obituaries

A Life Of Art

I

Suzanne Chessler

E

Contributing Writer

lien Beth Cantor developed her
love for art while growing up
in Michigan, where her own
artistic talents were first shown through
drawings. She went on to add filmmak-
ing to her interests and became known
internationally.
One of Ms. Cantor's projects, a docu-
mentary that connected Detroit's music
scene with fans dancing in England,
brought her back to this area in 2008.
The piece Whitby Weekend was part of
a group exhibit "Considering Detroit"
at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Detroit (MOCAD).
The artist and her work were memo-
rialized by Marsha Miro, MOCAD
board president, during services held
April 24 in the Davidson/Hermelin
Chapel at Clover Hill Park. A memorial
service will be held in New York.
Ms. Cantor, who had been divid-
ing her time between New York and
London, died April 21, 2013, after bat-
tling lung cancer. She was 51.
"Ellen Cantor's soul was in art, and
she had an abiding affection for her
roots" Miro said. "She was a beautiful
draftsman with often disturbing [sub-
jects], and her drawings would appear
in small and huge-scale.
"She was a groundbreaker and a
powerful voice against censorship and

SYLVIA BAKER, 93, of West

Bloomfield, died April 25, 2013.
She is survived by her sons and
daughters-in-law, Richard and Darlene
Baker of Windsor, Ontario, and Steven
and Lydia Baker, also of Windsor; son-in-
law, Larry Warren; grandchildren, David
Baker, Nathan Baker, Dr. Michael Warren,
Jeff Warren, Stephanie and Dan Harold,
Shelley and Tony Amato, Jason and Lana

would incorporate her drawings in her
in America and Frieze.
films. She was a great documentary
"Being an artist can be very internal
and art filmmaker [expressing adult
and isolating," she said during an inter-
subjects]."
view at the time of the Detroit exhibit.
Cantor first learned about
"It demands a lot of hours
art and drawing from her
alone, thinking and work-
father, Bernard Cantor,
ing.
who regularly took his only
"In the end, though, I
daughter to the Detroit
need a lot of feedback. All
Institute of Arts and taught
my friends become involved
her the basics of illustration
in helping me think about
at home on Wing Lake. He
my work. It becomes a col-
thought the arts would be a
laborative process again"
good way the two of them
Judith Cantor of
could bond.
Bloomfield Hills recalls
Ellen Can for
The artist, a graduate of
her daughter as collabo-
Andover High School before
rating through volunteer
earning her bachelor's degree magna
programs in Metro Detroit. The art-
cum laude from Brandeis University,
ist, who attended religious classes
also honed her skills through stud-
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
ies with what is now the Birmingham
Southfield and spent a semester at
Bloomfield Art Center, Cranbrook,
Hebrew University studying Jewish his-
Interlochen Center for the Arts and the
tory, taught seniors art at Borman Hall;
University of Michigan.
and she worked with campers with spe-
As Ms. Cantor gained professional
cial needs at Tamarack.
attention, she was invited to show her
Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Joseph Krakoff
work at solo and group exhibitions
described her as adventurous, adaptable
as well as screenings offered by many
and independent.
prestigious presenters, such as the
"She found everyone worthwhile as
Renaissance Society at the University
a subject" the rabbi said. "She believed
of Chicago, the Transmission Gallery
that there is always something beautiful
in Glasgow, Kunsthalle Wien in Vienna
that you can find in another person:'
and the Edinburgh International Film
Younger brother Mark Cantor was
Festival.
also a New Yorker. The two were always
Among the publications that have
close, and that closeness was shared
featured her projects are Artforum, Art
with his wife and children.

Baker, and Lindsay Baker and fiance,
Josh Hanson; great-grandchildren, Ryan
Harold, Jack Harold, Jonas Warren, Ethan
Amato, Maddex Amato, Teagan Baker,
Gwyneth Baker and Phoebe Baker; brother
and sister-in-law, Glen and Iris Goldstrom.
Mrs. Baker was the beloved wife of the
late Emanuel "Manny" Baker; the cher-
ished mother of the late Janis Warren;
the loving sister of the late Dr. Herbert

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66 May 2 • 2013

Obituaries

"Let's talk about something nice" he
recalled her saying during a recent visit
as she was coping with illness and still
helping a friend with a new project.
"Her world was ideas and images,
and she built a community of artists"
Mark said.
"She was exceptional."
Ellen Cantor is survived by parents,
Bernard J. and Judith Cantor; broth-
ers and sisters-in-law, Glenn Cantor
and Inga Eriks of New Jersey, Clifford
and Pauline Cantor of Washington,
James and Susan Cantor of Alaska,
and Mark and Karen Cantor of New
York; nieces and nephews Alida Cantor,
Emma Cantor, Rebecca Cantor, Clara
Cantor, Daniel Cantor, Tilly Cantor,
Brian Cantor, Lauren Cantor and Erica
Cantor; and many cousins.
She was the beloved granddaughter of
the late Prof. Samuel and the late Lillian
Levin, and the late Alexander and the
late Tillie Cantor.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan
Detroit, Ellen Cantor Arts Program,
6710 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI
48322; Camp Tamarack, Ellen Cantor
Arts Program, 6735 Telegraph, Suite
380, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY
10065; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

❑

Goldstrom and the late Bette Karp.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Janis Warren
Fund, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, www.
karmanos.org; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Contributions may be made to the
National Kidney Foundation or to a charity
of one's choice. Interment took place at the
Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

MORRIS MOE
BENSMAN, 80, of
West Bloomfield, died
April 23, 2013.
He is survived by his
beloved wife, Diana
Bensman; daughter
and son-in law, Susan
Bensman
and Jay Miller of Novi;
sons and daughter-in-law, Paul Bensman
of Farmington Hills, Stuart and Barbara
Bensman of Howell; sister and brother-
in-law, Muriel and Warren Zweigel
of Southfield; sister-in-law, Barbara
Bensman; grandchildren, Rebecca (Ross)
Libby, Elyse Miller, Ian, Blake and Katelin
Bensman; many loving nieces, nephews,
other family members and friends.
Mr. Bensman was the husband of the
late Annette Bogorad Bensman; brother of
the late Lawrence Bensman.

Farmington Hills, died
April 24, 2013.
She is survived by her
daughters and sons-in-
law, Karen Couf-Cohen
• and Dr. Gerald Cohen
Couf
of Franklin, Donna and
Armando Reyes of Los Angeles, Calif.;
brother and sister-in-law, Norman and
Sylvia Kohn of Vorhees, N.J.; grandchildren,
Nicolas and Natalie Reyes, Sarah and Sophie
Cohen; many loving nieces, nephews, other
loving family members and friends.
Mrs. Couf was the beloved wife of the
late Herbert Couf; the sister of the late
Freda Kohn.
Contributions may be to a charity of
one's choice. Interment took place at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

•

MIRIAM TYBA
COUF, 89, of