obituaries
Obituaries from page 80
Detroit Remembers Joan
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer
A
s Joan Rivers' family mourns
her death, they might take
comfort in the outlook she
expressed to the Detroit Jewish News
before a speaking engagement at Adat
Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
The comedian got serious about her
own life choices as she prepared to speak
before a group attending the "Choices"
program of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit:
"Not to dwell on bad things was a very
conscious choice — moving forward, just
getting on with it and living in a positive,
rather than a negative, way:' she said in
a phone conversation. "I've been through
ups and downs so many times that I just
take it all and grow with it:'
Rivers, who died Sept. 4 after suffering
cardiac arrest during a medical proce-
dure, was 81. After the suicide of her
husband, Edgar Rosenberg, years earlier,
she had moved forward with club appear-
ances, TV shows and book projects.
Rivers had visited Michigan many
times to speak and perform standup
comedy. She was planning to return Nov.
15 for two shows at Andiamo in Warren.
During the past 10 years, she brought her
comedy there eight times.
Joseph Vicari, CEO of the restaurant
chain, has happy memories of Rivers,
who showed him the same serious side
that she presented to the IN.
"On stage, Joan was witty and brassy;
off stage, she was not brassy at all:' Vicari
remembered. "She was very kind to our
staff and to me. Joan was very low main-
tenance for us. The first time she was
here, she asked where she could do some
antiquing, and we suggested places in
Royal Oak."
Vicari was particularly impressed
with her treatment of Aaron Caruso, a
local opera singer she agreed to let open
her act. She liked him so much that she
booked him to open at other shows in
other cities.
Jewish Pride
Rivers, who brought her Jewish back-
ground into her appearances, told the
newspaper she was very proud to be
Jewish.
"I think the philosophy is incredible
and wonderful:' she said. "I'm proud of
Israel. I'm proud of what we've done.
"I love the traditions, and I love the
holidays. I love the strength of all the peo-
ple. I love that we get through. All that, to
me, is terrific."
Rivers said she came from a funny fam-
ily — a funny father, a funny sister and a
funny-enough mother.
In Michigan, she turned to Yiannis
Karimalis at Salon Edge in West
Bloomfield to do her hair. At his work sta-
tion, he keeps a picture of them together.
"I followed the way her hair was done
with extensions:' recalls Karimalis, rec-
ommended to the comedian by a TV
personality. "Afterward, she sent my wife
some jewelry from her line.
"She was very serious and gave me a
positive outlook as she told me about
Kmr vot
HELPING SENIORS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR LOVED ONES
Temple Israel, in conjunction with its Robert Sosnick Family
Life Center, funded by the Ira Kaufman Chapel, presents the
17th Annual Kever Avot. This very special program provides
an opportunity for older adults in the community to visit the
gravesides of their loved ones. This program serves the
residents of assisted living facilities and apartments.
Spend Sunday September 14th remembering your loved ones.
Each participant will be accompanied by a volunteer on a
one-to-one basis for the morning.
To register or for more information, please contact Laura or
Joan in the Temple Israel Robert Sosnick Family Life Center at
248-661-5700 Ext:111 or email Laura@temple-israel.org
THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
18325 W. Nine Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075
248.569.0020 • IraKaufman.com
82
September 11 • 2014
Obituaries
raef
Making a difference.
Joan Rivers
friends experiencing the medical problem
I had at the time. I'm heartbroken about
her death:'
Rivers, who said the best advice she
gave her daughter was to enjoy the
moment, gave time to many causes —
UJA, Tay-Sachs and the Wiesenthal fund
in the Jewish community.
"We had two shows planned for Joan,
and one already was sold out:' Vicari
said. "I'd like to find another comedian
to appear that night and use proceeds for
one or more charitable causes important
to her."
Born Joan Alexandra Molinsky in
Brooklyn, N.Y., she is survived by her
daughter, Melissa, and grandson Cooper.
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