obituaries
Love Of Music
C
antor Emeritus David A. Gutman
of Southfield, who had served
Congregation Beit Kodesh in
Livonia for more than a quarter-century,
died on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. He was
99.
Ironically, earlier that day, the 53-year-
old congregation held its final Shabbat
service and closed its doors permanently.
Cantor Gutman was the loving father
of four, grandfather of nine and great-
grandfather of 10. He was born in Poland
in 1912 and came to the United States
with his family as a young boy. They all
struggled and worked hard to reach the
"American dream." He worked in the five-
and-dime business, drugstores and real
estate.
His real passion, though, was singing.
He performed in the Civic Light Opera
and in plays at the Jewish Community
Center in Detroit. He was offered profes-
DR. MICHAEL
BERKE, 66, of
Bloomfield Hills, died
Nov. 3, 2011.
He was an OB-GYN
who practiced at Sinai
Hospital and Huron
Valley Hospitals. Dr.
Berke
Berke estimated that
he delivered more than
5,000 babies in his career.
He is survived by his wife, Susan
Berke; daughters and sons-in-law,
Annette Rubinstein of West Bloomfield,
and Amy and Alan Sternfeld of West
Bloomfield; son and daughter-in-law,
Mark and Alisa Berke of Farmington
Hills; grandchildren, Randi and Emily
Rubinstein, Stefanie and Ariella
Sternfeld, Ryan and Lindsay Berke; 25
first cousins and their families.
Interment was held at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
LUNGevity Foundation, 435 N. LaSalle
Street, Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60610, or to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
ISIDORE BIRNBAUM,
84, of West Bloomfield,
died Oct. 31, 2011.
He was born in
Chernowitz, Romania,
and emigrated from
Israel to the U.S.A. in
1948 to join his father
Birnbaum
Max, mother Yetta and
c. 1940
sister Rosa. The fam-
ily settled in Detroit
and were soon joined by his brother
Abraham from Israel.
Mr. Birnbaum attended Wayne State
honored with loving eulogies by family
sional work as a singer and entertainer
members and a beautiful vocal tribute by
out of town, but turned it down to stay in
many Detroit area cantors.
Detroit to provide for his growing family.
Cantor Gutman
Later in life, he pur-
was married to the
sued his dream to sing.
late Margaret Borison
He studied under Cantor
Gutman for 66 years.
Hyman Adler and began
They left a rich legacy
performing cantorial
as they are survived by
music in various local
their loving children:
congregations. Eventually,
Cheri (Arthur) Rolnick,
he became the cantor at
Joni (Stephen) Redisch,
Beit Kodesh, conducting
Edward (Bobbi) Gutman,
services for more than
and Howard (Karen)
25 years. He retired as
Gutman. He was the
cantor emeritus, but still
proud grandfather
led Selichot services until
of Matthew (Sabine)
this year. He also gave
Rolnick, Andrew
many concerts in the
Rolnick, Staci (Jamie)
Detroit area, the JCC and
Wittenberg, Michael
senior residences.
(Heather) Redisch,
At his funeral service,
...Asesiga-
Jeffrey (Aimee) Gutman,
Cantor Gutman was
Cantor David Gu tman
University, became a pharmacist and
co-owned Ashton Drugs in Oak Park.
He loved to race horses, owned "Izzy's
Choice" and never turned down anyone
for a favor or a political commentary.
Mr. Birnbaum is survived by his
sister-in-law, Claire Birnbaum; nieces
and nephews, Shelley and Philip Stein,
Daphne and Michael Freeman; four
great-nephews; several great-great-nieces
and a great-great-nephew; cousins, Jackie
and Yaffa, Sandy and Barry, Linda and
Larry; friends, Frank, Irving, Janet and
Tom, Karen, Tom, Israeli General Shlomo
Urbach, Cantor Ben Zion Lanxner; other
close friends; his beloved companion,
Max the cat.
He was the beloved son of the late Max
and the late Yetta Birnbaum; the loving
brother of the late Rosa Birnbaum and
the late Abraham Birnbaum.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
DOROTHY BLOCK, 94,
of Livonia, died Nov. 1,
2011.
She is survived by
her daughter, Nancy
Burstein of Oak Park;
son-in-law, Stephen
Collins; sister, Sarah
Block
Adler; grandchil-
dren, Marci Burstein,
Michelle and Rob Markson, Jeffrey
Cohen and Kathryn Powell Cohen; great-
grandchild, Meredyth Cohen; many lov-
ing nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Block was the beloved wife of the
late Jack Block; loving mother of the late
JoAnn Collins; dear sister and sister-in-
law of the late David and the late Ruth
Goldberg, the late Lewis Adler, the late
Anna and the late Charles Lincoln.
Contributions may be made to Gilda's
Club, 3517 Rochester Road, Royal Oak,
MI 48073, or Penrickton School for the
Blind, 26530 Eureka Road, Taylor, MI
48180. Services and interment were held
at Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery
in Clinton Township. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
DR. ARTHUR MELVIN
COOPER was born on
Aug. 15, 1933, in
Philadelphia, Pa., and
passed away peacefully
on Oct. 18, 2011, at his
home in Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla., with his
Cooper
family by his side.
He was a physician
and had a family practice for more than
45 years with his partner, Dr. Bernard
Dash, at 503 W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
He was a graduate of Temple University
and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine. Dr. Cooper did his internship
in Detroit, where he met his future wife,
Gail. They were married on June 4, 1966,
and raised a family in Bloomfield Hills.
After his retirement, Dr. Cooper and
his wife moved to Palm Beach Gardens;
when anyone asked where he lived, his
response was "in paradise He enjoyed
life to the fullest, filled with family,
friends and golf. His incredible feat was
achieving "a hole-in-one" four times.
Dr. Cooper is survived by his wife,
Gail; his four cherished children: Dr.
Caren Douenias (Dr. Robert), Howard
Lisa (Dave) Schoenholt, Eric (Sarah)
Gutman, Robert (Tina) Gutman, and
Brian (Allison) Gutman. Adoring great-
grandfather of Arielle, Talia, Brooke and
Maya Wittenberg, Madison Rolnick, Blake
and Emerson Redisch, Riley and Sydney
Gutman, and Samuel Schoenholt.
He was the devoted son of the late
Osias and Sophie Gutman. He was also
the dear brother of the late Leo, Albert,
Max, Bill and Burton Gutman and Sedelle
Gilbert.
Contributions to honor the memory
of Cantor David Gutman may be made
to the Margaret Borison Gutman Fund
for Elder Care Management at Jewish
Family Service, 6555 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322; or to a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment was held
at Beth Abraham Cemetery in Ferndale.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel. LI
Sukenic, Resa Sukenic and Jonathan
Cooper (Lori); six beloved grandchil-
dren, Jacob and Dylan Douenias, Peyton
and Ashton Sukenic, Noah and Jessie
Cooper; his sister, Eleanor Soorenko of
Green Cove, Fla.
He was the beloved son of Bertha and
Hyman Cooper and was the youngest of
three children.
A service was conducted on Oct. 19, at
the Star of David Funeral Chapel of the
Palm Beaches. The service was officiated
by Rabbi Dovid Vigler.
HENNY GARFIELD,
89, of Southfield, died
Nov. 3, 2011.
She is survived by
her daughters and son-
in-law, Inez Garfield
of Farmington Hills,
Dolcy Garfield and Ilan
Garfield
Rubinfeld of Ann Arbor;
grandchildren, Adam
Garfield-Turner, Fallon Garfield-Turner,
Steven Garfield-Turner, Lexie Garfield-
Turner, Eitan Rubinfeld, Orly Rubinfeld;
nieces and nephews, Gila Schwimmer,
Yosi Laufer, Varda Hendin; many other
relatives and friends; and her special
caregivers at Lorraine's House.
Mrs. Garfield was the beloved wife of
the late Leo Garfield.
Contributions may be made to the
Humane Society, 30300 Telegraph, Ste. 220,
Bingham Farms, MI 48025; ASPCA, 424
E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128; World
Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, N.W.
20037-1193, P.O. Box 97180, Washington,
DC 20090-7180. Interment was at Hebrew
Memorial Park in Clinton Township.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
Obituaries on page 66
Obituaries
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