OF BLESSED MEMORY

68 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 

ments, Bruce was a mensch. 
Everyone who met him knew 
him to be warm, generous, 
soft-spoken, with a self-dep-
recating sense of humor. But 
he also had a sense of integ-
rity that was unshakeable, 
an instinct for doing right, a 
sharp and curious mind, and 
a deep sense of loyalty to all 
his communities. His friends 
from every phase of his life 
— his Detroit neighborhood, 
Central High, the University 
of Michigan — remained 
friends for life, sharing golf 
games, diner lunches and 
political arguments decades 
later. 
Most of all, he took end-
less delight in his family: in 
the careers of his children 
and their partners, in the 
soccer, softball and baseball 

games, singing performances 
and life adventures of his 
grandchildren. He also loved 
the dogs in his life: Caesar, 
Slicker, Max and Gracie. 
After retirement, he and 
Gracie would spread that joy 
by visiting residents in the 
adult care facility of Jewish 
Vocational Services.
Bruce was a lifelong dev-
otee of Metro Detroit, its 
cultural institutions and 
its sports teams. Another 
great love of his life was the 
University of Michigan. He 
attended football games at 
the Big House for 75 years, 
always equipped with pon-
chos for the rain, hand heat-
ers in the snow, and with 
maize and blue parapher-
nalia. It is a great joy and 
comfort to his loved ones 
that in the fall of 2021, at 
the age of 90, he was able to 
attend five U-M games and 
the team went undefeated in 

all of them.
Mr. Thal is mourned by 
his children, Denise (David 
Scobey), Robert Thal and 
Susan (Ed Siebert); his 
grandchildren, Jake, Rafe 
and Isaac Scobey-Thal, and 
Samantha, Jesse and Lena 
Siebert; his partner, Heather 
Armbruster; and by a large 
extended family of nieces, 
nephews, cousins and a com-
munity of friends. 
He was preceded in death 
by his wife of 62 years, Ileane 
Thal; brothers, Donald and 
Richard Thal; parents, Ellis 
and Dorothy Thal. 
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to Temple Israel, Dorothy 
Thal Summer Camp Fund, 
5725 Walnut Lake Road, 
West Bloomfield, MI 48323; 
or to a charity of one’s 
choice. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

CORRECTION
The obituary for Donald Davis 
(Feb. 3) should have indicated 
that he was also survived by 
brother-in-law and sister-in-
law, Bob and Reva Rosen.

The Jewish News 
was saddened by the 
death of Judge Avern 
Cohn on Feb. 4. Look 
for a remembrance of 
his life and legacy in 
next week’s issue.

OBITUARIES

continued from page 67

