obituaries

The Pride Of Flint

E

stelle Kaufman, 87,
Beth Israel, where she
of Flint Township,
sponsored the annual
passed away March
Thanksgiving Bazaar by
16, 2015.
donating the advertisements
She was a colorful, bright,
and hundreds of hot dogs,
generous, humorous, loving,
beverages and desserts for
eccentric and larger-than-life
the patrons to eat while they
force in the lives of her family
shopped. She sold dozens
and many others.
of ads for the Beth Israel
Mrs. Kaufman was born
Sisterhood's annual donor
Sept. 29, 1927, in Philadelphia 1 14
luncheon. She also sponsored
1r
.
to Edmond (a native of Paris,
the Chabad House of Eastern
Estelle Kaufman
France) and Rachel Creed (a
Michigan's Purim booklet
native of Kielce, Poland). Her
in honor of her parents and
family relocated to Toronto, where her
in-laws.
father started Edmond Creed Furriers,
Mrs. Kaufman was a 30-year, dues-
manufacturing coats for world-famous
paying member of the auxiliary division
individuals including Queen Elizabeth, to of the American Bar Association and
whom he presented a fur coat upon her
took classes at Mott Community College
visit to Canada in 1952.
in paralegal studies. She enjoyed her
Estelle graduated the University of
annual winter vacation in Miami Beach
Toronto with a degree in theater. She
and summers in Charlevoix. She was an
married Dr. Benjamin Kaufman of
animal lover, a supporter of the Humane
Owosso, Mich., on Oct. 7, 1951. He was
Society and the National Wildlife
one of Flint's first orthodontists, practic-
Association and always had pet dogs and
ing at 314 W. Third Ave. Estelle assisted
cats around her.
him in his practice for more than 50
In the 1980s, she hosted a popular
years.
radio broadcast on WTAC, Estelle and
She loved the theater and acted in
Friends. Listeners would hear interesting
many local productions. She was proud
interviews and Estelle's many thoughts
to be a member of the Actors Equity. She
and opinions. She read multiple news-
founded the Flint Drama Guild in 1969
papers every day and could discuss any
and produced many shows, including You topic. She was known for calling many
Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's
public officials to offer advice and was
Running at the Whiting Auditorium. She
very close to Mayor Don and Patsy Lou
was a member of the Flint Community
Williamson and former Congressman
Players and the Musical Tent in Clio.
Dale Kildee and his mother, with whom
Among many other productions, she
she spoke daily.
performed as the witch in Hansel and
Mrs. Kaufman is survived by her
Gretel for the Community Players and
husband, Dr. Benjamin Kaufman; chil-
was especially proud to be cast profes-
dren, Therese (David) Leyton of Flint
sionally as the Widow Paroo in The Music Township, Joel (Nancy) Kaufman of
Man and as Mrs. Sowerberry in Oliver
West Bloomfield, Dr. Sheryl Weissman
at the Musical Tent. In later years, she
of Portland Ore., Alisa Kaufman (David
performed at the Bonstelle Theater in
Raider) of Commerce Township; grand-
Detroit.
children, Dr. Aimee Speck (Alan Speck),
She was president of the Flint Skating
Andrew Leyton, Erica Leyton, Adam
Club for more than 20 years, and in that
Leyton, Shelby Kaufman, Carly Kaufman,
position she produced ice shows star-
Jacob Kaufman, Rebecca Weissman,
ring world-class figure skaters at the
Madeline Weissman, Jordan Bachar and
IMA Sports Arena. She was a Gold Circle
Sivan Rose Bachar; great-grandchildren,
Member of the University of Toronto
Sadie and Micah; many, many cousins.
Alumni Association, a Ruben Society
She was preceded in death by her par-
member of the Flint Institute of Arts, and ents; brother, Raymond Creed, prominent
an active supporter of the Shriners and
Canadian barrister and solicitor.
their hospital. She annually purchased
Services were held at Congregation
a truckload of Vidalia onions from the
Beth Israel, Flint. Interment was
Shriners and gave them out to her fam-
at Machpelah Cemetery, Flint.
ily and many friends. Each December,
Contributions may be made to
Estelle purchased dozens of Claxton-
Congregation Beth Israel, Chabad House
Georgia fruitcakes and distributed them
of Eastern Michigan or Flint Institute
throughout Michigan.
of Arts. Tributes may be shared on the
She was a member of Congregation
obituaries page at www.

Interior Designer

D

ebora Stein, 100, of Hollywood,
Fla., died March 23, 2015.
She recently celebrated her
100th birthday and said it would be her last
one. As usual, she got her way.
Debbie was born Freda Devorah
Feldman in Detroit on Dec. 5, 1914.
Her parents, Isadore Feldman and Leah
Shapiro, were Russian/Jewish immigrants
who worked hard and lived very modestly.
Debbie had a strong sense of beauty and
design and would go on to run an interior
decorating business called Interiors by
Freda. She went to great lengths to always
look her best and was a regular at the
Pretty Girl beauty salon until the end.
She married well. In 1933, Debbie began
a nearly 30-year marriage to Leo Adler,
who was well known for his car dealerships
and for starting the floating Harbor Bar on
the Detroit River. They also lived briefly in
Beverly Hills in the '40s and Miami Beach
in the '50s.
After Leo's death, Debbie had an equally
long second marriage to Philip Stein. They
initially lived in West Bloomfield and then
retired together in the Emerald Hills neigh-
borhood of Hollywood, Fla., where she
lived for more than 40 years.
She was not known for her cooking, but
she did enjoy extremely hot coffee, cold
martinis and dining out, especially at Joe's
Stone Crab. Debbie liked to orchestrate
things; and whenever she dined out, the
first table offered was never quite right.
Debbie loved playing mah jong, gin, bridge

CHARLOTTE ARKIN, 84, of Detroit, died
March 28, 2015.
Ms. Arkin is survived by her sister and
brother-in-law, Sylvia and Dr. Marvin
Gordon; nieces and nephews, Susan and
Bruce Smith, Bob and Susan Gordon; great-
nieces and great-nephews, Jacob, Evan and
Bret Smith, Olivia and Kate Gordon.
She was the devoted daughter of the late
David and the late Minnie Arkin.
Contributions may be made to the
Michigan Humane Society, 30300 Telegraph
Road Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025,
michiganhumane.org; or Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit,
MI 48201-2444, detroitsymphony.com .
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

JACK BERMAN, 85, of

Berman

Southfield, died March 26,
2015.
He is survived by
his wife, Lois Berman;
daughter, Beth Berman
of Southfield; son, Scott
Berman of Los Angeles,
Calif.; loving nieces and

and backgam-
mon with her
many friends
and with her
numerous
grandchildren
and great-
grandchildren.
Debbie loved Debora Stein
her family and c. 1975
will be remem-
bered for her incredible generosity.
Debbie is survived by her daughter, Lois
(and husband Manny Talkovsky) of San
Francisco, Calif.; her son by marriage, Ed
Stein (and wife Pat) of Ann Arbor. She
is also survived by eight grandchildren,
Steven and Bruce Ellis, Jil Geller, Mike and
Lyn Talkovsky, Jill Lerner, and Aaron and
Jeremy Stein; by 10 great-grandchildren,
Maya, Jayne, Leah and Joel Ellis, Ma'ayan,
Leore, and Shanni Geller, Mia Talkovsky,
and Olivia and Zachary Lerner. Other
close surviving relatives include Melissa
(Ivan and Adam) Dobrin of Plantation,
Fla., Howard Gerson and family of Brazil;
nieces, Geraldine Warren of Sarasota, Fla.,
and Sylvia Hurvitz of Delray, Fla.
She was predeceased by her nine broth-
ers and sisters, including most recently,
Joe (and Jenny) Feldman, Becky (and Al)
Belinsky, and her nieces, Julie Gerson and
Lillian Bonin.
Contributions in her memory may be
made to Jewish Family Service of Broward
County or a charity of one's choice.

❑

nephews.
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to I.R.P., do the
Jewish Community Center, 15110 W. 10 Mile
Road, Oak Park, MI 48237; or Yad Ezra, 2850
W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072, www.
yadezra.org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

ALLEN DAVIS, 81, of Novi, died March 25,

2015.
He is survived by his son and daughter-
in-law, Steven and Nancy Davis of Ann
Arbor; daughters and sons-in-law, Carrie
and David Shook of Highland Park, Ill., Risa
Davis of West Bloomfield, Faith and Richard
Hamilton of Novi, Licia and Mark Williams
of Plymouth; brother and sister-in-law,
Robert and Betsy Davis of Florida; grand-
children, Davey, Sara, Todd, Laura, Leah,
Hannah, Brittany, Jessica, Maxwell, Samuel;
great-grandchild, Buddy; many other loving
family members and friends.
Mr. Davis was the beloved husband of the
late Shirley Davis.
Contributions may be made to Kadima.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

Obituaries on page 78

Obituaries

April 2 • 2015

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