March 21 • 2019 47
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W
hen Annette Meskin led
a Hadassah mission to
Israel, it was the expe-
rience of a lifetime. She inspired
every participant with her vast
knowledge and passion for the
Jewish homeland she
loved so dearly. Annette
L. Meskin, who lived in
Bloomfield Hills with
her husband of 57 years,
Russell, died on March 8,
2019. She was 77.
The only thing dearer to
Annette’
s heart than Israel
was her family. Born in
Detroit in 1941, she was the
only child of Dora and Morris Muller.
Her parents taught her the impor-
tance of family at a young age by
maintaining close relationships with
their large extended family, a tradition
Annette continued as she raised her
own family. As a child, Annette loved
playing sports, especially baseball and
roofball, with her many cousins and
neighborhood friends.
An active member of BBG,
Annette met Russell at an AZA
New Year’
s Eve party in 1956. Their
connection was instantaneous.
They dated throughout high school,
dancing together at Annette’
s senior
prom and, five years after they met,
at their wedding.
After earning a teaching degree
at Wayne State University, Annette
taught fifth grade in the Royal Oak
Public Schools.
She and Russell had a true part-
nership of love and mutual respect.
They passed on their strong Jewish
values to their two daughters,
Michelle and Barbara, teaching
them the importance of leadership
and giving back to the community.
Annette was a devoted and support-
ive mother, and the Meskin home
was a popular gathering spot for her
children’
s many friends.
As their family grew, so did
Annette’
s pride. She doted on her
grandchildren, Deena and Ryan,
and the admiration was mutual.
She drove carpool, attended every
school or extracurricular event and
phoned or texted daily when the
grandchildren were away. “We knew
we were the center of her world,”
said Deena, speaking at the funeral
service.
Ryan, who also spoke
at the funeral, called his
grandmother an amazing
woman, comparing her to
the Ner Tamid, or everlast-
ing light.
Hadassah was an import-
ant part of her world.
She served as president
of the Detroit chapter of
Hadassah from 1979 to 1983 and
was later appointed to the nation-
al board. She attended the annual
Hadassah conventions every year,
where she became a popular speak-
er and made many good friends
throughout the world.
In 2000, she began leading
Hadassah missions to Israel, where
her leadership skills soon became leg-
endary. She also led trips to Poland,
Budapest and Prague, imparting her
love of Eastern European Jewish cul-
ture and heritage.
“… She (Annette) was a Hadassah
leader not only in Detroit, but
her influence was felt throughout
the organization,” wrote National
Hadassah President Ellen Hershkin.
Annette received numerous
accolades, including the Hadassah
Women of Valor Award and tributes
from the international pro-Israel
education and advocacy organiza-
tion StandWithUs. A research lab
in one of the Hadassah hospitals in
Israel was named in her honor.
“Her passion was to connect Jews
to Israel, to keep our people strong
in Jewish identity,” said Rabbi
Aaron Bergman of Adat Shalom
Synagogue, who officiated the
funeral service.
She was involved in the local
Jewish community, serving as presi-
dent of the regional board of BBYO
and as a board member of Walk for
Israel.
Her devotion to the Jewish people
included a trip to Russia in 1985
to help the refuseniks, despite the
inherent danger. In 1999, she and
Russell went to Cuba, bringing sup-
plies and donating many of their
own possessions. During the 2006
Lebanon war, she brought 60 people
to Israel to lend support.
“When others despaired, she took
action,” Rabbi Bergman said.
Her irrepressible sense of adven-
ture led her to try snowmobiling
and dogsledding on a family ski
trip. She enjoyed listening to Israeli
folk music, classical music and col-
lecting Israeli art. Each week, she
read the Jerusalem Post cover to
cover. She loved the Jewish holidays
and traditions, and she never forgot
a birthday or missed a family event.
According to Deena, one of
Annette’
s favorite sayings was, “If
you want there to be a Jewish com-
munity, you have to show up, and if
you want something done right, you
have to lead.”
Annette is survived by her
beloved husband, Russell Meskin;
cherished daughters, Michelle
Martin and Barbara Meskin; loving
grandchildren, Deena (Avi) Harari
and Ryan Martin; sister-in-law and
brother-in-law, Gayle (Ira) Feldman
and Kenneth (Aleta) Meskin. She is
also survived by many loving nieces
and nephews and a world of friends.
She was the devoted daughter of
the late Dora and the late Morris
Muller; the daughter-in-law of the
late Rose and the late Julius Meskin.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Hadassah, Greater Detroit
Chapter, 5030 Orchard Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48323, (248)
683-5030, hadassah.org/detroit; or
Friendship Circle of Michigan, 6892
W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
MI 48322, (248) 788-7878,
friendshipcircle.org/donate.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel. ■
A Passionate Leader
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
soul
of blessed memory
RONALD MICHAEL
BRAND, 76, of
Farmington Hills, died
March 16, 2019.
He is survived by his
wife, Barbara Brand;
son, Erik Brand;
daughter and son-in-law, Marla and
Kevin Hoffman; grandchildren, Evy,
Benny and Jenna Hoffman; brothers
and sister-in-law, Steven Brand, and
Gregory and Gina Brand; brother-
in-law and sisters-in-law, Ralph and
Denise Mayers, and Joan Sherman
Spector; other loving relatives and
friends.
Mr. Brand was the son of the late
Bertha and the late Allen Brand; the
son-in-law of the late Harry and the
late Betty Mayers.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made
to the Parkinson’
s Foundation of
Michigan, 30400 Telegraph Road,
Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI
48025, parkinsonsmi.org; American
Heart Association, 27777 Franklin
Road, Suite 1150, Southfield, MI
48034, heart.org/HEARTORG;
Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100
John R, Mailcode: NCO6DS, Detroit,
MI 48201, karmanos.org; or to a
charity of one’
s choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
HARRY FRIEDMAN,
81, of Novi, died
March 12, 2019.
He is survived by his
children, Marty and
Jacky Friedman, Lynn
Friedman Weiner and
her fiance, Edward Reinstein, and
Gayle Friedman Gold and Lorne
Gold; grandchildren, Alicia, Amy
and Aaron Friedman, Brandon
Yarsike, Chad Weiner, and Maddie
and Jackson Gold; brother and sister-
in-law, Saul and Agnes Friedman;
many loving nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Mr. Friedman was the loving
brother of the late Bernice Friedman.
Interment was at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Novi Public Library, 45255
W. 10 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375,
novilibrary.org/About-Us/Donate.
aspx; or to a charity of one’
s choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
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