32 | OCTOBER 24 • 2019

The Levins’
participation with the
Metro Detroit Youth Clubs is not an iso-
lated event. It comes on the heels of years
of support to the organization. Tillander
fondly recalls “Sander playing basketball
with our kids over the decades, while Carl
has often welcomed and championed our
members over the years.”
The idea for creating the Levin-Comer
Club at the Durfee location was first gen-
erated by former Garden Fresh Gourmet
founder Jack Aronson. He is an MDYC
board member, and the club’
s Ferndale
location is named in honor of him and his
wife, Annette. After touring and falling in
love with the Durfee Innovation Society,
Aronson informed Tillander the site was “a
must-see” for future MDYC consideration.
At the same time, Aronson shared his
enthusiasm with Carolyn Krieger, owner
of CKC Agency, the Farmington Hills-
based public relations firm he’
s partnered
with for years. Turns out Krieger’
s parents,
Winnie (Goldberg) and Aaron Krieger of
Farmington Hills, both 85 and childhood
sweethearts married for 66 years, are life-
long friends of Carl’
s and part of his gradu-
ating class of 1949.
Throw in the fact that Carolyn is a huge
reunion enthusiast, having organized her
own sixth-grade class get-togethers for

years and, well, connect the dots and you
have yourself an incredible event for the
MDYC on Nov. 7 that will profoundly
impact the futures of Detroit students for
generations to come.

EXCHANGING MEMORIES
The Kriegers, plus fellow Durfee ’
49
classmates Ruby (Fischer) Fridson of
Farmington Hills, Martin Magid of
Bloomfield Hills and Herb Saperstein of
Novi, were on hand at Durfee to remi-
nisce about their school days ahead of the
November event. Until this meeting, all
three had not walked through the doors of
Durfee in 70 years.
Along with the Levins, they gathered
around a table in a small room adjacent
to the Durfee library, where memories of
chocolate phosphates, city buses as the
only form of school transportation, life-
long friendships, WWII and FDR’
s death
were just a few of the vivid word pictures
being painted by these 85-year-old
“students.”
“I’
ll tell you one other story,” said Sander
Levin, talking about one unforgettable day
on the playground at Durfee. “It was just
behind the school. Carl and I were here,
and I liked to kick footballs. Carl would
hold the football and I would kick it.” Carl
chimed in: “You know, extra points.”

Metro Detroit Youth Clubs Dedication
Luncheon honoring Sen. Carl Levin,
Congressman Sander Levin and Detroit
philanthropist Jim Comer will be held
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday,
Nov. 7, at the Durfee Innovation
Society, 2470 Collingwood, Detroit.
Tickets for Durfee alumni, friends,
family and the community: $55 one
ticket or $100 for two. Event includes
lunch, school tours and complimentary
valet parking. For tickets or to donate,
visit miclubs.org or call
888-MI-CLUBS (888-642-5827).

TOP: Carl and Sander Levin relive
memories through old yearbooks.
ABOVE: Durfee memorabilia.

Jews in the D

PHOTOS BY ERIN KIRKLAND

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