soul

of blessed memory

He Did Good Work

JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

t really must speak to the overwhelm-
ing impact of a man’s life when, in
memorializing that life, finding new
words to impart who and what he was
are difficult because so many tributes
over the decades have already been writ-
ten.
This is the case for Detroit legend
Maurice “Bud” Lezell or as he will for-
ever be remembered, “Mr. Belvedere,”
who promised good work and never
went back on his word. Mr. Lezell, who
had been living in Sarasota, Fla., died on
March 26, 2017.
“Call Tyler Eight Seven One Oh Oh.”
“You’ll look at it; you’ll love it; and you’ll
take your time paying for it.”
“We do good work.”
These signature lines advertising
Belvedere Construction, the company
Mr. Lezell started in 1948, are part of the
Detroit lexicon, but being an accom-
plished businessman and a television
personality were only part of his life. His
daughters, retired art teacher Lisa Lezell
Levine of Richmond, Va., Amy Heber,
an IT consultant living in Chicago, and
Claudia Lezell, a flooring consultant and
mediator in San Antonio, Texas, remem-
ber the caring and adoring man who was
their dad. A man who loved to travel and
play tennis, and who took his children
to Tigers baseball games. Although he
worked very hard, he was always there
for his family.
“I have such positive memories of hav-

DAVID ABRAMSON, 63, of Ann Arbor,
died March 23, 2017.
He was always interested in education
and began by enrolling in Washtenaw
Community College to study auto
mechanics.
He then went to University of Michigan,
college LS&A and graduated in 1975. He
went on to obtain two master’s degrees,
one in educational leadership and the
other in interdisciplinary technology. He
began a long career by teaching basic
car care for consumers at Washtenaw
Community College.
Mr. Abramson met his wife, Ellen, and
the love affair lasted for more than 32
years. A convert to Judaism, he became
a pillar of the Beth Israel community. He
helped found the men’s club (or, as he
called it, “the mentsh club”) and he also
organized the Organ Donors Drive. As
a community organizer, Mr. Abramson
became a founder of the Association of
Youth Empowerment, where he was an
agent for positive change for thousands
of people. He also founded Bridging 23,
which presents a unique opportunity

ing fun and being a family in
our duplex on Ewald Circle
in Detroit,” Lisa said. “My dad
supported us in whatever we
did. I left Detroit when I was
18 to go to college in Boston
because my dad said, ‘You
can do anything you want.’
One of the best experiences I
had with my dad was during
Lezell with his three daughters: Claudia Lezell, Liza Lezell Levine
a trip to Israel. We were at
and Amy Heber.
the ruins of the amphitheater
in Caesarea, and I sang the
ew from Brooklyn whom he had never
theme from Exodus for him.
met, was actively serving in the Israeli
“My dad was Detroit! He was the
army. He was so excited that a Lezell was
icon and the essence of the city, and he
in the Israeli army that he sent Jacob
believed in our community and in tzeda-
$150 a month during his three years in
kah. Whether it was his working to save
the service. Later, the two met at a Lezell
the Michigan State Fair or appearing on
reunion in Boca Raton. It was a touching
TV with Danny Thomas to raise money
moment.
to fight leukemia, he always knew the
“Dad worked very hard,” Amy contin-
importance of giving back.”
ued. “He wasn’t born ‘Mr. Belvedere’ — he
Mr. Lezell was born in Kentucky, the
had to get there. And getting there meant
son of Russian immigrants, who moved
working six days a week. I remember my
to the Detroit area when he was 3. He
parents made the decision that every
served in the Coast Guard during World
Wednesday and Friday night, without
War II as a signalman on an aircraft carri- fail, my dad would come home for din-
er in the Pacific. According to Amy, those ner. We’d sit together in the dining room;
military responsibilities helped make him the table was set and a special meal was
the man he became.
planned. And we always went to the
“After World War II, my father told me
library on Fridays to get new books and
he wanted to serve in the Israeli army,
return the old ones. I still love libraries,
then Palestine, but he was tired of war
and that love of reading and learning is
and wanted to start his life,” she said. “He something I’ve passed on to my children.”
fulfilled part of that dream when he dis-
During the funeral service, Temple
covered that Jacob Lezell, a grand-neph-
Israel’s Rabbi Harold Loss noted Mr.

for neighbors, colleagues and strangers
to come together and create an atmo-
sphere of community. In addition, he cre-
ated Bridging 8 Mile to overcome racial
divides. Dedicated to tikun olam, David
worked tirelessly to heal divisions and
foster meaningful conversations on topics
that are unavailable in most places of our
fractured and polarized society.
Mr. Abramson is survived by his wife
of 32 years, Ellen Abramson; children,
Sarah and Rabbi Mendy Rimler, Mara
Abramson, and Lorna and Joe Servetter;
grandchildren, Chayala Rimler, Eli Rimler
and Joshua Derby; sisters and broth-
ers, Ruth Logan, Jonna McCoon, John
McCoon, Darlene Miller, Paula Miller,
Elsie Grammer; a world of special friends
he deeply loved.
He was the dear brother of the late
Ronald McCoon and the late Don
Hopkins.
Interment was at Arborcrest Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to David
Abramson Fund Association for Youth
Empowerment, c/o Roderic Scott, 16615
Five Points St., Redford, MI 48240; or

Chabad at Arizona State University, 971
S. Ash Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281, www.
jewishasu.com/donate (enter David
Abramson Fund in the comments box).
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.

BENJAMIN J. BARISH,
91, of Farmington Hills
and Israel, died
March16, 2017.
He was a very well-
respected patent attor-
ney in Israel and the
United States. Mr. Barish
Barish
was considered by all
to be a mentsh and was
always willing to help people. He was a
kind, generous person, who was loved and
respected by all.
Mr. Barish is survived by his wife,
Bruria; son and daughter-in-law, Dan and
Mary Barish; grandchildren, Natali and
Gabriel; brothers, Jack (Harriet), Sidney
(Rita); many loving nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of late Herbert
Barish and the late Sylvia (Sol) Smith.

Lezell’s success came from his being a
likeable man, who, when dealing with his
customers, would speak to them like a
friend.
“He was a real haimish guy. People
knew him, and even stopped him on the
street for his autograph. He was a celebri-
ty, but always took care of his family and
supported his daughters,” he said.
An incredible marketer, an iconic
pitchman and a devoted father, Mr. Lezell
said about the British character for which
his longtime construction business was
named, this was someone who did good
things for people and made them feel
good.
Many Detroiters will certainly not
forget Mr. Lezell, nor will they forget his
most memorable pitch: “You have no fear
with Belvedere.”
Mr. Lezell is survived by loving daugh-
ters and sons-in-law, Lisa Lezell Levine
and David Levine, Claudia Lezell and
Donald Magid, and Amy Heber; adoring
grandchildren, Erica Walker, and Sharon,
Jennifer and Hillary Levine, Alexandra
Magid, and Andrew and Alana Heber;
cherished great-grandchildren, Max and
Madelyn Walker, Benjamin and Sadie
Edlavitch, and Lea Golub-Sass; and dear
sisters-in-law, Shirley Lezell and Shirley
Lezell.
He was the beloved husband of the late
Hilda Lezell and the late Alice Lezell; the
devoted son of the late Isaac and the late
Dora Lisman Lezell; the loving brother of
the late Dr. Alvin Lezell, the late Samuel
Lezell and the late Hyman “Hy” Lezell;
and the dear brother-in-law of the late
Sophie Lezell. •

The funeral was held in Israel with shi-
vah at his home in Tel Aviv.

HELMUT BERNARD,
82, of Farmington Hills,
died March 29, 2017.
He is survived by
his beloved wife,
Etta Bernard; sons
and daughters-in-
law, Michael (Robin)
Bernard
Bernard and David
(Mechelle) Bernard;
grandchildren, Alexa, Kaela, Carly, Jace,
Becky and Naomi; brother and sister-
in-law, Henri (Anaruth) Bernard; many
loving nieces, nephews, other family
members and friends.
Mr. Bernard was the brother of the
late Leo Bernard and the late Jerry
Bernard.
Interment took place at Beth El
Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Contributions may be made to ORT or
Yad Ezra. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

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