Obituaries Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com 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 68 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