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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