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
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