obituaries

Never An Unkind Word About Anyone

Keri Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

B

yron "Bud" Gerson was a
thoughtful man with a sparkle in
his eye who lived life to the full-
est — he was a successful businessman
who gave back to his community and to
Israel; a man passionate about sports; a
person devoted to his wife, family and
friends; and, above all, an individual who
never uttered a bad word about anyone.
"My father was a man of passion,
conviction and discipline; a child of the
Depression who worked hard all his life;
a soft-spoken man of few words, but with
a wry wit and great perception; but most
importantly, a man of abiding devotion to
his family and, most of all, to his beloved
wife, Dorothy:' said son Ralph Gerson of
Bloomfield Hills in his eulogy of his father.
Bud Gerson, 94, died Nov. 2, 2013, after
several years of battling illnesses.
His first battle came as an infant. Born
prematurely on Jan. 28, 1919, in the
Detroit home of his parents, Myer and
Carrie Gerson, he was placed in a shoe-
box stuffed with cotton and placed near
the stove to keep him warm. A fighter, he
overcame this health battle as he did oth-
ers in his long life.
In his 90s, when asked how he was
doing, he'd often reply, "I'm vertical:' Or
he might say, "I'm here because of that
cock-eyed optimist who was the best
thing that ever happened to me:'
Bud met Dorothy Davidson, the cock-
eyed optimist, through a friend at the
University of Michigan, where both were
students. He majored in English. At the
time, she felt only "a medium attraction"
to him. When their next date happened
to coincide with a friend's wedding, she
asked him to go with her.
"He told me no, and said he'd call
another time. Bam. He hung up on me
Dorothy said. "He rejected me. In those
days, girls didn't call boys. It was horrible;
now I was interested in him. After several
months, he finally called me and that was
it. Then I really liked him. We were mar-
ried May 27, 1947, in my mother's home
on Chicago Avenue by Rabbi Adler.
"I just felt very good with him; I liked
being with him. His values and mine were
the same. We were on the same wave-
length, and we agreed on a lot of things. I

NORMAN B. BLATT,

Blatt

91, of Novi, died Nov.
7, 2013.
He is survived by
his daughter and
son-in-law, Barbara
and Jack Krekun; son
and daughter-in-law,

very much admired him:'
Jerusalem stayed open just for them — as
The two were inseparable and affec-
well as the king of Jordan and, strangely
tionate, living a marriage many admired.
enough, Dr. Ruth Westheimer — and
"They were a unit:' said daughter-in-
closed again when they departed.
law Erica Gerson. "They were very differ-
Israel was such a passion that Bud
ent, but they were there for each other:'
and Dorothy became benefactors to the
A major difference was that Bud was
Israel Antiquities Authority, supporting
prompt and Dorothy was habitually late.
the restoration of the steps leading to
He might be fuming in the
the southern entrance of
car waiting for her, but he
the Second Temple, now
never said a cross word to
known as the Gerson
her, Ralph said.
Steps.
Another difference made
And last year, Bud
theirs a "mixed marriage:'
went to Israel to attend
Her family belonged to
the dedication of the
Congregation Shaarey
Sarah Wetsman Davidson
Zedek and his to Temple
Tower at Hadassah
Hospital, named in mem-
Beth El. But as they often
did, they found ways to
ory of Dorothy and Bill's
compromise at the holi-
mother. Though ill, Bud
days.
knew Dorothy would not
Bud graduated from
go if he didn't make the
Byron "Bud" Gerson
Central High School and
trip, too.
already was involved in
Bud also joined Bill
his beloved sports, playing tennis and
Davidson in ownership of the Detroit
becoming a club champion in golf. After
Pistons, becoming an educated and
college, he served in the U.S. Army
devoted fan who proudly wore the team's
as a sergeant stationed at Fort Ord in
championship rings. As a testament to
California. When he returned, he joined
Bud, there was a moment of silence at the
his father's business, Myer's Jewelry.
Nov. 2 Pistons game.
With his friends, he indulged in tennis,
Business And Israel
golf and fishing. And he rarely missed
his Friday lunch group at Franklin Hills
When his father died at age 60, Bud, his
mother and brother, Ramon, took over.
Country Club, where he and golf partner
Bill Berman of Franklin were champs.
With Bud's acute sense of emerging trends,
he turned the business into a chain, which
"I will miss him; I just loved the guy:'
later was sold. He did the same when he
Berman said. "The four of us traveled the
later purchased Say-On Drugs, turning it
world together. He never said a bad word
into a chain of drugstores before selling the
about anyone. He was an absolute gentle-
man:'
business.
When Guardian Industries Corp.,
Bud and Madge Berman started M &
owned by his brother-in-law, the late Bill
B Farms, which owned racehorses that
Davidson, went public, Bud joined the
competed across the country. Bud loved
board and soon became part-time direc-
racing because he had gone to the track
tor of advertising, putting into play one of with his father and uncles; Madge loved
his passions from college.
the animals, Dorothy said.
"Bud and Bill had a great relationship:'
As a father, Bud was devoted to his
said sister-in-law Karen Davidson of
sons. When Matthew became interested
Bloomfield Hills. "They were like brothers:' in broadcasting, Bud found a radio station
That relationship included family vaca-
for them to acquire. He knew little about
tions and many trips to Israel. In fact,
the field, but learned fast. He and Dorothy
Dorothy and Bud accompanied Bill when
never missed a broadcast of Matthew's
they went to Israel during the second
"Matt Gerson's Person to Person" interview
intifada (Palestinian uprising). Their trip
show and made tapes of each broadcast to
was delayed by the violence, but they
distribute to family and friends.
made it to Israel at a time when few were
And Bud was a dedicated grandfather,
traveling there. The King David Hotel in
uncle and great-uncle. He had a way of

David and Carolyn Blatt; grandchil-
dren, Aaron and Rachel Blatt, Amy and
Jonathan Blatt, and Adam Blatt; great-
grandchildren, Sloan Taylor, Isaac Taylor
and Eliott Blatt; many loving nieces,
nephews and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Evelyn Blatt; the cherished grandfa-

ther of the late Darryl Krekun; the dear
brother of the late Sylvia and the late
Harvey Samuels.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
Jewish Community Center, 6600 W.
Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322, www.jccdet.org ; Congregation

Obituaries

connecting to young people, of truly
listening to them. He never missed the
activities of his granddaughters Stephanie
and Madeleine and often offered sage
advice about the path of their lives,
always with their interests in mind.
"He was quiet, but he was listening:'
Stephanie Gerson said.
Great-nephews Asher and William,
children of Gretchen and Ethan Davidson
of Birmingham, called Bud "the big tough
guy:' No one was sure why, but their love
for him was absolute. A few months ago,
Asher came over dressed as a doctor to
give "Uncle Buddy" a checkup.
Bud, though, was on top of his own
health. He was a habitual reader of
medical journals and subscribed to the
Physicians' Desk Reference, checking out
his medications and the side effects they
could produce.
For their generosity and involvement
in Detroit's Jewish community, Dorothy
and Bud were given the 2011 Lifetime
Achievement Award from the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Bud also was a longtime active member
of the Royal Oak Rotary.
As philanthropists who led by example,
they supported Federation, JVS, the Jewish
Community Center, Shaarey Zedek,
Beth El, the Pistons-Palace Foundation,
U-M, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook
Educational Community and many more.
Byron Gerson is survived by his
wife of 66 years, Dorothy Gerson; sons
and daughters-in-law, Ralph J. and
Erica Gerson of Bloomfield Hills, and
Matthew and Marysia Gerson of Paradise
Valley, Ariz.; grandchildren, Stephanie
Gerson and Madeleine Gerson; sisters-
in-law, Karen Davidson and Jeanne
Gerson; nieces and nephews, Ethan and
Gretchen Davidson, and Marla and Cyrus
Karimipour; many loving relatives and a
world of friends.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, Byron Gerson Fund, 6735
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301, www.jewishdetrottorg; Detroit
Institute of Arts, Byron Gerson Fund,
5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202,
www.dia.org; or a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

❑

Beth Ahm, Louis & Fay Woll Memorial
Bible Garden, 5075 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.
cbahm.org; or a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

Obituaries on page 82

JN

November 14 • 2013 81