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