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Judy and daughter Linda Ross share a laugh.

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Sat. Nov. 10 at 7:30 PM
Wed. Nov. 14 at 7:30 PM
Fri. Nov. 16 at 7:30 PM
Sun. Nov. 18 at 2:30 PM
At the Detroit Opera House

The Barber
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28

November 1 • 2018

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the spirit of helping other youngsters
in need.
“I know what underprivileged chil-
dren endure,” she said, “and I vowed
I would do anything I could to help
others — the way I was helped.”
In 1950, she joined the Infants
Service Group, an organization that
distributed supplies to needy pre-
schoolers and provided aid to visually
and mentally handicapped children.
In 1965, she was feted with a testimo-
nial dinner for her work raising thou-
sands of dollars for that organization.
She and Jack raised three children
of their own during nearly 40 years
together. Sadly, a daughter died at
39 from leukemia; however, Eder’s
remaining son and daughter have
expanded the family to seven grand-
children and 12 great-grandchildren.
Daughter Linda Ross spends a lot
of time with her mother. “I can hardly
keep up sometimes,” she said.
Eder’s something of a card shark
as well and goes to the casino twice a
week with her son, Dr. Dennis Eder.
As a tribute to his grandmother’s
life and to call attention to the diffi-
culties those in the foster care system
face, her grandson Randall Kaplan, a
prominent Southern California busi-
nessman and venture investor, and
his wife, Madison Kaplan, established
the Julia Eder Dean’s Scholarship
at his alma mater, the University of
Michigan, in 2004. The four-year
grant allows any student with fos-
ter care experience to attend U-M’s
College of Literature, Arts and Science
and graduate debt-free.
In a letter, Kaplan said, “My grand-

mother’s life story exudes tremendous
emotion, inspiration and spirit. I
would be honored to celebrate her life
… and give other less-fortunate chil-
dren some hope that there are people
out there who have overcome incred-
ibly difficult odds and are determined
to make the world a better place.”
Eder’s volunteer efforts have fol-
lowed the spirit of helping others,
including 25 years as a Red Cross
worker at Providence Hospital. But
one story stands out as a true testa-
ment to her giving nature.
“You’ve heard the expression ‘giving
the shirt off one’s back,’” Eder said.
“Years ago, I was at the beauty shop,
having my hair done. When I went to
pay my bill, the receptionist remarked
that the suit I was wearing was the
most beautiful outfit she had ever
seen. After hearing this, I went to the
back of the shop, took off my mink
coat and took off the suit. Then, I put
on one of the shop’s gowns under my
fur coat, and went back up front, and
handed her the suit. So, I really did
give the ‘shirt’ off my back,” Eder said
with both a smile and a tear. “That’s
the kind of person I wanted to be!”
And how have all these exemplary
characteristics served this remarkable
woman over the past century?
“I’ve always tried to be honest, kind
and helpful, and achieve the best in
everything I’ve done,” Eder said. “In
spite of all the misfortune when I was
young, I believed things would get
better with effort.”
Anyone who meets Judy Eder
wouldn’t doubt — they surely have! ■

