obituaries
Obituaries from page 50
Living Large For 88 Years
Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer
W it Viviano lived his life with
gusto and joy. In addition
to being a successful wine
importer, he enjoyed traveling the world
with his wife, Roberta, building things by
hand and spending time with his family
and many close friends.
Mr. Viviano, of Bingham Farms, died
Jan. 22, 2012, at age 88.
Wil, the eldest son of Gaetano and
Bernice Viviano was born in Detroit
in 1923. After attending the Staunton
Military Academy in Virginia and spend-
ing time in California, he returned
home to join his brother, Norman, in
their father's business, Viviano Wine
Importers.
After a first marriage that ended in
divorce, Wil met and married Roberta,
a native New Yorker who shared his life
for the past 38 years. The couple enjoyed
traveling throughout the world; they often
took language classes before going to a
foreign country. They loved the theater,
the symphony and dining out with their
extensive circle of friends.
"Most of all, Wil loved my mother:'
said stepson Eric Scher, who spoke at the
funeral service. "The two of them had a
IRVING ELLMAN, 99,
Ellman
of West Bloomfield, died
Jan. 28, 2012.
He was the owner
of Michigan Hide
Company and Weco
Company, prominent
companies in the hide
processing business. He
was also a life member
of Temple Israel.
Mr. Ellman is survived by his son and
daughter-in-law, Harry Ellman and Peggy
Barris of Bloomfield Hills; daughters and
sons-in-law, Carol and Robert Grumet
of West Bloomfield, Donna and Harris
Faberman of Colorado; grandchildren,
Erica and Tal Izraeli, Jeffrey and Elyse
Ellman, Danielle Grumet, Dr. Joshua and
Jamie Grumet, Monica Faberman and
Max Faberman; great-grandchildren,
Zachary and Brooke Izraeli, Ellie and
Molly Grumet; brother, Jack Ellman of
Battle Creek:
He was the beloved husband for 65
years of the late Bluma Schreiber Ellman;
the dear brother of the late Seymour
Ellman.
Interment was held at Clover Hill Park
52
February 2 • 2012
great time together."
Though the couple did not have chil-
dren together, they embraced each other's
children as their own, creating and nur-
turing a blended family that included
seven children and 13 grandchildren. The
Vivianos were longtime
members of Temple Beth
El, dating back to his
confirmation at the syna-
gogue's Detroit location.
Mr. Viviano was known
for his sense of humor
and his familiar reper-
toire of jokes, which drew
laughter even from those
who had heard them
before. He enjoyed work-
ing in the yard, planting
an abundance of trees
and shrubs, and tooling
Wil Viviano
around the grounds in his
trailer-tractor combine.
He loved grown-up toys and gadgets,
being among the first to own a VCR and
a microwave oven. He appreciated every
aspect of the wine business: tasting it,
selling it and admiring its packaging.
"When I think about Wil, I think about
a man on the move, a man in motion at
all times:' said Scher.
When he was not working or spending
time with his family, Mr. Viviano liked
to retreat to his workshop, honing his
impressive woodworking skills on various
creations that included everything from
cabinetry to birdhouses. His retirement
in the early 2000s allowed him to spend
more time using his tal-
ent to help others within
the community.
"He had a talent for
building things:' said
Roberta. "He fixed hous-
es for JARC and worked
at the Wing Lake
Developmental Center
(a Bloomfield Hills
Schools special educa-
tion facility) building
decks or whatever they
needed for the children."
He also worked as a
volunteer for the Meals
on Wheels program
sponsored by the city of Royal Oak and
generously supported Yad Ezra, public
radio and the performing arts.
Despite Roberta's aversion to rough-
ing it and her assertion that "Jews don't
camp:' Mr. Viviano bought a large RV
and took the family on a cross-country
adventure.
"He and my mother did everything
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Temple Israel, Rabbi Robert and Sonia
Syme Fund, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48323, www.temple-israel.
org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Jonnah Glassman, Stacy Carls-Trager and
Jason Carls, Dr. Joseph and Stacy Trager;
great-grandson, Matthew Pierce Trager;
sister, Dorothy Rothman; many other lov-
ing family members and friends.
Mr. Glassman was the beloved hus-
band for 55 years of the late Margaret
Glassman; he was predeceased by seven
other siblings.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment was held at
Workmen's Circle Cemetery in Clinton
Township. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
HARRY R. GLASSMAN, 94, of Oak Park,
died Jan. 26, 2012.
Mr. Glassman was a World War II Army
veteran, serving from 1943 to 1946. He
participated in the Battle of Normandy
with the 79th Infantry. He received the
Purple Heart in 1946 and in 2004; he also
received the Bronze Star for his services.
Mr. Glassman was interviewed for the
Veterans Oral History Project in 2007.
He was also a past president of the
Downtown Fox Lodge of B'nai B'rith. A
member of Oak Park Seniors, he also
volunteered for Meals on Wheels and
participated with Walking Volleyball and
Baseball and the Senior Olympics.
Mr. Glassman is survived by his
sons and daughters-in-law, Alexander
Glassman and Diane Morrison of Denver,
Colo., Edward and M.J. Glassman, also
of Denver; daughter, Lea Trager of
West Bloomfield; grandchildren, Katie
Glassman-Salzburg and Yaniv Salzburg,
Obituaries
MARY P. KING, 66, of Farmington Hills,
died Jan. 23, 2012.
She is survived by her beloved hus-
band, Dennis H. King of Farmington
Hills; daughter, Rachel Hana King of
Farmington Hills; sister and brother-
in-law, Rose and Agim Karagjozi; broth-
ers and sister-in-law, Hektor and Judy
Peshkopia, Albert Peshkopia; many lov-
ing nieces and nephews, other family
members and friends.
Contributions may be made to the
Hepatitis C Association. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
together; all he cared about was her hap-
piness and well-being, and she always
knew that:' said Eric's brother, Adam
Scher. He referred to his stepfather as a
"real world version of Facebook," a man
who connected to his family, colleagues,
and friends in a way that was genuine
and personal.
Wil Viviano is survived by his beloved
wife, Roberta; children, Cynthia Viviano,
Pamela Viviano, David Viviano, Eric
(Katherine) Scher, Adam (Mary) Scher,
Mark (Ashley) Scher, and Matthew
(Kathy) Scher; grandchildren, Elana
and Daniel Metz, Jacob and Michael
Viviano, Sarah, Michael, Dylan, Maxwell,
Zoe, Riley, Sydney, Ethan, and Samantha
Scher; devoted caregivers, Charles and
Tonya Spivey; and many loving friends.
He was the brother of the late Norman
Viviano and the son of the late Gaetano
and Bernice Viviano.
Contributions may be made to Yad
Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI
48072, www.yadezra.org ; Chamber Music
Society of Detroit, 31731 Northwestern
Hwy., Suite 259W, Farmington Hills, MI
48334, www.comehearcmsd.org; or Henry
Ford Hospice, 1 Ford Place, #5A, Detroit,
MI 48202, www.henryford.com/hospice .
Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑
EDITH KIRSCHNER,
94, of Southfield, died
Jan. 25, 2012.
She is survived by
her daughter and son-
in-law, Phyllis and Paul
Schneider; grandchil-
dren, Janet Schneider
Kirschner
and Andrew Kahn,
Steven and Michelle
Schneider, Marci and Andrew Klein;
great-grandchildren, Lucy and Aaron
Kahn, Melissa and Erica Schneider, Sofia
and Julia Klein; many loving nieces and
nephews.
Mrs. Kirschner was the beloved wife
of the late Louis Kirschner; the lov-
ing mother of the late Susan Barbara
Kirschner.
Interment was held at Star of David in
Florida. Contributions may be made to
Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O.
Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053, www.
eyesight.org; American Cancer Society,
20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield,
MI 48076, www.cancer.org ; or a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
Obituaries
on page 54