DECEMBER 26 • 2019 | 47

Soul
of blessed memory
His Music Brought
Peace and Unity

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
E

very gathering was more
joyous when Benyes
“Ben” Opengeym was
the entertainer or emcee. A
professional musician, he sang
in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and
Russian, accompanying himself
on keyboards and accordion.
“Performing was one of his
passions, and he treated every
simchah (party) he
played at as his own,
”
said Rosa Chessler,
who worked more
than 25 years with
Ben, her colleague
and friend, at the
Jewish Community
Center in West
Bloomfield and for-
merly in Oak Park.
He was director of
Russian Jewish Life program-
ming. He formerly was an
activity coordinator at Teitel
Apartments in Oak Park for
Jewish Senior Life (JSL).
Ben Opengeym, 58, of West
Bloomfield, died Dec. 12, 2019.
Officiating at his English and
Russian funeral service was
Rabbi Yosef Mishulovin, co-di-
rector of Friends of Refugees of
Eastern Europe, a Chabad con-
gregation in Southfield.
Born March 11, 1961, he
immigrated to Detroit from
Latvia. He came in 1991 with
his wife, Alla, and their three
small sons. A trained cosme-
tologist, he once owned two
Fantastic Sams hair salons.
“Ben was very proud of
believing in God and being
Jewish,
” the rabbi said of his
close friend. Through music,
“he brought unity and peace
within people.
”
“He had such high regard
for Holocaust survivors,
” said
Dr. Charles Silow, director of

JSL
’
s Program for Holocaust
Survivors and Families. Ben
entertained at Cafe Europa, a
monthly JSL activity for survi-
vors to socialize and hear Jewish
music. “The survivors loved his
enthusiasm, his zest for life, his
warmth and his overall good-
ness.
”
Mishulovin called Ben a lev
tov (a good heart): “He
performed many times
free of charge.
”
The Opengeyms
created an online
GoFundMe page for
covering expenses
when Alla left work
to care for Ben, who
had cancer. Remaining
proceeds will benefit
Shtetl, their nonprofit
that promotes Yiddish culture.
“He had a Jewish neshamah
(soul). He was proud of our cul-
ture,
” Alla said.
“The only thing he did bet-
ter than music was being a
father,
” eulogized son Gregory
Opengeym. When family mem-
bers came from Riga, Latvia, for
Thanksgiving, “We remember
his mission was to create a
joyful atmosphere for every-
one. His last words to me were
l’
chaim — to life.
”
Ben Opengeym was the
beloved husband of Alla;
loving son of Max and
Frida Opengeym; devoted
father of Roman and Dina
Opengeym, Gregory and
Anastasia Opengeym and Boris
Opengeym.
Contributions may be
made to the gofundme.com/f/
ben-opengeym, or a charity
of one’
s choice. Interment was
at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.

Benyes Opengeym

EVELYN BERCH, 89, of Oak
Park, died Dec. 15, 2019.
She is survived by her daugh-
ters and son-in-law, Ilene Berch,
and Joni and Marshall Levine;
grandson, Alex Levine.
Mrs. Berch was the beloved
wife of the late Harry Berch.
Contributions may be made
to the Alzheimer’
s Association-
Greater Michigan Chapter,
25200 Telegraph Road, Suite
100, Southfield, MI 48033, alz.
org/gmc. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

SUZY DARMON,
90, of West
Bloomfield, died
Dec. 16, 2019.
She is survived
by her son and
daughter-in-law, Paul and
Cheryl Darmon; daughter,
Lynn Darmon; grandchildren,
Daniel Levitin, Alexandra
Levitin, Zachary Darmon,
Mollie Darmon and Samantha
Darmon; sister and brothers,
Elaine Bellhsen, Guy Mimouni
and Gerard Mimouni.
Mrs. Darmon was the
beloved wife for 56 years of the
late William Darmon; the dear
mother-in-law of the late Andy
Mesrobian; the loving sister of
the late Lucian Mimouni, the
late Jacques Mimouni, the late
Georgette Hayoun and the late
Paul Mimouni.
Interment was at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery. Contributions
may be made to Brown Adult
Day Program, 6720 W
. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48322, jslmi.org/donate; or
Hadassah-Greater Detroit
Chapter, 5030 Orchard Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, MI
48323, hadassah.org/detroit.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.


ROSALIE DISNER, 79, of
Scottsdale, Ariz., formerly of
West Bloomfield, died Dec. 15,
2019.
She is survived by her beloved
husband, Charles Disner; son,
Marc Disner; daughter and
son-in-law, Lori and Douglas
Soifer; brother, Alan Berlin;
grandchildren, Matthew Soifer
and fiancee, Lauren Blazofsky,
Jennifer Soifer, Ariel (Adam)
Amar, Elliott Disner, Jessica
Disner, Joe Disner and Shane
Disner; great-grandchild, Noa
Amar; many other loving family
members and friends.
Mrs. Disner was the sister-in-
law of the late Barbara Berlin.
Interment was held at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham. Contributions
may be made to Little Traverse
Conservancy. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

FRIEDA FAIGIN,
95, of Southfield
and Seattle, Wash.,
died Dec. 13, 2019.
She was active,
like her mother,
Dora, in activities in support
of Israel, such as Na’
amat and
Hadassah. She and her husband
were active members of the
Labor Zionist Movement for
many years. She visited Israel
on three occasions. She was
also an active Democrat; the
couple hosted fundraisers in
their home for Congresswoman
Martha Griffiths.
Mrs. Faigin was well-known
to her friends and family for her
spunk and spirit, which kept
her active and involved well into
her 90s.
She is survived by her
son, Gary Faigin; daughter-
in-law, Pamela Belyea; their
adult children, Sarah Faigin
and Benjamin Faigin; her

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