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August 9 • 2018

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MARTIN DARVICK

T

o understand the success of Elliot
Automotive technology rolled in
Darvick — as Michigan and Ohio
and out of his driveway with each con-
general manager for Lyft; as a
secutive company car, and Elliot found
son, sibling, friend, husband and father
something to love in all of them, even
— you just have to look. I can
the Cadillac Catera (“It zigged!”).
tell out of the corner of my eye
In the carpeted confines of his
without getting up from his
basement, constructing with
dining room table, even though
cardboard bricks and hula hoops
he’s seated in the kitchen and
(occasionally weaponized by the
it’s hard to hear him over the
Brothers Falik) led to tech tinker-
tumbling of my sheets and tow-
ing, led to web design that could
els in his dryer.
not be derailed by a capricious
But to understand the world
and cacophonous dial-up inter-
of Elliot Darvick — and I’ve
net connection.
Ben Falik
Contributing Writer
been trying off and on for 30
Humanity has long filled the
years — you have to trian-
Birmingham home where the
gulate: Mobility. Technology.
Darvicks have lived for 34 years.
Humanity. Those three intersecting
Nurturing relationships and ritual, each
lines and their many combinations have
family member captured humanity in
substantively shaped Elliot. Like few oth- his or her own medium: writing (Debra),
ers, he can adapt to all variety of angles
photography (Martin), music (Elliot) and
while remaining structurally sound in
art (sister Emma).
his values, voice and vision.
Midwestern mobility took Elliot to
The triangulation between mobil-
Washington University in St. Louis
ity, technology and humanity explains
where technology enabled him to cre-
Elliot’s restlessness and rootedness, his
ate, among other things, a website for a
amiable ambition — the man, the
scrappy new Detroit organization called
mentsh, the method.
Summer in the City, and the humanity
Baby Boomer-brand mobility brought
of hip hop-inspired DJ Ellioto and DJ
Martin ( from Brooklyn) and Debra
Davizzle led him to share diverse tracks
( from Atlanta) together in New York City with countless listeners to Falafel Beatz
and then, courtesy of General Motors,
on KWUR, 90.3 FM.
to Michigan. From his parents, Elliot got
California, by way of Chicago.
what JFK found wanting in Washington
Success in tech. A JDate that went
— Northern efficiency and Southern
well. Elizabeth, wise West Coast wife
charm — and if you listen closely, you
wooed to make the maternal move
can hear both accents winding around
to Michigan. Raising their daughter,
each other like a vocal-corded double
Olivia, who weekly “waves her tiny
helix.
hands in front of her eyes like her

PHOTOS BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY

Native son Elliot Darvick heads regional office
involved in uplifting Detroit transportation.

TOP: Lyft is sponsor and partner of the Detroit City Football Club; Darvick shows
his support on the playing field at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.
BOTTOM: Elizabeth and Elliot Darvick with daughter, Olivia, prepare for Shabbat
at home in Huntington Woods.