man of the Citizens Merit Selection
Committee.
Mr. Cohan's strong commitment to the
Jewish community was exemplified by
his three-term stint as president of the
Jewish Community Relations Council
of Metropolitan Detroit (formerly the
Jewish Community Council), where he
was instrumental in bringing together
individuals of varying and sometimes
opposing ideologies.
"He made the Council a more compre-
hensive voice of the Jewish community,"
said Judge Paul D. Borman of the U.S.
Eastern District Court of Michigan and
Mr. Cohan's predecessor at the Council.
"He was respected by both sides and
implemented ways to facilitate a unified
mission:'
Mr. Cohan served on numerous other
boards and committees for organiza-
tions devoted to the arts, as well as those
involving race and ethnic relations. He
was a lifetime trustee for the Michigan
Cancer Foundation and served as its
chairman.
His many awards included the
Fellowship Award of the American Arab
and Jewish Friends of Metropolitan
ways he showed his appreciation was by
bestowing the Wolberg Family Climbing
Wall there.
"He was a man of tremendous honor
and dignity," said JCC President Brian
Siegel, in an email he sent to the other
board members after Mr. Wolberg's
death.
As a CPA and owner of Gerald M.
Wolberg PC, he developed a loyal fol-
lowing of clients who relied on him
for his skill, honesty and trustworthy
advice.
Mr. Wolberg delivered newspapers
during his youth, often maintaining
three different routes at once. This
led to his involvement with the Old
Newsboys Goodfellows of Detroit, a
group of former newsboys dedicated to
improving the lives of underprivileged
children. He was also a past president
of the Berkley School Board.
Mr. Wolberg identified with the
concepts of Humanistic Judaism and
became close friends with the late
Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of the
Birmingham Temple in Farmington
Hills. According to Connie, this con-
Detroit, the Judge Learned Hand Award
from the Institute of Human Relations
of the American Jewish Committee,
the Governor's Arts Award for Civic
Leadership in the Arts and the Detroit
News "Michiganian of the Year" designa-
tion in 1993.
Amidst his many obligations and
responsibilities, Mr. Cohan maintained
his ability to have fun.
"He had a tremendous sense of
humor," said Mr. Cohan's son Jonathan.
"He was the best traveled and wittiest
person I knew."
At the funeral service officiated by
Rabbi Robert Levy of Temple Beth
Emeth in Ann Arbor, Mr. Cohan's son
Tim delivered a eulogy that included his
own words as well as tributes from other
family members and close friends.
"We were lucky to have him," said
Tim, adding that his father would have
said the opposite, insisting he was lucky
to have been surrounded by a loving
family that included so many wonderful
relatives and friends.
Mr. Cohan's grandson Charlie praised
nection allowed him to express his
allegiance to the Jewish community,
including the Jewish values and ethics
he embodied and believed in.
Marathon Runner
Mr. Wolberg started running in his 40s
and made up for lost time by participat-
ing in 13 marathons, including races in
Paris, France; New York City; and the
Marine Corps marathon in Washington,
D.C.
In his younger days, he was a city
champion with the Cass Technical High
School basketball team and played on the
University of Michigan basketball team
during his freshman year.
"He was a fitness freak, in peak phys-
ical condition," Connie said. "He was
very gutsy"
On the day before Rosh Hashanah
in 2010, Mr. Wolberg learned he had
cancer. According to Connie, his opti-
mism, bravery and good humor were
unflagging. Even in the face of increas-
ing debilitation, he managed to have
funny-face and burping contests with
his 3-year-old grandson, Carson, from
his grandfather's unmatched memory for
life's minutia, his powerful oratory skills
and his ability to converse with anyone
from a bellhop to a senator.
"He taught me about the things that
make life great: the arts, literature, the
importance of being worldly and doing
what is right," Charlie wrote in the trib-
ute read by Tim.
Shortly before Mr. Cohan's beloved
wife, Heidi, passed away, she sug-
gested that he befriend her acquaintance
Miriam Sandweiss, which he eventually
did, and the couple enjoyed travelling
together and spending time with family
and friends.
Miriam told Tim that his father "didn't
just pass through life, he lived it to its
fullest extent:' She said he absorbed
everything that was unique, and that
his intelligence and breadth of interests
enriched everything they saw and did
together.
Mr. Cohan stressed the importance of
communication and viewed it as the key
to understanding one another in every
aspect of life — when dealing with fam-
ily members, colleagues or total strang-
ers.
his wheelchair.
"In almost three years, he never com-
plained once," Connie said. "He never
moaned, groaned, groused or cursed
his fate. He was a Marine through and
through"
Mr. Wolberg enjoyed exercise, travel,
naps, indie movies, bananas and white-
fish, but his greatest pleasure came
from spending time with his family.
At the funeral service, son Lyle read
from a letter he wrote after learning
of his father's diagnosis. He enumer-
ated memories of time spent together
attending sporting events all over the
country, fishing trips and meals at
Lafayette Coney Island.
"Your compassion and heart make
you so unique," said Lyle, "all the cli-
ents and people that you have helped
(many times for free) are a testament
to that. You have paid it forward many
times:'
Mr. Wolberg is survived by his wife
of 491/2 years, Connie Wolberg; daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Amy and David
Liebowitz of New York; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Lyle and Shira Wolberg of
Said Tim, "Dad was tireless and self-
less in his love, compassion, caring
and his work to bring people together,
people of different political persuasions,
people of different races and religions:'
Leon Cohan was the cherished father
of Nicole Cohan, Timothy Cohan and
Jonathan Cohan; and the loving grand-
father of Charles Tinker and Leila
(Anthony) Cohan-Miccio. He is also
survived by loving companion Miriam
Sandweiss and many other treasured
relatives and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Heidi Ruth Cohan; devoted son of
the late Maurice and the late Lillian
Cohan; and dear brother of the late
George (the late Pearl) Cohan.
Interment was at Arborcrest Cemetery
in Ann Arbor. Contributions may
be made to the Detroit Institute of
Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI
48202, (313) 833-6760, www.dia.org ;
or University Musical Society, 881
N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI
48109, (734) 647-1175, www.ums.org .
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ❑
Huntington Woods; grandchildren, Joey
Wolberg, Katie Wolberg, Maya Wolberg
and Carson Liebowitz; mother-in-law,
Dorothy Frank; brother and sister-in-
law, Sheldon and Iryna Wolberg; broth-
ers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Norton
Delidow, Kim McWhorter and Arnie
Hiller, Mark Unger, Steven Franklin,
and David and Debra Franklin. He is
also survived by many lovin
ds.
He was the devoted son of the late
Loyed and the late Sadie Wolberg;
the loving brother of the late Arleane
Delidow; and the dear son-in-law of the
late Julian Unger.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the Jewish Community Center in
Oak Park, A. Alfred Taubman Campus,
15110 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI
48237; Old Newsboys Goodfellows Fund
of Detroit, P.O. Box 44444, Detroit, MI
48244-0444; or Berkley Educational
Foundation, 14700 W. Lincoln
Boulevard, Oak Park, MI 48237, www.
berkleyschools.org . Arrangements were
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
❑
Obituaries on page 70
June 13 • 2013
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