Obituaries
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Guardian Patriarch
F
or some reason, I was always
fascinated by alarm equipment:'
noted Milton Pierce in a Jewish
News interview three years ago.
Mr. Pierce, who built Guardian Alarm
Co. of Southfield into one of the largest
personal and commercial protection firms
in North America, still came to the office
daily — after 80 years in a business that
began at age 15 in his parents' basement.
"Where other alarm companies were
run by businessmen interested only in
the monetary aspects, I enjoyed technol-
ogy and innovation," said Mr. Pierce.
"That set me apart and helped shape my
career path."
Milton J. Pierce, 95 of Bloomfield Hills,
died Dec. 25, 2010.
His personal quest started as a youth
when his father's tailor shop was burglar-
ized. Teenage Milton would spend time in
junkyards, buying surplus scrap and wire,
and in the library, where the young inven-
for and aspiring entrepreneur taught
himself how to build burglar alarms
using old doorbells and Chevy brake
drums. They turned out to
be good enough to protect
his father's shop.
He got a job with the
old Detroit Burglar Alarm
Co., but after being laid
off, purchased the fledg-
ling Guardian Alarm in
1930 and with his busi-
ness acumen and techno-
logical innovations turned
it into a huge success.
Over the decades, Mr.
Pierce brought his family
Milton Pierce
into the business. As he
told the JN in 2007, he served as chair-
man, while son Douglas was CEO, son
Richard was president, grandson Matt
Fraiberg was vice president and grandson
David Pierce was general manager.
Even in his 90s, Milton would join his
sons and grandsons riding motorcycles
while wearing black bikers' garb.
But Milton soared
higher. He got his pilot's
license at age 77 and, in
his 90s, still flew his own
plane, a Grumman Tiger,
to Florida and northern
Michigan. He remained
a member of AOPA
(Airplane Owners Pilot
Association).
Milton was a longtime
member of Temple Israel
in West Bloomfield and
his favorite charity was
the Farmington Hills-
based JARC — where a group home was
named for him and his late wife and fam-
ily matriarch, Sylvia, who died in 2005
at age 88. He was also a major donor to
Hebrew Free Loan.
DR. DAVID FREEDMAN, 94, of
Meadowbrook, Pa., died Dec. 21, 2010.
Dr. Freeman was a dentist in Hazel Park
for more than 50 years.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years,
Betty Freedman; sons and daughters-in-
law, Dr. Martin and Gwen Freedman, Alan
and Liz Freedman; grandchildren, Vicki,
Randy, Mara, Stephen, Gregg, William and
Michael Freedman; sister, Dorothy Moss.
Dr. Freedman was the beloved father of
the late Stuart Colby Freedman; the cher-
ished brother of the late Julius Freedman,
the late Jean Tonkin and the late Ann Jaffe.
Contributions may be directed to Michael
J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research,
Church Street Station, PO Box 780, New
York, NY 10008-0780, www.michaeljfox.org .
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
AARON GELLERMAN,
94, of Farmington Hills,
died Dec. 21, 2010.
He was the owner of
Brader's Department
Store in Northville.
Mr. Gellerman is
survived by his wife
Gellerman
of 64 years, Lottie
Gellerman; daughters
and sons-in-law, Bobbi and Dale Charnas
of Farmington Hills, Terry Gellerman
and Larry Rice of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; son
and daughter-in-law, Ken and Lynne
Gellerman of Gladwin, Mich.; grand-
children, Erica and Bryce Facktor, Craig
and Laura Charnas, Jason Charnas, Jodi
and Adam Kresch and Brian Benjamin;
great-grandchildren, Madison and Gillian
Charnas, Gabriella and Alexa Facktor;
sister, Rose Stocker.
He was the cherished brother of the
late Morris Gellerman; the dear brother-
in-law of the late Seymour Stocker.
Contributions may be made to
Alzheimer's Association, Detroit Area
Chapter, 20300 Civic Center Drive, #100,
Southfield, MI 48076, www.alzgmc.org or
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Y
DR. ALBERT A. GLOBERMAN, 88, of
Southfield, died Dec. 24, 2010.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army,
where he proudly served during World
War II. He was a podiatrist for 45 years,
practicing in the city of Detroit.
Dr. Globerman is survived by his
Bloom's
Jewish Cuisine
Milton J. Pierce is survived by his
sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas and
Arlene Pierce, Richard and Connie Pierce;
grandchildren, Karen and Matt Fraiberg,
Linda and Scott Herron, Jamie Pierce
and David Pierce; great-grandchildren,
Ashley, Michael and Ryan Fraiberg, Alexa
and Lucas Herron; nephew and niece, Dr.
Barry and Jean Doren.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Sylvia Pierce; cherished brother of the
late Louis and the late Ida Pierce; dear
brother-in-law of the late Irene and the
late Davie Doren.
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be made to Hebrew Free Loan, 6735
Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301,
www.hfldetroit.org; JARC, 30301
Northwestern Highway, #100, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334, www.jarc.org ; or a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
❑
beloved wife, Soril Globerman; son
and daughter-in-law, Dr. Marc and
Bonnie Globerman of Farmington Hills;
daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Adrea
and Dr. David Benkoff of Farmington
Hills; grandchildren, Brian Globerman,
Blair Globerman, Dr. Amanda and
Dr. Matt Salter, Reesa and Benjamin
Handelsman; sister, Esther Givner of
Lorraine, Ohio; brother-in-law, Sheldon
(Cathy) Peven.
He was the dear brother of the late
Frances Lutren.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park in Livonia. Contributions may
be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
Obituaries on page 50
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