soul

of blessed memory

continued from page 63

A Distinguished Academic

D

r. Lawrence
“Larry” Berkove
of Southfield,
died May 19, 2018, at age
88.
He was born in
Rochester, N.Y., and
grew up in Chicago, Ill.
Larry began college as
a forestry major at the
University of Montana.
His summer jobs
Berkove
included working for
the Forest Service, for
the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and in the steel mills.
In 1953, Larry volunteered for a
three-year stint in the U.S. Army,
where he served as a special agent
for the Counter Intelligence Corps
in Korea. Larry went on to receive
his Ph.D. from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1962, teaching at
Skidmore College, Depaul University
and Colorado College, before com-
ing to the University of Michigan
Dearborn in 1964.
Larry was promoted to professor
of humanities in 1974. He specialized
in American literature of the 19th
century and was an internationally
recognized expert on Mark Twain,
Ambrose Bierce, Jack London and
authors of the Sagebrush School. He
became professor emeritus in 2003.
He was a prolific scholar, writing
throughout his career and well into
his retirement. He authored nearly
200 publications, including 14 books.
He was recognized for his scholar-

ship both nationally and
internationally.
In 1982-1983, Dr.
Berkove was invited to
be a visiting professor
at Rikkyo University in
Tokyo, Japan, and in
1992 was a Distinguished
Fullbright Lecturer in
South Korea. He served
in leadership roles in
a number of academic
organizations, includ-
ing as president of the
Michigan College English
Association, president of the Jack
London Society and president of the
Mark Twain Circle of America.
Dr. Berkove was the beloved hus-
band of Gail Berkove; they were mar-
ried more than 50 years. He was also
the devoted father of Ethan (Kyra)
Berkove, Naomi Berkove and Daniel
(Ayelet) Berkove; loving grandfather
of Dale, Devon, Yehudah, Gilad, Yair,
Noam and Shira Berkove; dear uncle
of Sam Siner and Emily Siner; proud
son of the late Sally and the late Dr.
Harry Berkove.
Contributions may be made to Yad
Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, Berkley,
MI 48072; or American Friends of
Magen David Adom, 30100 Chagrin
Blvd., #150, Pepper Pike, OH 44124.
Services were held at Hebrew
Memorial Chapel. Interment was
held at Shalom Memorial in Chicago.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel. •

A Life Of Art And Service

M

argaret Herz
Demant, 92,
of Huntington
Woods, businesswoman,
art collector and philan-
thropist, died peacefully at
home May 20, 2018.
A daughter of Walter
and Erna Herz, she was
born in Krefeld, Germany,
in 1926, but spent her
early years in Berlin. After
Demant
Kristallnacht, her parents
decided to leave Germany
and arranged for Margaret
and her younger sister Ellen to travel to
England on the Kindertransport, where
they stayed with separate families until
their parents joined them in 1939. The
following year, the family immigrated
to the United States, settling in Detroit,
where they had relatives and where Mr.
Herz established Walter Herz Interiors,
a design firm.
After graduating from high school,
Margaret joined her father’s company.
In 1947, she married Henry Demant,
who joined Walter Herz Interiors and
together they built it into one of the
most prominent interior design busi-
nesses in the Midwest. They had two
children, Steven and Laurie.
She was a devoted philanthropist
and passionate supporter of the Detroit
Institute of Arts for more than 50 years,
donating the first of numerous gifts
in 1986. In 1994, with her discerning
taste and the remarkable personal
collection, she was asked to serve on
museum’s Collection Committee. She

also served on the board
of many auxiliaries, nota-
bly, friends of African and
African American Art and
the European Painting
Council. She was elected
to the board of trustees in
1996.
In 2004, Margaret was
honored with the DIA’s
Lifetime Service Award.
She was also a longtime
supporter of Jewish Family
Service and served on its
board of directors with a focus on men-
tal health and substance abuse. Other
organizations she supported include
Jewish Adult Day Care Center, Jewish
Resettlement Services and Project
Discovery.
Preceded in death by her husband
and children, Mrs. Demant is survived
by her sister, Ellen Kahn; her nephew,
Robert (Carolyn Adams); two grand-
nieces, Kira Thompson and Sandra
Kahn; two grandnephews, Derek
Thompson and Vitali Kahn; her dear
friend, Graten Little. She will be missed
by her many caring friends and col-
leagues.
A memorial service will be held at
a later date at the Detroit Institute
of Arts. Contributions may be made
to the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200
Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202, www.dia.
org; or Jewish Family Service, 6555 W.
Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322,
www.jfsdetroit.org. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. •

of the paint business. The business
thrived under their combined leader-
ship, becoming a major supplier of
paint to Detroit’s booming post-World
War II economy.
Lou married Thelma Furman Feb. 3,
1952, and they were devoted and beloved
parents to their three children, Lynn,
Mark and Gail. Lou and Thelma enjoyed
42 wonderful years together that includ-
ed a strong devotion to both Lou’s and
Thelma’s extended families along with
deep community involvement.
Lou was president of the Detroit
chapter of the American Technion
Society, a lifelong member of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a strong
supporter of Israel; he was also a lead-
er in many professional organizations

related to the paint industry.
Lou also had two passionate hobbies:
running and photography. An avid run-
ner, together with his running buddies
(his “boys” as he called them), Lou ran
the Boston Marathon (three times), the
New York Marathon, the Detroit Free
Press International Marathon (three
times) and many other organized runs.
Lou’s other passion, photography, took
Lou and Thelma all over the world; he
leaves behind an impressive photo-
graphic archive of his work.
After Thelma passed away in 1994,
Lou reconnected with childhood
friend Adele Emmer. Together they
traveled often and enjoyed a special
relationship until Adele passed away in
November 2008. •

He Made Our Town Brighter

L

ouis “Lou” Milgrom,
96, of West
Bloomfield, died May
21, 2018.
He was born in Detroit
on Jan. 18, 1922, the son
of Max (Matisyahu) and
Fannie (Chaya Fayga)
Milgrom, both new immi-
grants from Poland.
Lou grew up in a loving,
Milgrom
observant Jewish house-
hold in an area of Detroit
filled with other Polish
immigrant families, attended Detroit
Public Schools, graduated from Central
High School in 1939, and earned his
undergraduate and graduate degrees
in chemistry at the University of

64

May 31 • 2018

jn

Michigan in Ann Arbor and
at Wayne University (now
Wayne State University) in
Detroit.
In partnership with the
Soberman family (also new
immigrants from Poland),
the Milgrom family found
success in Detroit by
establishing the Soberman
and Milgrom Paint
Company, later known as
Mercury Paint Company.
Lou was a child when the
business was formed; after complet-
ing his education, Lou (now a chemist
by training) and Lou’s brother Myron
and lifelong friend Nathan Soberman
became second-generation owners