soul

of blessed memory

continued from page 51

political activism and engagement
that took many forms. A lifelong
Democrat, he served as a delegate
to the 1968 and 1972 Democratic
National Conventions, participating
in, bearing witness to and reflecting
upon periods of turbulent change in
party and national politics.
He ran for Congress in 1968 and,
though ultimately unsuccessful, was
proud to have raised support for
Democratic presidential nominee
Hubert Humphrey. Though at times
disillusioned with politics in both the
United States and Israel, as his grand-
son Ilan Zechory underscored in his
eulogy, Mr. Zemmol never abandoned
his ideals or his love for both nations.
In the 1990s, he channeled his polit-
ical energies into efforts to promote
cross-cultural exchange and under-
standing when he served as president
of the Jewish Community Relations
Council of Detroit.
As a son, brother, partner, grand-
father, great-grandfather and friend,
Mr. Zemmol modeled these principles
of compassion and empathy toward
others; in his personal relationships,
these values manifested as fierce,

52

June 1 • 2017

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unflinching and overflowing love,
always joined with heaping doses of
playfulness and exuberance.
As a father, he instilled in his chil-
dren a profound sense of confidence
in themselves and a solid sense of
safety and security with which to
engage deeply and joyfully with the
world.
He brought delight to every moment
he spent with his grandchildren and
great-grandchildren, from events like
tractor rides, Michigan football games
or a lunch at Leo’s, to dressing up as
Elijah at Passover seders, to impress-
ing preschool classmates by sticking
his grandson’s entire fist in his mouth
and declaring it “too salty.”
To all who knew him, his profound
love for his wife, Lita Schechter — his
“Lantzman,” his partner in crime, his
greatest joy — was an inspiration.
Mr. Zemmol taught his children
and grandchildren and, indeed, all
those he encountered how to respect,
admire and advocate for all people.
Above all, he taught love. Love of our
fellow citizens, regardless of class,
race or status. Love of community by
constantly working to make it better.

Love of family joyfully and boundlessly
with abundance and abandon.
Mr. Zemmol is survived by his
beloved wife of 62 years, Lita
Zemmol; loving daughters and sons-
in-law, Miriam and Steve Wolock,
and Deborah and Joel Minkoff; son
and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and
Luna Zemmol; grandchildren, Tali
Zechory, Ilan Zechory and Audrey
Gelman, Maya Wolock, Caren and Ari
Lampear, Michael and Lainie Minkoff,
Benjamin Minkoff and fiancee, Sarah
Callahan, Joshua and Kaylee Minkoff,
Sally Rose Zemmol, David Zemmol,
Joseph Zemmol and Alex Zemmol;
great-grandchildren, Eitan Minkoff,
Ori Minkoff and Eva Minkoff Lampear;
brother and sister-in-law, Bernard and
Caroline Zemmol; sisters-in-law, Lois
Zemmol and Sandra Schechter.
He was the loving brother of the
late Jenny Roby and the late Walter
Zemmol; the devoted son of the late
Julius Zemmol and the late Anna
Zemmol; the brother-in-law of the
late Dr. William Roby and the late Dr.
Daniel Schechter.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. •

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