Flora Winton
and her
"grand-dog"
Spikey
chairing or founding one committee
or another) in more charities and vol-
unteer positions than any one person
could imagine. Her five-page resume
includes fohndations such as the DIA, the
Arthritis Foundation, the Committee on
Aging, Oakland University, Detroit Public
Library, Sinai Hospital, National Council
of Jewish Women, Hospice of Southeastern
Michigan ... and the list goes on.
Winton also spent many years volun-
teering at Temple Beth El.
"In 1973, I was asked by the temple
administrator if I would volunteer full
time in the executive office she says.
Winton ended up working five days a
week from 9-5 for the next four years.
"Remember now, this was all prior to
computers and electronics that you kids
have today. Everything was either hand-
written or typed on cards.
"I was also the president of Temple Beth
El Sisterhood for two years and the presi-
dent of the State Sisterhood for another
two years. I was always involved with
temple in one fashion or another."
Flora's service to the temple reached its
pinnacle in 1983-1985 when she was Beth
El's first female president.
Winton also enjoyed traveling with her
husband and daughter. They traveled to
the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and
Europe. "One of my best trips was when
Frank took me to Italy for a month for my
50th birthday:' remembers Winton. "We
had a wonderful time."
Besides volunteering, education and
learning have always been an integral part
of the person Winton is today.
"When I was 61, a friend of mine made
II, I was trained by the U.S. government to
be a part of the United States Citizen Corps. a bet with me that I wouldn't be able to
get into Wayne State University and, of
I had a very important job teaching civilian
course, I proved her wrong:' says Winton,
defense and fire prevention."
who attended Wayne for two years. "I was
In 1942, Winton married her husband,
three credit hours away from getting my
Frank. Frank was a captain and bomber
pilot instructor in the Air Force (in civilian masters in instructional technology. The
only reason I didn't finish was because the
life he was an attorney) until 1946.
class I had to take was down at the main
"I followed Frank wherever he was sta-
campus, and it started at nine at night.
tioned," says Winton,who did volunteer
Frank didn't want me driving down there
work in every location in which Frank
by myself at such a late hour at my age.
was transferred. "In Dyersburg, Term., I
That's OK, though, because it was a fun
founded and became the director of their
experience anyway.
Red Cross chapter and in Topeka, Kan., I
"I stopped volunteering when Frank
worked for the Civilian Defense. When the
passed away 11 years ago. Now I spend a
war was over, we moved back to Detroit.
lot of my time with my daughter, Susan,
"In the 1950s, I volunteered for the
who is my best friend. Our houses in
American Cancer Society. I put 1,000
Bloomfield Hills are a block away from
volunteers on the streets collecting dona-
each other. Sometimes I will run errands
tions. I got the churches, synagogues and
for Susan because, yes, I still do drive.
unions involved. The Statler Hotel let us
"My favorite pastime is reading —
use their large ballroom for checking in
mostly nonfiction books. I would be posi-
and out. I had a great idea to call one of
tively lost without my Kindle!"
the top model agencies to let us use all
What is Flora Winton's secret for stay-
their top models to go around collecting
money. Let's just say with all the business- ing so fit and healthy? Perhaps the answer
men around, we were able to make a lot of has less to do with "luck" and more to do
with the positive way in which she lives
money that day!"
her life. ❑
Winton has been involved (quite often
A Well-Rounded Life
Flora Winton's motto: Never stop learning.
Editor's Note: This profile of Flora Winton
ran in last week's IN but, unfortunately,
her name was misspelled in the article. We
apologize for the error.
Sue Pearl
Special to the Jewish News
F
Lora Winton, 95, greets me at
the front door of her daughter's
beautiful Bloomfield Hills home.
I watch in amazement as she walks with
the poise and grace of someone much
younger. When I ask her what her secret is
for staying so fit, she answers, "It is sheer,
unadulterated, good luck!"
Maybe the fact that Winton does Pilates
twice a week and doesn't eat fried food or
sweets (except for her favorite sour-cherry
pie from Traverse City) might also attri-
bute to her good health.
Winton's only daughter, Susan, has her
own theory as to why her mother remains
so healthy. "My mother is the most
dynamic human being I have ever met;'
she says.
Winton has sat on the board or has
been president of more than 20 charities
throughout her life.
18
July 12 • 2012
"I think the real reason that my mom
is so vibrant is because of her incredible
curiosity. She is always learning, always
asking the question why. My mom is an
incessant reader. She probably reads about
five nonfiction books a week," Susan says.
Beginning in 1923, Winton attended
Miss Newman's School for Girls (a private
school that taught both primary and sec-
ondary education) in Detroit.
"Unfortunately, my parents decided to
move to Chicago for my senior year, which
wasn't an easy adjustment at first;' says
Winton, who graduated high school from
Starrett School for Girls in Chicago.
In 1934, Winton attended Northwestern
University in Evanston, Ill., where she
majored in theater production. "I would
come home (my family had since moved
back to Detroit) for the summers and
vacations, and I would volunteer at the
surgical and medical clinic at Children's
Hospital. I loved volunteering and I espe-
cially loved dating all the interns!
"After graduating from Northwestern in
1939, I got a scholarship to go to the Boston
Theater Guild, but that was when Hitler
started marching, so I had to return home
instead. From 1939-1942, during World War
-