Obituaries

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Big Shoes To Fill

A

aron "Rocky" Ross, 86, of
Southfield, for a half-century
the co-owner of the Sibley
Shoes chain, died Nov. 29, 2010.
Mr. Ross grew up in Detroit with big
brother Norman and parents, Harry
and Ethel Rosenfeld. Aaron acquired his
nickname at age 6 when he was in awe of
Detroit Tiger John Thomas "Rocky" Stone
and wanted to play ball just like him.
Going forward, Aaron kept "Rocky" as his
main name for the rest of his life.
Rocky received his undergraduate
degree from Ohio State University and
his law degree from the University of
Michigan. He practiced law for one year
and then decided to join his brother and
father in the family shoe business. Harry
Rosenfeld was the founder of Sibley
Shoes, which started as a single store in
downtown Detroit and became, for many
years, one of the country's largest inde-
pendent retailers.
Sibley Shoes was also considered an
early local leader in providing sales and
management opportunities to minorities.
For 50 years, Rocky Ross and Norman

PEARL BEZ, 95, of
Southfield, died Dec. 9,
2010.
She is survived by
her daughters and
son-in-law, Sharon
Ruzumna of Bainbridge
Island, Wash., Marilyn
Bez
and Bennett Cohon
of Los Angeles, Calif.;
grandchildren, Jeremy Ruzumna, David
Ruzumna, Jeffrey Cohon and Julie Pardo;
seven great-grandchildren; sister, May
Shorr; many caring nieces and nephews;
her most wonderful surrogate daughter,
Lenore Bauch; corps of friends in Detroit.
Mrs. Bez was the beloved wife of the late
Samuel Bez.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.
jfsdetroit.org or a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

MARY KARABENICK BROOKS, 95, of
Southfield, died Dec. 6, 2010.
She is survived by her daughters and
son-in-law, Carole and Elliot Solomon of
West Bloomfield, Anita Daly of Detroit;
son and daughter-in-law, James S. and
Linda Brooks of Fairfield, Iowa; brother
and sister-in-law, Edward and Florine

Detroit; Southern Poverty Law Center;
Rosenfeld co-owned the company until
the V Foundation; Gleaners Food
selling it in 2001.
Bank; Reggie McKenzie Foundation;
Rocky had a great love for sports. He
Foundation Fighting
was an avid tennis player
Blindness; Mote Aquarium
who, for many years, would
in Sarasota, Fla.; Michigan
run in 5K and 10K races. He
Law School; Michigan
loved to shoot baskets; he
Victor's Club and many
coached Little League base-
more organizations.
ball for his sons; he threw
One organization that
the football around a lot and
was particularly close to
loved anything as long as it
his heart was the Rose
was active.
Hill Center, where he set
Throughout the years, one
up a fund named for his
thing that remained constant
deceased son, Mitch — the
was his love for U-M basket- Aaron 'Roc ky' Ross
Mitchell S. Ross Memorial
ball. It was a giant passion,
Fund.
and he was a great supporter
He was one of the longest-standing
of the Michigan athletics program.
members of the Detroit Tennis and
Squash Club as well as Franklin Athletic
A Huge Heart
Club. These two clubs kept Rocky in
But that wasn't his only passion; Rocky
shape.
had a huge heart and was a big support-
This was when he wasn't at his second
er of many programs countrywide. He
home on Longboat Key, Fla. His condo
was a lifetime member of Temple Beth
there became his home during the win-
El in Bloomfield Township and a big
ter, and he would continue to spend the
supporter of the Linus Pauling Institute;
late spring to early fall at his Southfield
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan

Karabenick of Longbeach, Calif.; grand-
children, Daniel Solomon, Shira (Mark
Sawasky) Solomon, Jacqueline Nedd,
William Mathew (Norma) Daly, Sara,
Alexis, Molly and Simon Brooks; great-
grandchildren, Lila Tzipora, Nathan
Robert, Kristen Michelle, Lauren Renee,
Cody Mathewroy; many other loving fam-
ily members and her special friends at the
Heritage.
Mrs. Brooks was the dear sister of the
late Ethel Margolis Liebowitz and the late
George Karabenick.
Interment at the Adat Shalom Memorial
Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions
may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

GERTRUDE COHEN, 93, of West
Bloomfield, died Dec. 10, 2010.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Barry and Marlene
Goudsmit of Farmington Hills, Rob and
Linda Goudsmit of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Jennifer (Lance) Zinman,
Anna Goudsmit, Chris Komarck, Maggie
Goudsmit, Jason Roskey, Max Goudsmit,
Nora Goudsmit and Patrick Kuschak;
great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and
Samantha Zinman and Beatrice Clois
Roskey; sister, Lillian Wolfson of West
Bloomfield; brother and sister-in-law, Jack
and Edna Goodman of Stanton Island,

N.Y.; many loving nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Cohen was the beloved wife of
the late Sam Cohen and the late Irving
Goudsmit.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery in
Ferndale. Contributions may be made to
Meals on Wheels or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

BILLIE FEINBERG, 87, of Oak Park,
died Dec. 7, 2010.
He is survived by his daughters and
sons-in-law, Bonnie and Everett Elkins
of Falls City, Texas, Sherry and John Lee
of Southfield; grandchildren, Melani
and Brian Spiegel Rosenbloom; great-
grandchildren, Hanna Ida Rosenbloom
and Maya Sharon Rosenbloom.
Mr. Feinberg was the beloved husband
of the late Shirley Feinberg; dear brother
of the late George Feinberg and the late
Morris Feinberg.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to
Parkinson's Foundation of Michigan,
30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150,
Bingham Farms, MI 48025, www.
parkinsonsmi.org ; American Cancer
Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive,
Southfield, MI 48076, www.cancer.org ;
or Jewish War Veterans, 7400 Telegraph
Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Obituaries

apartment.
Rocky was a generous, loving, devoted,
loyal humanitarian. He loved people, and
he loved life. His generosity and positive
outlook on life rubbed off on so many.
He always looked for the good in people.
There was never a more genuine, giving,
and positive human being than Rocky
Ross, said his family. He will always live
on through the memory of his family as
well as being a part of his children and
grandchildren.
Aaron "Rocky" Ross is survived by
his son, Andy Ross; son and son-in-law,
Doug and Mark Rossdanson; daughter
and son-in-law, Karen and Jeff Rothstein;
grandchildren, Noah, Ian, and Samantha
Rothstein and Emily and Charlie
Rossdanson; brother and sister-in-law,
Norman and Dulcie Rosenfeld.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to Rose
Hill Center, Mitchell S. Ross Memorial
Fund, 5130 Rose Hill Blvd., Holly, MI
48442.
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. 0

DR. LEON E. FIRESTONE, 91, of West
Bloomfield, died Dec. 8, 2010.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Nancy Firestone; son and daughter-
in-law, Marc and Carole Firestone of
Camarillo, Calif.; daughter and son-in-
law, Pam and Robert Neshkes of Los
Angeles, Calif.; other children, Richard
Kay, Karen Kay, Chris Kay; grandchil-
dren, Lisa Firestone, Ryan Firestone
(fiancee Wendy Morales), Rachelle
(Aaron Rosenfield) Neshkes-Rosenfield,
Rebecca Neshkes, Elana Neshkes, Adam
Kay, Rachel Kay, Heather (Andrew)
Abramouski, Bradley Kay, Daniel Vahaba;
brother-in-law and sister-on-law, Meyer
and Hilda Green.
Mr. Firestone was the dear husband of
the late Rochelle M. Firestone; brother of
the late Anne (the late Louis) Berent and
the late Sara (the late Herman) Berke;
brother-in-law of the late Ruth (the late
Gerald) Schachter and the late Harvey
Sherman; father of the late Neil Kay;
grandfather of the late Ryan Kay.
Interment was held at the Hebrew
Memorial Park Cemetery in Mt. Clemens.
Contributions may be made to the Jewish
National Fund or to Congregation Beth
Shalom. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

Obituaries on page 62

December 16 • 2010

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