Obituaries
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Philanthropic Peacemaker
Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News
I rwin Green was a man ahead of his time.
He was an early, major promoter of Israeli-Arab co-equality
— donating millions of dollars to improve the quality of life
and ease the tensions between the two groups.
He once stated: "We need a strong Israel — and to build it, we
need to create a society where Jews and Arabs can live side-by-side
in harmony and equality:'
"Dad endured much criticism for his efforts
because his peers thought he wanted to help the
Arabs only — ahead of the Jewish people,' said his
son Don Green of Toronto. "But he kept on pushing,
spearheading projects, donating money to a point
where such a peaceful co-equality may be really
possible today:'
At 99, Mr. Green continued to make many trips to
his beloved Israel, and he died there Nov.23, 2009.
"On a visit to Israel last April, he fell and hit his head
and was in and out of a coma ever since," said son
Don. "He passed away in a rehabilitation center in
Tel Aviv – three months short of his 100th birthday.
"He was one of a kind; a great visionary, wonder- Irwin Green
ful father and a man of strong convictions who
always had a hands-on approach and could deal
with anything, as he experienced in his efforts to achieve Israeli-
Arab co-equality; that wasn't very popular at the time."
An automotive industry magnate in his early years, Green was
a pillar of the Detroit Jewish community and, in fact, the Jewish
world, acclaimed for his many philanthropic deeds. He had given
up his residence in the Detroit area around 2000 and lived in Boca
Raton, Fla., while not on his many trips to Israel and to visit rela-
tives. His wife, Bethea, died at 92 in 2005.
"Irwin had a deep love and appreciation for our Detroit Jewish
community and Israel;' said Robert Aronson, senior development
adviser and former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit."He was one of the most generous persons in the history of
our community"
Mandell L. "Bill" Berman of Franklin, one of Green's longtime
friends, remembers Green admonishing the legendary philan-
thropist Max Fisher at the annual "Fisher meeting," a gathering
where local Jewish leaders pledged their charitable contributions.
"On many occasions, Irwin would stand up and tell Max he would
match his donation, but added that Max wasn't giving enough','
said Berman."Max would laugh — sometimes he increased his
amount, sometimes he didn't.
"Irwin was a very determined man in his philanthropy and in
everything he did. He was an avid art collector and had outstanding
artwork in his home. I had an intense respect for him. He was great
for Detroit Jewry.
"He had no trouble moving around in his later years. I would
suddenly get a phone call from him and he would say: 'I'm here!'
One time, I was in Israel, and he showed up at my door. I didn't
know how he even knew I was there!"
Man Of Industry
Irwin Green was born in the Russian Ukraine and fled to America
with his family in 1923."All they had were the jewels my mother hid
in her hair;' Don Green recalls her telling him. "But they settled in
Detroit, and my father learned English and went through the school
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De,cernber 3 2009
Obituaries
system. He graduated from Wayne (State) University's law school
although he really only practiced law for four years."
Mr. Green founded the Century Machine & Die Co., and devel-
oped a patent for decorative metal moldings for cars, supplying all
the trim for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler products. In the
1950s-'60s era of tailfins and chrome, his massive enterprise oper-
ated seven plants in Michigan and Mississippi. He sold the business
to the Taylor-based Masco Corp. in the 1970s.
"His next project was to help me start my business:' pointed out
Don Green, who is co-founder of Roots, an interna-
tional sportswear, shoe and leather goods company.
Don and his partner, Michael Budman, also a for-
mer Detroiter, met at Camp Tamakwa in Canada
and later returned to that country to operate Roots.
"Without my father's help, we never would have
gotten the company going',' stressed Don.
Community Leader
Irwin Green had many leadership roles in the
Detroit Jewish community, including serving as
chairman of the Allied Jewish Campaign in 1965-
66 and as president of the United Jewish Charities,
predecessor to the United Jewish Foundation of
Metropolitan Detroit, in 1970-72. He was instru-
mental in establishing the first challenge grant on
behalf of the Federation's Annual Campaign. In
1981, he was given the Detroit Jewish community's highest service
honor, Federation's Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award.
In 2000, Mr. Green and his wife established the Green College Life
Fund as part of the Federation's Millennium Campaign for Detroit's
Jewish Future. The Bethea and Irwin Green College Life Fund sup-
ports outreach efforts and new approaches to Jewish programming
on many of Michigan's college campuses.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County, where Mr.
Green was a longtime member and served on many committees,
also benefited from his philanthropies.
He was extremely proud of his philanthropic efforts in Israel,
striving for peaceful Israeli-Arab co-equality He spearheaded a $2.5
million renovation of a municipal facility in Nazareth Tllit, helping
to improve the quality of life in that community. The largely Jewish
populated "heights," neighboring the Israeli Arab town of Nazareth,
is situated in the heart of Michigan's Partnership 2000 region of the
Central Galilee. The facility became known as the "Green Field."
"Dad was truly a unique individual with many talents and abili-
ties and who touched the lives of many, many people,' said son
Richard Green of Los Angeles.
"May Irwin's legacy live on and his vision continue to grow' ,' said
Aronson.
Irwin Green is survived by his son and daughter-in-law,
Don and Denyse Green of Toronto, son Richard Green of Los
Angeles; daughter and son-in-law, Margo Green and Roland
Damiano of Carmel, Calif.; five grandchildren. He was the hus-
band of the late Bethea Green.
Mr. Green's funeral was held Nov. 27 at Benjamin's Park
Memorial Chapel in Toronto. Interment was at Pardes Shalom
Cemetery there. Donations may be made to the Irwin and Bethea
Green Support Foundation of the United Jewish Foundation of
Metropolitan Detroit, made payable to "United Jewish Foundation:'
do Margie Davis, Endowment Campaign Suite, Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, 6735 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301, (248) 205-2551, www.jewishdetroit.org .
JANE ROSENZWEIG ABELSON, 72,
former Detroiter, died Oct. 7, 2009.
She was a longtime physician in San
Francisco. She had survived her hus-
band Herman Abelson for nine years
and passed away peacefully after a long
illness. There were no children. She will
be missed by her friends and family
She is survived by her sister, Donda
Rossman of Farmington Hills; brothers,
David Rosenzweig of Wauwatosa, Wis.,
and Jonathan Rosenzweig of Ann Arbor;
numerous nephews and nieces.
Services were held graveside on at
Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in
Colma, Calif., where she rests beside her
beloved husband.
MARILYN
CHERNOFF, 74, of
Bloomfield Hills, died
Nov. 25, 2009.
She was president
and CEO of Kelter
Thorner. She was
also a member of
Chernoff
Temple Beth El and a
volunteer for Jewish
Family Service and the
Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Mrs. Chernoff is survived by her
daughters, Barbara Chernoff of Beverly
Hills, Shelley Chernoff of Bloomfield
Hills; son, Jerry Chernoff of Lincoln
Park; grandsons, Jacob Saroli and
Andrew Chernoff; nieces, Lisa and
Debbie; sister, Elaine Gladstone of Troy.
Interment at Beth El Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to Seasons
Hospice and Palliative Care, 27355
John R, Suite 100, Madison Heights, MI
48077, www.cformigan@seasons.org or
Alzheimer's Association, Detroit Area
Chapter, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite
100, Southfield, MI 48076 www.alzgmc.
org . Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
CYRILLE COOPER, 77, of Huntington
Woods, died Nov. 26, 2009.
She is survived by her husband, Sam
Cooper; sons and daughter-in-law,
Norman and Sharon Cooper of Warren,
Phillip Cooper of Chesterfield; daughter
and son-in-law, Sharon and Mark Kirsch
of Huntington Woods; brother and sister-
in-law, Dr. Herbert and Phyllis Mendelson
of Huntington Woods; sister and brother-
in-law, Esther Molly and Jerry Hartman
of Jupiter, Fla.; sister-in-law, Helene
Mendelson; brother-in-law, Ben Cooper of
Oak Park; grandchildren, Alanna and Rick
Yuhas, Amanda and David Kirsch Alberts,
Aaron Kirsch, Anne Kirsch, Alexandra
Kirsch; great-grandchildren, Haley Yuhas,
Braylon Yuhas; many loving nieces and