Passion For Genealogy

G

ayle Sweetwine Saini, 69, of Ann
her two-year ordeal with brain cancer, she
Arbor, died Dec, 9, 2012.
continued to enjoy life and maintained an
A native of Detroit, she was
astonishingly positive outlook. Cancer could
an enthusiastic participant in youth group
not take her courage, dignity, kindness and
and religious school at Temple Beth El. She
generosity.
graduated from Mumford High School in
Mrs. Saini was the beloved wife of Ajit K.
1961 and Wayne State University in 1967,
Saini; dear mother of Ravi Saini; devoted
majoring in sociology. She also did graduate
daughter of Rose Sweetwine and the late
coursework at the University of
Sam Sweetwine; cherished sis-
Chicago and Delhi University,
ter of Murray Sweetwine; cher-
India.
ished sister-in-law of Carole
Gayle married Ajit Saini in
Sweetwine, Mohinder Saini,
1972 and became a mother to
Shakuntala Chaudhri, and
Ravi in 1976. She developed a
Nirmal Saini; loving aunt of Ira
passion for genealogy and was
and Becky Sweetwine, Kalman
a longtime board member of
and Emily Sweetwine, Manish
the Jewish Genealogical Society,
Saini and Vikas Saini. She is
enjoying researching her fam-
also survived by numerous
ily history and helping others
other relatives in the United
Gayle Swee twine Saini
discover their roots. She looked
States and India.
forward to attending and
A memorial service was
lecturing at international genealogy confer-
held on Dec. 11 at Machpelah Cemetery.
ences every summer.
Charitable contributions in Gayle's memory
Gayle and Ajit traveled the country and
may be made to the St. Joseph Mercy Health
the world, especially India. She was a mem-
System, P.O. Box 995 Ann Arbor, MI 48106,
ber of Temple Beth Emeth in Ann Arbor
www.stjoesannarbor.org/giving; or to a
and enjoyed the company of the Temple
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Sisterhood and the Mah Jong Ladies. During
Kaufman Chapel.

❑

Aloha, Chaver;
Goodbye, Good Friend

Douglas Bloomfield

I Special to the Jewish News

srael lost one of its best friends
ever to serve in the U.S. Congress
with the passing of Sen. Daniel K.
Inouye. The nine-term senator, who
sold Israel Bonds and once consid-
ered converting to Judaism, died Dec.
17, 2012, at Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center in Bethesda,
Md., from respiratory complications.
He was 88.
Danny Inouye was the senior mem-
ber of the U.S. Senate, the second-
longest serving senator in the history
of the chamber and its president pro-
tempore, making him third in line
to the presidency. He was also chair-
man of the powerful Appropriations
Committee and for many years had
been the chairman or top Democrat on
the foreign operations and defense sub-
committees, where he played a pivotal
role in advancing U.S.-Israel relations.

I

He once told me that he sold Israel
Bonds to help work his way through
college, and that he had considered
converting to Judaism. He joked
that he didn't convert because being
Japanese and having only one arm,
he had "enough tsores:' The real rea-
son, apparently, was the effect on his
devoutly Methodist mother.
His integrity, his quiet modesty and
his firm belief in bipartisan coopera-
tion won him the admiration and
trust of his Senate colleagues and all
who knew him. Nowhere more than
among the supporters and people of
Israel, where he was affectionately
nicknamed "Trumpeldor" for the one-
armed early Zionist hero.
Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in the
1920 battle of Tel Hai in the Upper
Galilee, had lost his left arm in the
Russo-Japanese War in 1904; Inouye
lost his right arm in Italy in the clos-
ing days of World War II. For his
heroism, Lt. Inouye was awarded the
Medal of Honor, but it took 55 years

Obituaries on page 66

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Obituaries

JN

December 27 • 2012

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