An irresistible force
Mary Lou Zieve
keeps going and
going and going
By Michelle Moser
Listen to Mary Lou Zieve tell
her life story, and you'll feel as
if you've made a lifelong friend.
A hair over five feet tall with a
cover every bit the sweet old
lady, Zieve can drive you to
side-splitting laughter with wild,
unexpected humor, whether
she's delivering an impromptu,
rollicking reprise of her
Second City role in The Vagina
Monologues or channeling her
grandmother's third husband —
an Irish Jew from Dublin.
Leonard Simons had a passion
for reading and learning that
inspired him to get involved
at Wayne State. The university
has reaped the benefits of
his prolific fundraising: Many
campus buildings are named
for major donors he secured.
And one — the Wayne State
University Press building
on Woodward Avenue — is
appropriately named for Simons
himself.
Over a career in the arts
spanning more than 50
years, Zieve built a larger
than life reputation as an
actress in TV, radio and
theatre; she is an expert in
accents and once ran her
own advertising agency.
She gravitates naturally
to leadership: She's
been president and
commissioner of the Detroit
Historical Society and
president of the Detroit
chapter of the American
Federation of Television and
Radio Artists; is an honorary
life member of the
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Board of Trustees; and has
served on the boards of
Mary Lou Zieve: "I am very much a part
many other organizations.
giving back to my community."
She is also a founding
member and past president
of the Jewish Ensemble Theatre
Founded in 1941, the WSU
(JET), now in its 23rd year.
Press is a leading publisher of
Great Lakes books, Judaica and
"I believe I was put here for
African American studies, as
something more than to just
well as a wide range of other
walk through life and die,"
scholarly and general interest
she says, a philosophy she
titles. Decades ago, Simons
inherited from her father,
rallied an informal group of
Detroit advertising legend and
the press' financial supporters,
philanthropist Leonard Simons.
a loose confederation that Zieve
"Dad used to say, 'There's more
formalized into a board
to life than begin, beget and be
of visitors in 1997 and has
gone.' I am very much a part of
chaired since.
giving back to my community,
but it's also a selfish thing
The board's primary goal is to
— it gives me a whole lot of
raise money to bring books
pleasure."
to life that might not make
Simons, who died in 1995, was
a well-connected fundraiser
it otherwise. She insists on
financial contributions to the
4111111111101111.6
2
wvsn/v.hillel detroitorg
-
and community activist. Zieve
says, "I watched how he gave
of himself and what huge
satisfaction it brought him. He
loved to bring people together,
to make things happen."
press by all 25 board members.
Not that they all have deep
pockets. In fact, many don't.
"It's not always about how
much money. It's about
commitment to visibility," she
explains. "We have to get the
word out about these new
voices in the marketplace."
To accomplish this, Zieve has
expanded board membership
to include creative people who
bring diversity of culture, race,
religion and career experience.
She says, "A wider perspective
means wider accomplishments,
a wider network and wider
acclaim for the press."
Based at
Wayne State University
Building community for
Jewish college students
Lots of ways to get involved:
social, Jewish learning,
community service, sports,
Shabbat dinners and more.
Email
hilleled@wayne.edu
6th floor of the Student
Center Building
It's working. One of the press'
Made in Michigan
Writers Series titles,
American Salvage by
Kalamazoo writer Bonnie
Jo Campbell, was one
of five books nominated
for the 2009 National
Book Award. According
to Jane Hoehner, director
of the WSU Press, it's
almost unheard of for
a university press to
place in such a fierce
competition.
Monday-Thursday:
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Zieve credits Hoehner
with bringing renewed
energy to the press,
inspiring its rise to
prominence in recent
years. The press publishes
roughly 35 books a year
with a staff of 18, now
issuing almost every title
simultaneously as an
ebook.
Wayne State University
Showcase
of
At 78, Zieve keeps an eye to
the future of the press and all
the organizations she helps.
With a wistful look, she explains
that she is consciously setting
things in motion so they can be
sustained — and the implication
is without her.
But she has no intention of
stopping any time soon. "The
only way I'm going to retire is
when they put me in the box
and lower it six feet," she says.
"I have never been able to sit
still." III
Michelle Moser is a writer at
Wayne State University.
AUGUST 16, 2012
Editorial
Alex Bienkowski
Beaufort Cranford
Rebecca Kavanagh
Jack Lessenberry
Michelle Moser
Francine Wunder
Design
Crystal Mott
Christa Mowry
Board of Governors
Tina Abbott, chair
Debbie Dingell, vice chair
Eugene Driker
Diane L. Dunaskiss
Danialle Karmanos
Paul E. Massaron
Annetta Miller
Gary S. Pollard
Allan Gilmour, ex officio