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Ruth Driker Kroll: Trailblazer For Women

R

uth Driker Kroll, who
civic institutions.
passed away on Sept
While this issue was being raised
30, 2015, at age 90, was
elsewhere, it was Ruth who pressed
one of the earliest advocates for
AJC to address it here. Thus was born
the place of women as leaders in
the Detroit Women's Forum with
Jewish communal life.
Ruth as its founding director. The
In the 1970s, Ruth was
Forum launched a series of month-
the assistant director of the
ly
luncheons to discuss and take
Ruth Driker
American Jewish Committee's
action
on the broad problems of soci-
Kroll
Detroit office. Together with
ety, from race relations and gender
a small group of allies, Ruth
diversity to poverty, war and peace.
pushed for dismantling the "glass ceiling"
Now, more than 40 years later, the Forum
that historically had kept women out of top
continues as an organization fulfilling Ruth's
positions in organized Jewish life and in the
legacy and vision.
wider universe of the city's business and
Ruth brought together suburban Jewish

women who were active in a wide range of
philanthropic organizations with women
working in Downtown Detroit, many of
them not Jewish, who shared a concern for
social issues and social activism.
Ruth's interests and organizational skills
— her smile when she asked that something
be done, but her iron will and persistence
until she got a "yes" answer — helped shape
the Forum into a powerful and sustained
voice for women's concerns.
The Detroit Women's Forum separated
from AJC many years ago and became
an independent organization, with Ruth
continuing as a dedicated board member.

Having spent her early professional career
in publishing and marketing, Ruth also
contributed her considerable talents to the
Wayne State University Press, on whose
Board of Visitors she served.
Harriet Saperstein, a longtime Forum
member who spoke at Ruth's funeral,
described her as the "grandmother" of many
communal organizations operating today
and as a "sharp and savvy" role model for
those who recognized and appreciated her
critical role in making Detroit a better place
not only for women, but for everyone. *

Northern Hospital in London, England; as
a recipient of the Fifth Annual Award for
Academic Achievement by the Probus Club
of Detroit; as a recipient of the Phi Lambda
Medical Fraternity, Omicron Chapter, for
Outstanding Contribution to Research,
Teaching and Academic Medicine; the
State of Israel's Maimonides Award; as
governor of the American College of
Physicians, Michigan Chapter; recipient
of the Alumni Achievement Award from
Washington State University School of
Medicine; recipient of the Laureate Award
from the American College of Physicians;
recipient of the Heart Award by Mothers
Against Myalgic Encepohaomyelities.
Dr. Lerner is survived by his wife, Lueva

Dixon Lerner; sons and daughters-in-
law, Joshua D. and Susan Lerner of Coral
Gables, Fla., Joel and Shannon Lerner
of Erie, Pa.; daughter and son-in-law,
Elizabeth and Ben Hetzer of Wenonah,
N.J.; grandchildren, Johanna Lerner,
Benjamin Lerner, Henry Lerner, Drew
Hetzer and Reese Hetzer.
Dr. Lerner was the dear brother of the
late Leonard Lerner and the late Rhoda
Lerner.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel. *

low craftspeople to China and Thailand in
her 70s.
Mrs. Yoffee is survived by her son,
Murray (Chong) Yoffee of Gardnerville,
Nev.; daughter, Kay (Dennis) Brown of
Menlo Park, Calif.; son, Hanley (Mary-
Anne) Yoffee of Los Gatos, Calif.; grandchil-
dren, Risha (Michael) Neil, Berry (Matthew
Rosen) Brown, Ian Brown, Angela (Gabe)
Borland, Christopher Bosward, and Tery
Hung; great-grandchildren, Darya and Jacob
Neil, Ellie and Teddy Brown-Rosen, Simon
and Paisley Borland; sister-in-law, Lois Lurie
Frank; cousin, Marilyn Lurie Wolpin; many
loving nieces and nephews in the Lurie,
Safran and Solomon families.
She was the loving sister of the late
Richard (Dick) Lurie; and was predeceased

by her sisters-in-law, Ada (Arthur) Solomon
and Leah (Hyman) Safran. She was the
cherished niece of the late Amelia, the late
Joseph, the late Sadie and the late Theodore
Netzorg.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made
to University of Michigan, School of
Education, 3003 S. State St., Suite 8000,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109, wwwgiving.umich.
edu/howto/index.html; Detroit Institute
of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit, MI
48202, www.dia.org; or a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. *

Light In The Medical Field

D

r. A. Martin Lerner, 86,
in infectious diseases. He then
of Birmingham, died
attended M.I.T as a fellow in
Oct. 5, 2015.
molecular biology. Dr. Lerner's
He attended Washington
innovative and landmark research
University at age 16. Upon com-
led him to publish more than 28
pleting medical school and his
papers by the time he left Boston.
internship, Dr. Lerner worked at
Arriving in Detroit in 1963 as
the National Institute of Heath
the head of infectious diseases
in the Lab of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Martin
at Wayne State University and
Lerner
researching epidemiology, influ-
Detroit Receiving Hospital, Dr.
enza, immunity and viral tissue
Lerner led training programs and
work and published the first of several
laboratories for virus studies. He published
papers in leading medical journals.
several ground-breaking papers on herpes
Following his years of residency at
encephalitics, pneumonia, cardiomyopa-
Barnes Hospital and Boston City Hospital,
thy and immunology. Dr. Lerner's bril-
Dr. Lerner attended Harvard University
liance in research and medicine has been
as a National Institutes of Health fellow
recognized by many, including the Royal

A Consummate Artist

B

arbara Lurie Yoffee, 92,
South Pacific as a Navy lieutenant.
of Huntington Woods,
During the time Bob served in the
died Oct. 10, 2015.
Pacific, Barbara taught second grade
She was born in Detroit
and worked at a summer camp for
to Nathan W Lurie and Ireta
mentally challenged children and
Netzorg Lurie and grew up in
youth. She elected to be a stay-at-
the Rosedale Park neighborhood
home mom when her first child was
of Detroit, where she gradu-
born. After her three children were
ated from Redford High School. Barbara Yoffee enrolled in school, she went back
She received a bachelor of arts
to substitute teaching in inner-city
degree from the University of
Detroit.
Michigan School of Education.
Mrs. Yoffee was an active PTA member
It was at U of M that she met her hus-
and classroom mom. Into her 90s, she was
band of 70 years, Dr. Melvin (Bob) Yoffee,
passionately involved in all kinds of crafts,
when she was attending undergrad and he
creating beautiful pieces of beadwork, weav-
U of M Dental School. Just five weeks after
ing, knitting, needlepoint and basketry. She
their wedding in December 1943, Bob was
was a longtime member of the Michigan
shipped to the Admiralty Islands in the
Weavers Guild and twice traveled with fel-

60 October 15 2015

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