MAY 28 • 2020 | 95
M
ark David Mitshkun,
71, of Dexter, died on
May 8, 2020.
He grew up in Detroit
and then moved to Flint. He
graduated in the first class of
the Residential College at the
University of Michigan. Mark
and Diane Rosenblum fell in
love in 1971 and they remained
together.
Mark decid-
ed to attend law
school at Wayne
State University.
He became a law-
yer because he
was committed to
fighting for justice
and the civil rights
of people who did not have
a voice. He moved to Seattle,
Washington, in 1974 and
became a public defender.
Mark and Diane were mar-
ried in 1978. They moved
from Seattle to Boston, where
Mark taught in the Legal Aid
program at Boston University.
In 1989, they moved back to
Michigan to be closer to family.
Mark taught at the University
of Michigan Law School in the
Legal Aid Clinic for seven years.
He then made the decision to
work in the family business
managing three mobile home
parks. He retired when the
business was sold in 2016. Mark
was on the Fair Housing Center
of Southeast & Mid-Michigan
for many years. He was very
committed to the mission of
the center to end illegal housing
discrimination.
Mark loved life and enjoyed
every minute of it. He sparkled
with joy at so many things. He
appreciated everything. His zest
for life was infectious; his sense
of humor was wonderful.
He was an avid fly fisherman
and master fly tier, who tied
thousands of flies, many of his
own design. He loved the rivers
and mountains out west as well
as the ocean flats and had many
wonderful times with his broth-
er-in-law, Stephen Rosenblum,
fishing the waters from
Venezuela to Montana.
Mark also loved golf,
music, reading, writing,
birding and nature in
general. He loved the
tall trees at the Villa
Tranquilla (his beautiful
home in Dexter, which
he shared with Diane).
Mark was a brilliant writer.
When he was diagnosed with
cancer in October 2019, he
wrote health updates to friends
and family. In his third “official
health update,
” Mark wrote the
following on Nov. 27, 2019:
“What has happened to me
is the result of bad luck. OK,
REALLY bad luck, but it is
not the stuff of tragedy by any
means. If I died today, I would
be the first to tell you that I have
had an amazingly wonderful
and truly lucky life. I have lived
like a king. I have lived in beau-
tiful and vibrant cities on the
West and East Coasts and the
places I grew up. I have worked
in dream jobs that were always
focused on helping others. If I
was not completely perfect in
my work, it was not for lack of
trying; and I always felt honored
to be doing the work. I have
been so lucky to have found
outside activities that have sus-
tained me and brought me into
contact with the natural world
and its amazing wonders. I have
seen things in nature that have
seared themselves into my brain
and made me truly appreciate
the beauty and power of our
planet.
”
Mark and Diane had a very
special relationship which lasted
almost 50 years. They were very
lucky in so many ways. Their
love was profound.
Mark passed away peaceful-
ly with his loving wife by his
side. He was a truly wonderful
human being, beloved by all
who were lucky to know him.
He is survived by his beloved
wife, Diane Rosenblum. He
was the cherished brother-in-
law of Stephen Rosenblum
(Rosalyn Sarver), Susan
Rosenblum, Bill Lawrence; lov-
ing uncle of Aaron Rosenblum;
Daniel Rosenblum (Jill), Sara
Rosenblum (David Hernandez),
Danica McAdam (Jeff), Joshua
Lawrence (Molly); great-uncle
of Theo and Emery Rosenblum,
and Landon McAdam. He is
also survived by many loving
cousins and dozens of friends.
Mr. Mitshkun was preceded
in death by his sister, Beverley
Lawrence; parents, Mary and
Damor Mitshkun; in-laws, Ida
and Albert Rosenblum.
Contributions may be
made to Fair Housing Center
of Southeast and Mid-
Michigan, P
.O. Box 7825, Ann
Arbor, MI 48107, fhc-
michigan.org; American
Civil Liberties Union, 2966
Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
48201,aclumich.org; Colorado
Trout Unlimited, 1536
Wynkoop St., #320, Denver,
CO 80202, coloradotu.org.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
RUTH APPEL, 97,
of Novi, died May
15, 2020.
She loved swim-
ming, dancing
and visiting parks,
zoos and museums.
Mrs. Appel is survived by
her sons and daughters-in-
law, Gary and Mimi Appel,
Jeffrey and Judge Michelle
Appel; daughter and son-
in-law, Judy and Michael
Applesmith; grandchildren,
Andrew and Lauren Appel,
Gabriel Appel, Samuel Appel,
Raffi and Emmy Appel, Micah
Appel, Matthew Applesmith
and fiancee, Emma, Jacob
Applesmith, Elliot Applesmith;
great-grandson, Rowan Appel.
She was the beloved wife of
the late Dr. Max Appel; loving
daughter of the late Jenny and
the late Abraham Davis; dear
sister and sister-in-law of the
late Nate Davis and the late
Miriam Davis.
Contributions may be
made to Yad Ezra, 2850 W.
11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI
48072; Jewish Hospice and
Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W.
Maple Road, West Bloomfield,
MI 48322. Graveside service
was held at Clover Hill Park in
Birmingham. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.
GEORGE
COOPER, 92, of
West Bloomfield,
died May 19,
2020.
He was a
plumbing contractor by
trade, a pilot for fun and an
all-around great guy. He was
happy in the air or in the
water but, most of all, on solid
ground with Rose. His laugh
will be missed by all.
Mr. Cooper is survived by
continued on page 96
Soul
of blessed memory
He Had A Love Of Life