obituaries

Obituaries from page 55

The "Go-To" Woman For Family, Friends, Clients

Ronelle Grier

Contributing Writer

T

he best" is how Diane "Dee dee"
Perlman was described by the
people she loved most; she was a
selflessly devoted wife, mother, daughter
and friend.
Mrs. Perlman, 61, died in Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico, on Jan. 2 after a tragic
accident that occurred the night before.
Perlman and her family were walking
back to their hotel after dinner when
a speeding car entered the pedestrian-
only area and hurtled straight toward
the group, which included Perlman's
husband, Michael; their daughter, Dana;
nieces Andrea and Sara Lipton; and Sara's
husband, Neil Carty.
According to Dana, her mother shouted
to the others and pushed Michael out of
the way. Mrs. Perlman was taken to a local
hospital, where she died 24 hours later.
The others sustained minor injuries and
bruises.
"It was the same walk we've taken for
years and years:' said Mrs. Perlman's son,
Jeffrey Perlman, who had left Mexico ear-
lier that day with his fiancee, Liz Levine.
Jeffrey was on a plane back to his home in
Hong Kong when Dana called to tell him
there had been an accident. Despite his
best efforts to return speedily to Puerto
Vallarta, his mother had passed away by
the time he arrived.
Dee dee Perlman of Bloomfield Hills
was known as the "go-to" woman for her
family, her clients and her many friends.

NATHAN BASSIN, 91, of Lake Worth, Fla.,
formerly of Detroit, died Jan. 5, 2012.
He was a very active member of the
Willow Bend Community for 33 years
before moving to Lake Worth Gardens.
Mr. Bassin was the beloved husband
of Bert; loving father of Lois Levy; cher-
ished grandfather of Jonathan Levy, Claire
Bassin and Daniel Bassin; devoted uncle
of several nieces and nephews.
Contributions may be made to Hospice
of Palm Beach County. Services were held
at I. J. Morris Funeral Directors, 5411
Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, Fla.
(561) 683-8676.

MELANIE BENESON,
40, of Fenton, died Jan. 3,
2011.
She is survived by
her beloved husband,
Don Skinner; sons,
Logan and Grant
Skinner of Fenton;
Beneson
daughter, Heather
Skinner of Fenton; mother, Esther

56 January 12 2012

Although she was the youngest daughter of
Ida and the late Benjamin Bader, her sib-
lings Naida (Simon) and Sharon (Lipton)
looked to her for guidance and advice.
"She was the rock of the Bader-Perlman-
Lipton family,' said her son.
"She taught by example; she
was a leader."
After Mrs. Perlman
graduated from Liggett High
School in Detroit in 1968,
she attended the University
of Michigan, where she
majored in special educa-
tion. At the suggestion of one
of her advisers, she enrolled Diane "Dee
in Wayne State University
Perlman
law school and received her
juris doctor degree in 1975.
Mrs. Perlman joined the tax depart-
ment of Coopers & Lybrand, now
PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she
remained for 36 years. As she rose
through the ranks to the position of
director of tax, Mrs. Perlman was known
by her colleagues, co-workers and clients
as a smart and dedicated professional as
well as a loyal friend.
"Dee dee was a colleague, a mentor and
a friend:' said co-worker Lynda Flood.
"She was always willing to take the time to
learn. She praised a job well done, offered
thanks for efforts made and reminded you
if you weren't living up to your potential.
Her door was always open."
She developed an impressive network
of friends and contacts throughout the
industry, which made her a valuable asset

Beneson of Wixom; sister and brother-in-
law, Beth and Mike Hoffner of Stockbridge,
Mich.; niece, Shae Hoffner; many other
loving family members and friends.
Mrs. Beneson was the daughter of the
late Dennis Beneson.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment took place
at the B'nai Israel Cemetery in Novi.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

IRVING "CAPPY" CAPLAN, 86, formerly
of Detroit, died in Delray Beach, Fla., on
Dec. 31, 2011.
He was an executive of Alside
Aluminum and an avid Life Master bridge
player.
Mr. Caplan is survived by his loving wife
of 58 years, Doody; two devoted daugh-
ters, Jo Anne Caplan Casen and Jennifer
(Stewart) Flink; five cherished grandchil-
dren, Mollie, Shayna, Jimmy, Lilli and Josh
of Chicago.
Mr. Caplan was predeceased by his son,
Jimmy.
Contributions may be made to the

Obituaries

to her clients and her colleagues.
"She was a mentor to many women in
the office — she worked full time — but
also was always available to her kids on a
full-time basis:' said Jill Leib, a longtime
friend and former co-worker.
Dee dee married attorney
Michael Perlman in 1975,
and they raised their chil-
dren, Dana and Jeffrey, in
an atmosphere of love and
shared values.
"They played off one
another; they could talk just
by making eye contact:' said
dee"
Jeffrey Perlman.
Family was all-important
to Dee dee and Michael,
despite the demands of their busy pro-
fessional lives. When the children were
young, Perlman began going to work
at 4:30 in the morning so she could be
available after school to pick up the kids,
take them to their various extracurricular
activities and prepare dinner, which the
family enjoyed together every evening.
Dana Perlman credits her mother for
passing on her "incredible work ethic"
and devotion to others within the fam-
ily, the workplace and the community. A
member of Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
Dee dee Perlman showed her commit-
ment to Jewish causes by holding several
leadership positions, including serving
on the boards of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and National
Council of Jewish Women.
When Michael got sick several years

ago, turning the family's life upside down,
Dee dee became his devoted caregiver,
a role she maintained through the last
moment of her life.
"She watched over my dad and raised
him up; she never asked anyone to raise
her up:' said Jeffrey.
Mrs. Perlman was a favorite among her
nieces and nephews, who counted on her
for a sympathetic ear and a pantry filled
with delicious food. She was especially
known for her kugel, brisket, deviled eggs
and baked salami.
Mrs. Perlman is survived by her hus-
band, Michael; daughter, Dana of New
York; son, Jeffrey of Hong Kong (fian-
cee Liz Levine); mother, Ida Bader of
Bloomfield Hills; sisters, Naida Simon of
Bloomfield Hills and Sharon (Dr. Jeffrey)
Lipton of Waterford; mother- and father-
in-law, Elaine and Charles Perlman of
West Bloomfield; brothers-in-law, Dr.
Owen (Sheila) Perlman of Ann Arbor
and Peter (Carrie) Perlman of West
Bloomfield. She was the daughter of the
late Benjamin H. Bader.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the
Dee dee and Michael Perlman Fund,
6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan, 48301, (248) 642-4260, www.
thisisfederation.org ; or Jewish Senior
Life of Metropolitan Detroit, the Ida and
Benjamin H. Bader Transportation Fund,
6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
48322, (248) 661-2999, www.jslmi.org .
Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑

Jimmy Caplan Memorial Scholarship
Fund of the United Jewish Foundation
of Metropolitan Detroit, 6735 Telegraph
Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.

brother-in-law of the late Sol Rosenfeld,
the late Jack Brickner and the late Howard
Diamond.
Contributions may be made to
the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish
Community Adult Day Care Program,
6720 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322. Interment at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

SEYMOUR COLLEN,
85, of Walled Lake, died
Jan. 3, 2012.
He is survived by
his wife, Gloria Collen;
daughter and son-in-
law, Joan and Dr. Fred
Fischer of Farmington
Collen
Hills; sons, Dr. Andrew
Collen, Michael Collen (Suzy Cohan) and
David Collen; sisters and brother-in-law,
Sylvia Brickner, Lorraine "Libby" and
Allan Albert, Anita Diamond; grand-
children, Dr. Melissa and Eric Novetsky,
Jessica and Steven Migliore, Dr. Daniel
Fischer, Noah Collen, Zachary Collen;
great-grandchildren, Lily Novetsky, Emma
Novetsky, Alexis Migliore; many loving
nieces and nephews.
Mr. Collen was the cherished brother
of the late Bertha Rosenfeld and dear

FRED R. CLINTON, 88,
of Farmington Hills,
died Jan. 8, 2012.
He is survived by his
beloved wife, Phyllis
Clinton of Farmington
Hills; son and partner,
Robert N. Clinton and
Janette Silverman of
Phoenix, Ariz.; daughters and son-in-
law, Anne Clinton-Cirocco of Gurnee,
Ill., Sue and Lorne Leon of Farmington
Hills; brother, David Clinton; grandchil-
dren, Erica (Brent Never) Clinton, Aaron
Seth Clinton, Erin (fiance David Owen)