48 April 11 • 2019
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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