JANUARY 13 • 2022 | 53

N

at Fishman, 89, of 
West Bloomfield, died 
shortly after sunset on 
Dec. 28, 2021, at his home sur-
rounded by family. 
Son of immigrants and a nat-
ural-born storytell-
er, Nat — through 
his stories and 
work — kept alive 
the legacy of his 
father, the late Jacob 
Fishman, who went 
from a pushcart in 
New York City to 
opening Fishman 
Produce Company 
in Detroit, and 
mother, Mina 
(Hendl) Fishman, a painter and 
pianist trained in Vienna, who 
ran her American household 
with many Old-World tradi-
tions.
Nat attended military school 
in southern Illinois and upon 
his return to Detroit, after a few 
semesters at the University of 
Michigan, took over Fishman 
Produce at the Detroit Union 
Produce Terminal. He was 
hardworking, leaving home 
for work each day at 4 a.m.; 
he was a tough but compas-
sionate business owner, often 
personally helping his Teamster 
employees. 
A second-generation, life-
long member of Congregation 
Beth Abraham Hillel Moses 
(now Beth Ahm), Nat served as 
president from 1981-1983. He 
was president when the con-
gregation burned its mortgage 
in 1982 and when the building 
burned to the ground and was 
rebuilt in 1983. He received the 
State of Israel Tower of David 
Award in 1984 in recognition 
of his role in helping sell Israel 
bonds. 
Nat met Lois (Goldberg) 

Fishman on a double-blind 
date, leading to a wonderful 
67-year marriage. Together, 
they enjoyed taking long 
drives in Nat’s silver El Dorado 
convertible, hosting holiday 
dinners and sim-
chahs for their large 
extended family, 
and throwing mem-
orable poolside par-
ties for their many 
friends. 
An only child, 
Nat was thrilled 
to marry into 
Lois’ large fami-
ly, headed by the 
late Harry and 
Jeannette Goldberg, the late 
Eddie (Miriam) Goldberg, the 
late Herbie (Irene) Goldberg, 
Madeline Rosenfield (and her 
late husbands, Irwin Posner 
and Jerry Rosenfield), Sharon 
Balamut (and her late husband 
Michael Balamut) and Nate 
(Nancy) Goldberg. 
He was the beloved father 
to Graham (Sue) Fishman, Jill 
Farber, Jodee (Roy) Raines and 
Jayme Fishman; treasured zay-
die of Jarrett Fishman, Amanda 
(Ben) Lesnick, Brandon 
Fishman (fiancé, Erin), Justin 
Farber, Hailey Farber (fiancé, 
Jordan), Merrick Hirschman, 
Ayla Raines, Jasmine 
Hirschman and Zoe Raines; 
and adored great-grandfather 
to Oakley Fiona Lesnick. He is 
also remembered by many lov-
ing nieces and nephews.
Services were at Kaufman 
Chapel; interment at 
Beth Abraham Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to plant a tree in Israel, usa.
jhf.org; or to the Weizmann 
Institute, donate.wiezmann-usa.
org. Arrangements by Kaufman 
Chapel. 

FRANCES 
LURIE MIRSKY, 
90, of West 
Bloomfield, died 
Jan. 3, 2022. 
She is survived 
by her daughters and sons-in-
law, Elissa and Charles Soares, 
Shelley Rubinstein, Karen and 
James Abram; grandchildren, 
Jeanette (Rune) Christensen, 
Marsha (Michael) Bycraft, 
James (Micki Lynn) 
Rubinstein, Kristina Burke 
(fiancé, Chad Marshall), 
Laura and Emily Abram; 
great-grandchildren, Morgan, 
Ryan, Jack, Ruby, Lindsay, 
Logan and Orion; many other 
loving family members and 
friends.
Mrs. Mirsky was the 
beloved wife of the late Allen 
Mirsky; mother of the late 
Debra Mirsky (partner, Jeffrey 
Stevens); the sister of the late 
David Lurie and the late Ruth 
Hampton; mother-in-law of 
the late Paul Rubinstein. 
Interment took place at Beth 
El Memorial Park Cemetery in 
Livonia. Contributions may be 
made to the Karmanos Cancer 
Institute. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

DONALD 
NITZKIN, 88, of 
Boca Raton, Fla., 
died Dec. 22, 
2021.
He is survived 
by his wife, Florence Nitzkin; 
daughter and son-in-law, 
Shelley and Marc Shindler; 
sons and daughters-in-law, 
Jay and Andi Nitzkin, and 
Gary and Julie Nitzkin; 

grandchildren, Jennie and 
Adam Gnesin, Julie and Mark 
Cohen, Adam and Jessica 
Shindler, Jacob Nitzkin, Ari 
Nitzkin, Rachel and Jon 
Silverberg, and Jonah Nitzkin; 
great-grandchildren, Ellery, 
Parker, Dean, Anna, Grace 
and Nealie; brother, Joel 
Nitzkin; brothers-in-law, and 
sister-in-law, Morty Tobin, 
Al Tobin, and Marshall and 
Rhoda Tobin. 
Mr. Nitzkin was the devoted 
son of the late Meyer and the 
late Martha Nitzkin; the loving 
son-in-law of the late Louis 
and the late Jenny Tobin; the 
dear brother-in-law of the late 
Phyllis Nitzkin, the late Diane 
Tobin, the late Virginia Tobin, 
and the late Harold and the 
late Ruthy Tobin.
Interment was at Machpelah 
Cemetery. Contributions may 
be made to any Jewish charity. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.

IDAN PHILLIPS, 
39, of Oak Park, 
died Dec. 29, 
2021.
Many “bitey” 
dogs are waiting 
for him at the other end of the 
rainbow bridge.
He is survived by his par-
ents, Mark and Aviva; his 
brothers, Segev and Roey; his 
sisters-in-law, Courtney and 
Bridget; his nephew, Ezra; 
his niece, Talya; his partner, 
Krysia; and Riley.
Contributions may be made 
to the Animal Welfare Society 
of Southeastern Michigan.

Nat Fishman

A Hard Working, 
Family Man

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