jews d
JEFF & MATT BARKER
in
the
Associate Brokers
111 Willits St, Unit #501 ~ Birmingham Penthouse
Two-Story, Corner Unit. 24 HR Doorman. In-Unit Elevator.
3,553 SF. Two Terraces. Three Parking Spots. $2,495,000
G
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TI
EW
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LI
John and Gail Urso
N
Kevin’s Song
846 Redding Rd ~ Quarton Lake Estates
4 BR, 4.2 BA, 4,346 SF, 1st Floor Master, 250’ Deep Lot,
3 Car Gar, Birmingham Schools. $1,100,000
Judy Collins performs at annual
suicide prevention conference.
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
1151 Greensted Way ~ The Hills of Lone Pine
Detached Ranch Condo. 24 HR Gated Community.
2,418 SF, 4 BR, 3.1 BA, Daylight LL, 3 Car Gar. $749,900
2009 Hazel St ~ Birmingham Townhouse
Three-Story, Live & Work Space. High End Finishes.
3,576 SF, 3 BR, 3.2 BA, 2 Car Garage. $749,900
#&%%! $-'( "%%#."
Detached, 1st Floor Master Condo. Built 2003. 2,814 SF,
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248.425.6000
jeff@jeffbarkerhomes.com
www.jeffbarkerhomes.com
275 S. Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009
32
November 2 • 2017
jn
a board of directors, which included
hen Gail Urso accepted
longtime friends and Bloomfield Hills
an invitation from friends
residents Linda and Bob Finkel.
Linda and Bob Finkel for
The Finkels introduced Gail
a screening of local psychologist and
and John to Temple Beth El Rabbi
filmmaker Judith Burdick’s documen-
Emeritus Daniel Syme, an advocate
tary Transforming Loss, she had no
for suicide prevention since his
idea how important the film would
brother’s death by suicide more than
soon become. Gail and her husband,
40 years ago, and the founder of the
John, left the Berman Center on that
Jewish Family Service pro-
evening in 2013 inspired by
gram, A Single Soul Suicide
the real-life stories of survi-
Prevention Initiative.
vors who had experienced
“He was wonderful,” Urso
horrific losses and trans-
said. “He’s so dedicated to this
formed their grief into wor-
cause. He thought it [Kevin’s
thy causes that benefited
Song] was great, that there was
those in need.
a great need. He’s continued to
Three weeks later, the
be a great source of support.”
Ursos received the devas-
The late
Syme put the Ursos in touch
tating news that their son,
with filmmaker and former
Kevin, who lived in Florida, Kevin Urso
celebrity chef Keith Famie,
had taken his life at the age
who helped create Death is Not
of 41. Once the shock began
the Answer, which debuted at
to wear off, Gail began to
the first annual conference of
think about the film and its
Kevin’s Song. Syme appears
message of hope.
in the film, along with the
“I remembered that film,
Ursos. This year, multiple
and it was so helpful to
award-winning singer/song-
me because I realized all
writer Judy Collins, who lost
those people who had come Judy Collins
a son to suicide, will perform
through those horrible trag-
a concert and serve as the
edies had come through,
keynote speaker at the annual Kevin’s
and it gave me strength,” she said.
Song conference, which takes place
As the Ursos, who live in Grosse
Pointe, began to learn more about sui- Nov. 9-11 at The Inn at St. John’s in
Plymouth. In addition to a screen-
cide, they discovered many resources
ing of The S Word, a documentary
but no clear path for navigating the
directed by Detroit native Lisa Klein,
maze of available information.
the conference will include presenta-
“It became clear that we wanted to
do something,” Urso said. “We decided tions by a variety of local and national
experts in various aspects of suicide
to start an organization so we could
prevention, including mental health
share the information that was out
research, psychology, medicine, work-
there and educate people in a way we
place concerns and veterans’ issues.
had not been educated.”
Continuing education credits are
They developed a plan to create
available.
Kevin’s Song, an organization that
For a complete schedule and regis-
would include an annual conference,
tration information, visit kevinssong.
a film and a comprehensive website
org/conference. A special conference
that would serve as a resource for
app for smartphones, tablets and lap-
those in need of information about
tops is also available. •
suicide. The next step was to recruit