APRIL 2 • 2020 | 47
Soul
of blessed memory
A Pioneer In Healthcare
Calvin J. Lippitt, 95, passed away March 21,
2020.
He graduated from Central High School in
Detroit in 1942. In 1949, he graduat-
ed with a bachelor of science degree
from University of Michigan.
Mr. Lippitt was a corporal and
weather specialist in the U.S. Airforce
from 1943-1946. He then worked as a
salesman for paper, coffee and finally
health insurance, along with complet-
ing coursework in public relations,
health education and news writing at
Wayne State University and University
of Michigan.
He was a pioneer in health insurance,
health markets and health maintenance
organizations. He was heavily involved with
the Group Health Services Association, a
credit union health plan from 1957-1960,
and he was a member representative of the
Community Health Association from 1960-
1970. He also acted as administrator/planner
of Detroit Model Neighborhood and pro-
vided comprehensive health care to Detroit
neighborhoods from 1970-1972.
Mr. Lippitt was a dedicated member
of numerous organizations, including
the American Public Health Association,
Michigan Public Health Association, Citizens
for Better Care in Nursing Homes, Group
Health Association of America, HMO con-
sultant to Detroit Department of Health,
Education & Welfare, chairman
for South Oakland Citizens
Advisory Committee, Michigan
Welfare League, director of com-
munity health planning in the
Department of Community &
Family Medicine at Wayne State
University School of Medicine
and was an adjunct faculty mem-
ber with Wayne State University
Medical School.
He also served in the
Department of Community Medicine from
1972-1974, was CEO of Group Health Plan
of Southeast Michigan HMO from 1979-
1985, CEO of SelectCare HMO from 1985-
1990 and HMO consultant from 1990-2000.
He was the first vice president of Oakland
County Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a mem-
ber of National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill (NAMI), Oakland County Council
for Children & Adults with Psychiatric
Disabilities (OCAP) and was an OCAP board
member from 1995-2002.
In 2000, Mr. Lippitt founded the Michigan
Consumer Evaluation Team (MCET); and,
under his direction, MCET was established.
This organization is a consumer-driven
monitoring team, surveying other consum-
ers about the access, availability and quality
of mental health supports and services. The
information they gather is forwarded to ser-
vice providers as a way of continuous quality
improvement in the mental health system in
Michigan.
He served as a board member with
Oakland County Community Mental Health
and Easter Seals. He worked tirelessly for
universal healthcare, calling it “single payer”
in the 1990s, through many organizations
including state and federal government; it was
an unrealized dream.
Mr. Lippitt was the beloved husband of the
late Roberta Myers; loving father of Michael
and Robert; dear grandfather of Jeremy.
He was the son of the late Irving and
Minnie; twin brother of the late Alvin; broth-
er of the late Sharon and the late Helen.
Private services were held. Contributions
may be made to National Alliance for the
Mentally Ill, Easter Seals, Southern Poverty
Law Center, Planned Parenthood, Judicial
Watch, Detroit Public TV
, UNICEF, Jewish
Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, the Detroit
Zoo or NARSAD Brain Research Foundation.
Arrangements by the McCabe Funeral Home,
mccabefuneralhome.com.
Calvin J. Lippitt
JACK
BACKALAR, 89,
of West
Bloomfield, died
March 22, 2020.
He is survived by
his daughter and son-in-law,
Arlene and Alan Gildenberg;
son and daughter-in-law, Ernie
and Julie Backalar; grandchil-
dren, Elyse (Ryan) Jahnke,
Eric Gildenberg, Jamie (Sam)
Silverman, Jodi Backalar and
Dylan Backalar; great-grand-
daughter, Madyson Jahnke;
many other loving family
members and friends.
Mr. Backalar was the beloved
husband of the late Edith
Backalar; brother of the late
Mildred (the late Norman)
Kramar.
Interment was held at
Adat Shalom Memorial
Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Contributions may be made
to the Jewish War Veterans
or to a charity of one’
s choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
JUDGE JEROME
BLUM, 84, of West
Bloomfield, died
March 26, 2020.
He is survived
by his wife, Arlene Blum;
daughters, Sara Blum-Stapleton
and Beth Blum; stepchildren,
Jerrold and Carolyn Emery,
and Lisa and Todd Elkin;
grandchildren, Alexandra
Stapleton, Josh Elkin, Aaron
Elkin and Nathaniel Emery;
nephew, Keith Hark.
Judge Blum was the loving
brother of the late Betty Hark.
Interment was at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery. Contributions
may be made to Simon
Wiesenthal Center, 1399 S.
Roxbury, Los Angeles, CA
90035, wiesenthal.com; or
USC Shoah Foundation, 650
W. 35th St., Suite 114, Los
Angeles, CA 90089-2571, sfi.
usc.edu. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
DOLORES “DEE”
BRODE, 89, of
Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla., died
March 26, 2020.
She is survived
by her husband of more than
70 years, Seymour Brode; chil-
dren, Rick Brode and Rima
Kim, Marcy Trager and Mark
Brode, and Lori and Larry
Garon; grandchildren, Robert
Trager, Laura and Ryan Trager,
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