obituaries Hero To Nation And Family Bill Carroll Contributing Writer T he story of Charles Kaye's life had many chapters. He was a successful businessman, devoted family man, sports enthusiast, modest war hero and quiet philanthropist. But probably the most poignant chapter was his six-decades-long love story with his wife, Mildred. The final chapter was March 22, 2012, when Kaye, 88, of Southfield died of con- gestive heart failure and pneumonia at Royal Oak's Beaumont Hospital. "He was a wonderful man. I don't know what I'm going to do without him:' said Mildred, who wrote a letter to Kaye every day of the three years he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Both working their way through school, they had met in a class at Detroit's Wayne (State) University 'True Love' Kaye, a graduate of Detroit's Commerce High School, had interrupted his stud- ies at Wayne to enlist. He returned with a load of medals in December 1945, and he and his "beloved Millie" were married eight days later. "It was a true love story; and from Sports Enthusiast Kaye played tennis into his early 80s and there on, my father fulfilled the American worked out almost daily until recently. dream by rising from humble beginnings He watched all of the sports events on to become successful in everything he did," TV and kept up with statistics on many said Kaye's daughter, Barbara Kaye of Ann of the teams and players. Added Barbara: Arbor. "He was very compassionate and had a Kaye had resumed his classes at Wayne, great sense of humor." got a B.S. degree and became a certified Kaye helped found the Bank of public accountant. He worked for a few Birmingham and was a director until his small accounting firms for death. awhile; but with Mildred, a "My father's accounting teacher, typing work papers clients weren't just cus- for him at night, Kaye founded tomers to him," Barbara Charles Kaye & Co. and oper- pointed out. "They came to ated it for 42 years. He sold respect him as an adviser it to Boyes, Wright, Pittman and counselor. He always & Co., later merging with the said you have to be your Rebmann Group in Farmington own boss to make sure Hills. "He stayed on to work things are done right." there and didn't retire until two Without fanfare, Kaye years ago," said his daughter. started the Charles and Charles K aye "Chuck and Millie were a Mildred Kaye Endowed very loving couple; they worked together Scholarship Fund at Wayne 14 years very well',' said Lou Hoffman of Huntington ago, providing scholarships for students Woods, who was Kaye's friend and fra- majoring in accounting in the Business ternity brother since college days. They Administration School. When his daugh- belonged to Gamma Kappa Chi fraternity, ter Diane Lynn Kaye, an attorney, died attending weekly alumni luncheons and in 2007, he provided a scholarship in GKC's 75th anniversary reunion last fall. her name at the University of Michigan's "Chuck was quiet, but he spoke with law school. "My father was very close to his deeds. And if something really had to both of us," said Barbara, who is also an be said on a certain subject, he spoke out attorney. loud and clear." Kaye also financially supported Wayne's Education College and graduate student research in biological sciences. One of the highlights of Kaye's life came in 2010 when he received one of France's highest honors, being named a "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor for his "courage and bravery" in combat dur- CEMETERY INSTALLAITON ing World War II and for his role in "the ANYWHERE IN MICHIGAN liberation of France." Why it took France Call 248-542-8266 65 years to honor him remains somewhat of a mystery, but Kaye expressed his 661 E. 8 Mile Road Ferndale 1 blocks East o Woodw d appreciation for the award while being interviewed for an article in the Detroit Jewish News in connection with Veterans Day last November. Like many WWII vets, Kaye was reluc- tant to talk about his deeds and down- played them when he did. 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He received the Purple Heart and stayed in a Belgian hospital for a month. He later served as an interpreter for the allies, interrogating high-level Nazi party members. "I'm glad I got over there to help fight the Germans," Kaye reflected in an inter- view last November. "I had read about how Hitler wanted to dominate the world and about the atrocities being inflicted on the Jewish people. I don't think many Americans caught the significance of what might have happened to all of us if the Axis had won the war:' Said Barbara Kaye: "My father was the epitome of the Greatest Generation: those men and women who experienced the Great Depression, then fought for our country in the war. His discharge papers mentioned heroic deeds that he never even told us about. "But, most of all, he was very devoted to his wife of 66 years and to his entire family." Mr. Kaye is survived by his wife, Mildred Kaye; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Kaye and John Hogikyan; granddaughters, Laura and Allison Hogikyan; son-in-law, Irving Shaprio. He was the cherished father of the late Diane Lynn Kaye. Contributions may be made to the Charles and Mildred Kaye Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wayne State University, 5201 Cass Ave., 226 Prentis Bldg., c/o Sherry Stokes; the Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI. 48334; (248) 553-2400; www.holocaustcenter.org ; or the Karmanos Center Foundation, Lung Cancer Research, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI. 48201, www.karmanos.org. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑ Your tribute donations provide comfort and support for patients and families who need your help. * JEWISHOSP1Ct & CHAPt AIN( NE MORK ‘1 . No JEw Is EVER ALONE 248.592.2687 www.iewishhospice.org 67;5 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield, Mt 48322