48 | FEBRUARY 27 • 2020 

A Kind and Generous Patriar 
ch 

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A

rnold J. Shifman was 
a dedicated lawyer, 
a passionate activist 
and, above all, a beloved hus-
band, father and grandfather. 
He generously opened his 
heart, his home and his wallet 
to those in need, earning the 
admiration of his clients and 
his community. 
“
Arnie” Shifman, who lived 
in Huntington Woods with 
his wife, Elaine, died Jan. 22, 
2020. He was 85. 
According to his daughter, 
Missy Bean, Arnold’
s philos-
ophy could be summed up by 
the advice he gave his chil-
dren. “He told us to ‘
be kind, 
assume the best, help people 
cross the street and vote for 
Democrats.’
” 
As a lawyer, he did far 
more than resolve his clients’
 
legal issues. He located their 
long-lost relatives, invited 
them for family dinners and 
helped them find health 
care and other resources. He 
loaned money freely, even 
taking over the mortgage of 
an elderly client who was 
about to lose his home. He 
often accepted a tray of bak-
lava or a basket of pomegran-
ates in lieu of money. 
“He helped hundreds of 
clients over the years for free,” 
Bean said. “My dad believed 
everyone deserved help, 
whether they could pay or 
not.” 
Never one to pass up a 
bargain, he once bought two 
school buses and a fire truck 
because the deal was too 
good to pass up. All his kids 
remember riding in it during 
the Oak Park July 4 parade. 
And, true to his character, he 
kept a bus in the parking lot 
of his Royal Oak law office 
for homeless people who had 

nowhere to spend 
the night. 
“He was a cham-
pion of the under-
dog who never 
abandoned the 
ideals of the ’
60s of 
equality and justice 
for all,” said cousin 
Alan Goldberg 
during the funeral 
service. “He was a 
patriarch with an enormous 
heart and an even larger 
sense of humor.”
Arnold grew up in Detroit, 
where he attended Central 
High School. After graduating 
from University of Michigan, 
he earned his juris doctor at 
Detroit College of Law. 
He was the chief assistant 
prosecutor for Oakland 
County in the late ’
60s and 
early ’
70s, before opening a 
general law practice in Royal 
Oak. He also served as city 
attorney for the city of Hazel 
Park. 
He was a founding board 
member of the Hazel Park 
Promise Zone, a program that 
provided free college tuition 
for graduating high school 
students. For 12 years, he was 
an active and highly regarded 
member of the Berkley Board 
of Education. 
“He always knew to do 
the right thing, to act with 
generosity and kindness and 
see the humanity in every 
single person and to do what 
he could to make the world a 
better place,” said his daugh-
ter Pamela Shifman at the 
funeral service.
On his first date with 
Elaine, they spent the entire 
night talking as they strolled 
through Palmer Park. By 
morning they were engaged, 
beginning a 58-year partner-

ship filled with love, 
humor, respect and 
a mutual commit-
ment to improving 
the lives of those 
less fortunate. 
“The home they 
created was sacred; 
it was an open tent 
for all who needed 
respite and warmth,” 
said Rabbi David 
Nelson, who officiated the 
service.
Together, they raised four 
children, teaching them by 
example to give back, help 
others and stand up for their 
beliefs. As the family grew, 
Arnold and Elaine became 
proud and doting grandpar-
ents.
“He taught me that hap-
piness was more important 
than winning or losing,” said 
grandson Adam Edery. 
Arnold was a loyal friend, 
and his relationships were 
meaningful and long lasting. 
In college, he and several 
fraternity brothers formed a 
poker club that lasted more 
than 60 years. A group he 
met through Weight Watchers 
two decades ago continued to 
meet every Sunday morning 
at Arnold’
s office for bagels 
and donuts, forgetting about 
their diets and enjoying the 
time together.
A lifelong runner who 
aspired to run a marathon, 
Arnold fulfilled this goal in 
Chicago at age 61 and again 
in New York two years later. 
He was always ready to 
bring his next business idea 
to fruition; opening a flea 
market on Dixie Highway, 
selling everything from 
fireworks to Jordache jeans; 
and launching the original 
“Elaine’
s Bagels” in Troy with 

close friend Paul Groffsky. 
“He was radically passion-
ate about his community, his 
country and, above all else, 
his family,” Goldberg said. 
“He was a patriarch with an 
enormous heart and an even 
larger sense of humor.”
Arnold Shifman is survived 
by his beloved wife, Elaine 
Shifman; cherished children, 
Andy (Gina) Shifman, Steve 
(Valerie) Shifman, Missy 
(David) Bean and Pamela 
(Lee Schere) Shifman; loving 
grandchildren, Holly, Jill, 
Jordan and Joshua Shifman, 
Maya and Adam Edery, and 
Anabel Bean; devoted sib-
lings, Burton (Susan) Shifman 
and Marilyn (the late Dennis) 
Aaron; and in-laws, Stephen 
(Audrey) Wittenberg, 
Howard Wittenberg and 
Mollie Wittenberg; He is 
also survived by many loving 
nieces, nephews, cousins and 
a world of friends.
 He was the devoted son 
of the late Jean and the late 
Joseph Shifman and the 
loving son-in-law of the late 
Gertrude and the late Robert 
Wittenberg. 
Interment was at 
Machpelah Cemetery. 
Contributions may be 
made to Berkley Education 
Foundation, 14501 Talbot, 
Oak Park, MI 48237, 
berkleyedfounda tion.org/
support-the-bef/, (248) 
837-8000; Children of 
Incarcerated Parents, 13560 
E. McNichols, Detroit, MI, 
48205, (586) 690-1431, 
pureheartcares.org; Focus 
Hope, 1355 Oakman Blvd., 
Detroit, MI, 48238, (313) 
494-5500, focushope.edu; or 
to any Democratic candidate. 
Arrangements by the Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

Arnold Shifman