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Obituaries from page 81

Trailblazer And Matriarch

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

he wanted. The couple shared a gift for
language and enjoyed many lively and
dynamic conversations.
hirley Malach Bockoff, 87,
"He was her everything," said Rabbi
was a pioneer in the legal
Yedwab.
She enjoyed lifelong friendships
profession and a role model to
her colleagues, her large extended fam- with people from all walks of life,
ily and her many friends.
making each person feel like the most
important person in her world. When
The successful attorney and devoted
matriarch passed away
someone was in need, she
on March 14, 2013,
helped out without hav-
surrounded by loving
ing to be asked. Whenever
family members, at
she returned from a trip to
the Colorado home of
Florida, she brought suitcases
brimming with gifts from the
her niece, Dr. Rebecca
Sexton Lurcott.
local flea market. She loved
Rebecca, who spoke
dining out and could always
at the funeral service
be counted on to pick up the
held at Clover Hill Park
check.
Cemetery chapel on
"She had a way of mak-
Shirley Bockoff
March 17, said Shirley
ing the overwhelming more
was more like a mother
manageable and the everyday
to her than an aunt,
more special," said Rebecca.
Although Shirley never had children
stepping in to help raise her after her
mother died at a young age.
of her own, she was the quintessential
matriarch, happily assuming a mater-
"Shirley asked me not to cry about
her own death — but to celebrate her
nal role with Harry's three children:
life, which had been long and fulfilling
Debbi Ross, Barbara Gold and Richard
Bockoff.
with many blessings and privileges,
both tangible and intangible," said
"Shirley was a woman without chil-
Rebecca.
dren, and we were children without a
Shirley, who lived in West
mother," said Barbara. "It was a perfect
Bloomfield, was one of four sisters,
match:'
born to forward-thinking parents who
Shirley and Harry were active in the
encouraged their daughters to seek out
Temple Israel congregation, establish-
careers at a time when most women
ing a travel fund for kids to travel to
did not. Her sister Rose (Rebecca's
Israel. She spoke to her sister Frances
mother) became a successful ophthal-
at least once a day.
mologist, and Shirley was one of three
"She was the anchor," said Debbi
women in the 1948 graduating class of
Ross, "and she had great wisdom:'
Wayne University Law School.
Shirley Malach Bockoff is survived
Nephew Steven Malach, an attorney
by her sister and brother-in-law,
who worked with Shirley and her hus-
Frances and Solomon Levine; nieces
band, attorney Harry Robert Bockoff,
and nephews, Steven, Ronald, Marsha,
characterized his aunt as "a force to be
Richard, Cheryl, Joseph, Roberta,
reckoned with in the legal community," Bruce and Rebecca. Shirley was also
where she represented judges, lawyers
blessed with the love and support of
and several prestigious clients.
Harry's devoted children, Richard
and Sharon Bockoff, Barbara and Dr.
Family First
Gerald Gold, Debbi and Phil Ross;
Despite her many accomplishments,
grandchildren, Dr. Lee and Jayne Gold,
family was always her first priority.
Jamie and Marc Benovic, Julie Bockoff,
She shared a wonderful relationship
Margo and David Kolodkin, Katie and
with Harry, whom she lovingly nick-
Matt Chosid, Bradley and Lauren Ross,
and Traci Ross; seven great-grandchil-
named "The Boss:' Rabbi Paul Yedwab
of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield
dren, Seth, Alexandra, Adam, Noah,
Hannah, Benjamin and Rachel; and
described in his eulogy how Shirley
doted on her husband, making sure
devoted brother-in-law, Patrick Sexton.
Shirley lived her final weeks in
his clothes were clean and ironed, and
even putting up with his cigar ashes
Colorado, in the embrace of the home
despite her propensity for neatness.
of her late sister's daughter, Dr. Rebecca
Although she preferred staying home Sexton Lurcott, and her husband, Dr.
with the family, she and Harry trav-
Gregg Lurcott, along with their chil-
eled the world because that was what
dren, Reese, Max and Josee.

S

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82

March 21 • 2013

Obituaries