obituaries
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Chemist, Businessman
E
llis B. Rifkin, 88, of West
Bloomfield, died April 30, 2011.
Dr. Rifkin passed away after
a four-month battle with endocarditis.
He was born in Philadelphia on Dec. 26,
1922. He received a bachelor's of sci-
ence in engineering at the University of
Pennsylvania, completed a fellowship at
Johns Hopkins University and received
his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at
Ohio State University.
Following his marriage to Rita
Altman in Columbus, Ohio, in 1946, the
couple moved to Detroit, where Ellis
became associate director of research
at Ethyl Corporation in Ferndale.
Ellis and his wife became actively
involved at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek and supported many Jewish
causes and organizations. A particular
favorite for them was AIPAC. When the
company closed their laboratory in
LEONARD BARRON, 85, of Southfield,
died April 27, 2011.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Barbara Barron of Southfield; daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Harriet and Marc
Weiner of Bloomfield Hills; sons and
daughters-in-law, Michael and Judy
Barron of Perry, Fla., Kenneth and Mary
Barron of Minnetonka, Minn., Martin
Barron of Lansing; grandchildren, Dana
(Damon) Blumstein, Laura Weiner,
Jeffrey Weiner, Nicole (Dennis) Bruce,
Mark Barron, Stacy (Euredes) Cepeda,
David Barron, Benjamin (Lauren)
Barron, Spencer (Susan) Barron,
Samuel Barron, William Barron, Joseph
Barron, Jesse Baron and Leah Barron;
brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and
Sandra Barron of Boyton Beach, Fla.;
five loving great-grandchildren.
Mr. Barron was the brother of the late
William (the late Rose) Barron.
Contributions may be made a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment at the
Adat Shalom Cemetery in Livonia.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
ALFRED BERKOWITZ, 93, of
Huntington Woods, died April 26, 2011.
The son of Ben and Rose Berkowitz,
he was born on June 21, 1917. On Dec.
12, 1943, Alfred married Helen and they
were together for more than 67 years.
Dr. Berkowitz was a member of the
first graduating class of the University
of Detroit Dental School and went on
the practice dentistry in the Delray
Section of Detroit for 45 years. He was a
Michigan, Ellis declined Ethyl's offer
to move him to Baton Rouge, instead
opting to stay in Michigan
near family and friends.
In 1982, Ellis and his
wife, Rita, helped start the
chain of Mail Boxes Etc.
stores in Oakland county,
and he served as vice pres-
ident of Communication
Stations Inc., which owned
the franchise for these
stores.
After retiring from this
business in 1989, Ellis and
his wife divided their time
Ellis Rifkin
between Boca Raton, Fla.,
and Southfield. He was a
wonderful composer and musician, and
his great passion was playing the piano.
He performed professionally on
many occasions, both at the Grosse
Pointe Veterans War Memorial and also
in Florida with three jazz bands. He
enjoyed playing at numer-
ous weddings, performing
for guests on a number
of cruises and entertain-
ing family and friends at
parties. He also enjoyed
accompanying his grand-
children, Shari and Aaron
Rosen, on the violin. He
recorded two CDs, Pop
plays Pops, Ellis Rifkin
at the Piano, and also
A Family Concert, Two
Violins and a Piano.
During his life, he trav-
eled with his wife to many
parts of the world, including four jour-
neys to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where
many of his relatives lived. He learned
to speak Russian in order to communi-
cate with them and did all he could to
help them. They traveled to Israel many
times, starting in 1951, and to various
countries in Europe. In later years, he
enjoyed traveling with his children and
grandchildren.
He is survived by his son, Joel Rifkin
of Delray Beach, Fla.; daughter and
son-in-law, Debby and Barry Rosen of
Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Shari
and Aaron Rosen; friend, Anita Sturm.
Dr. Rifkin was the beloved husband
of the late Rita Altman Rifkin.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to AIPAC, America's Pro-Israel Lobby,
Midwest Region, Chicago, IL, www.
aipac.org; or Jewish National Fund, 60
Revere Drive, Suite 960, Northbrook, IL,
www.jnforg/midwestern.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. I I
member of the dental fraternity Alpha
Omega and remained friendly with the
12 members for many years.
He was a resident of Huntington Woods
for 54 years and loved sports, including
fishing and boating; he also enjoyed play-
ing softball, golf and bowling.
Dr. Berkowitz is survived by his lov-
ing wife, Helen; daughters, Sharon
(Leonard) Shebses of West Bloomfield
and Sandra August of Milford, Conn.;
grandchildren, Amy (Steve) Klein
of West Bloomfield, Nicole (Aaron)
Obermyer of Hermosa Beach, Calif.,
Heather August of Las Vegas, Nev.;
great-grandchildren, Joshua Klein and
Payton Obermyer.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice. Interment at
the Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
Zachary, Emma, Ryan, Tess, Ben, Lucie,
Eddie and Reggie Rosenthal, Jason
Bobkin, Ashley (Benjamin) Milgram,
Justin and Ethan Lyons; sister-in-law,
Cheryl Blumeno.
Mr. Blumeno was the dear brother
of the late Edward (the late June)
Blumeno, the late Harold Blumeno
and the late Shirley (the late Frank)
Alexander.
Interment at the Clover Hill
Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Contributions may be made to the
Abe and Bea Katzman Camp Ramah
Scholarship Fund at Shaarey Zedek,
to the Alzheimer's Association or to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Dorfman Chapel.
BETTY J. DISHELL, 66, died April 15,
2011.
She was the beloved wife of Stanley;
dear mother of Sean (Doree) Jablonski,
and the late Mark (Tiffany) Jablonski;
loving grandmother of Holland,
Madeline and Gabrielle.
Services were held at McCabe Funeral
Home in Farmington Hills. Interment
at Oakland Hills. Contributions may be
made to a charity of your choice; www.
mccabefuneralhome.com .
NORMAN BLUMENO,
86, of West Bloomfield,
died May 1, 2011.
He is survived by
his beloved wife, Judie
Blumeno; daughters
and sons-in-law,
Monica and Benjamin
Blumeno
Shakin of Long Beach,
Calif., Robin and Aaron Bobkin of
Phoenix, Ariz.; sons and daughters-
in-law, Lester Rosenthal of Clarkston,
Steven and Deborah Rosenthal of
Franklin, Alan and Mara Rosenthal
of Huntington Woods, Mark Lyons of
San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren, Neil,
SIDNEY COLEMAN, 96, of Bloomfield
Hills, died April 27, 2011.
He was a professional concert violinist
who played with the Detroit Symphony.
Mr. Coleman is survived by his nieces,
Arlene (Edwin) Tarnapol, Donna (Yale)
Holt; nephew, Irvin (PePe) Levy; several
great-great-nieces and great-great-
nephews; dear friends, Eike Perrault,
Jane and Gus Kasapis, Sharon, Andrew,
Zachary (and the late Seth Collins), all of
whom embraced Sid's unique kindness
and wisdom.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Edith "Edie" Colman.
Contributions may be made to a chari-
ty of one's choice. Interment at the Clover
Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
ROBERT "BOB"
DUNCAN, 74, of
Livonia, died April 23,
2011.
He is survived by
his son and daughter-
in-law, Mark and
Becky Duncan of
Duncan
Taylor; daughter, Mitzi
and James McBee of
Westland; loving friend, Sheila Sage;
stepdaughters, Stephanie and Jon Co,
Deborah Sage; sister, Pat Yollas; grand-
children, Nikolas Duncan, Britni McBee;
stepgrandchildren, Tyler Co, Gavin Co;
ex-wife, Toba Duncan. He is also sur-
vived by Betty Barach, Kevin Barach,
Vicky Hart, Cori Cann.
Contributions may be made to
Temple Beth El, Mitzvah Meals, 7400
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills,
MI 48301. Services and interment at
Hebrew Memorial Park. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
Obituaries on page 70
Obituaries
May 5 Q2011
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