48 April 11 • 2019
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W
ith her sunny smile and
cheerful disposition,
Rebecca “Becca” Lauren
Fogel touched the hearts of every-
one who knew her. This special
young woman, who grew up in West
Bloomfield, died tragically on March
26, 2019, in Florida, where she lived
with her family.
Becca attended Clifford
H. Smart Middle School
and Walled Lake Central
High School, where she
worked hard and displayed
an impressive aptitude for
language.
“She loved idioms and
homonyms,” said Marilyn
Gold, her maternal grand-
mother. “In middle school,
her vocabulary was at a 12th grade
level. She took joy in saying words and
making me smile.”
Becca, 22, who had cerebral palsy,
worked hard to overcome her physical
challenges. She enjoyed going to phys-
ical therapy, where she developed close
bonds with her therapists. She even
taught herself Polish so she could con-
verse in their native language.
One of those therapists remembers
Becca as “a beautiful young lady with a
pure heart” who brightened the room
with her cherry red walker and upbeat
personality.
“Becca never complained, even
though she had thousands of reasons
to,
” she wrote in a condolence email to
Marilyn Gold.
Becca was smart and intuitive, with
a wisdom that exceeded her years.
She was always kind, giving everyone
the benefit of the doubt. One of her
signature sayings was “it’
s too early to
tell” when she met someone she did
not like.
As a youngster, she shared a close
relationship with her three brothers.
She liked horseback riding and going
on walks. She loved music, especially
Tim McGraw’
s. She also appreciated
classical music and considered Mozart
her favorite composer.
She had a close and loving relation-
ship with the Golds, whom she called
“Uhma” and “Poppie.
” The three talked
every day after Becca moved to Florida.
A strong believer in the importance
of healthy eating, Becca loved talking
about food, admonishing her grand-
father, Ronald Gold, for eating French
fries and other “wrong” foods.
Becca’
s death reverberated
throughout the local com-
munity, with an outpouring
of social media messages
from people who were
shocked and saddened by
her loss.
“Rebecca was beautiful,
precious, amazing and so
very special to me …[she]
taught me so much about
strength, resilience, love and
what truly matters in life,” wrote Ewa
Omahen, a former teacher.
Shosh Newman, a former
Friendship Circle of Michigan volun-
teer, wrote the following on the orga-
nization’
s Facebook page.
“In this life you meet people who
will change your life forever and
Rebecca was one of those people for
me. She inspired me to become a spe-
cial education teacher.
”
Ten years ago, Becca celebrated
her bat mitzvah at The Shul in West
Bloomfield.
“Her devotion and love of her Jewish
identity and her well-deserved pride in
her accomplishments was contagious
and inspirational to all,
” Itty Shemtov,
The Shul’
s education and program
director, wrote on Facebook.
Becca is survived by her mother,
Cathy Gold Fogel; brothers, David,
Adam and Max; grandparents, Marilyn
and Ronald Gold; many other extend-
ed family members and friends.
Contributions in memory of Becca
may be directed to a charity of one’
s
choice.
Interment took place after a grave-
side service on March 28, 2019, at
Star of David Cemetery in North
Lauderdale, Fla. Arrangements were
made by Sinai Memorial Chapels in
Delray Beach, Fla. ■
A Special Soul
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
soul
of blessed memory
HARRIET
ABRAMOWITZ, 90, of
West Bloomfield, died
April 1, 2019.
A loving wife and
mother, she was a social
worker, educator, activ-
ist and volunteer who had a profound
impact in Wayne and Oakland counties.
After graduating from the University
of Pittsburgh with a master’
s degree in
social work in 1951, she worked in a
few settings, including the Plymouth
State Home, the Detroit League for the
Handicapped and Kingswood Hospital.
From 1974 to 1995, she was a social
worker in the Bloomfield Hills and
South Lyon school districts, touching
the lives of thousands of families.
Mrs. Abramowitz earned a master
of arts in school psychology in 1983,
expanding her work to include testing
services for local school districts. Later
in life, she was an adjunct professor at
Wayne State University, passing on her
vast experience to a new generation of
social workers.
Throughout her life, she engaged in
many volunteer activities, including
serving as a member of the Livonia
Human Rights Commission, as chair
of the Oakland County Guardianship
Review and providing support for
seniors in need through Jewish Senior
Life.
Mrs. Abramowitz is survived by her
son, Mordecai; her daughter and son-
in-law, Corrinne and Howard Sharp;
her son and daughter-in-law, David
Abramowitz and Linda Staheli; grand-
children, Simon Sharp, and Jacqueline
and Joshua Abramowitz.
She was the wife for 64 years of the
late Ralph Abramowitz, who died in
2015.
Contributions may be sent to the
Henry & Delia Meyers Library and
Media Center at the Jewish Community
Center of Metro Detroit to honor her
long commitment to the library and
to Jewish life and learning. A memo-
rial service will be held at 2 p.m. on
Friday, April 26, 2019, at All Seasons,
5600 Drake Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322.
ANN G. ALPERT, 95, of
Moundsville, W
. Va., died
April 3, 2019.
She is survived by her
daughter and son-in-
law, Dian and Damodar
White; son, Fred Alpert;
granddaughter, Taylor Irene Alpert.
Mrs. Alpert was the beloved wife of
the late Irving Alpert; the loving sister
of the late Jack Sadovitz, the late Dave
Sadovitz, the late Harry Sands, the
late Blossom Peck and the late Ethel
Oppenheim.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made
to JARC, 6735 Telegraph, Suite 100,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jarc.org;
Gilda’
s Club of Metro Detroit, 3517
Rochester Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073,
gildasclubdetroit.org; or to a charity
of one’
s choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
MARVIN A. FRENKEL,
92, of Stuart, Fla., died
April 1, 2019.
He is survived by
his sons and daughter-
in-law, Dale and Patty
Frenkel, and Dr. Ronald
Frenkel and Paula Costa; daughter,
Cindy Frenkel; grandchildren, Maradith
Frenkel Ginsburg and Aaron Ginsburg,
Mark and Lindsay Frenkel, William
Frenkel, Warren Frenkel, Max Frenkel
and Hannah Kanter; great-grand-
children, Sienna Ginsburg and Gavin
Ginsburg. He is also survived by loving
caregivers, Kim Ruffing, Susan Maleski,
Karissa Landgrebe and Wanda Suleski.
Mr. Frenkel was the beloved husband
of the late Barbara “Skippy” Prentis
Frenkel; the cherished father of the late
Tom Frenkel; the devoted son of the late
Joseph and the late Rose Frenkel; the
loving brother of the late Sheila and the
late William Frenkel Ellman.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, tbeonline.
org; Common Ground Sanctuary, Attn:
Nicole Pettibone, 1410 S. Telegraph
Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302,
commongroundhelps.org; or Michigan
Opera Theater, 1526 Broadway, Detroit,
MI 48226, motopera.org. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
SARA GARELIK, 97, of
West Bloomfield, died
April 3, 2019.
She is survived by her
daughter and son-in-law,
Elaine and Mel Raznick;
son and daughter-in-law,
Philip and Laura Garelik; grandchildren,
Brian and Rochelle Raznick, Dr. Lisa and
Jason Hodes, Jason and Stacey Raznick,
Fogel