obituaries

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A Lifetime Of Music

H

erbert Couf, a former principal
clarinetist with the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra and
owner of Royal Music Center in Royal
Oak, died after a difficult illness on July
8, 2011.
Mr. Couf, the designer of a saxophone
that won favor with jazz musicians, also
earned the admiration and respect of
the musical world through his support
and mentoring of countless musicians.
Born on Feb. 20, 1920, in the Bronx,
N.Y., the son of Morris and Rebecca
Couf, Herbert grew up in Atlantic City,
N.J. Musically gifted, he began study-
ing clarinet at age 7 and by 10 joined
the high school band. At age 13, he was
invited to study with Simeon Bellison,
then solo clarinetist with the New York
Philharmonic, and subsequently with
Robert McGinnis, solo clarinetist with
the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 1942, Mr. Couf joined the U.S.
Marines and within two years rose to
the rank of master technical sergeant.
He became a bandmaster of the famous
First Marine Division Band, the young-

est bandmaster in the history of the
Center, in Royal Oak, Michigan, a pre-
Marine Corps.
mier music retail store and gathering
After his honorable discharge from
spot for musicians near and far. He took
the Marines, Mr. Couf went immedi-
pride in "always having in stock exactly
ately to Peabody Conservatory of Music what musicians needed when they
to begin work on his master's degree
needed it." He taught and mentored hun-
and was engaged by the
dreds of music students in
Baltimore Symphony. Upon
addition to playing shows at
auditioning for the brilliant
the Fisher Theatre in Detroit,
Fritz Reiner, he was invited
as well as teaching at Wayne
to join the Pittsburgh
State University.
Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Couf wrote the popu-
He remained with the
lar saxophone composition
Pittsburgh Symphony for
"Introduction, Dance and
five years, becoming a
Furioso." It was then he
friend and colleague of
began developing his own
Leonard Bernstein. It was
line of saxophones. With
during this time that Mr.
meticulous design specifica-
Herbert Co of
Couf's ability to adapt to
tions in hand, he traveled to
legit, jazz and commercial
Europe on his first of many
styles of playing flourished, in addition sojourns, bringing his ideas for the "H
to his becoming in great demand as a
Couf Saxophone" to musical instru-
teacher. Subsequently, he was invited by ment manufacturer Julius Keilworth,
the great French conductor Paul Paray
with whom he and his wife, Miriam,
to Detroit to become principal clarinet- developed a long friendship. The H
ist of the DSO.
Couf Saxophone has been played by jazz
In 1957, Mr. Couf opened Royal Music musicians worldwide, including Grover

PEARL ABRAMS, 93, of West Bloomfield,
died July 23, 2011.
She was a bookkeeper and secretary
for 25 years at the Culinary Arts Program
at Chadsey High School and the Detroit
Public School System. She also worked
as the bookkeeper for United Hebrew
Schools for over 12 years and was a
member of the Secretary's Union and a
book club.
Mrs. Abrams is survived by her
daughter and son-in-law, Helene and
Gilbert Friedman of Farmington Hills.
She was the beloved wife for 48 years
of the late Max Abrams; loving mother
of the late Linda Carol Abrams; dear
sister and sister-in-law of the late Ben
Stibel and the late Rose Stibel.
Contributions may be made to Lupus
Foundation of Michigan, 26507 Harper
Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081;
Macular Degeneration Foundation
Research Fund, P.O. Box 531313,
Henderson, NV 89053; or American
Diabetes Association, 30200 Telegraph
Road, Suite 105, Bingham Farms, MI
48025. Interment at Workmen's Circle—
Beth Yehudah Cemetery. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

and sons-in-law, Julie
Bockoff of Bloomfield
Hills, Margo and
David Kolodkin of
Atlanta, Katie and
Matt Chosid of Ann
Arbor; grandchildren,
Hannah, Benjamin
Bockoff
and Rachel Chosid;
brother and sister-in-
law, Dr. Richard Litt
and Suzanne Johnson; nieces, neph-
ews; former husband and father of her
children, Richard Bockoff and his wife,
Sharon Bockoff.
Ms. Bockoff was the devoted daughter
of the late Charlie and the late Zoe Litt.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to ASAP (American Syringomylia and
Chiari Alliance Project), P.O. Box 1586,
Longview, TX 75606-1586, www.info@
asap.org ; Alzheimer's Association,
Detroit Area Chapter, 20300 Civic Center
Drive, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076;
or Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan
Detroit, 6710 West Maple Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.jslmi.org .
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

BARBARA BOCKOFF, 68, of
Bloomfield Hills, died July 15, 2011.
She is survived by her daughters

MAY SALEM SHREEMAN BODZIN,
84, of Oak Park, died July 24, 2011.
She is survived by her children, Eric

64 July 28 • 2011

Obituaries

Shreeman of Ferndale,
Diane and Bruce
Wertheimer-Gale of
California, Marc and
Maureen Shreeman
of Farmington Hills,
Michael Shreeman and
Raelene Graham of
Bodzin
Garden City; grand-
children, Jason, Aaron,
Sam, Joe and Nova; brother-in-law, Dr.
Murray Weinberg; loving nieces, neph-
ews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Bodzin was the former wife of the
late Samuel Shreeman and the wife of the
late Jack Bodzin; dear sister and sister-
in-law of the late Sara, the late Bernice
and the late Sidney Goodman, the late
Etta and the late Jack Norwich, the late
Ray and the late Maurice Greenwood, the
late Sylvia and the late Julius Shapiro, the
late Itz and the late Fran Salem.
Contributions may be made to
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601
Lincoln, Oak Park, MI 48237; IRP
(Institute of Retired Professionals),
15110 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park,
MI 48237; or American Red Magen
Dovid, 23470 Riverview, Southfield,
MI 48034. Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

Washington Jr., Dave Liebman, Nathan
Davis and many other jazz greats.
For the past 20 years, Mr. Couf, as
president of the Bohemians (also known
as the Detroit Musicians Club), devel-
oped a concerto competition and schol-
arship award program to worthy music
students.
"Our dad was a proud Jew who lived
an exceedingly moral life said daughter
Karen Couf Cohen of Franklin. "He was
as generous a provider to his family as
he was to others in need.
"He will be deeply missed by his fam-
ily, friends and the world of music."
Herbert Couf was beloved husband
of Miriam for 58 years; father of Karen
(Gerald) and Donna (Armando); and
grandfather of Nicolas, Natalie, Sarah
and Sophie. He is also survived by many
loving nieces, nephews, other family
members and friends.
He was the brother of the late Norman
Couf and the late Albert Couf.
Contributions can be made to the
Chamber Music Society Arrangements
by Dorfman Chapel. ri

RICHARD
HAMBURGER, 79, of
Franklin, died July 19,
2011.
He was the former
president and owner
of Production Steel
Company.
Hamburger
Mr. Hamburger is
survived by his wife,
Lois Hamburger; daughters and sons-
in-law, Judy and James Burdick of
Bloomfield Hills, Amy and Fred Cohen;
son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and
Wendy Hamburger of Birmingham;
grandchildren, Andrew Rubens
Burdick, Laura Rubens Burdick, Jeffrey
Cohen, Katie Cohen, Paige Hamburger
and Justin Hamburger; sister, Gloria
Hamburger; brother-in-law and sisters-
in-law, Walter and Marilyn Wolpin and
Joanne Hamburger.
He was the dear brother of the late
Harry Hamburger and the late Joan
Hamburger Simon.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy
Network, the Richard Hamburger
Memorial Fund, 6555 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322,
www.jewishhospice.org . Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.