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Concertmaster
Extraordinaire

A Gentle, Generous Spirit

David Sachs Senior Copy Editor

p

aul Monchnik, a retired TV
repairman, died Nov. 23, 2015,
the victim of a murder in his
home in Northwest Detroit. Police say
the 91-year-old was beaten to death
by an intruder, doused with gasoline
and then his house was set ablaze in
an attempt to conceal evidence of the
crime.
The next day, police arrested
the 17-year-old grandson of Mr.
Monchnik's next-door neighbor. The
accused remains in custody, charged
with first-degree murder, felony murder
and arson.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym
Worthy said, "The word heinous does
not even begin to describe this crime:'
Rabbi Daniel Syme of Temple Beth
El officiated at Mr. Monchnik's funeral
on Nov. 25 at Dorfman Chapel in
Farmington Hills. The service began
with the playing of taps and a salute to
Mr. Monchnik, a World War II veteran,
by an honor guard from the Jewish War
Veterans.
Granddaughter Madalyn Monchnik
read words written by granddaugh-
ter Jessica Painter. She described her
grandpa as a generous person, overtip-
ping servers at restaurants and giving
gifts to his grandchildren.
"Grandpa was a giver:' Jessica wrote.
"He has given me a great example of
how to give to others above what is
expected and from the heart. He made
a lasting impact not only on my life, but
on the lives of others. Thank you for the
joy and laughter and the legacy of your
kind, gentle and generous spirit"
Daughter-in-law Rae Monchnik read
words from Mr. Monchnik's daughter,
Eileen. "I remember riding in his big
Paul's TV Repair Service truck. He

•

walked me down the aisle at my wed-
ding. Gratefully, we were able to have a
beautiful visit together just a few weeks
ago:"
Son Scott Monchnik added, "Dad
was a man, who, at 91, took no meds,
had no ailments; he was only hard
of hearing. We thought his secret of
longevity was fruit; he always ate mass
quantities of fruit. He was filling him-
self with antioxidants before anyone
knew what that meant.
"He loved Mom, he loved his children
and he loved his grandchildren:' Scott
said. "He loved his great-grandchildren
with every ounce of his being. He said
he always wanted to live to be 100.
Recently he upped that to 110.
"When Jessica and her family were
here recently, we went to the zoo and,
of course, the cider mill, and Dad was
in every photo, smiling his best smile,
so happy to be with us:'
Rabbi Syme, in his eulogy, said that
rather than focus on the circumstances
of Mr. Monchnik's death, he would
instead focus on his 91 years of kind-
ness, goodness, family and love.
Mr. Monchnik was born in Poland
in 1924 and came to Detroit at age 8.
He graduated Central High School and
entered the service during World War II.
He was at Normandy on Day Four of the
invasion, part of a medical battalion.
"He pursued his career as a television
repairman for over 50 years:' said Rabbi
Syme, "learning how to fix every new
manifestation of television as it evolved.
His marriage lasted more than 50 years.
With his strong work ethic, his easygo-
ing manner, his total lack of prejudice,
he drew others to him, but none more
than his family.
"Paul Monchnik was a blessing to our

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Paul Monchnik

Earth, a man filled with goodness and
love. As his son Scott told me, he didn't
have two nickels to rub together, but
if you were in need, he would give you
both of them:'
Paul Monchnik is survived by his
sons and daughter-in-law, Scott and
Rae Monchnik of West Bloomfield,
Gary Monchnik of Royal Oak; daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Eileen and Andy
Eden of San Jose, Calif.; grandchildren,
Jared and Madalyn Monchnik, Jessica
(David) Painter IV, Caleb Eden; great-
grandchildren, David Painter V and
Aurora Painter.
He was the beloved husband of the
late Lee Ellen Monchnik.
Interment took place at the Hebrew
Memorial Park in Clinton Township.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements were by
Dorfman Chapel. *

iolinist and conductor Joseph
Silverstein, 83, died Nov. 21, 2015, in
Springfield, Mass. He appeared as both
conductor and violin soloist with hundreds
of orchestras in the United States as well as in
Europe, Israel and the Far East. He was con-
certmaster, the most important violinist in the
orchestra, of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
for 22 years.
Known fondly as
"Joey" Mr. Silverstein
was born in Detroit
on March 21, 1932.
As a youth, he stud-
ied with his father,
Bernard Silverstein, a
public school music
teacher.
Young Joey's first Joseph Silverstein
mention in the
Detroit Jewish News was in 1943 when he per-
formed as a soloist at age 10 at a Purim festival
at the Jewish Community Center in Detroit.
Two years later, the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
told how the "child prodigy" performed at an
American Jewish Congress event.
The next year, the Jewish News reported that
at age 13 Joey won a scholarship at the famed
Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. The
story said, "The first seven years of his studies,
Joseph was taught by his father. The past year,
his teacher was Josef Gingold, concertmaster
of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. At Mr.
Gingold's suggestion he played for [renowned
violinist] Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis
Institute. Mr. Zimbalist was so impressed that
Joseph was accepted at once into his class:'
Joey's other teachers included William
Primrose and Mischa Mischakoff. Although he
never formally completed his high school edu-
cation, following completion of his studies at
Curtis, Mr. Silverstein played as a section musi-
cian with the Houston Symphony Orchestra,
the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Denver

continued on page 78

■ 11111

The Family of

Sara Lila Manson Z"L

Announces the Unveiling of a Monument in her Memory

Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 11AM

Hebrew Memorial Cemetery, Workman's Circle Entrance

14 Mile and Gratiot Beth Yehudah Section

Rabbi Joseph Krakoff will be officiating.

Family and Friends are invited to attend.

2054110

December 3 2015 77