Obituaries

Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com

A Cup Of Kindness

David Sachs
Senior Copy Editor

T

he next time you sit at your
kitchen table enjoying a tasty
cup of coffee with your family or
closest friends, think of Erwin Harvith.
And not just because of the delicious
coffee — but because of the abundant
warm-heartedness of this 6-foot-5-inch
gentle giant."
Mr. Harvith, an entrepreneur and mar-
keting whiz in the coffee and retail busi-
ness, died peacefully in his East Lansing
home on Feb. 22, 2011, at age 92.
To Erwin, family was everything; and
friends and even strangers were treated
just as kindly, said his cousin David
Nelson, rabbi emeritus of Congregation
Beth Shalom in Oak Park, who spoke at
his funeral. "When you were with Erwin,
you were family."
As daughter Anita Baron of East
Lansing explained, "Dad was a lover of
people, kind and generous to an excess.
He was a giver — nobody was refused."
Son Alan Harvith of West Bloomfield
praised his father as "an honest, compas-
sionate man" in all aspects of his life.
Erwin Harvith made his fortune in the
early 1960s inventing, manufacturing and
promoting the disposable paper coffee
filter for home use. His invention made
for a purer, better-tasting cup of coffee —
without contamination by coffee grounds
— and provided for the convenient dis-
posal of the used grounds.
His Detroit company, Star Filter Corp.,
made the paper coffee filter a staple in
millions of homes. Erwin saw to it that
his product was sold in nearly every food
store around the world. He held nine
patents and yet entered into most agree-
ments with a handshake. In the mid '60s,
his successful company merged with the

((

PEARL COHAN, 83, of
West Bloomfield, died
Feb. 25, 2011.
She is survived by
her beloved husband,
George Cohan; sons and
daughters-in-law, Jamie
and Carol Cohan of
Cohan
Farmington Hills, Todd
and Patricia Cohan of Haslett; brother-in-
law, Leon (the late Heidi) Cohan; grand-
children, Lauren Elise Cohan, Lindsey
Michelle Cohan.
Mrs. Cohan was the sister of the late Eli
(the late Edith) Richter.

Erwin and Sylvia maintained a winter
home in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was
honored by the Jewish Federation of
Fort Lauderdale in recognition of untir-
ing efforts to aid Israel and his fellow
man. In addition, the Anti-Defamation
League founded a fellowship in his honor.
In Detroit, he was a board member
of the Fresh Air Society and a trustee
of the Jewish National Fund and the
American Society
for Technion-Israel
Making His Mark
Institute of Technology.
Erwin started out in his
He also served on the
father Jacob's candy and
board of directors of
tobacco distributing
the National Jewish
firm, Wolverine Cigar,
Museum in New York
where he learned the
City.
core principles of mar-
Erwin's mother,
keting.
Hannah, was presi-
He was so effective
dent of the Mt. Sinai
he was courted by DWG
Hospital Association
Cigar Corp. to become
and was instrumental
its national sales man-
in the establishment
ager and marketing
of Sinai Hospital in
director. There, in the
Detroit. She went blind
mid-1950s, he hired
Erwin Harvith, circa 1993
in 1949, and Erwin
popular sportscaster
later formed the Sylvia
Van Patrick to host the
and Erwin Harvith Fund for the Blind at
Detroit Tiger post-game radio broadcast,
the Detroit Medical Center to provide free
which his company sponsored.
equipment for those lacking sight.
During the game broadcasts, after
every Tiger home run, a box of cigars was
designated for the slugger, with the slogan Israel Links
Erwin became a friend of Israeli Gen.
"Give that man an R.G. Dun," becoming
Moshe Dayan who inspired him to be
a Detroit catchphrase. Erwin, at age 26,
the benefactor for a forest in the Golan
was chosen the youngest president of the
Heights that bears the names of his par-
National Association of Tobacco Dealers.
ents and make endowments for students
In the early 1970s, Erwin retired from
to study the preservation of Jewish antiq-
his coffee filter business and traveled
uities in Israel.
extensively with his beloved wife of 71
Erwin was a member of Shaarey Zedek
years, Sylvia. Alan believes his parents vis-
congregations
in Southfield and East
ited just about every country in the world.
Lansing.
He
was
an avid golfer and a
They were even among the first Americans
member
of
Knollwood
Country Club.
to receive a tourist visa after the thaw in
"Erwin
Harvith
was
a
man who truly
relations with mainland China.

firm Ecolab.
Son Alan considers his father not just a
clever inventor but an incredible market-
ing man — someone who perceived a
need, created the demand and traveled
the country to get his product on store
shelves. He also persuaded manufactur-
ers of home coffee makers to design
their machines to accommodate the new
product.

Interment at the Adat Shalom Cemetery
in Livonia. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

Dreyer

CECILE DREYER, 89,
of Oak Park, died Feb.
24, 2011.
She is survived by her
daughter and son-in-
law, Gina and Al Piche
of Farmington Hills;
sons and daughter-in-
law, Bill and Debbie
Miller of Northbrook,

Ill., Sandy Miller of Costa Rica; brother,
Dr. Daniel (the late Emmy) Goodman of
Clearwater, Fla.; grandchildren, Joel Jaye,
Ilana, Eli and Talia Miller.
Mrs. Dreyer was the beloved wife of the
late Richard Miller and the late Michael
Dreyer; sister of the late Dr. Robert
Goodman; grandmother of the late
Douglas Jaye.
Interment at the Beth El Memorial
Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions
may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation, Temple Beth El or a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

had a feeling for all of humanity," said
Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff of Shaarey Zedek
in Southfield, who spoke at the funeral.
"He was propelled and animated at his
very core by a deep, keen and authentic
sense of compassion:"
Added Rabbi Nelson, "His strong voice
will resound in our ears and in our hearts
forever."
Erwin Harvith is survived by his wife,
Sylvia Redblatt Harvith; daughter and
son-in-law, Anita and Donald Baron
of East Lansing; sons and daughters-
in-law, Alan and Freda Harvith of West
Bloomfield, Elliott and Marlene Harvith
of East Lansing; grandchildren, Neil and
Elsy Baron, Hannah and Jeffery Hall,
Jackie Harvith, Joshua Harvith; great-
grandchildren, Nicole, Abigail and Adam
Baron, Harrison Hall; sister-in-law, Jean
Willens; nieces and nephews, Amy and
Ben Rosenberg, Joan Abraham, Arlene
and William Robbins, Robert and Richard
Sarut, Sharee and Tom Faridy, John and
Susan Harvith. He is also survived by
David Winston and special friend Robert
Hicks.
Mr. Harvith was the devoted son of the
late Jacob and the late Hannah Harvith;
loving brother of the late Samuel Harvith;
the dear brother-in-law of the late Harvey
Willens, the late William and the late
Dorothy Sarut; the dear cousin of the late
Ernest and the late Freda Goodman and
the late DeVere Kostoff.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Detroit Medical Center, Sylvia and
Erwin Harvith Fund for the Blind, 3663
Woodward, Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48201-
9947; Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.
friendshipcircle.org; or to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. I I

ALBERT "AL" GASTON, 86, of Boynton
Beach, Fla., formerly of Southfield, died
Feb. 18, 2011.
He was a decorated war veteran, having
served in the Korean War.
Mr. Gaston is survived by his wife, Joan;
sons, Bruce and Robert; daughter and son-
in-law, Renee and Frank Krieger; grand-
children, Kimberly, Lindsey, Francine,
Zackary, Kevin, Maegan and Melissa.
Interment at South Florida
National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Fla.
Contributions may be made to Simon
Wiesenthal Center 1399 South Roxbury,
Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Obituaries on page 52

Obituaries

march :3

w

2011

51