 JUNE 18 • 2020 | 43

A Healthcare Advocate
R

obert “Bob” Tell, 83, 
of Novi, passed away 
on June 6, 2020, after a 
three-year battle with cancer.
He was born and raised in 
Brooklyn in 1937, while the 
Dodgers were still in town. 
Ebbets Field was his temple, 
and “the boys of summer” 
were his heroes. 
He attended James Madison 
High School and received a 
B.A. in English from Long 
Island University. He then 
went on to earn a M.A. in 
hospital administration from 
Columbia University.
After a one-year residency 
at Beth Israel Hospital, he 
was recruited in 1963 to Sinai 
Hospital of Detroit as assis-
tant administrator. Later, Bob 
joined the Greater Detroit 
Area Health Council, where 
he contributed to a strategic 
vision for hospitals and health 
care systems across the Detroit 

metropolitan area. At 
that time, with a young 
family, Bob and Elaine 
joined Temple Beth El 
in Detroit.
After several years as 
the CEO of Menorah 
Medical Center in 
Kansas City, Mo., he 
returned to Detroit 
and established a Fortune 
Personnel Consultants fran-
chise, recruiting and placing 
top doctors and other medical 
professionals in key health-
care organizations across the 
country. Upon returning to 
Detroit, Bob was active in the 
community, including Jewish 
Vocational Services and the 
Small Business Association 
SCORE, and he helped bring a 
senior transportation program 
to the Detroit area.
Bob’
s dream was always 
to be a writer. Throughout 
his life, he wrote poetry and 
prose, but it was in retirement, 

beginning with Dementia 
Diary, that he was able to 
devote significant time to 
pursue his passion. Nine 
books and several awards 
later, his Harry Grouch 
series of detective novels 
continue to generate a 
devoted following, and 
his book Thirsty Planet 
has received numerous awards 
and has been translated into 
several languages globally.
In retirement, Bob and 
Elaine wintered in Boynton 
Beach, Fla. In addition to 
writing, Bob’
s passions in life 
included travel, hiking, golf, 
politics and his cherished 
ROMEO burger club. He loved 
wordplay and puns.
Mr. Tell is survived by his 
loving wife of 64 years, Elaine 
Fritz Tell; daughter and son-
in-law, Celeste Tell and Jim 
Fair of Seattle, Wash.; son 
and daughter-in-law, Perry 
Tell and Elizabeth Wen Tell 

of Danville, Calif.; son and 
daughter-in-law, Brian Tell and 
Rachel Eherman of Ypsilanti; 
five grandsons, Dan and Sam 
Fair, Julien, Eli and Dylan 
Tell; sister-in-law and broth-
er-in-law, Sandy (Fritz) and 
Jay Goodman of East Lansing; 
many beloved colleagues and 
friends.
Interment was at Beth El 
Memorial Park. Contributions 
may be made to Temple Beth 
El, 7400 Telegraph, Bloomfield 
Hills, MI 48301, tbeonline.
org; Karmanos Cancer 
Institute, 4100 John R, 
NCO6DS, Detroit, MI 
48201, karmanos.org; Henry 
Ford Hospice, 1 Ford Place, 
Suite 5A, Detroit, MI 48202-
9941, henryford.com/hospice; 
JVS Human Services, 29699 
Southfield Road, Southfield, 
MI 48076, jvshumanservices.
org; or to a charity of one’
s 
choice. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

Robert “Bob” Tell

HebrewMemorial.org | 248.543.1622 | 800.736.5033 | 26640 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237

ENTERING OUR SECOND CENTURY 
OF CARING AND RESPECTFUL SERVICE

WE ARE THE COMMUNITY 
FUNERAL HOME

Death is not a business –
It is a time for understanding your needs

