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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