48 | MAY 6 • 2021 

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

the late Harry Fink, the late 
Jack Fink, the late David 
Fink, the late Sol Fink, the 
late Nathan Fink and the late 
Leonard Fink. 
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to Hadassah-Greater Detroit 
Chapter, 5030 Orchard Lake 
Road, West Bloomfield, 
MI 48323, hadassah.org/
detroit; or to a charity of one’s 
choice. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

CHERYL 
RASANSKY, 71, of 
West Bloomfield, 
died April 25, 
2021. 
She is survived 
by her husband of 42 years, 
Dr. Ronald Rasansky; son and 
daughter-in-law, Dr. Michael 
and Jennifer Rasansky; 
daughter and son-in-law, Lisa 
and Jay Lazar; grandchildren, 
Lily and Matthew Rasansky, 
and Zoey Lazar; mother, 
Maxine Stoler; brother, Dr. 
Richard Stoler; sister and 
brother-in-law, Deborah and 
Dr. Andrew Colman; sister-
in-law and brother-in-law, 
Debra and Howard Markman; 
She leaves many loving niec-
es, nephews, cousins and 
friends; her loving compan-
ion, Chewie.
Mrs. Rasansky was the 
proud grandmother of the 
late Joshua Rasansky; the 
devoted daughter of the late 
William Stoler. 
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to Holocaust Memorial 
Center, the William and 
Maxine Stoler Fund, 
28123 Orchard Lake Road, 
Farmington Hills, MI 48334, 
holocaustcenter.org; or to 
an animal welfare chari-
ty. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

continued from page 47

A

llen Jay Ross died on 
April 17, 2021 at home 
surrounded by family 
after a life well lived. He was 88. 
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 
1933, he attended the Little 
Red School House and was bar 
mitzvah by Rabbi Mordecai 
Kaplan at the Society for the 
Advancement of Judaism. He 
was always proud of this as it 
represented him well as the 
modern thinker that he was. 
Allen was known as “Mr. 
Republican” and was a leading 
politician through his time at the 
Horace Mann School, (1951). 
His dream was to pursue a life 
in politics, but he was a man of 
duty and followed into the fami-
ly business. 
After graduation from Rutgers 
University in 1955, he enlisted 
in the Navy, reporting to the 
USS Salem C-139 in the south 
of France. The ship was the last 
big gun cruiser and served as the 
flagship Sixth Fleet with four-
star Admiral “
Ace” Lyons at its 
helm. Being a credit to his uni-
form and a good citizen of the 
United States of America gave 
Allen his wings. 
He came back to the U.S.A. to 
begin his distinguished career 
in the meat industry, starting 
at Hygrade Food Products, a 
family-owned business built by 
his grandfather Samuel Slotkin 
in 1914. That gave him his roots. 
One of the top five meat pack-
ers, their loyalty remained with 
the frankfurter; known for creat-
ing the first all-beef hot dog. He 
began his career in the beef end 
of the business; ultimately to fol-
low his father’s love of sausage, 
focusing on processed beef and 
natural casings. 
He was deeply impacted 
by the loss of his father at a 
young age (rheumatism of the 
heart following survival of the 
Spanish flu). Allen was raised by 
a single mother and his grand-
parents for seven years until his 

beloved stepfather, 
Benjamin Hyman 
M.D. joined the 
family. 
He grew up 
extremely close 
with his brother, 
Martin Henry 
Ross, as well as his 
Slotkin, Ross and Bilgore cous-
ins. They summered together on 
the Jersey Shore in the towns of 
Elberon, Deal and Little Silver 
and remained close throughout 
his life. 
Allen married Brooke Alison 
Roberts (Grace) of New York 
City in 1965 and had twin 
daughters in 1966. His grand-
mother Fanny Slotkin knew that 
he would be a credit to Hygrade 
Food Products to help maintain 
the good name of the empire 
which his grandfather built; she 
wished that he become a good 
husband, a good father and that 
everything good should follow 
wherever he turned and happi-
ness should prevail in his house-
hold. He was that and more. He 
was a gentlemen’s gentleman and 
a man of action with a strong 
moral compass. 
Allen’s greatest legacy was his 
character, which was imbued 
by his joie de vivre. He stood 
for decency, embodied love and 
warmth, charm and had great 
presence. His impact was vast. 
He led the family and influenced 
others with his grace and wis-
dom. He was honorable, loved 
and admired. Within minutes of 
entering a room, people gravitat-
ed toward him. 
Allen was charitable in his 
life with a focus on education. 
He supported Detroit’s inner-
city schools with books and hot 
dogs. While at university, doing 
a study on the workers rebellion 
of the 17th/18th centuries, he 
failed to find any books on the 
subject. The librarian told him 
to go to Princeton University 
Library for what he needed. 
He never forgot this and went 

on to create the Allen Jay Ross 
Library endowment at Rutgers, 
1958. The income has purchased 
many thousands of history books 
for generations of students. 
Allen was active most of his 
life in cultural and civic affairs. 
Even as a transplanted New 
Yorker, he was deeply involved 
in his community of Detroit, 
supporting most specifically the 
Music Hall, for almost 40 years. 
He recently passed his trustee 
baton to his twin daughters to 
whom he was deeply devoted, 
Amanda Ross Bacon and Alison 
Ross Green.
Ever the optimist at 70, 
believing in the revival of 
Detroit, he moved downtown. 
He became president of Detroit 
Towers Condo Association and 
was a director of the Villages of 
Detroit. Allen was preservation 
trustee of the Detroit Yacht Club. 
He was a member of the DAC, 
the Prismatic Club of Detroit, 
Franklin Hills Country Club and 
was a longstanding member of 
the Jewish community of Detroit 
and Temple Beth El since 
1958. He held many different 
roles, including co-chairman 
of Temple Art, Mortgage 
Reduction and the Ways and 
Means Committee.
In addition to his wife, Judy, 
he is survived by his twin 
daughters, Alison and Amanda; 
his sons-in-law, Jonathan Green 
and Zack Bacon; his grandsons, 
Oliver Green, Charles Green 
and Samuel Green. He is 
also survived by his nieces 
and nephew, Katherine Ross 
(Govan), Jane Ross (Yaffe), 
David Ross (Amy) and their 
families. Allen was also married 
to Adria Aronow (Roush) of 
Detroit, 1975-1981.
He was predeceased by his 
beloved niece Constance Lynn 
Ross. 
Contributions in Allen’s 
memory may be made to the 
Music Hall of Detroit, musichall.
networkforgood.com. 

Committed To His City

Allen Ross 
c. 1955

continued from page 46