She Was 'Cool Before Her Time'

Bill Carroll
Contributing Writer

H

elen Zuckerman's lifetime
spanned almost a century, and
it was filled with involvement in
the Jewish community and Israel, volun-
teerism and many philanthropic deeds.
She was known as an extremely capable
woman and devoted partner to her hus-
band, Paul, who was well known in the
middle of the 20th century as a Detroit
businessman and Israel supporter.
Mrs. Zuckerman, 98, of Franklin, died
of natural causes April 18, 2012, at her
home.
"She was really 'cool' before her
time," said her daughter, Linda Klein of
Bloomfield Hills. "She was smart, savvy
and up to date on everything; she was
really 'with it. She was a beautiful woman
who loved beautiful things, especially the
arts, attending many social events; and
she was very devoted to charitable and
cultural causes around the world.
"Even later in life, she loved to attend
rock 'n' roll concerts and hear good jokes.
She was an endless fountain of the deep-
est values for her entire family"
"Helen was truly one of a kind; with
strength, kindness and gentleness, she
touched the whole world and made it
fresh:' said Rabbi Daniel B. Syme of
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township at
the April 22 funeral.

East Side Beginnings
Helen Fleisher was born in 1914 in Bay
City, where her parents had settled after
coming to America from Russia. Her
father had operated Oppenheim's dry
goods store there, then moved the busi-
ness to Detroit's east side, where Helen
found it "difficult growing up in a neigh-
borhood with few minorities and going
through the Detroit school system:' her
daughter pointed out.
She graduated from Detroit's
Southeastern High School, where she

Bandalene
c. 1964

KALMAN
BANDALENE, 89, of
West Bloomfield, died
April 20, 2012.
He was the principal
of Kennedy Elementary,
the camp director of
Camp Tamakwa and was
a World War II veteran.
He will be missed by

many.
Mr. Bandalene is survived by his loving
wife, Ada Bandalene. He was the loving
father of daughter and son-in-law, Linda
and Eric Hough of Telford, Pa.; daughter
and son-in-law, Amy and Matt Boros of
Strongsville, Ohio; son and daughter-in-
law, Stuart Bandalene and Sheryl Toby of
Sylvan Lake. He was the grandfather of

was on the track team, and attended
amount of money each year to help fund
Wayne (State) University, but dropped out cancer research. They also funded a
during the Great Depression to work at
nursery school at Temple Beth El. Around
Himelhoch's department store, rising to a
that time, Paul Zuckerman was diagnosed
manager's position.
with bladder cancer during a routine
She met Paul Zuckerman on a Bob-
physical exam. He died in 1986 at age 73.
Lo Island moonlight cruise sponsored
"After a year, my mother seemed to
by Temple Beth El, and they were mar-
emerge from my father's shadow and
ried for almost 50 years. Zuckerman,
claim her own place in the social and
a native of Turkey, was founder of the
philanthropic world:' Klein recalled.
Velvet Peanut Butter Co. in
The task was made harder
Detroit, the brand regarded,
by some old injuries Mrs.
along with Sanders hot
Zuckerman had sustained
fudge, Vernor's ginger ale
in two auto accidents,
and Faygo pop, as among
requiring extensive physical
Detroit's famous food
therapy.
staples.
In a newspaper interview
Mrs. Zuckerman entered
in 1988, she said: "I have too
into a whirlwind of social
much pride to sit around
activities and philanthropy
and moan about my fate. You
that found her writing
have to make your own life.
checks almost every day to
Nobody can do it for you."
various charitable causes in Helen Zucke rman
Mrs. Zuckerman started
the Detroit area. She hob-
the Paul Zuckerman Support
nobbed with top leaders in
Foundation for Cancer
Israel and the United States as her hus-
Research at the Karmanos Cancer Center
band took on leadership roles in interna-
with a $1 million endowment from the
tional Jewish causes.
family and more than $350,000 from
"They made countless trips to Israel
friends. She became a member of several
and even built a home there on the
boards and committees, achieving awards
Mediterranean:' said their daughter.
and honors along the way.
"They were active in Israel Bonds drives
and the United Jewish Appeal and became
Active On Many Boards
fast friends with all the significant Zionist
She was on the boards of such orga-
leaders. They hosted Sunday dinners for
nizations as the Jewish Federation of
people like David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir,
Metropolitan Detroit's Women's Division,
Moshe Dayan and Shimon Peres?'
the Detroit Institute of Arts' Friends
of Modern Art, the Detroit Symphony
Committed To Israel
Orchestra and the Michigan Cancer
Longtime benefactors of Israel, the
Foundation. She also was extremely active
Zuckermans established a community
in Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), donat-
center near Ben-Gurion University, a study
ing historical photos of Detroit and Israel
hall at Hebrew University, a day care center to be housed in the Paul Zuckerman
and park in Jerusalem; and they donated a Conference Room.
Magen David Adorn ambulance.
"My mother slowed down in recent
In Michigan, the Zuckermans
years after a fall at the Florida residence
founded the Angels of Michigan Cancer
that my parents had maintained;' said
Foundation in the mid-1980s, whereby
Klein. "Before that, she was always ready
supporters would pledge a minimum
and willing to do anything with gusto.

Connor and Allison Hough, Leah Boros,
Brianna and Brendon Horn and Alyssa,
Elana and Ryan Bandalene. He is also
survived by his sister, Gertrude Kline of
Miami, Fla.
Mr. Bandalene was preceded in death
by his parents, Nathan and Minnie
Bandalene; sisters, Rose Tanner and Sarah
Gendelman.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

Brasch

CHARLES BRASCH,
86, of West Bloomfield,
died April 17, 2012.
He was an engineer
for Ford Motor Co. for 35
years.
He is survived by his
wife, Gladys Brasch; chil-

dren, Edwin and Jillian Brasch of Santa
Fe, N.M., Helene and Art Indianer of West
Bloomfield, Karen and Robert Schwartz of
West Bloomfield, Jeffrey and Faith Brasch
of Farmington Hills, Steven and Diane
Klein of West Bloomfield, Beth Klein
Genetti and Mark Genetti of Huntington
Woods; grandchildren, Brian, Stephanie,
Stacy, Barrie, Joshua, Mitchell, Jonathan,
Seth, Leslee, Scott, Leigh and Sam; sister,
Barbara Brasch. He is also survived by
other loving family and friends.
Mr. Brasch was the beloved husband
of the late Blanche Brasch; the cherished
brother of the late Pauline Dworin.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

She simply outlived all of her contempo-
raries. But she was very lucid almost until
the end."
Mrs. Zuckerman's son, Norbert
Zuckerman, who resides in Aspen, Colo.,
and Miami Beach. Fla., described his
mother as a "very dignified, elegant and
classy lady. My friends always referred to
her as 'the First Lady, and that's what she
was — to all of us."
Helen Zuckerman is survived by her
son, Norbert Zuckerman; daughter and
son-in-law, Linda and Thomas Klein of
Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren, Katherine
(Peter) Bresler, Elizabeth (Stephen)
Brodsky and Jonathan Klein (Gretchen
Goldburg); great-grandchildren, Alexander
and Abigail Bresler, Matthew and Joshua
Brodsky, and Nathan and Charles Klein.
She also is survived by many nieces and
nephews, including David Cottler. She was
lovingly cared for by Tim Brady, Kathryn
Darling, Juanita Williams, Veronica Nanny,
Sally Koch and Keela Corr.
Mrs. Zuckerman was the daughter of
the late Samuel and late Frieda Fleisher;
sister and sister-in-law of the late Maryan
and the late George Abramsohn, the late
Dorothy and the late Ben Butin, the late
Leslie (Jean) Fleisher, the late Bernice and
the late Irving Kane, and the late Madelyn
and the late Reuben Cottler; sister-in-
law of the late Victor and the late Anne
Zuckerman, the late Norbert and the late
Betty Leonard, and the late Emanuel and
the late Renee Leonard.
Contributions may be made to the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, the Paul and Helen Zuckerman
Leadership Fund, 6735 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, (248) 642-
4260, www.jewishdetroit.org; or JVS
(Jewish Vocational Service), Helen
Zuckerman Fund, 29699 Southfield Road,
Southfield, MI 48076, (248) 559-5000,
www.jvsdet.org.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. 0

WILLIAM M. FREEDMAN, 61, of
Tucson, Ariz., died April 19, 2012.
He was a member of the Masters
Swimmers of the Tucson Jewish
Community Center. He touched the hearts
of many and was loved by all.
He is survived by his parents, Dr. Gerald
and Annette Freedman; brother, Roy
Thomas Freedman; sisters, Donna Ruth
Winkelman, Laura Sue Pedrick; many lov-
ing nieces and nephews, grandnieces and
grandnephews.
Services were held at the Evergreen
Mortuary. Interment was at the
Congregation Chaverim Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
Masters Swimmers Organization, Jewish
Community Center 3800 E. River Road,
Tucson AZ 85718.

Obituaries on page 78

Obituaries

April 26 • 2012

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