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.