07ituaries

Hockey Legend

amuel Greenblatt, 78, of Walled
Lake, died Aug. 17, 2012.
For more than four decades,
virtually anyone who has played ice
hockey in Michigan has been touched
by the leadership, compassion, and
kindheartedness of Sam Greenblatt who
left his mark on thousands of amateur
athletes, coaches and officials.
Born in Toronto, Canada, in 1933,
he was the youngest of 10 children
of Harry and Miriam Greenblatt. He
moved to Detroit at age 12, following
the death of his father. He attended Cass
Technical High School and went on to
serve as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and
then to become a printer by trade.
He married Helen Pollack in 1956
and had four children with her. They
raised their family in Oak Park and
eventually moved to Southfield and
then to Walled Lake.
Mr. Greenblatt served as founder
and president of the Oak Park Hockey
Association and the South Oakland
Hockey League and as a founding mem-
ber of the Wolverine Junior Hockey
League. He organized and operated
many state, national and international
tournaments and held leadership posi-
tions with the Michigan Amateur
Hockey Association, including 12 years
as director.
"Whatever my father touched, he
took it to the highest level," said son
Harry Greenblatt. "At hockey meetings,
I often saw people hug him, thank him,
praise him and explain how his good
deeds had a positive impact on some-

one's life."
inducted into the Michigan Jewish
Mr. Greenblatt was instrumental
Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
in the development of thousands of
As a member of the USA Hockey
ice hockey coaches as a founding
Safety and Protective Equipment
member of the USA Hockey Coaching
Committee, he studied hockey at all lev-
Achievement Program, which initially
els, not only to reduce injuries, but also
presented coaching clinics throughout
to address societal issues such as infec-
Michigan and then
tious diseases, drug
served as a model that
abuse awareness and
is now followed nation-
bullying.
wide.
He was known by
He also raised money
family and friends
and provided equip-
as warm, generous,
ment for underprivi-
unselfish and tolerant,
leged players, served
and inclusive of all
on the USA Hockey
regardless of race, reli-
nationwide Diversity
gion or background.
Task Force and was a
Throughout his life,
longtime supporter of
he developed last-
a program that offers
ing friendships with
hockey to children
people from all walks
from low-income
of life. The Greenblatt
homes in Detroit.
home was always open
He once said that
to everyone, where
Samuel Greenblatt
his involvement with
simple kindness, a hot
c. 1990
inner-city kids in
meal and even a place
33 hockey programs
to sleep made others
nationwide — many of whom had never feel welcome and cared for regardless of
laced up a pair of skates until he came
the time or circumstances.
along — was among the greatest thrills
"Growing up, I saw my father share
of his life.
everything he had with everyone he
Mr. Greenblatt served as a scout for
knew," said son Harry. "Anything that
the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team
anybody ever needed, he would get it
and was involved in projects with the
for them. He would give you his last
National Hockey League to promote
dollar."
amateur hockey. He oversaw the selec-
For Mr. Greenblatt, relationships were
tion of top amateur and professional
the key to success in life. "Almost every
hockey players and coaches for the
day, people called from all over the
Maccabi Games in Israel, and was
United States and throughout the world

for his advice and mostly to thank him
for the help he had given to them," said
daughter Julia Greenblatt.
"Throughout my life, I have seen an
ongoing outpouring of genuine love and
admiration for my father."
Mr. Greenblatt is survived by his
wife of 55 years, Helen Greenblatt;
sons and daughter-in-law, Harry
Greenblatt of Tucker, Ga., Phillip and
Susan Greenblatt of Farmington Hills;
daughter, Julia Greenblatt of Ferndale;
brothers and sister-in-law, David Green,
Jack and Edith Greenblatt; sisters
and brother-in-law, Helen and Bernie
Press of California, Leah Berenstein
of Toronto, Ontario, Freda Enchin
of Toronto, Ontario; grandchildren,
Andrew Greenblatt, Olivia Greenblatt,
Sarah Bitton; loving and devoted nieces
and nephews, other family members
and numerous friends.
Mr. Greenblatt was the loving father
and father-in-law of the late Paula
Greenblatt and the late Mary Claire
Greenblatt; dear brother and brother-
in-law of the late Louis and the late
Sadie Greenblatt, the late Usher and the
late Mary Greenblatt, the late Sydney
and the late Reva Green, the late Sylvia
Green, the late Sadie and the late
Benjamin Fishman, the late Stanley
Berenstein.
Contributions may be made to Jewish
Hospice and Chaplaincy Network,
6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
MI 48322. Interment was at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Li

Community Leader

H

erbert A. Aronsson, 83, of
Bloomfield Hills, died Aug. 14,
2012.
He was the former chairman of
the family-owned Aronsson Printing
Company until it was acquired by the
Detroit Legal News Company. He also
served as a director of City National
Bank Company and First of American
Bank Corporation.
Mr. Aronsson was a trustee of the
Babson College Alumni Association in
Wellesley, Mass.; he graduated from
Babson magna cum laude in 1950.
He also was a member of the Babson
Corporation.
Mr. Aronsson served as a corporate
gift chairman of the United Negro
College Fund and division chairman

for the advanced gift committee of
of the Frank A. Wetsman Leadership
the United Foundation. He was the
Award.He was also a past president of
president of the Shapero
Franklin Hills Country
School of Nursing of
Club and the Standard
Sinai Hospital and was
Club of Detroit. In addi-
also a 20-year trustee of
tion, he had served as
Sinai Hospital of Detroit.
division chairman for
Mr. Aronsson was trea-
Junior Achievement of
surer and vice president
Southeastern Michigan.
of Temple Beth El as
Mr. Aronsson is
well as president of the
survived by his sons,
Temple Players and had
Dr. Stig Aronsson of
served on the boards of
Bloomfield Hills and
the Jewish Federation,
Allen Aronsson, also of
Jewish Community
Bloomfield Hills; broth-
Center and the Anti-
er-in-law, Dr. Stanley
Herbert Aronsson
Defamation League. He
Levy; many nieces and
was president of the
nephews.
Jewish Home for Aged and the recipient
He was the beloved husband of the

Obituaries

late Helene Aronsson; the devoted son
of the late Maurice and the late Dora
Aronsson; the loving brother of the late
Margie Shell and the late Lois Kottler;
the dear brother-in-law of the late Dr.
Sam Shell, the late Susanne Jackson
Levy and the late Rita Levy.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Jewish Senior Life Foundation, 6710
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322; Temple Beth El, Rabbi Leo M.
Franklin Archives Fund, 7400 Telegraph
Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, www.
tbeonline.org ; or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. Li

Obituaries on page 58

August 23 • 2012

57