soul

of blessed memory

She Cherished Life

E

llyce Rochelle (Ruben) Field,
66, died April 25, 2018, in West
Bloomfield.
Ellyce was born on Oct. 14, 1951,
to Bella and Charles Ruben, the older
sister of Nancy and Douglas. Growing
up, Ellyce spent her summers at Camp
Walden and many hours playing with
her siblings and cousins.
She graduated from Southfield High
School in 1969; she had been active in
student government and she acted in
school plays. It was during her sopho-
more year of high school that Ellyce
started dating the love of her life,
Stephen Field, then a senior at SHS.
After high school, Ellyce attended
and graduated from the University
of Michigan, where she majored in
English and minored in theater and
French, earning a B.A. in 1973. She
later earned an M.A. in education from
the University of Michigan, receiving
the School of Education’s prestigious
Outstanding Youth Educator Award for
student teaching excellence.
Ellyce and Stephen were married
on July 15, 1973, and made their home
in Ann Arbor while Stephen com-
pleted his training at the University
of Michigan Medicine School and
Ellyce taught English at Hartland
High School. In 1977, their first son,
Jordan, was born. After moving to West
Bloomfield, Ellyce and Stephen wel-
comed to the family twin boys, Andrew
and Garrett, in 1981.
Ellyce and Stephen raised their fami-
ly in West Bloomfield. During that time,
Ellyce was an active volunteer at Hillel
Day School, serving many years as the
“Art Lady” in her sons’ classrooms and

later on the school’s
board of directors.
Ellyce also followed
her parents’ footsteps,
taking leadership
roles at Congregation
B’nai Moshe, where
she served on the
board of directors and
was chosen to be the
mistress of ceremo-
nies for the congrega-
tion’s 75th anniversary Field
celebration. In recog-
nition of their work in
the Jewish Community, in 2009, Ellyce
and Stephen received the Shin Award
from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Ellyce loved cooking and baking for
family and friends, joyfully hosting
many holiday meals that included her
sons’ college roommates and fraternity
brothers. The family spent many hours
attending sporting events in Ann Arbor,
cheering for the Wolverines, and many
summer weeks together with friends at
Camp Michigania. Ellyce had a wonder-
ful sense of humor, a beautiful smile
and a loud, irresistible laugh, which
always made her the perfect audience
for family and friends.
Professionally, Ellyce was the family
entertainment writer for the Detroit
News, writing a regular column about
destinations and activities for fami-
lies and kids in Michigan. During her
tenure with the News, she became one
of the newspaper’s longest-running
freelance columnists. Ellyce also wrote
several books for Michigan tourists,
published by the Wayne State Press
and University of Michigan Press,

including Michigan
Family Field Trips,
Detroit Kids Catalog:
A Family Guide for the
21st Century, Detroit
Kids Catalog: The
Hometown Tourist and
Kids and Cars (co-
authored with Susan
Shlom).
She was a frequent
guest expert on local
and national radio and
television, speaking
about exciting events
and destinations for children and fami-
lies in Michigan, as well best practices
for traveling with children. The Field
family spent many hours as “hometown
tourists” as Ellyce did research for her
books and column, exploring count-
less Michigan museums, petting zoos,
u-pick berry farms and state parks.
Once their sons were grown, Ellyce
and Stephen enjoyed traveling togeth-
er; and Ellyce, always passionate about
the arts, became a docent at Saarinen
House at Cranbrook and, later, from
2007-2013, at the Detroit Institute of
Arts. After their first grandson Logan
was born, Ellyce spent every Tuesday
watching him (and later, his younger
brother Dylan), which became known
in the family as “Tuesdays with Bubbie.”
In 2011, Ellyce was surprised by her
immediate family with a 60th birthday
brunch celebration.
Despite being diagnosed in 2012 with
progressive supranuclear palsy, which
eventually took away her ability to
speak or stand on her own, Ellyce con-
tinued to enjoy life to the fullest, travel-

ing with Stephen and family to Disney
World, Lakeland, Fla., to see the Tigers
play in spring training, and several
trips to explore western and northern
Michigan. With Stephen now retired,
Tuesdays lovingly became “Tuesdays
with Bubbie and Gramps.” Throughout
that time, Ellyce exhibited extraordi-
nary strength and determination, never
once complaining about her diagno-
sis and inspiring her family to create
memories and cherish every moment
together.
She was the beloved wife of Stephen
Field; dear mother of Jordan (Marjie)
Field, Andrew (Rabbi Kate Palley)
Field and Garrett (Nayomi) Field;
devoted sister of Nancy (JT) Turner
and Douglas (Arlene) Ruben; loving
grandmother of Logan, Dylan, Amichai,
Akiva and Sophia; dearest daughter
of Bella Ruben and the late Charles
Ruben; adoring daughter-in-law of
the late Frieda Field and Elliott (Alice)
Field. She is also survived by sisters-in-
law, Denise Field, Madeline Field and
Marilyn Ruben; nieces, nephews, cous-
ins, many other loving family members
and friends.
Interment was at Oakview Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Cure PSP,
1206 York Road, Suite L-4, Lutherville,
MD 21093, www.psp.org; Congregation
B’nai Moshe, 6800 Drake Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.bnaimoshe.
org; Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200
Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202, www.
dia.org; or to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
•

MARILYN BLUM, 94, of
Bloomfield Hills, died
April 29, 2018.
She is survived by
her loving children:
daughters, Shira
Blum, Debi Silver;
son and daughter-in-
Blum
law, Sheldon and Lori
Blum; grandchildren,
Aliza Silver, Erik Silver,
Byron Blum, Lauren
Hirsch; great-granddaughter, Samantha

Silver; other loving family members and
friends.
Mrs. Blum was the adoring wife of the
late Nathan Blum; devoted daughter of
the late Max and the late Freida Levine;
beloved sister of the late Ruth Sobel and
the late Irving Levine.
Interment was held at Beth Moses
Cemetery in Roseville. Contributions
may be made to Jewish Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

DONALD COHEN, 78,
of West Bloomfield,
died April 25, 2018.
He is survived by his
beloved wife, Marilyn
Cohen; daughters and
sons-in-law, Deborah
and Michael Thomas,
Cohen
Marcy and Michael
Benghiat, Stacey and
Peter Schreiber; grand-
children, Jordan and
Bradley Benghiat, Jackson and Maya

Schreiber; brother and sister-in-law,
Larry and Rita Cohen; sister, Anita
Calfin; many loving nieces, nephews,
other family members and friends.
Interment was held at Clover
Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Contributions may be made to Temple
Emanu-El or to the American Cancer
Society. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

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