Metro

PHOTO ALBUM I HELPING OUR SENIORS

Walk Of Ages

Photographer Benyas sees other side of the action as grand marshal.

Photography by Brett Mountain

Bill Carroll

Special to the Jewish News

L

ongtime community photogra-
pher Bob Benyas wasn't shoot-
ing photos at this year's Walk of
Ages sponsored by Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit Auxiliary on May
23. Instead he rode in a golf cart as grand
marshal of the eighth annual 3K/5K com-
munity walkathon around the Eugene and
Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community
Center campus in West Bloomfield.
The money raised will help care for
more than 800 elderly residents living in
six residences in the Jewish community.
More than 300 people participated amid
beautiful weather.
Features include a children's play area
with train rides, a petting zoo, games

and prizes, caps for walkers, banners for
teams of walkers, a dedication sign lane
and refreshments at the finish line.
Two Jewish News columnists also had
prominent roles: Danny Raskin was grand
marshal emeritus and George Cantor was
honorary chairperson. Pearlena Bodzin of
Southfield was general chairwoman.
Benyas, 86, of West Bloomfield estimates
he has taken "millions of pictures" in the
past 65 years, many of them for Jewish
organizations and often as a donation.
"I was very surprised and delighted at
the grand marshal honor," he said. "I'm
really just a behind-the-scenes guy; I just
want to always do a good job to get a good
photo"
Benyas got into photography at the
age of 15 by taking pictures of neighbor-
hood children and selling them to their

ties for families; people see it's a
Above: Grand
parents for a dime apiece.
great day for all. It's very inclusive
Marshal Bob
A 1942 graduate of Detroit's
— the residents came and sat in
Benyas gets
Northwestern High School, he
chairs along the walk and cheered
things going by
studied photography at the
people on with pompoms.
Chicago Institute of Design and cutting the
"As our senior population
ribbon.
later became a photographer
grows and grows, it obligates us
for the Army Air Corps, taking
to have more programming and
many pictures overseas.
For 40 years, Benyas and Jack Kaufman, more acitivites for seniors to do on a daily
basis. Thank God, people are living longer.
90, of Oak Park operated Benyas-
When they come to live in our facilities,
Kaufman Photography Studio in Oak
we want them to have the best life pos-
Park. Benyas and his wife, Shirley, have
sible. We walk for them."
been married almost 60 years and have
Jewish Senior Life Auxiliary, with more
two sons: Edward in Illinois, and Mark of
than 1,000 members, has been financially
Huntington Woods, who filled in for his
assisting the community's elderly resi-
father as the man behind the camera at
dents with many projects and programs
the walk.
for more than 85 years.
"We were blessed with a beautiful day:'
said chairwoman Bodzin. "Not only do
Walk of Ages on page 16
we walk, but also we incorporate activi-

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June 3 • 2010

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