obituaries » Obituaries from page 69 Lawyer And Activist A llyn Carol Ravitz, a longtime to help successfully defend two women Detroit-area attorney and activ- who’d killed their rapists in self-defense. ist, most recently of Novi, died Gloria Steinem and Lily Tomlin showed Oct. 7, 2016, after a yearlong battle with up to speak. Florence Ballard, one of corticobasal syndrome, a the original members of neurodegenerative disease as the Supremes, came and rare and unique as she was. sang an a cappella version She was 74. of Helen Reddy’s “I Am Mrs. Ravitz was brilliant, Woman.” She was later witty, gregarious, goofy, gen- featured in Passing the erous, loving and strong. Torch, a documentary about She was born in feminism in Michigan, and Greensboro, N.C., but was in the book Feminists Who raised in Elizabeth, N.J., Changed America (1963- right outside of Manhattan. 1975). Her love of all things New Mrs. Ravitz was a force to York City — from Broadway Allyn Carol Ravitz be reckoned with in court- to real cheesecake — never rooms. She was credited faded, even after Michigan with trying (and winning) became her home. the first sexual harassment She was a graduate of Smith College in jury trial in the country. She represented Northampton, Mass., and the University female steel workers who were forced out of Detroit School of Law. The latter of their jobs when they became pregnant. she attended while pregnant and after Her law practice, representing women University of Michigan Law School turned and men in discrimination and divorce her down for a scholarship because she proceedings, flourished through the late was married to a man who already had 1990s, when she retired. a degree from the school. That injustice She remained an activist after retire- fueled what already burned inside her. ment. She was involved with the Michigan Starting in the early 1970s, she was Democratic Party and continued march- on the frontlines of second-wave femi- ing for civil rights, both for women and nism. She served as legal counsel for the LGBT communities. the National Organization of Women in She loved animals and her many pets Michigan, was a devoted pro-choice activ- over the years. She fought for swans on ist and advocated for the Equal Rights Wolverine Lake, where she lived for sev- Amendment. She helped establish the eral decades. If she could have hugged nation’s first all-women’s credit union, otters, she would have. She enjoyed travel the Feminist Federal Credit Union, and and had an adventurous spirit. She rafted worked to change the Fair Housing Act to down the Colorado River, sailed along stop discrimination against women and the Eastern seaboard in a racing schoo- mothers. ner, went fly fishing in Argentina, saved Mrs. Ravitz organized a fundraiser leatherback sea turtles in St. Croix and rode horseback on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. Mrs. Ravitz was a cultured intellectual who appreciated the finer things in life. But she was also a fan of the irreverent animated sitcom South Park and was a sucker for foods like Drake’s Devil Dogs and White Castle hamburgers. She had a gift for music: singing and harmonizing up until a week before she died. She once won an Alan Freed Rock ’n’ Roll Dance Party contest. She was a masterful pianist who couldn’t read music but played by ear. When she was of college age, she played in jazz clubs in New York. Mrs. Ravitz is survived by her lov- ing husband, Dr. Chuck Schmitter; her son, Jason Ravitz (Melissa Dworkin) and her daughter, Jessica Ravitz Cherof (Rob), from her first marriage to the late Justin “Chuck” Ravitz; her daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Eaman (Karin Riggs), from her second marriage to Frank Eaman; her granddaughters, Amelia and Zoe Ravitz- Dworkin; her sister, Marilyn Gallant (Mel); her stepsons, Paul Schmitter (Anita), Dr. Steve Schmitter (Dr. Margaret Lee), Patrick Schmitter (Diana); seven stepgrandchildren; sister-in-law, Ruth Schmitter; brother-in-law, Fr. Phil Schmitter; a niece, a nephew, cousins and countless friends who adored her. Mrs. Ravitz was preceded in death by her parents, Minnia and Bill Biener. Her children request that you support her dream of seeing a woman president by electing Hillary Clinton. Contributions may be made to the National Organization for Women, the Fox Run Benevolent Care Fund or the animal rescue group of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. JARED SCOTT FELDMAN, 31, died Oct. 4, 2016. He is survived by his loving par- ents, Erwin and Donna Feldman of Bloomfield Feldman Hills; brothers and sister-in- law, Matthew Feldman, Bradley Feldman, Brian Feldman, Paul and Venus Feldman; sisters and brother-in-law, Lauren Feldman, Sally Feldman, Pamela and Michael Ryan; nieces and nephews, Taylor, Jaycob, Ella, Sophia, Jack and Sarah. A gathering to celebrate Jared’s life will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Prime 29 in West Bloomfield. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. BERNICE GILL, 89, of Southfield, died Oct. 8, 2016. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jackie Gill; son, Stan Gill; daughters Gill and sons-in-law, Sharon and Ron Herman, Sandee and Howard Penn; grandchildren, Matt (Lori) Herman, Amy (Kurtis Hessler) Herman; great-grand- children, Dylan, Alice, Jamie. Contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. 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