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Left: At the first Michigan Parkinson’s
fundraiser: Debby Orloff, David Hermelin,
Fedora Horowitz, Doreen Hermelin, Dr.
Raymond Bauer and Tom Cracchiolo.
BELOW: David and Doreen Hermelin at a
1989 Parkinson’s fundraiser.

Happy
Memories

Readers recall events
and good times at
the Hermelin home.

“In April of 2009, Tamarack Camps
had a last-minute challenge with
the location of its first Send a Kid
to Tamarack (“SK2T”) fundrais-
ing event. With less than a week
out, Tamarack had many tickets
sold to an event that was without
a venue. Then-
executive direc-
tor of Tamarack
Camps, Jonah
Geller, called
Doreen Hermelin.
Before Jonah could
fully explain the
urgent situation,
Robin Trepeck
Doreen said, “If it is
for the community,
my house is yours.”
Five days later, SK2T’s kickoff
event was held at the Hermelin
home. That night, Tamarack Camps
honored Doreen’s friend and past
Fresh Air scholarship camper
Florine Mark, held a successful auc-
tion conducted by the new camp
director Lee Trepeck and further
fell in love with Doreen Hermelin.”

— Robin Trepeck, Huntington Woods

T

he Oct. 12 cover story, “House of Memories,” about
the Bingham Farms home Doreen and the late
David Hermelin shared with presidents, dignitar-
ies and the whole Jewish community garnered plenty of
memories from those who attended events there over the
last 42 years. Now, we share them with you. •

“I am a founder of the Michigan group.
“Lillian knew the Hermelins
Parkinson Foundation and
and spoke to Doreen about
retired last year from my posi-
organizing a fundraiser to help
tion as CEO, which I held for
us get started. Doreen
16 years. Doreen and
and David hosted
David were instru-
the first fundraiser, I
mental in helping to
believe, in 1984. They
start MPF, which is the
were phenomenally
only organization in
supportive and gen-
Michigan for people
erous to MPF, and
with Parkinson’s.
Doreen was a board
“Lillian Fisher, a fund
member for sev-
raiser for Israel Bonds,
eral years until David
was diagnosed with
Debby Orloff
became ambassador
Parkinson’s. I was at
[to Norway].
Harper Hospital where
“Notably, she spearheaded
we had had great success with
a committee to host ‘eastside/
an educational program on
westside’ events to raise funds,
Parkinson’s and we were in
process of determining interest at which David often was the
in and need for other programs auctioneer-par-excellence.
They held one more fundraiser
for this neglected population.
at their home as well. The
Lillian volunteered to help us
Hermelins’ efforts substantially
and was vitally interested in
helped MPF and were so greatly
pushing for an organization
appreciated.”
for Parkinson’s as none existed
— and there was no national
— Debby Orloff, Farmington Hills

Doreen Hermelin and Florine Mark, honorees at the first Tamarack
Camps Send a Kid to Tamarack fundraiser, held at the Hermelin home.

“The important thing to know about being a part of the life of David and Doreen was that they
had made it so easy for their friends to be philanthropic. Terry and I had always loved to go to
David and Doreen’s home. David would say, “Give till it hurts” with such warmth and love from
himself that it was a joy to be a part of the philanthropy. Doreen is carrying on his legacy and we
all salute her for not skipping a beat. What an amazing woman!”

— Meryl Podolsky, Southfield

Harvey Bronstein

“The Michigan Jewish Historical Society event
is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This will be
my 50th visit to the Hermelin home. In 1985, I
was approaching the house, but I couldn’t see
it because of the bright, low sun. But, you could
see out from the house and I heard a distinctive
voice say, ‘Hello, Harvey.’ It was David Hermelin.
By recognizing me, it dramatically increased my
confidence in meeting with prominent people. It
certainly changed my life.”

— Harvey Bronstein, Southfield

continued on page 12

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October 26 • 2017

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