Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com
An Educator Extraordinaire
David Sachs
ty was not what he bargained for. Irving
refused, invoking his wedding day vows in
which he pledged to stand by his bride "in
trength. Irving Panush had tons
sickness and in health."
of it.
Despite her scores of hospitalizations,
Not only physical toughness,
Irving and Irene went on to enjoy a 60-year
but also mental prowess
romance and took pride in
and steadfastness of char-
their "miracle-birth" daughter,
acter.
Aviva Panush, who, like her
Dr. Panush was a devoted
father, became a dedicated
teacher, Zionist and family
Jewish educator.
man whose "word" — his
Irving enlisted in the Army
sense of commitment —
during World War II, but was
was as powerful as his
eventually sent home to care
"words" — his vast insight
for his ailing wife. He became
into Judaism, philosophy,
intrigued with questions of
music, history and Yiddish
philosophy in an attempt
culture.
to come to grips as to why
Dr. Irving Panush
"Uncle Iry would always
there was so much suffering
give totally and freely of
in the world. This eventually
himself without any expectation of recip-
led him to earn a master's in philosophy
rocation or recognition," said Laurence
from U-M in 1945 and a doctorate there
Jacobs of Farmington Hills, a nephew
in 1958.
whom he helped raise. "As a student of life
and philosophy, he felt that this was the
Philosophical Inquiry
moral and ethical way to live one's life'
"In his doctoral thesis, Iry was able to
Dr. Panush, 94, of Bloomfield Township, synchronize his study of philosophy with
an educator for six decades at Detroit's
his study of music:' said his brother Sol
Mumford and Cass Technical high
Panush of Farmington Hills. "The idea of
schools, Macomb and Oakland County
philosophy was, 'How do you lead a posi-
community colleges and many local
tive life in which you contribute to your
Hebrew schools and study groups, died
surroundings, to your religion and to your
Nov. 22, 2010.
friends?' One way to do so, he reasoned,
Born in a village outside Bialystok,
is by creating beauty. He found beauty in
Poland, he came with his family to Detroit
both philosophy and music — each could
at age 13. The persecution he experienced
permeate one's heart and one's actions."
as a youth in his native Poland impelled
Dr. Panush headed the social stud-
him to become an ardent Zionist and a
ies department at Mumford High in the
leader in the Labor Zionist youth guard,
1960s and later held the same position at
Hashomer Hatzair.
Cass Tech. All the time, he moonlighted as
As a teen, he established a training
a religious school teacher and/or principal
camp in Canada to prepare young Jews
with the local United Hebrew Schools,
to move to kibbutzim in pre-state Israel.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Detroit,
Only his iron-willed mother could prevent Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park,
physically robust Irving, then 18, from
the combined Sholem Aleichem-Arbeter
immigrating to Palestine, too.
Ring school in Detroit, Temple Kol Ami in
Irving, instead, turned to a life of
West Bloomfield and other venues.
intellectual, educational and cultural
He was an educator and lay leader in the
pursuits. He became an accomplished
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's
classical violinist and scholar of his-
Midrasha adult education division (now
tory, philosophy and Yiddish. He earned
FedEd). His vast knowledge of Yiddish led
a bachelor's degree in music literature
him to become a world-renowned expo-
from the University of Michigan in 1939
nent and translator of the language, said
and a master's in education from Wayne
brother Sol. His fluency in Hebrew comple-
University in Detroit in 1943.
mented his linguistic expertise.
He married a vibrant young medical
After retiring from the Detroit Public
student, Irene Siegel, in 1942, but soon
Schools, Dr. Panush went on to head the
afterward she contracted tuberculosis
humanities department at Macomb County
during hospital rounds and became
Community College and, through age 90,
severely and chronically incapacitated.
he taught philosophy at Oakland County
Irene suggested that her husband divorce
Community College. Over his career, he
her because her future of lifelong infirmi-
influenced thousands of students.
Senior Copy Editor
S
76
December 2 • 2010
Obituaries
Led Lifelong Study
He also led or participated in many
Jewish-oriented study groups; the Shabbat
afternoon discussion group he created in
his home examined all aspects of Judaism
and still exists after 50 years. Brother Sol
remembers how Irene would listen in and
kvell at her husband's remarkable intellect.
Irving was also active in the Southfield-
based Sholem Aleichem Institute, the local
Labor Zionist Alliance (now Ameinu), the
Jewish Community (Relations) Council of
Metropolitan Detroit and was a founder
of the Institute for Retired Professionals
(IRP) at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit.
Dr. Panush, humble and soft-spoken
but with a keen wit, was highly enmeshed
in the community. His community efforts
in his later years, including those with the
IRP, were recognized by Jewish Apartments
and Services when he was honored with an
Eight over Eighty public service award.
"Society has lost an intellectual genius,"
said brother Sol.
"He was an educator, but he taught us
so much from the way he lived his life
said son-in-law Mitchell Silverman of
Ann Arbor, who spoke at his funeral. "He
lived with joy; he lived strongly; he lived
his values; he demanded dignity from
others and he gave dignity to everyone."
Rabbi Robert Dobrusin of Beth Israel
Congregation in Ann Arbor delivered
Irving's eulogy. "We will miss him — but
his lessons, his values and his commit-
ment will remain with us and continue to
light our way."
Dr. Irving Panush is survived by his
dear daughter, Deborah Aviva (Mitchell
Silverman) Panush; beloved granddaugh-
ter, Shoshana Keren Silverman; special
nephew, Laurence (the late Jan Adler)
Jacobs and their son Marc David Jacobs;
loving brother Sol Panush; and many lov-
ing family members and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Irene Panush, loving son of the late Abraham
and the late Rebecca Panush; and dear
brother of the late Louis "Leible" Panush and
the late Bernard "Beryl" Panush.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Sholem Aleichem Institute, 28690
Southfield Road #293, Lathrup Village, MI,
48076; Institute for Retired Professionals,
do Jewish Community Center, 15110
W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI, 48237;
or Musicians of the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, do DSO Musicians Fund, 20833
Southfield Road, Southfield, MI, 48075.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. Li
IRA ALBION, 80,
of Farmington Hills,
died Nov. 20, 2010.
He was an engineer
for General Motors.
He is survived by
his wife of 58 years,
Edith "Eadie" Albion;
Albion
daughter, Marla
Albion of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; brother
and sister-in-law, Dr. Martin and Linda
Albion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-
law, Bob and Marilyn Solomon, Margie
Gold, Ernie and Gloria Solomon, Emily
and Sonny Rogow and Marilyn Erlich;
many loving nieces and nephews.
Mr. Albion was the beloved father
of the late Alan Albion; the cherished
brother of the late Bonnie Gordon.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
LEONARD A. BRAMS, 59, of
Farmington Hills, died Nov. 22, 2010.
He was a kid at heart - forever young.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Susan Brams; daughter, Jenny Brams
of Farmington Hills; mother, Audrey
Brams of Southfield; father-in-law,
Henry Peters; many other loving family
members and friends.
Mr. Brams was the dear son of the
late Isaac Brams; son-in-law of the late
Winifred Peters.
Contributions may be made to
the Michigan Humane Society or to
any charity that benefits animals.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
MARK ERLICH, 54,
of Farmington Hills,
died Nov. 24, 2010.
He is survived by
his wife, Penny Gaeta
Erlich; daughters
and son-in-law, Amy
Erlich and Katie
Erlich
and Evan Leibhan;
son, Paul Brown; mother, Irena Erlich;
sister, Elizabeth Erlich; father-in-law
and mother-in-law, Calvin Gaeta and
Dolores Gaeta; sister-in-law, Pamela
Gaeta.
He was the beloved son of the late
Simon Erlich.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Children's Hospital of Michigan,
Adopt-A-Family Program, 3901
Beaubien, Detroit, MI 48201, www.
childrensdmc.org , or a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.