DECEMBER 9 • 2021 | 61
E
ugene Neugebohr, 78,
of Bloomfield Hills,
died peacefully at
home on Nov. 21, 2021.
He was born in Russia
in 1943 and immigrated to
Israel in 1956. In 1965, he
immigrated to the United
States.
Eugene was larger than
life and truly enjoyed life
to the fullest. He had many
interests and was an avid
sportsman, enjoying ski trips
to Colorado with family
and friends, helicopter
skiing with his grandson
Josh, motocross racing and
auto racing with his son
Oren and others at the M1
racecourse and scuba diving
with his wife, Ina. He loved
to push his family to be as
adventurous as he was and
enjoyed visiting his grandson
Itai at his hockey games, his
granddaughter Paityn at her
horseback riding shows and
his eldest granddaughter
Zoe at her swim meets and
soccer games.
Eugene also loved
attending Pistons home
games with Ina or daughter
Claire. He was very family-
oriented and loved to spend
every moment that he could
with his loved ones. He
was incredibly proud of all
his grandchildren and was
looking forward to attending
his grandson Josh’s wedding
and granddaughter Zoe’s
graduation from college
in 2022. He always looked
forward to receiving new
artwork from granddaughter
Paityn and hearing about the
latest news in grandson Itai’s
life at school.
Eugene was always ready
for the next adventure. He
loved to have fun and
explore new places,
interests, foods and
art with his family
and friends. The
Neugebohr family
traveled the world
extensively with
Eugene leading the
group throughout
Europe and Israel. Almost
every Sunday Eugene would
go to lunch with Ina and
his grandchildren Paityn
and Itai to his favorite
restaurant and to the movies
afterward. On Sunday
afternoon, Eugene and
Ina would visit Jordan, his
special needs grandson, and
Jordan’s friend, companion
and caregiver, Marion.
Eugene and Jordan had a
very special relationship.
Jordan loved his Saba with
all his heart and would
light up whenever Eugene
walked into the room. They
communicated in a way that
was very special to them.
When granddaughter
Zoe began studying film
production in high school,
he never missed a screening
or film festival in which
she was involved. He never
missed an opportunity to
attend a rock concert with
his daughter Claire or an
opera, play or musical with
his Ina. Eugene and Ina often
would take Josh and Zoe on
trips to Europe, where they
loved to visit museums and
historical sites.
Eugene also looked
forward to Sunday morning
motorcycle rides with the
local chapter of the Chai
Riders. Those rides were
special to him, and he made
many friends among the
members.
Eugene was very
philanthropic. He
and Ina always
looked forward to
attending FIDF
functions with
their son Oren,
his wife, Kristen,
and their daughter
Claire; Eugene had a special
connection with FIDF as
a board member. He was
a veteran of the Israel
Defense Forces Armored
Corps Division as a tank
commander. He and Ina
supported many students in
the FIDF impact program,
allowing soldiers to obtain
college educations. He often
stayed connected with and
visited with the soldiers that
he and Ina supported. The
couple also supported the
Friendship Circle, JARC
and Variety the Children’s
Charity among others.
Eugene was an astute
businessperson. He founded
Auto Electric International
in the basement of his Oak
Park home and built it into
an international supplier of
remanufactured starters and
alternators to the automotive
aftermarket. He was so
proud when his son Oren
joined the business and
helped grow it even further.
Eugene was loved and
adored by everyone he
crossed paths with. He
was a bright star with
a big smile. He had a
magnetic personality that
was irresistible. A true
mensch, Eugene was loved
by his family, friends and
employees and respected in
his industry as a leader and
visionary. He was a man of
great integrity, determination
and always had a positive
mental attitude. His
attitude and encouragement
impacted so many people in
a positive way.
Eugene will be sorely
missed by everyone fortunate
enough to know him. His life
ended too soon, but it was a
very full and happy life.
Mr. Neugebohr is survived
by his wife of 55 years, Ina
Neugebohr; daughter, Claire
Kahn and her fiancé, Aubrey
Tobin; son and daughter-
in-law, Oren and Kristen
Neugebohr; grandchildren,
Joshua Kahn and his
fiancée, Mirtha Echeverria,
Jordan Kahn and his loving
caregiver and companion,
Marion Frazine, and Zoe,
Paytyn and Itai Neugebohr;
brother and sister-in-law,
Avi and Ada Neer; brother-
in-law and sister-in-law,
Hanan and Magi Puterman;
nieces and nephews, Noam
Neer, Tal and Dror Neer
Kastel, Sharon and Anat
Puterman, Sagi Puterman,
and Dan Puterman. He is
also survived by many other
loving relatives and friends.
Interment was at Clover
Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made
to Friendship Circle, Meer
Family Friendship Center,
6892 W. Maple Road, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322,
friendshipcircle.org/donate;
JARC, 6735 Telegraph Road,
Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills,
MI 48301; Friends of the
IDF, Michigan Chapter,
P.O. Box 999, Walled Lake,
MI 48390, fidf.org/donate;
or to a charity of one’s
choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
A Life of Adventure & Caring
Eugene
Neugebohr