38 | OCTOBER 15 • 2020
Soul
of blessed memory
Devoted To Judaism
R
obert N. Canvasser,
95, of West
Bloomfield, died Oct.
7, 2020.
He was born in Detroit
in 1924 to Charles and Ada
Canvasser, the third of four
boys. He graduated from
Central High School in
1943. Following graduation,
he enlisted in the Army and
was honorably discharged
in 1945. He spent the rest
of his life in the real estate
business with his three
brothers, going to work
even when he was not feel-
ing well.
He met the love of his life,
Beverly, in 1950 and soon
they were married. Beverly
was not only his wife but
also his life. They raised
four children who married
and gave them many grand-
children and great-grand-
children, who to this day
follow in the couple’
s foot-
steps of love and devotion
to family and Judaism.
Robert was involved in
Temple Beth El and reli-
gious causes his entire life.
He was confirmed in 1939
and later graduated from
the temple high school in
1942. His confirmation ser-
vice was called “Be Strong
and of Good Courage,” a
message he followed to the
end.
Mr. Canvasser was a life
member of the Isaac Agree
Memorial Society, which
later became known as the
Downtown Synagogue.
Robert and Beverly spent
their lives working for
charitable causes.
His life revolved
around Temple
Beth El: He was
president of the
Young Married
Group in 1958 and
became president
of the of Temple
Beth El Men’
s Club
in the early 1960s.
In 1969, he became the 45th
president of Temple Beth
El and served until 1973.
He was instrumental in the
building of and fundraising
for the building at 14 Mile
and Telegraph. Beverly
served as president of the
sisterhood at the same time.
In 1969, he was elected
to the executive board of
the National Federation of
Temple Brotherhoods and
the Jewish Chautauqua
Society. The following
year, he became its vice
president. In 1974, he was
chairman of the Synagogue
Council of Greater Detroit,
an organization of Reform,
Conservative and Orthodox
congregations.
From 1976 to 1984,
Robert served as a member
of the board of trustees
of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, the
governing board of Reform
Congregations in the United
States. He also served on the
board of the Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of
Religion.
He actively worked for
Henry Ford Hospital West
Bloomfield, which was so
instrumental in saving his
life. He also served
on the board of
Henry Ford Hospital
West Bloomfield, the
Heart and Vascular
Institute and the
Structural Heart
Program. He helped
raise funds and
secure approval for
the construction of
the West Bloomfield facil-
ity, which serves so many
people in the area. Reform
Judaism, Temple Beth El
and Henry Ford Hospital
all benefited from the
Canvassers’
devotion. He
was a giant of a man who
will be greatly missed.
Mr. Canvasser is sur-
vived by his children, Eric
and Debbie Canvasser,
Dr. David and Kathie
Canvasser, Cheryl and Dr.
Ronald Kerwin, and Mark
and Marla Canvasser;
grandchildren, Jason and
Anne Canvasser, Daniel
Canvasser and Dr. Lindsey
Rossman, Jeffrey and
Joel Canvasser, Rebekah
Canvasser, Dr. Noah and
Jennifer Canvasser, Hannah
and Jason Kessler, Dr. Leah
Canvasser and her fiancé,
Dr. Kevin Ratnasamy, Dr.
Lenny and Kim Kerwin,
Richard and Samantha
Kerwin, Heather and Jeffrey
Vieder, Lauren and Jordan
Yellen, Amanda and Dan
Goldberg, Lindsay and
Dr. Jeff Waldman, and
Elizabeth and Michael
Emmer; great-grandchil-
dren, Jonah, Brynn, Jack,
Hudson, Madison, Zachary,
and Elijah Canvasser, Ezra
Kessler, Bennett, Shaye, Ella,
and Chase Kerwin, Paige
and Brody Vieder, Connor
Yellen and Lyla Goldberg;
brother and sister-in-
law, Byron and Maxine
Canvasser; sister-in-law,
Natalie Canvasser. He is
also survived by his former
daughter-in-law, Joanne
Kapetansky; and his loving
and devoted caregiver, Gigi
James.
Mr. Canvasser was the
beloved husband for 65
years of the late Beverly
Canvasser; the proud
great-grandfather of the late
Micah Canvasser; the devot-
ed son of the late Charles
and the late Ada Canvasser;
the loving brother of the
late Donald Canvasser, the
late Marvin A. and the late
Elaine Canvasser.
Interment was at Clover
Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made
to the Beverly and Robert
Canvasser Compassion
Fund, c/o Henry Ford
Hospital West Bloomfield,
6777 W. Maple Road, West
Bloomfield Township, MI
48322, henryford.com/
development; Hospice of
Michigan-Oakland County,
43097 Woodward Ave.,
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302,
hom.org/donations; Temple
Beth El, 7400 Telegraph,
Bloomfield Hills, MI
48301, tbeonline.org/dona-
tion-page; or to a charity of
one’
s choice. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
Robert Canvasser