obituaries

Parkinson's Foundation Hero

A

Ilan J Gavern, of Grand Rapids,
a former resident of suburban
Detroit, died on Jan. 31, 2014, at
the age of 90.
Affectionately known as AJ, he and his
wife, Jeanne, grew up and spent most of
their lives in the Detroit area. AJ gradu-
ated from Cass Technical High School
in Detroit and began college studies at
General Motors Institute when World
War II began. He enlisted in the Air
Force and was commissioned as a first
lieutenant. He served as a meteorological
flight officer on B24s and B29s.
After the war, AJ resumed his college
studies and received his mechanical
engineering degree from the General

MARSHA BAKER, 71,
of Novi, died Jan. 30,
2014.
She was co-president
of her ORT chapter, a
past officer of the Adat
Shalom Synagogue
Sisterhood, a past presi-
dent of JWI, a member
of Hadassah and the local chapter of the
City of Hope. She also volunteered for the
Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Mrs. Baker is survived by her husband
of 17 years, Harold Baker; son, Brian
Greenstein of White Lake; daughters and
sons-in-law, Michelle and Nick Malamis
of Livonia, Helene and John Dunbar of
Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Jack
Greenstein, Jarett Greenstein, Lilly
Malamis, Matthew Malamis, Whitney
Tower Woods, Keira Dunbar; sisters,
Harriet Friedman of West Bloomfield,
Shirley Simon of Los Angeles, Calif.; many
nieces, nephews and other relatives and a
world of loving friends.
Mrs. Baker was the dear sister-in-law
of the late Dennis Grodin and the late
Malcolm Simon.
Contributions may be made to Adat
Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt
Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Canton
Community Foundation, #200, 50430
Schoolhouse Road, Canton, MI 48187;

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of 45 years became the first
director emeritus. After
retiring from Pfizer, AJ and
Jeanne assumed leader-
ship roles in the Michigan
Parkinson's Foundation,
organizing area support
groups and lobbying both
the Michigan Legislature and
the U.S. Congress. In 2000,
the couple were awarded the
Raymond B. Bauer, M.D.
Humanitarian Award for
their tireless efforts to find a
cure for Parkinson's disease.
Throughout his life, AJ was an avid
competitive tennis player and an all-

round sports enthusiast. Most impor-
tantly, he believed that loving, caring
and supporting family throughout the
twists and turns that are the adventure
of each life is what makes a great life.
Mr. Gavern was the cherished father
of Frank (Denise) Gavern and Adrienne
(David) Gavern-Tomlinson; dearest broth-
er of Stanley Gavern; loving grandfather of
Jessica Tomlinson, Alex Gavern and Nick
Gavern. He is also remembered by many
loving family members and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Jeanne (Perliss) Gavern.
Interment was held at Machpelah
Cemetery in Ferndale. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

Jewish Family Services, 6555 W. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Interment
was held at Adat Shalom Memorial Park
Cemetery in Livonia. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

Mr. Cohen is survived by his son, Dr.
Darryl Cohen of Bloomfield Hills and his
fiancee, Roberta Szalach; daughter and
son-in-law, Stacy Cohen Nall and Robert
Nall of West Bloomfield; grandchild, Sydnee
Cohen; sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and
Dr. Earl Hecker of Bloomfield Hills.
He was the loving brother of the late Dr.
Daniel Cohen; the dear brother-in-law of
the late Gail Cohen.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater
Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Road,
Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033, www.
alz.org; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

from Cass Tech with a perfect record. He
graduated Wayne State University Medical
School in 1958, a member of Alpha Omega
Alpha (the medical honor society).
He went on to intern at Sinai Hospital
of Detroit, receiving the Outstanding
Intern of the Year Award for 1958-59. He
went into a hematology oncology practice
but was drafted into the Army. Upon dis-
charge, Dr. Helman and his family settled
in California, where he had accepted a
position with Kaiser Permanente.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr.
Helman translated from Yiddish to English
the yahrtzeit book on David Horodok, the
shtetl in Belarus that his parents came from.
Dr. Helman is survived by his wife,
Blossom Lehrman Helman, the daughter of
the late Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Lehrman;
sons, Dr. Dale Helman and Adam Helman;
grandsons, Moshe, Aharon and Daniel;
granddaughters, Elizabeth, Rachel, Rebekah
and Jullianna; sister, Eileen Aboulafia;
brothers, Ambassador Gerald B. Helman
and Dr. Paul Helman. He is remembered
with love by his brother-in-law, Dr. Elie
Aboulafia; sister-in-law, Dr. Ruth Helman;
daughter-in-law, Dana Mills Helman;
numerous nieces and nephews.
Dr. Helman was the son of the late Leo
and the late Anna Helman.
Interment was in Monterey, Calif.
Contributions may be sent to the David
Horodoker Organization or to the
Alzheimer's Association.

DOROTHY JEAN
BENJAMIN, 86, of West
Bloomfield, died on Jan.
28, 2014.
She is survived by
her beloved husband,
Dr. Charles "Buddy"
Benjamin; son and
Benjamin
daughter-in-law, Dr.
Danny and Marilyn Benjamin of West
Bloomfield; daughter and son-in-law, Susie
and Harold Serwer of Franklin; grandchil-
dren, Matthew Benjamin, Ryan Benjamin,
Melissa Serwer and Alex Serwer; devoted
cousin, Dr. Jerome Abrams; many other
loving family members and friends.
Interment was held at the Indianapolis
Hebrew Congregation South Cemetery
in Indianapolis, Ind. Contributions may
be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements were made by Dorfman
Chapel.

JOSEPH SHERMAN COHEN, 78, of
Bloomfield Hills, died Jan. 20, 2014.
He was an attorney and former owner of
the Rikshaw Inn.

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Motors Institute and his
M.B.A. from Wayne State
University. He started his
career at GM Detroit Diesel
and then spent more than
40 years working for Parke-
Davis, Warner-Lambert and
Pfizer in the pharmaceuti-
cal industry.
During his years at
Parke-Davis, he held posi-
Gavern
tions at the Parda Federal
c. 1980
Credit Union, including
chairman of the board,
vice chairman, treasurer and secretary.
On Sept. 30, 2005, Parda Federal Credit
Union's most dedicated board member

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ALBERT FELDSTEIN, 97, of Walled Lake,
died Feb. 2, 2014.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Ethel
Feldstein; son and daughter-in-law, Martin
and Brenda Berkowitz of Walled Lake;
daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and
Leonard Bayer of Commerce; sister, Irene
Karpel; grandchildren, Justin (Kristina)
Bayer, Jordan (Susan) Bayer, Michael
Berkowitz; many loving nieces, nephews,
great-nieces, great-nephews, other family
members and friends.
Mr. Feldstein was the brother of the late
Joseph (late Lillian) Feldstein; brother-in-
law of the late Jack Karpel.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment was held
at Nusach Hari Cemetery in Ferndale.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

DR. NORMAN HELMAN, of Encino,
Calif., formerly of Detroit, died Jan. 22,
2014.
He was a man who was devoted to his
family, God and his healing profession.
Dr. Helman was a scholar and was board
certified in four medical disciplines. He
was an internist, hematologist, oncologist
and chief of nuclear medicine, when he
was a lieutenant colonel at Fitzsimmons
Army Hospital in Denver and at Kaiser
Permanente in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
He was born in Detroit and graduated

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LESLIE ISHBIA, 50, of
West Bloomfield, died
Feb. 2, 2014.
She is survived by
her parents, Cliff and
Myrna Klayman; son,
Jared Ishbia of East
Lansing; daughters,
Ishbia
Nikki and Lindsey Ishbia
of West Bloomfield; brothers and sisters-
in-law, Brian and Audrey Klayman of West
Bloomfield, Greg and Isabelle Roover of
Jupiter, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law,
Michele and Robert Levine of Franklin, Jodi
and Matt Golden of Birmingham; devoted