obituaries Big Man With A Big Heart Louis Finkelman Special to the Jewish News I rving Dworkin died peacefully at home on Aug. 13, 2014, at age 92, after a long, eventful life as home- builder, musician, lawyer, raconteur, patriarch and philanthropist. Iry started his career as a musician early, playing trumpet at Central High School and Wayne State University in Detroit. He proudly maintained his membership in the musician's union to the end of his life. Decades later, strangers would rec- ognize Iry as the tall fellow (he was 6-foot-4-inches) who stood up to play trumpet solos on the Boblo boat, at the D & C Western States Dance Band or at Detroit's Michigan Theater. During World War II, Iry served as a midship- man in the United States Navy. He brought his trumpet on ship with him and made use of it to entertain his fel- low sailors and, when confined to his room, to entertain himself. When he returned from his service in the Navy, he felt unsure about what do professionally. A friend was enter- ing law school and, almost on a whim, Iry joined him. At Wayne University, Iry noticed another student, a young woman named Olga. He wondered that "somehow, wherever I happened to go, she was there:' Iry and Olga wound up sharing more than 66 years of married life together. Iry graduated Wayne State University Law School and practiced law for some five years. The way he liked to tell the story, he lost every one of his cases and so decided to pick another career. In his next career, he built homes. Among the many residences he built as part of the Diore Building Company was his own DAVID BRODSKY, 75, of Southfield, died Aug. 26, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Hattie; son and daughter-in-law, Kerry and Melissa Brodsky of Sterling Heights; daughter, Rebecca Brodsky of Commerce Township; grandchildren, James Brodsky, Hunter Brodsky, Katelyn Brodsky and Andrew Brodsky; Hattie's grandchildren, Keith Harris, Michael Harris and Marianne Harris. Mr. Brodsky was the cherished brother of the late Joanne. Interment was at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Congregation Shomrei Emunah, 25451 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48075. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. 76 September 4 • 2014 home. His last residential building was the home in Bloomfield Hills for his daugh- ter and son-in-law, Debra and Richard Partrich. He enjoyed house construction so much that Debra remembers being surprised when she learned that other men do not come home from work whistling hap- pily as her father usually did. He would finish meals with a satisfied "Um-hmm." Even with his big appetite, he managed to exercise enough to stay in shape. "He was:' as his daughter recalls, "a self-actuated man. He did everything he wanted to do. He was very happy." Philanthropic Efforts Iry and Olga made generous contribu- A People Person tions to many chari- Irv, a big man, had a ties, including Wayne personality to match. He State University and enjoyed recounting stories the Karmanos Cancer of his own varied experi- Institute. ences, and he enjoyed Iry never aban- learning about other peo- doned his love for ple. Wherever he went, music. Seven years Irving Dwork in he asked people "How are ago, daughter Debra, you doing?" — and stayed an active volunteer to hear their answers. He would follow supporter of the Detroit Symphony up with further questions, and he might Orchestra, won an auction for the prize then offer suggestions for how to deal privilege of conducting the DSO. She with problems; not claiming expertise, assigned the privilege to her father, then just suggesting strategies someone in his mid-80s, who enjoyed the role might try. immensely. After offering to replace one Nephew Steven Ballmer, the former of the trumpet players, he conducted CEO of Seattle-based Microsoft, noted the concluding work of the volunteer that even in his declining years, Uncle appreciation concert, the William Tell Iry kept up-to-date with the news. Overture. "Whenever I would visit, he would tell Iry was especially close to his niece me what he had read in the newspapers and nephew, Shelley Ballmer and Steve about challenges facing Microsoft and Ballmer, the children of his older sister make suggestions about how to deal Bea and her husband, Fred Ballmer. Iry with them," Ballmer said. and Bea's mother, Rose Dworkin, died at Iry made friends easily, as he was the age of 42, when Iry was 12; thereafter, interested in whatever people did. He Bea was like a mother to Irv. When Fred also kept in touch with his old friends, and Bea passed away, Iry felt that their calling them every few days. children should be as close as his own. Iry derived immense joy from food. After a health crisis about a year ago, Any occasion seemed a good one for released from the hospital and facing a meal or a snack. Offered a donut, he the prospect of physical therapy in a might reply, "I could choke that down." rehabilitation facility, Iry calmly told NORMAN J. BRODSKY, 81, of Harrison Township, died Aug. 15, 2014. He proudly served his country as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Brodsky was a master in the art of the sale, achieving recognition at Art Van Furniture and Federal Department Stores. He also served as a union stew- ard and negotiator for the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers union. He was the cherished father of Sheri (Leonard Naumenko) Brodsky and Jeffrey (Jessica) Brodsky; loving grand- father of Jeremy Brodsky; dear brother of Judy (Brodsky) Schwartz and Arthur Brodsky. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ann Bogart; parents, Sam Brodsky and Sally (Herskowitz) Brodsky; first wife, Maxine (Harrison) Brodsky. Obituaries A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, at noon at the Dorfman Chapel, 30440 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. RONALD DAVIDOFF, 82, of Farmington Hills, died Sept. 1, 2014. He is survived by his son and daughter-in- law, Mark Davidoff and Margie Dunn; daughter- in-law, Karen Davidoff; Davidoff grandchildren, Shira and Aaron Greenberg, Zvi and Euijeung Davidoff, Noam and Lisa Davidoff, Avi and Amanda Davidoff, and Kale Davidoff; great- grandchildren, Gideon, Lila and Jordan Greenberg; sisters and brother-in-law, his daughter, "I am 91 years old. I might live another few weeks or I might die tomorrow, or I might live another few years. But however long I have to live, I am not doing it here. So get me home." The family arranged to bring him home and have the physical therapists and medical staff come to him. In his final illness, Iry Dworkin expressed gratitude to the dedicated caregivers who made it possible for him to live in the home that he built and not in a hospital. At Irv's funeral, Rabbi Joseph Krakoff delivered a eulogy filled with personal memories. Rose Partrich, a granddaugh- ter, and nephew Steven Ballmer spoke of Irv's intense relationship with his family and his ebullient sense of humor. Irving Dworkin is survived by his wife, Olga F. Dworkin; son, Richard Dworkin of Romeo; daughter and son- in-law, Debra and Richard Partrich of Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren, Sam and Cori Dworkin, Rebecca and Doug Bowen, Kimberly Dworkin, Rose Partrich; nephew and nieces, Steven and Connie Ballmer, and Shelley Ballmer; great-nephews, Sam, Peter and Aaron Ballmer. He was the loving brother of the late Beatrice Ballmer; the dear brother-in- law of the late Fred Ballmer. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, www. karmanos.org; Peter & Dorothy Brown Adult Day Care Program, 6720 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.jslmi.org; or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. www. jewishhospice.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑ Gloria Nussbaum, and Joan and Ben Stein. Mr. Davidoff was the beloved husband of the late Rita Davidoff; the cherished father of the late Dr. Gary Davidoff, and the devoted son of the late Harry and the late Esther Davidoff. Interment was at Hebrew Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the Dr. Gary Davidoff Hillel Passover Fund, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, www.jewishdetroit.org; Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, the Carol Rosenberg Discretionary Fund, 6710 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.jslmi.org; or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.jewishhos- pice.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.