obituaries

Beloved Obstetrician

Ronelle Grier

Contributing Writer

D

r. Morton Lazar had countless
experiences during his 101 years,
but the most fulfilling were those
he shared with his beloved family and
the patients he cared for so skillfully and
devotedly.
Often referring to his obstetrics prac-
tice as "a labor of love," he was a fore-
runner in the field of minimizing pain
during childbirth as well as a proficient
and caring physician who earned the
trust and respect of his patients and
their families.
Dr. Lazar, who lived in West Bloomfield
with his wife, Hecky, died Nov. 3, 2014.
Morton Roger Lazar was born in
Lorraine, Ohio, in 1913, the eldest of five
children of Hungarian immigrants Irma
Deutsch and Isadore Lazar. The family
moved to River Rouge when he was an
infant, and he and his siblings were raised
in a loving home, remaining closely con-
nected throughout their lives.
As a youngster, when he was called
"Pinky" because of his shock of red hair,
he took violin lessons and earned a seat
in the former All City Orchestra. At River
Rouge High School, he was a standout
basketball player and played tuba in the
school marching band.
After majoring in pre-med at Wayne
State University (formerly City College),
he graduated from the University of
Michigan Medical School at age 22, where

LAWRENCE G.
ASHLEY, 67, of
Ferndale, died Nov. 4,
2014, after suffering
from frontotemporal
dementia for many
years.
Mr. Ashley was born
Ashley
in Detroit and received
undergraduate and law
degrees from Wayne
State University. He went on to a success-
ful career as an attorney, specializing in
family law. The center of his life was his
devotion to his wife and two children.
Mr. Ashley is survived by his wife, Linda
Ashley; children, David (Brie) Ashley,
Samantha (Tom Katers) Ashley; grandchil-
dren, Julian Izzy Ashley and Joseph Irving
Katers; brother, Leonard (the late Denise)
Ashley.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be

62

November 13 • 2014

JN

Family Life

Dr. Lazar met his first wife, Bunny, on a
blind date, and their marriage lasted more
than 40 years. He welcomed Bunny's two
daughters, Maxine and Marijane, as his
he had the distinction of being both the
youngest graduate in his 1936 class and,
own.
later, the medical school's oldest living
After Bunny passed away, he recon-
alumnus. He went to St. Louis, where he
nected with Hecky, whom he had known
became chief resident at Barnes-Jewish
before, and the two were married for 18
Hospital before coming back to work at
years until his death.
Harper Hospital in Detroit.
According to the eulogy delivered by
In 1943, Dr. Lazar volunteered to
Rabbi Josh Bennett of Temple Israel in
serve his country. He
West Bloomfield, Hecky
was quickly promoted
appreciated her husband's
to captain, then major,
sense of humor, vibrant
working as a general sur-
attitude toward life and
geon in MASH units in
loving acceptance of
Australia, New Guinea and
Hecky's sons, Michael
the Philippines. For three
and Ron, and her daugh-
years, he treated soldiers
ter, Cindy. Together, the
suffering from numer-
couple played golf, danced,
ous kinds of injuries and
and enjoyed spending time
with their many friends in
disease until he returned
home after being honor-
Florida and Metro Detroit.
Dr. Morton La zar on his
ably discharged in 1946.
Golf became a "sec-
Inspired by his experi-
100th birthda V
ond career" of sorts for
Dr. Lazar, who played
ences in St. Louis and an
anesthesia course he took
at Boca West in Florida
in Tennessee, Dr. Lazar became a strong
and Franklin Hills Country Club in
advocate for pain-free childbirth, a new
Farmington Hills, winning many trophies
and revolutionary concept in those days.
and awards.
Despite his many achievements in the
He was one of the first to use novel pro-
cedures such as epidurals, and he was
delivery room and on the golf course,
known as an innovator, even in an era
he considered his greatest accomplish-
ments to be his children, 18 grandchil-
before technological advances such as in-
vitro fertilization, fetal imaging and pre-
dren and nine great-grandchildren. He
natal surgery.
was always supportive and encouraging,
serving as a mentor and role model to
Later, he joined a group of doctors who
traveled the country together visiting other his immediate family and the numerous
obstetrical practices to learn new tech-
nieces and nephews he included in his
inner circle.
niques and skills they could use to provide
improved care to their own patients.
He encouraged them to embrace edu-

made at www.theaftd.org ; or mailed
to the Association for Frontotemporal
Degeneration, AFTD, Radnor Station
Bldg., Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road,
Radnor, PA 19087. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

REMA BURK, 84, of
Illinois, formerly of
Michigan, died Nov. 4,
2014.
A longtime mem-
ber of Congregation
Beth Shalom and Adat
Shalom Synagogue, she
was a lifetime member
of Hadassah and a life-
long student and active
participant with the Agency of Jewish
Education through Federation. A member
of the Yiddish Club, Mrs. Burk was also
a graduate of the Florence Melton Adult
Learning.
She is survived by her husband of 63

Obituaries

years, Robert Burk; son, Gerald Burk;
daughters and sons-in-law, Ilene Burk and
Steven Kowalsky of West Bloomfield, Amy
Burk and Bennett Klasky of Highland
Park, Ill., Nancy Burk and Howard Moritz
of Willmette, Ill.; grandchildren, Marisa
Kowalsky and fiance, Daniel Myers,
Daniel Kowalsky, Rachel Burk, Michal
Burk, Yitzchok and Ariana Burk, Avrum
Burk, Benjamin Berenstein, Andrew
Klasky, Dana Klasky, Emily Klasky,
Samuel Klasky; many adoring great-
grandchildren.
Mrs. Burk was the dear sister and
sister-in-law of the late Laura and the late
Edward Skully, the late Mildred and the
late Samuel Yura, the late Sylvia and the
late Walter Frankel.
Contributions may be made to Yad
Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley,
MI 48072; or to a charity of one's choice.
Interment was held at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

cation, honesty and integrity, and he
enjoyed attending their many life cycle
events and family celebrations.
In addition to golf, he enjoyed bas-
ketball, bridge, travel, jazz and Detroit
sports, especially U-M football and
basketball. He was charismatic, funny,
vibrant and intelligent, with a mind like
that of a much younger man.
Speaking at the funeral service, Dr.
Lazar's son Michael remembered when
they were out in public how former
patients, who fondly called him "Dr.
Mumbles:' were always coming over to
shake his father's hand and thank him —
a testament to the thousands of babies he
delivered and families he helped during
his long and eminent career.
Dr. Lazar is survived by his beloved
wife, Hecky Kasle Lazar; sons, Michael
Kahn (Annette Murzin), and Ron (Lucy)
Nelson; daughters, Marijane Einstein,
Maxine (Stuart) Frankel, and Cindy
(David) Frania; brother, Howard (the
late Gloria) Lazar; sisters, Dorothy (Sam)
Essick and Alice (the late Seymour)
Cantor; sister-in-law, Gilda (the late
Dr. John) Birmingham; and many lov-
ing grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
nieces and nephews.
He was the husband of the late Ethel
"Bunny" Lazar and the dear brother of
the late Richard (the late Jean) Lazar.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
the Mort Lazar Memorial Fund, UMHS
Medical Development and Alumni
Relations, 1000 Oakbrook, Suite 100, Ann
Arbor, MI 48104-6815, www.victors.us/
mortlazar; or a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

❑

ALICE JANE COHEN, 94, of Southfield,
died Nov. 3, 2014.
She is survived by her sons and daughter-
in-law, Paul and Sherila Carr of Ohio and
Dennis Carr of Texas; grandchildren, Julie
Werthmann, Stacie Carr, Michael Carr,
Michelle Carr, Lori Carr, Lyndsay Carr;
great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jake
Werthmann, and Andrew Carr; sister, Ruth
Miller; many other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Cohen was the beloved wife of the
late Morton Cohen for 40 years; the cher-
ished mother of the late Sanford Carr; the
dear sister-in-law of the late Milton Miller,
the late Harry Vinacow, the late Dorothy
and the late Harry Kasmer, the late Nettie
and the late Irving Katcher, and the late
Anna and the late Morrie Mallin.
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Adat Shalom
Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt, Farmington
Hills, MI 48334, www.adatshalom.org; or to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.