obituaries
>> Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com
A Commitment To The Community
p
hilanthropist George "Mike"
Zeltzer, a Jewish commu-
nity leader, ardent arts sup-
porter and respected adviser to three
Democratic presidents, died Oct. 1,
2011. He was 89 and lived in West
Bloomfield.
Mr. Zeltzer, who rose to the top of his
profession as president of American
Savings and Loan, at the time one
of the state's largest thrifts, was best
known as a tough and effective busi-
nessman who used his acumen to get
things done — at work, in the Jewish
community, in politics and for the arts.
He further honed his professional
skills as president of the Michigan
Savings and Loan League and a mem-
ber of the Federal Home Loan Bank
board, chairman of the advisory board
of the Federal Home loan Mortgage
Corp. He retired from his profession in
1982.
His skills proved especially useful for
Detroit's Jewish community during the
mid-70s when Zeltzer stepped up to
the plate to serve as interim Federation
executive. For nearly 18 months, he
made certain the Federation ran
smoothly while also maintaining his
career. Previously, he had served two
terms as Federation president. For his
devotion, Mr. Zeltzer was honored with
the Butzel Award, the highest honor in
Jewish communal service.
"He ran the Jewish community until
we found a replacement:' said Mandell
"Bill" Berman, who was Federation
president at the time. "His strength was
pulling all the strings together to bring
the community together to help those
who needed to be helped. He was an
important voice in our community."
Mr. Zeltzer's commitment to the
Jewish community was inspired by his
parents, Dr. Joseph and Fanny Zeltzer.
His father co-founded the Farband
Labor Zionist Organization; his mother
was an early member of Pioneer
Women and an active supporter of Red
Mogen David during World War I.
SHERMAN BECKER,
86, of Southfield, died
Oct. 2, 2011.
He was the co-owner
and founder of Roz &
Sherm's on Telegraph
and Maple.
Mr. Becker is sur-
Becker
vived by his daughters
and sons-in-law, Nancy and Dr. Roger
Hitchcock, Andrea and Wayne Miller
of Franklin, Paula and John Harris;
son and daughter-in-law, Howard and
76 October 6 • 2011
"I went to Yiddish folk shuls," Mr.
University) and served as a board
Zeltzer wrote in his resume. "I gradu-
member emeritus for the Michigan
ated from the Yiddish high school."
Opera Theatre/Detroit Opera House.
After earning a bachelor's degree
He also served on the board of United
in economics and
Hebrew Schools
political science
and was a fellow of
from Wayne State
Brandeis University,
University, followed
where the technol-
by a juris doctor
ogy library bears the
from the University
Zeltzer name.
of Michigan, Zeltzer
"Mike had a unique
practiced law briefly
understanding of the
before moving into
role of Jewish culture
the financial services
in the continuity of
industry. There, he
our people and our
made a name for him-
story:' August said.
self locally, in Lansing
and in Washington. He
Family Man
served as an adviser
He met his wife, Pearl,
to Presidents Kennedy,
at the Fresh Air camp
George "Mike" Zeltzer
Johnson and Carter.
(now Tamarack Camps)
c. 1980
In Detroit, he helped
in June 1948; and
many Jewish families
they were married in
get mortgages on their first homes and
September of that year. She shared his
approved loans for several startup busi- enthusiasm for the arts and culture. They
nesses.
traveled the world and raised four sons.
"He was a tough businessman; but he Pearl Zeltzer died in 2007 after 58 years
put a lot of people in business, and he
of marriage.
helped a lot of people start businesses:'
No matter what was going on around
said his son Jeremy Zeltzer.
him, Mr. Zeltzer always made sure his
family was taken care of, and he treated
his sons' spouses as if they were his
Jewish Culture
"Mike had a great sense of Klal Yisrael," own children.
said Federation Board Member Jim
"My father was the patriarch of the
August, who served on the board of the extended family:' Jeremy Zeltzer said.
National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Added Kevin Dennis, Jeremy's partner,
which Mr. Zeltzer helped found in the
"He always told me I was his fifth son."
early 1960s.
At times, Mr. Zeltzer showed a soft
"He understood that together we are
side. When he first became a grandfa-
much stronger than our many diverse
ther, he would get down on the floor
parts can be separately"
and play Legos with his grandchildren,
August described Mr. Zeltzer as a
Janice Zeltzer said. On a trip up north
with his son Gary and Janice some 30
natural collaborator. "He might not have
agreed with your point of view, but he
years ago, he bought a white coat for
could find a place for you in the tent."
Janice because he thought it would look
Those who knew him best say he was great on her.
most passionate about Jewish culture,
"I still have that white coat; and the
dance and the arts. He was involved
last time I saw him, he asked about it,"
in the Sholem Aleichem Institute/
she said. "It was such a lovely thing. He
Workmen's Circle, Cohn-Haddow
saw it, thought it would look great, and
Center of Judaic Studies (Wayne State
he just went in and bought it. It doesn't
Johanna Becker; grandchildren, Adam
and Jason Hitchcock, Katie and Emily
Miller, Olivia Becker, Jack Harris; sister,
Sylvia Gallant Goldfarb.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Rosalind Becker; the loving brother
of the late Lester Becher.
Interment was held at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to
Parkinson's Foundation of Michigan,
30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150,
Bingham Farms, MI 48025,
Obituaries
www.parkinsonmi.org ; or to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
Berlow
SHIRLEY BERLOW,
92, of Farmington Hills,
died Sept. 28, 2011.
She is survived by
her sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Steven
and Diane Berlow
of Farmington Hills,
Robert and Elizabeth
fit anymore, but I'll never get rid of it."
Up until a few months ago, Michigan
Opera Theatre General Director David
DiChirea would meet Mr. Zeltzer for
breakfast a few times a month at the
Gallery Restaurant in Bloomfield
Township.
"He was a wonderful guy and very
committed," DiChirea said."
He was always so concerned that we
were doing all we could to make sure
that the opera and dance series would
be successful.
"Mike loved dance and the arts and
sometimes hard-nosed businessmen
like him don't think the arts are that
important. He enjoyed it, and he under-
stood it was a very important quality of
life and that people should have access
to it."
Mr. Zeltzer is survived by his sons
and daughters-in-law, David Zeltzer
and Rita Addison, Gary and Janice
Zeltzer, Elliot and Dr. Susan Zeltzer, and
Jeremy Zeltzer and his partner Kevin
Dennis; grandchildren, Marc and Miha
Zeltzer, Ari and Annie Sachter-Zeltzer,
Joseph Zeltzer, Stuart Zeltzer, Paul
Zeltzer, Barry Zeltzer and Ruth Zeltzer;
great-grandchildren, Medby Zeltzer and
Elana Zeltzer; brother, Dr. Allen Zeltzer
of California.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Pearl Zeltzer; the loving brother
of the late Grace Louise Zeltzer; the
dear brother-in-law of the late Marion
Zeltzer.
Interment was at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park. Contributions may be
made to Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323;
Sholem Aleichem Institute, 28690
Southfield Road, Suite 293, Lathrup
Village, MI 48076; Cohn-Haddow
Center for Judaic Studies, Wayne State
University, 2311 Faculty Administration
Building, 656 W. Kirby, Detroit, MI
48202; or Michigan Opera Theatre,
1526 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226,
www.michiganopera.org . Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Berlow of West Bloomfield; grandchil-
dren, Stuart Berlow, Lisa (Bryan) Engel,
Jason Berlow, Jessica Berlow; great-
grandchild, Maryn Engel; many loving
nieces, nephews, other family members
and friends.
Mrs. Berlow was the beloved wife of
the late Henry Berlow.
Contributions may be made to
Hadassah or the Michigan Parkinson
Foundation. Interment was held at Beth
El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.