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Social Worker And Shul President

The Ultimate People Person

J

V

oan Phyllis Friedman Slyker, 72, of
Judaism.
Rapid City, Mich., died the evening of
Up North, Joan attended Congregation Beth
March 10, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla.,
El and served as its president. As a board
near her winter residence.
member there, she helped engineer
Joan was born Feb. 4, 1944, in
the vital merger between Beth El and
Detroit, the first child of Stanley
Ahavat Shalom, which resulted in
B. Friedman and Miriam Levin
Congregation Beth Shalom of Traverse
Friedman. She graduated with a
City. Upon her retirement in 2009,
bachelor of science degree from the
she relocated with Lou and their son
University of Wisconsin at Madison
Andrew to their summer residence
and went on to earn a master’s
on the shores of Torch Lake. In the
degree in social work from Wayne
nearby town of Alden, she established
State University.
“The Warm Fuzzy,” a welcoming knit
Joan Slyker
She married Louis Joseph Slyker,
shop where regulars and strangers
then program director at WTVS
alike would go to “sit and knit” twice
public television in 1970. Their son,
a week just to be together. There she
Andrew Lev Slyker, was born in 1984. Joan
created garments of astonishing beauty and
and her family were always very sympathetic
skill.
to animals and lived in companionship with
Mrs. Slyker is survived by her husband,
several dogs and cats over the years.
Louis Joseph Slyker; son, Andrew Lev Slyker;
Working with the parents of deaf children
sisters and brothers-in-law, Peggy Friedman
in Oakland County Schools, Joan became
Daitch and Peter Remington of Birmingham,
proficient in signing, which allowed her to
Margery Friedman Lynch and William Lynch;
communicate directly with the disadvantaged
brother and sister-in-law, Rodger Friedman
children. She continued to work in school
and Kiki Nelson; aunts and uncle, Betty
systems throughout her professional career,
Friedman Lublin, and Judith Levin Cantor and
including the Warren Consolidated Schools,
Bernard J. Cantor; nieces and nephews, Karen
Ferndale Schools and the Roeper School. She
Elizabeth Daitch, Joshua Keidan Daitch and
held the office of president of the Wayne State
Erica Dennison, and Jimmy Friedman Lynch;
University Alumni Association as well as presi- and many cousins. She was the daughter of
dent of Wayne’s School of Social Work Alumni
the late Miriam Levin Friedman and the late
Association and the Michigan State Association Stanley B. Friedman.
of School Social Workers. She participated on
Interment was at Oakview Cemetery.
boards of many regional social work organiza-
Contributions may be made to Wayne State
tions and nonprofit organizations.
University, 5201 Cass Ave., 226 Prentis Bldg.,
As a devoted member and past president
c/o Sherry Stokes, Detroit, MI 48202, www.
of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Joan
cardinal.wayne.edu; or Congregation Shir
used her bright spirit to help shape that com-
Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Pkwy., Troy, MI 48084.
munity’s welcoming approach to traditional
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

*

PHYLLIS ABEL, 91, of
West Bloomfield, died
March 12, 2016.
She is survived by
her husband of 70
years, Martin L. Abel;
daughters and sons-in-
law, Michelle and Jay
Abel
Horowitz of Franklin,
Arlene and Bob Cook of
Delray Beach, Fla., Julie and Dan Grippo
of Farmington Hills; son and daughter-
in-law, Bruce and Lori Abel of Waterford;
grandchildren, Jordan and Ines Jimenez-
Lorente, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, Jason
Cook, Amy Abel, Brian Abel, Sam Grippo,
Bec Grippo; many loving nieces, nephews
and other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Abel was the dear sister and sister-
in-law of the late Fred and the late Sarah
Berkowitz, the late Frances and the late
Ruby Bloom, the late Edith and the late

Heinz Borchardt.
Contributions may be made to
Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Services and
interment were held at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

ALLEN HAROLD
ABRAMSON, 86, of
Farmington Hills, passed
away Feb. 21, 2016.
He was an art dealer
and collector, racon-
teur, world traveler and
author. Mr. Abramson
Abramson
was originally from
Akron, Ohio, the son of
the late Ida and the late Israel Abramson
and brother of the late Stanley
Abramson.
It was in the U.S. Navy that Allen first

era Schey,
93, of West
Bloomfield,
died on March 9,
2016.
She was born Aug.
2, 1922, in Budapest,
Hungary. Vera was
Schey
an only child whose
father died before
World War II. She
and her mother were
hidden and survived
the Nazi occupation
of Hungary.
Vera and her
husband, Leslie,
left Hungary for
the United States in
1946. Partners in both business
and life, she and Leslie owned
and ran the Hansel ’n’ Gretel
Shoe Shoppe in Birmingham for
more than 30 years. They were
avid travelers and saw much of
the world together.
A docent at the Holocaust
Memorial Center, a volunteer at
the Friendship Circle, an elegant
hostess, an avid bridge player,
voracious reader, opera-goer
and art lover, Vera was never at
a loss for things that interested
her. Outside of her family, per-
haps her most important job
was that of motivator and care-
taker to a wide circle of friends.
Whether it was coordinating
card games, outings to movies

experienced travel in the states and even-
tually foreign countries aboard the USS
Triumph AM323. After he was honorably
discharged from the Navy, he resumed
his career as an art and antiques dealer,
traveling throughout Asia, Europe, India,
Israel and the Middle East and enjoying
the company of politicians, authors, artists
and musicians.
He made many friends during his world
travels often by speaking his beloved
Yiddish or the native language and using
his irresistible charm. He maintained
many lifelong friendships.
In 1964, Allen moved to Detroit to open
an art gallery with friend Rudy Simons.
He fell in love with the city and made a life
in Detroit. Allen met artist William Girard
when he walked into Allen’s art gallery;
this started a lifelong mentorship. Girard
flourished and created many amazing
works of art under Allen’s sponsorship.

or arranging dinners, Vera
made sure to account for
the people in her life con-
stantly.
To say she will be
missed is a gross under-
statement. Vera was
beloved, admired and
counted on by so many
and will live on in memo-
ry for a long time to come.
Mrs. Schey is survived
by her daughter and son-
in-law, Judy and Gary
Keehn of Washington;
son, Tommy Schey of
California; grandchildren,
Elan Keehn and Keri
Dertinger, Carly Keehn-
Schupp and Justin Schupp,
and Britton Schey and Wade
Helliwell; four great-grandchil-
dren.
She was the beloved wife of
the late Leslie Schey for 59 happy
years.
Interment was at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Contributions
may be made to Yad Vashem, the
Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes
Remembrance Authority, P.O.
Box 3477, Jerusalem, 9013401
Israel, www.yadvashem.org;
or Anti-Defamation League,
Hidden Children Foundation,
120 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1150,
Chicago, IL 60603, www.adl.org.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

*

Allen enjoyed throwing lavish parties
and entertaining friends at his apartments
on Six Mile Road overlooking the Detroit
Golf Course and at the Garden Court
Apartments in Detroit. Some parties were
Yiddish-only accompanied by Klezmer
and European music.
Mr. Abramson is survived by cousins,
nieces and many close friends who will
miss him greatly.
A memorial service will be held
Monday, March 28, at 7 p.m. at the Aaron
DeRoy Theatre, Jewish Community
Center, 6600 W. Maple Road in West
Bloomfield.
Contributions may be made to the
Jewish Ensemble Theatre Company;
St. Jude’s Research Hospital; Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit;
George Stine’s Foundation in Howell;
Jewish National Fund; American Cancer
Society or a charity of one’s choice.

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March 17 • 2016

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