54 | MARCH 12 • 2020 

Her Trailblazing Spirit, Positive Energy 
Impacted the Community

D

oris E. “Dorie” 
Shwedel, age 76, of 
Bloomfield Hills, 
died on Feb. 29, 2020. 
She is survived 
by her beloved 
children, son Ari 
Shwedel of New 
York City, and 
daughter Merritt 
Shwedel of Hong 
Kong; sister of 
Betty Lowenthal of 
West Bloomfield; 
sister-in-law of 
Carol (Barry) 
Kline, Del Ray 
Beach, Florida. Also sur-
vived by many nieces and 
nephews. 
She was the loving wife of 
the late Marvin S. Shwedel, 
daughter of the late Sidy 
and Sigmund Lowenthal, 
and sister of the late Marion 
(Alvin) Golman. 
As the child of Holocaust 
survivors, Dorie understood 
the brevity and darkness of 
existence, but pursued a life 

powered with creativity and 
beauty. Blessed with a bril-
liant mind and indomitable 
spirit, she leveraged her 
creative passion to educate, 
inspire and uplift 
her community. 
Dorie lived all the 
varied aspects of 
her life with a pas-
sion that electrified 
her colleagues, 
friends and family. 
Like many 
women of her gen-
eration, she began 
her career as a 
teacher. Her first 
job was teaching English 
at Ferndale High School. 
Her ingenuity and ambition 
soon led Dorie to use her 
talents in advertising, work-
ing at Doner. She stepped 
away from a promising 
career to focus on raising 
her family. 
Later she started her own 
PR firm, soon becoming 
a marketing consultant at 
JVS, where she pioneered 

successful fundraising 
events, such as Strictly 
Business, that transformed 
the organization’
s impact in 
the community. 
Dorie and Marvin mar-
ried in 1968. Their person-
alities were the perfect com-
plement, and they were true 
partners for life. They built 
a serene home for their chil-
dren, modeling a Jewish life 
filled with learning. Dorie 
brought a sense of humor 
and joy to parenthood that 
nurtured her children, 
encouraging excellence and 
supporting them in pursuit 
of their individual dreams. 
Dorie’
s creative pursuits 
extended to her community. 
She became a steward of the 
Frank Lloyd Wright house, 
built by her husband’
s aunt 
and uncle, Sara and Melvyn 
Maxwell Smith. Dorie 
tended to the building’
s 
maintenance, led tours and 
hosted memorable events 
that showcased the home’
s 
great beauty. She eventually 

helped ensure their legacy 
by facilitating its transfer to 
Cranbrook. 
Dorie lived life to the 
fullest. She created lasting 
memories for family and 
friends with holiday tra-
ditions, special events and 
seaside vacations. She left 
an indelible impression on 
everyone she met.
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be 
made to Jewish Hospice, 
6555 W Maple Road, West 
Bloomfield Township, 
Michigan 48322, 
jewishhospice.org; 
Cranbrook Center for 
Collections and Research, 
39221 Woodward Ave., PO 
Box 801, Bloomfield Hills, 
Michigan 48303-0801, 
center.cranbrook.edu; JVS 
Human Services, 29699 
Southfield Road, Southfield, 
Michigan 48076, 
jvshumanservices.org. 
Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

Doris E. “Dorie” 
Shwedel

Soul
of blessed memory

32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile)
(248) 855-0007

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