
"Fritz was a real mentsh, a standup
U.S. Navy for four years during World
"He was an exceptionally honest
guy, a true glassman," related his
War II and was proud to be a radar
businessman, and his handshake was
daughter-in-law, Carol Fridson in a
man on the command ship during the
W
QUALITY KOSHER CATERING INC
B lo o m•s
COMPLETE CARRY-OUT AND FULL SERVICE CATERING FOR SHIVA MEALS
Bloom's
Jewish Cuisine
allied invasion of Normandy, France, on
D-Day, June 6, 1944.
The rabbi added: "When his days in
the hospital multiplied these past few
months, Fritz realized he might not
make it out and even told the family
how to divide up his golf clubs after
his death. He was lucid until the end.
He said he didn't want people to make
a fuss over him. 'Just let me go: he told
the family."
Harry Fridson is survived by his wife,
Judy Snyder Fridson; son and daughter-
in-law, Ross and Carol Fridson; son,
Steven Snyder of Southfield; daughters
and sons-in-law, Margi and Harry
Weinhaus of Farmington Hills; Carol
and Jeffrey Resnick of Birmingham,
Kathy and Michael Laffer of Bloomfield
Hills; grandchildren, Amy and J.J.
Reifler, Lisa and Rick Rubenfaer, Jaime
and Matthew Weinhaus, Matthew and
Justin Laffer, Nick Resnick; great-
grandchildren, Madison and Morgan
Reifler, Mason and Blake Rubenfaer.
He was the husband of the late Alice
Fridson; brother of the late Alice Gale;
brother-in-law of the late Hy Gale;
brother-in-law of Sam Klein and the
late Harriet (Cookie) Klein.
Contributions may be made to the
LUNGevity Foundation, 435 N. LaSalle
St., Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60610, (312)
464-0716; www.lungevity.org ; or
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
of Michigan, 1421 E. 12 Mile Road,
Madison Heights, MI 48071; (248) 582-
2900, www.leukemialymphoma.org ; or
a charity of one's choice.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery; arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
www.NibblesAndNuts.com
LUNCH OR DINNER • Meat, Dairy or Lactose free
• Dessert Trays • Glatt Kosher at a competitive price!
Same day
express
deliv 111
Available any time and anywhere you need us!
Call 248-352-7758
\ L.
DELIVERY AVAILABLE
www.qualitykosher.com I E-mail - info@qualitykosher.com
1541550
66
October 22 2009
Obituaries
Shiva dinners, Fish trays,
Deli trays Delivered
248-855 9463
Jewishcatering.com
.koqu Inas owl chocolat(s
248-737-8088
NibblesAndNuts.com