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A Special Friendship

Kol Ami Honored For Environmental Efforts

Brother-in-law and sister-in-law
celebrate special milestone.

Shannon Mackie

Special to the Jewish News

0

n May 10, West
Bloomfield resident
Rose Lesson reached
an important milestone that
most people only dream about.
With the help of her brother-
in-law, 88-year-old Al Rasof,
and friends and staff at her
residence in American House's
Regent Street, Rose celebrated
her 100th birthday.
She was born in New York
in 1913, but spent most of her
life in Wyandotte, where her
father worked as a tailor. As a
child, she lived with her parents
and 11 siblings. As an adult,
she worked for a short time at
Federal department store before
marrying her late husband,
Sam.
Rose and Sam, who was
born in England but raised in
Rose Lesson and Al Rasof at Rose's 100th
Detroit, met through friends
and liked each other immediate- birthday party at Regent Street in West
ly. The couple was married near- Bloomfield
ly 75 years before Sam passed
away, after he had reached the
"He's a good and thoughtful man,"
century mark. He worked at Chrysler
Rose said. "He's very nice, and he's
and helped to organize a union at the
here to visit me every day:'
automaker in the 1930s. The couple
Cindy Kashdan of American House
belonged to the old Beth Abraham
said, "Al's sense of loyalty and devotion
Congregation in Detroit. Sam and Rose to Rose's happiness and well-being
had one son, Edwin, who has since
is simply unheard of these days," she
died.
said. "His kindness and good deeds
Rose and her sister Betty Rasof
have been extended to the staff, resi-
remained close throughout their lives.
dents and families in our community:'
As young women, they often shared
Some of Rose's fondest memories
clothes and went dancing together.
throughout her 100 years involve fam-
Betty married Al Rasof after meeting
ily. She easily recalls the people that
him during a vacation. Following that
she's loved, including her husband,
first meeting, Al and Betty stayed in
siblings, parents and son.
touch through letters and Al eventu-
"It's unbelievable:' Rose said of her
ally joined the military. During one
milestone birthday. "I feel that it can't
of Al's military leaves in 1946, they
be happening, but it really is."
married after only three face-to-face
By any standard, Rose is in great
meetings.
physical and mental health, and
After Betty died, Al, now of West
she attributes "clean living" to her
Bloomfield, has remained close with
longevity.
his sister-in-law, visiting her every day
"It's important to count our bless-
and even volunteering his time at the
ings," Rose said. "I have a lot to be
senior living community.
thankful for:'
"When you meet her, you think
On May 6, Rose attended an early
you've known her all your life:' Al said. birthday celebration with a kindergar-
"She's just so pleasant to be around:'
ten class at a local elementary school.
Al, a military veteran and former
During the party, the children present-
professor, has gained the respect of
ed her with 100 homemade birthday
everyone at American House and has
cards and described how they envision
found an appreciative friend in Rose.
their lives at 100.

Kathy Banicki, Engineering Society of Detroit board member and
president/CEO of Testing Engineers and Consultants; Kol Ami's Dave
Henig, Rabbi Ariana Silverman and first vice president Paul Gross; and
Irene Dimitry, vice president marketing and renewables at DTE

T

emple Kol Ami has received
another prestigious honor rec-
ognizing the environmentally
responsible decisions made in design-
ing and constructing its new religious
school wing, and the energy-conscious
decisions it continues to make on a daily
basis.
The Engineering Society of Detroit
(ESD) and DTE Energy presented Kol
Ami with the DTE Sustainable Energy
Program of the Year Award in the small
business category. The presentation was

made May 7 at the DTE/ESD Energy
Conference and Exhibition, held at the
Suburban Collection in Novi.
"This is such a nice honor:' said first
vice president Paul Gross, "because as
much as our Kol Ami religious school
students learn about tikkun olam [repair
of the world], those words ring hollow
if they aren't matched by actions. This is
the second time in two months that we've
been honored like this, so our children
are truly seeing the positive message that
comes from responsible decisions:'

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May 30 • 2013

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