Passion For Social Justice
H
arvey F. Tennen, a retired
Wayne County civil and crimi-
nal judge and attorney in pri-
vate practice, father of three and grand-
father of six, died at age 79 on Oct. 17,
2011, in West Bloomfield, following a
courageous battle with dementia and
related ailments.
An accomplished civil and criminal
attorney, Judge Tennen cited as his
greatest legacy and accomplishments
a lifelong passion for social justice and
a loving devotion to his children and
grandchildren. His wide-ranging inter-
est in people, their plights, hopes and
ambitions gave inspiration to all the
lives he touched.
He saw the law as an instrument for
achieving social justice and the better-
ment of society. As both a judge and
attorney, Judge Tennen worked tireless-
ly as an officer of the court to achieve
fairness and equitable outcomes for
Judge Tennen's judicial stint began
plaintiffs, defendants, litigants and
in 1960 as the chief municipal judge of
clients.
Huntington Woods, where he resided
Born in Detroit in 1932, Judge
until 1969. Over the next four decades,
Tennen graduated from the University
Judge Tennen served as
of Michigan and
both an appointed and
received his law
elected judge in Wayne
degree from Wayne
County on its trial circuit
State University in
count and for Detroit's
1956. As a partner in
Recorder's Court, its
Josephson & Tennen,
criminal division. He was
the Detroit and later
appointed to the Wayne
Southfield-based law
County bench by Gov.
firm, Judge Tennen,
James Blanchard.
was an accomplished
Judge Tennen was a
civil attorney. His cli-
resident
of Detroit until his
ents included Aretha
retirement
in 2002. In
Franklin and Diana
Judge
Harvey
T
ennen
recent
years,
he served as
Ross, both Grammy
an
arbitrator
and resided
award-winning
in
Franklin
and
Orchard
Lake.
recording artists, and the late Chuck
The family has established the Judge
Daly, who was head coach of the NB A' s
Harvey
F. Tennen Social Justice Fund at
1992
U.S.
Men's
Detroit Pistons and the
Temple
Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield
Basketball Olympic team.
in his honor. The synagogue's address
is 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48323. Donations
can also be accepted online at www.
shirshalom.org . May his memory be for
a blessing.
Judge Tennen is survived by his
daughters and sons-in-law, Marcie
Tennen and Seth Petok of Riverside,
Conn., and Nancy and Cliff Solomon
of Purchase, N.Y.; son, Bruce Tennen
of Franklin; grandchildren, Jenna
Petok, Will Petok, Zachary Tennen,
Paige Tennen, Jake Solomon and Jeffrey
Solomon; sister, Corinne Nathanson.
He was the loving grandfather of the
late Spencer Solomon; dear brother-
in-law of the late Bernard Nathanson;
devoted son of the late Charles H.
Tennen and the late Zelda Tennen.
Interment was held at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. II
Obituaries on page 70
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Obituaries
October 27 • 2011
69