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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