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Urban Planner Helped Keep Oak Park United

Ronelle Grier | Contributing Writer

J

acob “Jack” Driker was a talented
urban planner with a deep love
for his family, his community and
all things Yiddish. A loyal and devoted
father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
brother and friend, Jack died Feb. 22,
2016, at age 88.
During his career as director of eco-
nomic development and planning for
Oakland County, Jack was involved in
many projects, but he is best known for his
integral role in the eight-mile connecting
span of the I-696 freeway that provided an
east-west option for Metro Detroit drivers.
A controversy revolved around the part
of the freeway that was to run through
the city of Oak Park, where members
of the city’s large Orthodox community
were concerned about lack of pedestrian
access across the freeway. Working with
other planning professionals and leaders
in the Jewish and secular communities,
Jack, a Humanistic Jew, helped orches-
trate the freeway overpasses and adjacent
parks that enhanced the neighborhood
and allowed Orthodox and other Jews to
walk to synagogue during Shabbos and
holidays.
“He brought awareness and compassion
[about the issue] to the surrounding com-
munity,” said his daughter Vivian Gealer.
Jack was the second of three children,
born in the heart of old Jewish Detroit in
1928. As the son of new immigrants who
spoke minimal English, he learned to fend
for himself from an early age.
At Central High School, he was an
exceptional student, a member of the
debate team and president of his senior
class. It was there he formed several
friendships that continued for decades.
While he wanted to study architecture at
the University of Michigan, money was
scarce, so he earned a degree in sociology

at Wayne University. With
the money he saved by liv-
ing at home and working
as a research assistant, he
was able to attend Harvard
University in Massachusetts,
receiving a graduate degree
in urban design.
During the Korean War,
he enlisted in the Navy and
served as a junior grade
lieutenant. While stationed
in London, he studied his
surroundings and applied
what he learned there when Jack Driker
he began his career as an
urban planner.

FAMILY PATRIARCH
Near the end of his enlistment, a friend
set him up on a blind date with Gertrude
“Trudy” Epstein, who became his wife
and partner for more than five decades.
Together they raised three children, trav-
eled the world, enjoyed the arts and built
a legacy based on mutual love and respect.
Their family grew to encompass 12 grand-
children and 15 great-grandchildren, and
Jack was their devoted patriarch.
“He went way beyond the call of duty
for family and showed us what it meant
to be a leader for your family,” said grand-
daughter Devora Leah Fuss, who spoke
at the funeral service along with Jack’s
daughters and other family members.
They spoke about Jack’s kindness, the
many favors he did for others without
expecting recognition, his love for educa-
tion and intellectual pursuits, his humor
and his humility.
“He was a man of fine qualities; unpre-
tentious, serious but with a great sense
of humor,” said Rabbi Tamara Kolton,
who officiated at the funeral. “He touched
many people’s lives and helped make the
cities around us livable.”

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Jack and Trudy were
founding members
of the Birmingham
Temple, now in
Farmington Hills, and
remained actively
involved throughout
their lives. Jack loved
Yiddishkeit, the jokes
and the culture that
were so much a part of
him and brought him
such joy. To his grand-
daughter Esther Karp,
he was the embodiment
of the word zaydie, with
his head of thick white
hair, twinkling blue
eyes and steady supply of Yiddish jokes
and idioms.
“He was a man of great strength, a self-
made man,” said Esther, remembering
the way he lit up when he talked about
old times in Detroit. “He taught me how
to laugh at myself and how to make oth-
ers laugh.”
To his children, Miriam Karp, Vivian
Gealer and David Driker, he was an
invincible role model, a man who taught
by example the importance of honoring
one’s parents and “rolling up your sleeves
and getting dirty” to do whatever it took
to get a job done.

‘MAN OF ACTION’
Jack was always on top of current affairs,
earning the nickname “Newshawk”
because he read and subscribed to
so many newspapers and magazines.
He had a keen sense of direction and
geography, which he bequeathed to his
children, along with a strong sense of
direction in life.
“He was a fixer, a doer, a man of action,”
said Miriam.
He loved the arts as well as the great

outdoors, encouraging his children to
participate in activities involving dance,
music and sports and organizing family
cross-country ski outings.
“He taught us to be leaders, not fol-
lowers,” said Vivian. “He cared little for
showy people, never flaunted his success;
he hung his Harvard diploma on the base-
ment wall.”
Keeping in touch with his children and
grandchildren was important to Jack, and
he always made time to talk on the phone
and exchange photos when in-person
visits were not possible. During his later
years, he began to show his gentler, more
emotive side; and his family and close
friends enjoyed getting to know the softer
man beneath the strong exterior.
“He was purposeful, organized, quiet,
loyal — a beautiful son and excellent
father and husband,” said Rabbi Kolton.
Jack Driker is survived by his daugh-
ters and sons-in-law, Miriam and Rabbi
Yaakov Karp of Cincinnati, Ohio, and
Vivian and Charles Gealer of Phoenix,
Ariz.; son, David Driker of Hazel Park;
grandchildren, Chaya Rochel and Elie
Estrin, Chaim and Ayelet Karp, Devora
Leah and Levi Fuss, Mushka and
Benyomin Kulek, Yeshaya Karp, Mendy
Karp, Esther Karp, Mordechai Karp, Fayga
Karp, Chana Karp, Isaac Gealer, Gabriel
Gealer; 15 great-grandchildren; brother
and sister-in-law, Eugene and Elaine
Driker. He is also survived by many loving
nieces and nephews.
Mr. Driker was the beloved husband
of the late Gertrude Driker; the loving
brother of the late Ruth Driker Kroll; the
dear brother-in-law of the late Irving
Kroll.
Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Kadima,
15999 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, MI 48076,
www.kadimacenter.org. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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