soul

of blessed memory

continued from page 59

He Gave Th e Gift Of Music

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

H

arold Gottlieb was a devoted
family man, an astute busi-
nessman and a generous
philanthropist who took pleasure in
enhancing the world around him.
Harold, who lived in Birmingham
with his beloved wife, Sarah, died Oct.
14, 2017, at age 86.
While the Gottliebs gave gener-
ously to a variety of charitable causes,
they are best known for their $10 mil-
lion endowment to Temple Israel in
2015 to establish the Stephen Gottlieb
Cantorial Chair in memory of their
late son, Stephen, a music enthusiast
who passed away from an illness in
2006. It became the Gottliebs’ mis-
sion to bring the joy of music to
children and adults throughout the
community as a legacy to Stephen, a
self-taught musician who played the
piano, guitar, flute, drums and banjo
and who enjoyed sharing his love for
music with those around him.
The endowment also supports the
general music program at Temple
Israel and funds the annual Stephen
Gottlieb Tribute Concert.
While Harold Gottlieb was suc-
cessful in a diverse array of business
ventures that included hotels, linens,
insurance and nursing homes, he was
the definition of a self-made man.
What he lacked in a formal higher
education, he made up for with hard
work and an innate business sense.
Born to immigrant parents, Morris
and Sophie, during the Depression,
he and his brothers acquired a
strong sense of family, fair play and
social justice. After graduating from
Northern High School in Detroit,
Harold began to make his way in the
world through a variety of business
ventures, including the first assisted
living facility in Michigan.
“He found a way to make it work,
and he was always working,” said
his dear friend Rabbi Harold Loss of
Temple Israel, where the Gottliebs
were members.
More precious than any business
accomplishment was Harold’s wife,
Sarah, his devoted partner for 64
years. The two first met as pre-teens,
when Sarah’s family moved from
New York and coincidentally ended
up sharing a “four-flat” in Detroit
with the Gottliebs. They became
reacquainted several years later,

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October 26 • 2017

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Harold Gottlieb

when Harold invited Sarah, then a
student at Wayne State University,
to join him in a game of tennis. This
was the beginning of a true partner-
ship founded in love, devotion and
strong family values. Sarah’s brothers
became like his own brothers.
Together, Harold and Sarah raised
three sons and, as their sons got mar-
ried, they welcomed their daughters-
in-law as bona fide members of the
family. When the grandchildren came
along, Harold developed a special
relationship with each of them, tak-
ing pride in their accomplishments.
According to his son Cary, who
spoke at the funeral service, Harold
was charming, driven, competitive
and savvy, with an irreverent sense of
humor.
Along with his father’s sense of
humor, Cary is proud to have inher-
ited his drive to do things on his own,
a quality Harold taught by example.
“I always wanted to do it on my
own without help — going to medi-
cal school, work, etc. — and he didn’t
understand that, even though that’s
how he did everything,” said Cary, a
physician in Traverse City.
Loss first met Harold several years
ago, at the suggestion of Harold’s
friend (the late) Bill Farber, to talk
about increasing attendance of
young people at the concerts he was
sponsoring in honor of son Stephen.
From that conversation, a friendship
developed that continued throughout
Harold’s life.
“He was bright, unique, with an
incredible sense of humor,” said Loss,
who officiated the funeral service.

“He was clever, resourceful and intui-
tive, with an ability to read people
clearly. And family was central.”
Harold was active and enjoyed
being competitive, whether running
or playing racquetball with his sons.
Even into his 80s, he was determined
to stay fit, working with a personal
trainer to achieve his goals.
He enjoyed weekly breakfasts with
a close group of longtime friends,
who called themselves “the boychiks.”
He enjoyed family dinners and always
insisted on being the host, including
on his own birthday.
According to Loss, Harold’s friend
Bill Farber taught him that the way to
find happiness was to engage in phi-
lanthropy, and the two joined togeth-
er to fund projects such as the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit’s Stephen Gottlieb Music
Festival and Festival of Arts. Even in
this arena, Harold was competitive,
taking pleasure when his donation
exceeded the expected amount in one
of Farber’s campaigns.
The Gottliebs sponsored a toy fund
at Children’s Hospital of Michigan
and funded music programs at Hillel
Day School and Camp Tamarack.
Despite his ailing health, Harold vis-
ited the camp to see the impact of the
music on the kids.
“… He smiled, despite not feel-
ing well, as he saw the kids being
touched by the music,” Loss said.
“This made life worthwhile for him.”
Harold is survived by his beloved
wife, Sarah Gottlieb; his dear sons,
David (the late Lillian) Gottlieb
and Cary (Carol Gamber) Gottlieb;
daughter-in-law, Lisa Gottlieb; loving
grandchildren, Adam, Ethan, Joshua,
Ryan, Lauren and Hannah; devoted
brother, David (Brenda) Gottlieb;
many loving nieces, nephews, other
family members and friends.
He was the loving father of the late
Stephen Gottlieb; and the devoted
brother of the late Robert Gottlieb
and the late Norman Gottlieb.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
cemetery in Livonia. Charitable
contributions may be made to the
Stephen Gottlieb Memorial Concert
Fund at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48323, (248) 661-5700. Arrangements
by Dorfman Chapel. •

ing taken a trip only two weeks
ago. She visited many places
across the U.S., enjoying the time
with her kids; but her most memo-
rable trip was the European River
Cruise she was able to take this
past spring with her husband,
Don. Even with her diagnosis and
under chemo treatments, she was
able to enjoy the fullest extent of
the trip, a memory that will be
cherished for a long time.
Her next biggest loves were her
brown fur babies, her Chesapeake
Bay Retrievers. She showed her
dogs in the show ring and was able
to achieve champion level with
all of them, one of them earning
an invite to Westminster. One of
her goals was to finish her current
puppy, Westly, before she became
too ill, a goal that she was able to
meet. She loved her dogs and they
loved her. She also enjoyed being
a part of the Chessie world and
made many friends over the years.
Special thanks to Virginia, who
was a big support for Fran.
Her biggest love was her hus-
band, Don. Francyn was the great-
est of friends and love to him. She
supported him throughout their
30 years together, ready to do or
go wherever they thought best,
including moving to Wisconsin.
She supported him when he was
ill, when he lost his job and during
the move. She provided him the
accolades every guy needs when
finishing projects from his shop.
And each was built with her mind.
Francyn was the wife of Don
Chomic for 30 years; daughter of
Gerald and Esther Herwitz; and
sister of Scott and Lawrence.
A celebration of her life was
held last week. Contributions
may be made to CaringBridge
Organization, Spierings Cancer
Foundation, Chesapeake Bay
Retriever Club or a local commu-
nity or high school theater group
of your choice.

Cimmer

EDITH CIMMER,
91, of Sarasota,
Fla., formerly of
Oak Park, died
Oct. 20, 2017.
“Bubbie” was
loved fiercely by
her grandchildren
and great-grand-
children and was
a hero and role
model.
As a girl, she
witnessed her
entire fam-
ily murdered