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The Great Imposter Bows Out

Bill Carroll
Contributing Writer

H

e posed as a cheerleader for the
Dallas Cowboys pro football
team for at least one cheer;
he jumped onto the stage and accepted
a television Emmy Award; he got into
practice rounds for three U.S. Open Golf
Tournaments; dressed as a major league
baseball umpire, he joined the other umps
on the field before a World Series game; he
shagged fly balls on the field before a major
league All-Star game; he warmed up with
players at several pro basketball games, and
posed as a referee at other games.
He was Barry Bremen, the local kid and
fun-loving sports jock, who went on to
earn a national reputation for his prolific
sports impersonations. In other words, he
was the Great Imposter!
The Great Imposter is gone. Formerly of
West Bloomfield, Bremen died of esopha-
geal cancer on his 64th birthday June 30,
2011, in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he had
lived since 1993. He had battled the dis-
ease since April 2010, undergoing major
esophageal surgery and many rounds of
chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Bremen's imposter antics delighted
his family, friends and many sports fans
in general; but he was often a source of
consternation to sports team officials and
police authorities.

No Guts, No Glory
"He was just fulfilling a grand fantasy to be
in the limelight; he felt if you have no guts,
you have no glory in your life said his
wife, Margo, to whom he was married for

42 years. "He was devilish and possessed a
lot of fun-loving chutzpah and liked to do
these things as a kibbitz."
What was her reaction to some of his
more outrageous shenanigans? "Most of
the time all I could say was,'What? Are you
kidding me!" She pointed out that Breman
always bought a ticket to the sports con-
test he infiltrated. "He didn't sneak into
anything; he was always there legally. But
Tommy Lasorda (the former manager of
the Los Angeles Dodgers) chased him out
one time with a fusillade of expletives. A
few times the police put handcuffs on him
briefly, but they mainly regarded him as
just a nuisance."
When word of Bremen's death spread in
the local Jewish community, many com-
ments were posted on the Internet by blog-
gers and old-time friends.

'He Made Us Laugh'
"Barry could have been just another tall
(6'4") Jewish guy, who raised great kids,
sold insurance and played a great golf
game (he had a 7 handicap);' remarked
Rabbi Jason Miller. "Instead, he was will-
ing to take some risks and do some pretty
zany things that others wouldn't even
dream of doing. He made us laugh, and
that was his ultimate goal:'
Added Billy Berris of West Bloomfield,
another longtime friend: "Barry was an
amazing human being with a great love of
life and laughter:'
Bremen graduated from Detroit's
Hampton Elementary School and Mumford
High, and got an education degree from
Michigan State University, where he met
his wife. He taught school in Roseville for a

IRVING SEYMOUR BROSS, 79, formerly
of Franklin, of Boca Raton, Fla., died July
3, 2011.
He and his late brother Sheldon were
business partners and pharmacists
who owned and operated Kenwood
Drugs, Heyden Drugs, Lindsay Drugs,
Northland Medical Pharmacy, and
later, Devon Drugs. He spent his retire-
ment playing golf, the sport he loved, in
Florida.
Mr. Bross is survived by his wife, Faye
of Boca Raton; his son and daughter-
in-law, Chuck and Shari Bross of West
Bloomfield; his daughter and son-in-
law, Betsy and Bob Manela of Coral
Springs, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law,
Barbara and Chuck Tobias of Boyton
Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Jake Bross,
Jordan Bross, Jemma Manela and Jonah
Manela.
Intermet in Boca Raton. Contributions
may be made to the Alzheimer's
Association or Hospice By the Sea of
Broward in Florida.

JOHN HARTLEY
DRUKER, of Newton
Mass., formerly of
Huntington Woods, died
after a courageous battle
with cancer, on June 23,
2011, surrounded by his
loving family.
Druker
He will be fondly
remembered for his
kindness, generosity of heart and a mag-
nificent great sense of humor.
Mr. Druker was the beloved husband for
52 years of Joan; cherished father of Julie
and Alan Kravetz, Janie and Robert Knight
and Marjorie Druker and Paul Brophy; dear
brother of Nancy Krawitz; brother-in-law of
Gilbert Frimet.
Contributions may be made in to the
Lahey Clinic Sophia Gordon Cancer Center
at 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805 or to
the Employee Assistance Program, a support
program for employees at Newbridge on the
Charles, Gloria Adelson Field Health Center,
700 Great Meadow, Dedham, MA 02026.

50

Obituaries

Judy? 2011

few years, but he really loved sales and
marketing; and he operated Birchcrest
Insurance Co. in Southfield, becoming
affiliated with New York Life Insurance.
In the Dallas incident, Bremen lost
23 pounds, had a replica Cowboys
cheerleader costume made, got a
blond wig, shaved his legs, practiced
some drag routines, then lined up
with the real cheerleaders for one "go
Dallas!" cheer — all costing him about
$1,200 in preparation.

Captured And Emmy
In his national TV "debut:' in
California, in 1985, Bremen leaped
from his front-row seat onto the stage
after actor Peter Graves announced
Barry Bremen posing as a football referee.
the Best Supporting Actress Award
for Betty Thomas of Hill Street Blues
he was extremely brave until the end."
— and accepted the award on her behalf.
Barry Michael Bremen is survived by
"Barry felt sort of bad after that one and
his wife, Margo; children, Noah Bremen
tried several times to contact and apolo-
of California (friend Claire Grieve); Adam
gize to Miss Thomas, but it never worked
Bremen of Scotsdale (fiancee Rachel
out:' Margo Bremen recalled.
Hut), and daughter and son-in-law Erin
Asked once to give advice to other
and Doug Melson of Connecticut; grand-
imposters, Bremen replied, "Don't do it!
children, David, Brooke and Elle Melson;
Stay away! This is my act!" But in recent
brother, Beryl Bremen; sister and brother-
years, as he retired from prankdom, he
in-law, Bluma and Robert Schechter;
warned, `After 9-11, everything changed.
mother-in-law, Margaret Glass; brothers-
You've heard of the taser gun? They [the law in-law, Harry and Randy Glass.
authorities] don't ask questions anymore."
Contributions may be made to the
Margo Bremen said, "It's a new world
Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R,
now that doesn't seem to allow fun things
Development-NCO6DS, Development Office,
to happen anymore. Many people just don't Detroit, MI 48201, 1-800-KARMANOS;
have a sense of humor. But Barry really
or the Jewish Community Center, 6600
slowed down around the age of 60, and he
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield 48322,
devoted even more time to his wonderful
www.jccdet.org . Interment was at Mt. Sinai
children. He was a terrific father and fam-
Cemetery, Phoenix, Ariz. Local arrange-
ily man. And despite his terrible disease,
ments by Ira Kaufman Chapel. II

ERROL ECHENBERG, 66, of Chicago, Ill.,
died June 29, 2011.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Dean
Echenberg of California; sister and brother-
in-law, Andrea and Dr. Joel Leland of
Illinois; nieces and nephews.
Mr. Echenberg was the beloved son of the
late Sydney and the late Edith Echenberg.
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Newmann
Family Services, 5547 North Ravenswood,
Chicago, IL 60660,
www.newmannfamilyservices.org .
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

EVELYN D. ELKINS, of St. Louis, Mo., pre-
viously of Southfield, died June 21, 2011.
She was the beloved widow of Nathan
M. Elkins; dear mother of Patricia (Leslie)
Rich and Michael (Nancy) Elkins; dear
grandmother of Barbara Rich, Kathryn
Rich and Sarah Elkins.
Contributions may be made to the
charity of your choice or Ranken Jordan
Pediatric Specialty Hospital, Development

Department, 11365 Dorsett Road,
Maryland Heights, MO 63043.

JOHN FLEMING, 67, of
Oak Park, died June 27,
2011.
An electrical engineer.
Mr. Fleming was a mem-
ber of the Southfield
Emergency Management
Group, the Society of
Fleming
Motion Picture Television
Engineers, the Israeli
Stamp Society and the Detroit Theatre
Organ Society. As a ham radio operator, he
was active with the American Radio Relay
League, the Hazel Park Radio Club, the
Southeast Michigan DX Association and the
Mad River Radio Club.
Mr. Fleming is survived by his wife
of 41 years, Marsha Fleming; sons and
daughters-in-law, Sean Fleming and Teresa
Pasternacki of Madison Heights, James
E. and Angela Fleming of Australia; sister
and brother-in-law, Susan and Harry Lee