Obituaries
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A Loving Mother Who Defied Tragedy
Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News
S
uzanne Bartholomew's selfless
concern for others in the face of
her own valiant battle against
breast cancer came through in all of her
relationships — especially where her fam-
ily was concerned.
"The cancer took everything away from
her that it possibly could:' said husband,
Dr. Fred Bartholomew."She lost her hair
three times, her ability to walk, and, at the
end, her eyesight. But as sick as she was,
she only worried about taking care of us:'
Suzanne was passionate about spreading
awareness and raising funds to help oblit-
erate the disease that ultimately took her
life. She was an active participant in the
Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. In lieu
of wedding gifts, she and Fred requested
donations to their walking team, Suz
Cruise, raising $113,000.
Suzanne's courageous fight ended on
Jan. 26, 2011, at age 38. The middle child
of Alice and (the late) Bert Herman, she
attended Michigan State University and
graduated first in her law school class at
RUTH ASHMAN, 91, of Boca Raton, Fla.,
died Jan. 25, 2011.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Larry and Maureen
Ashman of Farmington Hills, Marty and
Roberta Ashman of Boynton Beach, Fla.,
Sandy and Ruth Ashman of Boca Raton;
grandchildren, Joel Ashman, Carlee
(Neal) Welbourne, Joshua Ashman, Dawn
(Michael) Malenfant, Rubin Ashman,
Heather (Ron) Snitil, Brooke (Michael)
Hemel; great-grandchildren, Ethan,
Spencer, Mallory, Kaela, Lauren and Evan.
Mrs. Ashman was the beloved wife of the
late Jack Ashman.
Interment at the Nusach Hari Cemetery
in Ferndale. Contributions may be made
to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
JERRY COHEN, 78, of St. Clair Shores, died
Jan. 25, 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Joanna Cohen;
daughters and son-in-law, Patti Sharet of
Minneapolis, Minn., Lynn and Martin
Mark of Silver Springs, Md.; grandchildren,
Tsvi, Amalia, Eltzafan, Atarah and Shmuale;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Milton and
Herta Cohen, Hershel and Toby Cohen;
sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Jim
Luciano.
Contributions may be made to
Grosse Pointe Jewish Council, Children's
Programming, P.O. Box 36432, Grosse
Pointe, MI 48236, www.thegpjc.com , or
NARSAD, 60 Cutter Mill Road, #404, Great
54
February 3 2011
IN
the University of Detroit.
While preparing for the 2009 walk,
Tragedy struck Suzanne's family even
Suzanne was diagnosed with Stage 4 meta-
before her own illness. Her younger
static breast cancer. Fred and his daughter
brother Mark died following a weightlift-
Caroline, then 14, walked in her honor.
ing accident. Suzanne, who
In her eulogy, Rabbi
had shown her devotion by
Rachel Shere of Adat
holding fundraisers to help
Shalom Synagogue in
with medical expenses, was
Farmington Hills said that
devastated. Soon afterward,
Suzanne did not let chemo-
her loss was compounded by
therapy or surgery prevent
the death of her first husband,
her from making huge
Andrew Leibovitz. The young
dinners, planning birthday
widow was left to raise their
parties, answering e-mails
two daughters, Effie and Marli.
and overseeing the family's
Ever resourceful, she put her
complicated schedule. Two
law degree to work, impressing
weeks before her death,
her colleagues with her talent
Suzanne visited Ellie's
Suzanne B artholomew
and dedication.
fourth-grade classroom to
Suzanne had been dating
make a presentation for
Fred Bartholomew about a year when she
Disability Awareness Week.
was diagnosed with cancer. He remained
"She was by far the strongest person I
supportive, and the couple were married in have or will ever meet," said one of her best
2008, establishing a home in Birmingham
friends, Stacey Wittenberg of Bloomfield
with their new blended family. Suzanne
Hills. "She had a hundred reasons to be
had a warm and loving relationship with
withdrawn, angry and bitter but chose
Fred's children: Ryan, Caroline and Faren,
instead to be a person of light, grace, dig-
referring to the two girls as her "bonus
nity and strength."
daughters."
Daughter Marli told the roomful of tear-
ful funeral guests that she had "the best
mom any girl could ever want."
Added daughter Ellie, "She was my lead-
er, the person who guided me through life.
When I'm older, I want to be just like her."
Suzanne Bartholomew is survived
by her beloved husband, Dr. Fred
Bartholomew; loving children, Ellie and
Marli Bartholomew; adoring mother, Alice
Herman. She is also survived by Fred's
daughters and son, Caroline, Faren and
Ryan Bartholomew; cherished brother,
Steven Herman; Ellie and Marli's grand-
parents, Karolyn and Arie Leibovitz;
father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dr.
Edward and Helena Bartholomew; broth-
er-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. Richard
and Audra Bartholomew; uncle and aunt,
Bernie and Miriam Gasee; loving nieces
and nephews and a world of loving friends.
She was the wife of the late Andrew
Leibovitz; daughter of the late Bert
Herman; sister of the late Mark Herman.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Susan G. Komen 3-day Walk, Suz
Cruise, the3day.org . Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. II
Neck, NY 11021-3196, wwwnarsad.org .
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Farmington Hills, MI 48334, www.jarc.
org ; American Heart Association, P.O. Box
15120, Chicago, Illinois, 60693,
www.americanheart.org ; American
Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center
Drive, Southfield, Michigan 48076, www.
cancer.org ; or a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
SAMUEL DEUTSCH, 89, of Walled Lake,
died Jan. 25, 2011.
He is survived by his son and daugh-
ter-in-law, David and Susan Deutsch
of Farmington Hills; daughter, Debra
Lipson of Farmington Hills; daughter and
son-in-law, Lori and Rodney Hoover of
Farmington Hills; sister-in-law, Leatrice
Lefkowitz; grandchildren, Mark, Brian
and Kevin Lipson, Daniel and Jonathan
Deutsch, Michael Hoover.
Mr. Deutsch was the devoted husband of
the late Sylvia Deutsch; father-in-law of the
late Barry Lipson.
Interment at the Temple Israel Gardens
of Beth El Memorial Cemetery in Livonia.
Contributions may be made to ENSURE-
Endowment for Surgical Research–
Children's Hospital. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
DAVID MORRIS ECKHOUSE, 58, of
Huntington Beach, Calif., died Jan. 26, 2011.
He is survived by his brother and sister-
in-law, Dr. Arnold and Beverly Eckhouse of
Florida; sister and brother-in-law, Fern and
Robert Wallach of West Bloomfield; nieces
and nephews, Jeff (Leslie) Eckhouse, Kim
(Brad) Tobin, Julie Brydon, Stacey (Jeffrey)
Ehrlichman, Leslee Wallach, Randi (Ramin)
Rafie, Darcee (Marc) Matlen; 10 great-
nieces and great-nephews; many other
loving family members and friends.
Obituaries
Mr. Eckhouse was the son of the late
Julius and the late Rita Eckhouse; uncle of
the late Todd Wallach.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery in
Ferndale. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
DR. STEWART
EPSTEIN, 67, of West
Bloomfield, died Jan. 24,
2011.
He is survived by
his wife, Cheri Epstein;
daughters and son-
in-law, Lisa Epstein of
Epstein
Chicago, Ill., Jodi Epstein
and Kemal Karyemez of Del Ray Beach,
Fla.; granddaughter, Ayla Karyemez; sister
and brother-in-law, Rosalind and Leon
Levine of Scottsdale, Ariz.; nieces and
nephews, Leslie and Alan Ruby, Stacey
Olson, David Levine and Sherise Lee, and
their children. Dr. Epstein is also survived
by Cheri's children, Linda and Jason
Ishbia, and their children Jacob and Josh,
Laurie Litberg and her son Tony, Julie
and Michael Hauser and their children,
Yehudah, Esther, Yaakov and Yitzchak.
He was the cherished husband of the
late Janice Charach Epstein; the beloved
son of the late Jack and the late Pearl
Epstein.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to JARC,
30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100,
IRVING A. FADER, 89, of Farmington
Hills, died Jan. 25, 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Fader;
sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Sandra
and James Hack, Beth Fader; many loving
nieces and nephews.
Mr. Fader was the dear brother of the
late Maxwell, the late Lester, the late Libby.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, 6735
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301; or JARC, 30301 Northwestern Hwy.,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Services
and interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
SEEMA FISCHEL, 90, of Southfield, died
Jan. 29, 2011.
She is survived by her beloved husband,
Walter Fischel; brother, Haskell Rothstein
of Ann Arbor; many loving nieces, neph-
ews, other family members and friends.
Interment at the B'nai Israel Memorial
Gardens in Novi. Contributions may
be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.