DECEMBER 5 • 2019 | 57

Soul
of blessed memory

The Creation He Treasured Most — Family

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A

s a structural engineer and suc-
cessful business owner, William
“Bill” Lefkofsky developed prom-
inent edifices throughout the country.
Despite his numerous professional
accomplishments, the creation he trea-
sured most was his
family, which he
and his wife, Sandy,
built and nurtured
together for almost
six decades.
Bill, a devoted
husband, father,
grandfather, friend
and generous
philanthropist, died
Nov. 22, 2019, after
a valiant battle with
several serious illnesses for the past six
years. He was 82.
Bill Lefkofsky was born in 1937 in
London, Ontario, moving to Detroit at
age 3 with his parents and two siblings,
Helene and Danny. Upon his arrival, he
attended the former Durfee Elementary
School and subsequently graduated from
Central High School, where he made
many lifelong friendships. Following a
brief stint at University of Detroit, where
he considered becoming a dentist, he
transferred to Wayne State University,
where he used his considerable math
skills to earn a degree in engineering.
Eventually he founded William
Lefkofsky and Associates, which became
a nationally renowned firm as a result
of his strong leadership skills. Licensed
in 35 states, Bill and his staff devel-
oped notable high-rise buildings, civic
centers, schools, shopping centers and
highways across the United States. Some
of his most significant local projects
include the Holocaust Memorial Center,
many Taubman malls, the Temple Israel
sanctuary in West Bloomfield and Tower
14 in the former Northland complex.
After a brief meeting as teenagers, Bill
was fixed up with Sandy, then a WSU
student. Immediately knowing they had
found their soulmates, the couple began

a 59-year partnership filled with love,
laughter, shared family values and mutu-
al respect.
Their son Steven described their mar-
riage as “a magical relationship” between
two people who trusted and believed
in each other implicitly. Always togeth-
er, they raised three children, traveled
the world and enjoyed an active life
that included tennis, golf and running.
Theirs was the “fun house,” where family
and friends were always welcome.
Sandy was his partner in life and in
business, working in the company’
s
office and helping Bill make import-
ant decisions. When Bill became ill six
years ago, the adversity only served
to strengthen their bond. With their
daughter, Jodi, helping her parents nav-
igate the many obstacles they faced, the
family was able to overcome countless
challenges with humor and heart.
At the funeral service, officiant Rabbi
Josh Bennett of Temple Israel read a
passage written by Sandy describing
how Bill’
s life philosophy epitomized the
holiday of Thanksgiving.
“He never took his blessings for grant-
ed,” she wrote. “He didn’
t think about
what he had lost; instead, he was grate-
ful for everything he’
d been given.”
Always looking for opportunities to
further his personal growth, he enrolled
in night classes and earned a Juris
Doctor degree from the Detroit College
of Law. He served as chairman of many
professional organizations, includ-
ing the City of Southfield Planning
Commission and the Temple Israel
Building Committee. An active member
of Temple Israel, he was proud to break
ground recently on the synagogue’
s
Lefkofsky Family Prayer Space and
Social Hall.
According to son Eric, co-founder and
former CEO of Groupon, Bill embodied
every positive quality a father could pos-
sess. He credits Bill for showing him how
to prioritize family despite the demands
of running a successful business.
“He was strong, driven, committed,

intelligent, responsible, compassionate,
caring rational, successful and funny,”
said Eric, speaking at the funeral service.
Bill went into the office early in
the morning so he could have dinner
with the family every evening. He was
quick-tempered but even quicker to
forgive and apologize, never holding a
grudge.
“One of the greatest lessons he taught
me is you’
re never too big or important
to say you’
re sorry,” Eric said.
He was present at every Little League
game and sports activity, with a ready
smile and an encouraging word.
“He would always tell me something
to make me feel good, no matter how
badly I played or swam,” said Steven,
who also spoke at the funeral service.
“He taught us the importance of build-
ing a good foundation. In the face of
enormous physical challenges and great
adversity, he was never afraid, he never
complained, and he never gave up.”
He doted on his 10 grandchildren,
celebrating their simchahs and attend-
ing their school and sports activities.
“The best lesson was watching how
he lived his life,” said grandson Mathew.
“He taught me what real love is, that
family came first.”
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of
58 years, Sandy; children, Jodi (Kevin)
Neff, Steven (Melanie) Lefkofsky, and
Eric (Liz) Lefkofsky; grandchildren,
Adam, Alli, Emily, and Zachary Neff,
and Hailey, Mathew, Jake, Sam, Stella,
and Quinn Lefkofsky; siblings, Helene
(Milton) Tilson and Danny (Marla
Rosberg) Lefkofsky; brother-in-law and
sister-in-law, Jeff (Maureen) Bernstein
and Charlene (Andy) Rismann.
Contributions in memory of William
Lefkofsky may be directed to Temple
Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48323, (248) 661-5700,
temple-israel.org. Interment was
at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Arrangements by the Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

William “Bill” Lefkofsky