obituaries >> Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com Courage And Dignity Always With A Smile M ichael Dan Zeldes smiled a lot. His smile attracted friends and teachers and, in some cases, his parents recall, made him the favorite in the classroom. His sister Sheryl says Michael's smile became his trademark. Childhood friends called him "Rosie" not only because of his former surname Rosenthal, but also because he had a "rosy" demeanor. He loved swimming, soccer, lifting weights and learning. He also had an appetite for life and food. Each night, together with his brother and sister, they ate dessert, after des- sert, after dessert. Michael was also intellectually gifted, posing reflective statements. "We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers:' said Michael during his bar mitzvah speech. At Southfield-Lathrup High School, he was an honor student in the advanced international bacca- laureate program and was a member of the soccer and swimming teams. As a junior in high school, Michael suffered from a brain tumor. Even after the tumor, when he was 17 years old, his appetite for life remained. His hun- ger, though, took on a deeper meaning. His friends from high school remem- ber Michael post-neurosurgery and radiation treatments, lifting weights in his parents' basement, dedicated to DR. MAX APPEL, 91, of Oak Park, died Sept. 25,2011. He was a dentist and also a pharmacist. He was a medic in the Army during World War II and participated Appel in the second wave of the invasion in the Pacific. Dr. Appel is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Appel; sons and daughters- in-law, Gary and Mimi Appel of Traverse City, Jeffrey Appel and Judge Michelle Friedman Appel of Huntington Woods; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Michael Applesmith of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandchildren, Micah Appel, Raffi Appel, Andrew Appel, Gabriel Appel, Samuel Appel, Elliot Applesmith, Matthew Applesmith, Jacob Applesmith; loving nieces and nephews. He was the dear brother and brother- in-law of the late Harry and the late Florence Appel, the late William and the late Ruth Appel, the late Ben and the late Rose Appel. Contributions may be made to Jewish 72 September 29 • 2011 growing stronger despite the effects that left him weary. Twenty-five years later, on Sept. 22, 2011, Michael, of West Bloomfield, died. He was 42 years old. Michael fought his illness with a smile. Even when some boys in high school stole the hat off Michael's head to expose his baldness from radiation treatments, he responded, smiling. Despite the struggle, Michael attended Miami of Ohio University and Oakland Community College for two years. Though he couldn't con- tinue with college, he was dedicated to learning how he could maximize his life despite his physical Michael Dan and mental constraints. c. 1987 Michael yearned for what many of us all want: to work, to own a home and to fall in love. In the 1990s, he worked as a busboy; he bagged groceries at a local grocery store, and he especially liked giving customers cash for used bottles. During that decade, he also met Lisa, the love of his life, at a support group. The two were married in 1998. "When I first saw Lisa walking down the aisle, I felt like a million dollars; this was the day for us to say we were Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 or Yad Ezra, 2850 West 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072. Interment was held at Clover Hill Park in Birmingham. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel RUTH BERMAN, 86, of Farmington Hills, died Sept. 24, 2011. She is survived by her daughter, Marcia Reinhart of Farmington Hills; grandchildren Michael Altman, Jamie Berman Altman, Chad Reinhart; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mrs. Berman was the beloved wife of the late Erwin L. Berman; mother of the late Lois Berman; grandmother of the late Bryan Altman. Contributions may be made to a char- ity of one's choice. Interment was held at the Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. Obituaries connected," Michael said of Lisa during a video created by the social service agency JARC. When you asked Michael how he was, he'd smile, the biggest smile you'd ever see, and say, "It's great! I'm excellent!" And he meant it. Michael often greeted Lisa with "Hi, gorgeous!" With Lisa grasping his hand, they walked the West Bloomfield Trail. Passersby could watch them toss a beach ball back and forth in the pool in their complex. They also frequented services and events and dined in local restaurants. On several occasions, strang- ers, so taken aback by Zeldes the couple, would pick up their bill. Achieving Independence With the help of his parents, dedicated to preserving their independence, Mike and Lisa lived in their own condo and led their own life. They were so grateful to have their dignity and freedom. Despite their positivity, Mike and Lisa's world was challenging, and others admired their perseverance. In addi- tion to the neurosurgery and radiation treatments when he was a teenager, in the mid-2000s a shunt infection hospi- MARCIA BUCHALTER, 75, of Canton, died Sept. 22, 2011. She received a degree as a LPN and was also a co-owner with her husband of Buchalter Irving Furniture and Fast-Foto. She retired after serving as a receptionist at Danto Health Care. Mrs. Buchalter is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Ray and Barbara Buchalter of Canton; Mark Buchalter and Karen Cretekos of Seattle, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl and Rick Goldberg of Adrian; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roy and Norma Gealer of Phoenix, Ariz., Yale Gealer of Keego Harbor, Beverly Gealer; grandchildren, Joseph Buchalter, Amanda Buchalter, Louis Buchalter, Benjamin Buchalter, Erin Goldberg, Emily Goldberg; many loving nieces and nephews. She was the beloved wife of the late Bernard Buchalter; loving sister of the late Aubrey Gealer. Contributions may be made to Caring talized him in the intensive care unit. In August 2011, 25 years after his original illness, surgeons removed a tumor from his brain that was a result of the radiation he received as a teen. As he recovered from this surgery, he was so grateful to Lisa, who visited each day to feed him. He always said, "Thank you:' and some days he even greeted her with "Hi, gorgeous!" Although the hospital and nursing home situations were restrictive, Mike's parents and his brother, Steve, fought for Mike to maintain his self-respect. During the funeral held at Ira Kaufman Chapel and his interment at Beth El Memorial Park, the family cel- ebrated Michael and his "rosy" smile Michael Dan Zeldes is survived by his wife, Lisa; parents, Beverly and Martin Zeldes of West Bloomfield; sister and brother-in-law, Sheryl and Patrick O'Loughlin; brother and sister-in-law, Drs. Steven and Geri Zeldes; nephews and niece, Connor and Gavin O'Loughlin, Jordyn, Gabriel and Tommy Zeldes. Contributions may be made to Community Living Services, Friends of CLS, 642 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, MI, www.comliveserv.com/friends; Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, www.birminghamtemple.org ; or a char- ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. II Voice Coalition, 8249 Meadowbridge Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 or Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923. Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. ILSA ANN DRAZNIN, 65, of Detroit, died Sept. 15, 2011. She was a criminal defense attorney. Ms. Draznin is survived by her broth- er, Paul H. Draznin of West Bloomfield. She was the devoted daughter of the late David and the late Beverly Draznin. Interment was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 5000, Rochester, MI 48308-5000, www.leaderdog.org ; or Jewish National Fund, 60 Revere Drive, Suite 960, Northbrook, IL 60062, www. jnf.org/midwestern . Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.