60 April 4 • 2019
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soul

of blessed memory

ing family; he lavished them with his 
love and generosity.
In addition to Becky and Craig, Liz 
and Jake embraced the love and devo-
tion of Jake’
s medical assistant, Debbie, 
whom they considered their unofficially 
adopted daughter. Debbie’
s ever-present, 
ever-helpful, ever-caring and ever-loving 
ways meant so much to Jake and Liz. 
The loss of Jake was profoundly felt 
by both Craig and his entire family, and 
Debbie and her family. Sadly, Jake and 
Liz lost their Becky in 2007, which broke 
their hearts, but further cemented their 
commitment to each other. The healing 
presence of Craig, Debbie and their fam-
ilies helped Liz and Jake bear their loss. 
Just one year later, Jake received the 
difficult news of his lung cancer diag-
nosis. Miraculously, genetic testing 
revealed that he would be a candidate 
for a unique form of oral chemotherapy, 
which allowed him a more viable qual-
ity of life. He outlived the statistics and 
managed to endure far beyond expecta-
tions.
Through his decline, Jake managed 
to keep his dry sense of humor, loved to 
play the devil’
s advocate and regularly 
journaled in his 3x5 spiral binders with 

his four-colored Bic pens. He was a man 
who counted on people’
s loyalty and 
honesty because these were qualities 
that defined him. He was secure in the 
knowledge that he could always count 
on Liz. 
Dr. Jacob Sharp was a trusted man, 
partaking in group ownership of small 
aircrafts; his sailboat remains today in 
the original slip he had secured so many 
years ago. Despite his broad range of 
interests, talents and deep intellect, Jake 
was a humble man, whose basic needs 
were minimal. 
He leaves behind his wonderful, ador-
ing wife, Liz; his kids, Craig and Debbie; 
many wonderful and loving cousins, 
dear friends and colleagues, all of whom 
lived large in his heart. He was loved.

ROBERT M. ZEVE, 74, 
of Mt. Clemens, died 
March 29, 2019. 
Known endearingly 
as “Dad,
” “Unc,
” “Great 
Unc,
” every variation of 
“Robert” and to his fra-
ternity brothers as “Heckle”
, Robert Zeve 
died of natural causes March 29, 2019, 
in Boca Raton, Fla., with his sister Leah 

Reeves by his side. 
Born Nov. 8, 1944, to Louis and 
Rose (Litwak) Zeve, and raised in Mt. 
Clemens, Robert grew up working 
behind the counter at Litwak’
s, his fami-
ly’
s Jewish delicatessen and restaurant on 
Gratiot Avenue. He learned to ride hors-
es and canoe with his cousins during a 
childhood summer at Camp Ocala in 
Florida. 
Robert was president of the class 
of 1962 at Mt. Clemens High School 
and then majored at Central Michigan 
University in business administration, 
with minors in marketing and speech, 
and later earned an M.B.A. there. At 
CMU, he made friends for a lifetime 
in Delta Sigma Phi. He served in the 
Michigan National Guard in Sturgis, 
Mich. An entrepreneur, who once ran a 
soda pop shop, among other ventures, 
Robert eventually settled into the medi-
cal supply business, specializing in anes-
thesia products. 
A leader of the Jewish community, he 
was a lifelong member of Congregation 
Beth Tephilath Moses in Mt. Clemens 
and fought in college for the inclusion 
of Jews in fraternities. He served as an 
adult adviser for the B’
nai B’
rith Youth 

Organization; and, after his move in 
1982 to Irvine, Calif., he volunteered at 
the Jewish Community Center. 
A self-described people person, 
Robert worked as an ESL and substitute 
teacher before moving to Boca Raton 
in the early 2000s; once there, he occu-
pied himself as a handyman and driver 
for older residents of his building. He 
enjoyed cooking/baking for family, 
friends and community, watching college 
basketball with his son and coaching his 
team, driving great cars and attending 
family simchahs.
Mr. Zeve leaves his son, Michael Leon 
Zeve; two sisters, Judith Kandell and 
Leah; his good friend and former wife, 
Judy (Hoyt) Carlson; loving cousins, 
nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and 
grand-nieces. 
Contributions may be made to 
Congregation Beth Tephilath Moses, 
P
.O. Box 842, Mt. Clemens, MI 48046 
or to a charity of one’
s choice. Graveside 
services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, 
April 4, at Beth Tephilath Moses 
Cemetery. Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel.

HebrewMemorial.org | 248.543.1622 | 800.736.5033 | 26640 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237

ENTERING OUR SECOND CENTURY 
OF CARING AND RESPECTFUL SERVICE

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and personal service 
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