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SAM BABCOCK,
97, of Boca Raton,
Fla., formerly of
Bloomfield Hills,
died Aug. 24, 2016.
He is survived
by his wife, Ilene
Babcock; son and
Babcock
daughter-in-law,
Howard and Lilia E.
Babcock; grandchil-
dren, Jeremy and Alessia Babcock.
Mr. Babcock was the cherished
father of the late Kathy Jo Babcock;
the loving brother of the late Ruben
Babcock, the late Louis Babcock, the
late Ida Babcock and the late Edith
Goodman; the dear brother-in-law
of the late Beatrice Stillman, the late
Regina and the late Harry Levitt,
the late Florence Babcock, the late
Celia Babcock and the late Louis
Goodman.
Services and interment took place
in Florida. Local arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

RUTH BRESSLER,
84, of West
Bloomfield, died
Aug. 27, 2016.
She is survived
by her husband
of 61 years, Alan
Bressler; son
Bressler
and daughter-in-
law, Charles and
Nancy Bressler
of Rochester, N.Y.; daughter and
son-in-law, Wendy and Paul Besl
of Johnson City, Tenn.; grandchild-
ren, Adam Bressler, Aliza Bressler,
Sarah Castator, Rachel Castator and
Michael Castator.
Mrs. Bressler was the devoted
daughter of the late William and
the late Sarah Greenberg; the loving
sister of the late Marion and the late
Marcus Scheiman.
Interment was at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

continued on page 66

Trailblazer In Psychoanalysis

Ronelle Grier | Contributing Editor

D

Committee. She was also the imme-
diate past president of the Freud
Archives.
In addition to a long list of publica-
tions, her many honors and accolades
included being a seven-time recipient
of the Outstanding Psychoanalytic
Teaching Award and winning the
National Woman
Psychoanalytic Scholar
designation from the
American Psychoanalytic
Association in 2015.

r. Deanna “Deedie”
Holtzman was a dedicated
psychoanalyst, a fearless
trailblazer, a loyal friend and, above
all, a loving and devoted wife, mother
and grandmother. After a valiant
bout with pancreatic
cancer, Deedie passed
away on Aug. 24, 2016,
at her Bloomfield Hills
home, surrounded by
those she loved most.
FAMILY LIFE
She was 79.
Her accomplished pro-
Deedie and her sis-
fessional life, which
ter, Debby, grew up in
included maintaining a
Chicago with their par-
private practice, required
ents, David and Letty
her to schedule her days
Goldstein. After graduat-
with precision, account-
ing high school at age
ing for every minute and
16, Deedie made her way
organizing plans far in
to Ann Arbor, where
Dr. Deanna Holtzman
advance, sometimes to
she began her studies
the amusement of her
as a French major at the
family and friends. She
University of Michigan.
loved reading and had
A mutual friend intro-
many other interests that included
duced Deedie to David Holtzman,
music, theater, bridge (she was a
and they fell in love. She chose to
Silver Life Master), travel and dining
continue her educational pursuits
out. Although she traded her early
part time while she focused on mar-
French major for psychology, she
riage and motherhood, graduating
retained her love of the language,
with a bachelor of arts degree from
making frequent memorable trips to
UM-Dearborn with her husband and
France.
children in proud attendance.
As accomplished as she was in the
She continued her studies, earn-
field of psychology, Deedie’s greatest
ing a master’s and Ph.D. in psychol-
pride came from her family. As her
ogy from Wayne State University.
Throughout her demanding course of children married, she welcomed their
spouses and families as if they were
study, she managed to work around
her children’s schedules, making sure her own. When the grandchildren
arrived, they became the light of her
she was available when they needed
life. She made time to keep up to date
her.
on their activities and accomplish-
Deedie broke new ground for
ments, using email to keep in touch
women in the psychoanalytic field,
between visits. She encouraged her
starting with her enrollment in the
children and grandchildren to follow
Wayne State University Ph.D. pro-
their dreams, reassuring them they
gram at a time when a pregnant
could be successful at whatever they
doctoral candidate was not readily
chose to pursue.
accepted.
According to Deedie’s children,
Never one to let barriers stand in
her way, after receiving her doctorate, their mother “was the strong nuclear
force binding all the disparate ele-
Deedie became the first woman as
ments of her lifetime together: fam-
well as the first Ph.D. appointed as a
ily, friends and colleagues, art, music
training and supervising analyst for
the Farmington Hills-based Michigan and language.”
During their 61-year marriage,
Psychoanalytic Institute.
Deedie and David enjoyed a life filled
She later became president of the
with caring, mutual devotion and
Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute
good times spent with family and
and was the first non-medical, U.S.-
close friends. When she became ill,
trained analyst to become chairper-
David took care of her with a devo-
son of the institute’s Educational

tion that reflected the closeness they
shared for so many years.

PASSION, COMPASSION
Deedie’s sister, Debby, described her
as “a meteor — bright, exciting, pas-
sionate about everything.” She had a
deep interest in other people, show-
ing great affection and compassion
for those close to her and also for the
fellow citizens who shared her com-
munity and her world. In addition to
her many professional involvements,
she was active in other organiza-
tions including the Lions of Judah, a
women’s philanthropic organization
that is part of the Jewish Federations
of North America.
Deedie was constantly learning
and believed strongly in the impor-
tance of education, and her love of
language made her a fierce Scrabble
opponent. She developed strong
friendships throughout her life, many
dating back to childhood. She was
outspoken about her views on a vari-
ety of subjects, but she always kept
her door and her mind open, prefer-
ring to keep a friend than make an
enemy.
As a practicing psychoanalyst,
Deedie was devoted to her patients,
taking care of them with skill and
compassion, yet never bringing her
work home. After she became ill, she
reluctantly stepped down from her
practice, not wanting her needs to
overshadow those of her patients.
Dr. Deanna Holtzman is survived
by her husband of 61 years, David B.
Holtzman; daughters and sons-in-
law, Susan (David) Frankel of New
York, Karen Holtzman (Tom Gardon)
of Massachusetts; son and daughter-
in-law, Daniel (Arlene) Holtzman
of Massachusetts; grandchildren,
Alexander Frankel, Emma Frankel,
Joseph Holtzman and Samuel
Holtzman; sister, Debby (the late
Norman) Tucker.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Michigan Psychoanalytic
Foundation, 32841 Middlebelt
Road, #411, Farmington Hills, MI
48334, www.mpi-mps.org/main; the
Salvation Army, 16310 Northland
Drive, Southfield, MI 48075, www.
salvationarmyusa.org; or to a charity
of one’s choice.
Arrangements were by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

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Obituaries September 1 • 2016

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