APRIL 28 • 2022 | 61

D

r. Norman Rotter, 85, of 
Bingham Farms, died April 18, 
2022. 
He was born in Detroit and resided 
in the suburban area. He attended 
Bagley, Post and Mumford High 
School and graduated from the 
University of Michigan, 
where he was affiliated 
with the Zeta Beta Tau 
fraternity.
Upon graduation, 
Norm attended Wayne 
State University School 
of Medicine and, at grad-
uation, was inducted 
into Alpha Omega Alpha 
Honor Society. He com-
pleted his training in the 
field of neurosurgery at 
Henry Ford Hospital. 
Upon completion, Norm 
served as a captain in the 
Armed Forces, serving at Valley Forge 
Hospital in Pennsylvania and William 
Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas.
Norm found true love at a boy-girl 
party when he was 15. His beloved 
Harriet of 63 years was only 13; 
from that day on they were together 
forever. They went to each other’s 
Mumford senior proms and were 
married in 1956 at the ripe “old” ages 
of 18 and 21. There is no greater love 
story than the two of them shared. 
They were each other’s best friend, 
confidant and cheerleader, helping 
each other reach successful careers. 
Norm eventually became chief of 
neurosurgery at Oakwood Hospital in 
Dearborn and, after 40 years, he par-
tially retired and returned to Henry 
Ford Hospital as a senior staff mem-
ber and was always well respected and 
known for his kind and caring bed-
side manner.
Norm adored his family; his son 
Steven also became a doctor, Michael 
a financial adviser and David a web 
designer. When they were young boys, 
he was always going to their hockey 
games, and he saw all three grow into 
fine men with families of their own. 
Norm had a strong Jewish identity 

and became a bar mitzvah with the 
help of Rabbi Daniel Syme. In addi-
tion, he was a temple board member. 
Once asked to give the Shabbat ser-
mon, Norm explained how science 
and religion are intertwined. He said 
during surgeries miracles happened 
that could only be 
explained by the pres-
ence of God. 
Norm had no bucket 
list. He was content 
and enjoyed many 
interests and hobbies. 
He was an avid reader 
and gardener; everyone 
in Huntington Woods 
marveled at his red 
geranium plants. Also, 
he was a car aficiona-
do and, of course, he 
loved golf. His gradua-
tion gift from medical 
school was a set of clubs and so began 
years of golf games and the distinc-
tion of a hole-in-one. He played for 
many years at Franklin Hills, eventu-
ally becoming president. In addition, 
Norm was an avid bridge player and 
was active in the Bridge Connection.
Mr. Rotter is survived by his 
devoted wife, Harriet; son, Steven 
(Lisa); grandsons, Jacob (Michelle), 
Maxwell (fiancée, Hannah); son, 
Michael (Tara); grandson, Jack; son, 
Dave (Holly); grandsons, Daniel and 
Mitchell. In addition, he leaves his 
sister in law, Judy Komer (Richard); 
brother-in-law, Dr. Jeffrey Band 
(Meredith Weston-Band); nieces, 
nephews and many close, devoted 
friends.
He was preceded in death by his 
parents, Roy and Sylvia Rotter; his 
in-laws, Herman and Dorothy Band; 
and sister-in-law, Bunny Band. 
Interment was at Clover Hill. 
Contributions can be made to the 
Rotter Family Endowed scholarship 
at Wayne State University School of 
Medicine giving.wayne.edu/donate/
Rotter (313-577-2263); or to a charity 
of your choice. Arrangement made by 
Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

A Doctor of Distinction

 Dr. Norman Rotter

one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.

DONNA WINKLER, 89, who 
spent her teen years through 
middle age in Detroit, died in 
Portland, Ore., of natural caus-
es on April 13, 2022.
She was born Donna May 
Wolfe in Buffalo, N.Y. She 
attended Cass Technical High School, 
but her many moves as a child mandat-
ed that she complete her education later 
in life. She earned her degree from the 
University of Phoenix in 1997. “It’s never 
too late to graduate,” she would proudly 
say. 
She studied for and had a formal bat 
mitzvah after her youngest children were 
adults. In her later years, she was a mem-
ber of Portland’s Congregation Shaarie 
Torah.
Donna was married to three men. At 
age 20, she married William Bradlin. 
They had two children, Michael (Bradlin) 
Richmond of Portland and Kimberly 
Reynolds (nee Norma Bradlin) of 
Colorado Springs. In the 1960s, Donna 
married Marvin Richmond and had two 
children: Merrill Richmond and Erik 
Richmond, both of Portland. The family 
moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1973. Some 
years after her divorce from Marvin, 
she met Bill Winkler, an engineer at 
Motorola. They were together more 
than 25 years. With Bill, she moved to 
Portland so that they could be nearer to 
the family that had concentrated there. 
Donna was no wallflower. Outgoing 
and vivacious, she worked outside the 
home throughout her life — in Detroit as 
a switchboard operator (a job she bluffed 
her way into) and later as an administra-
tive assistant at Stroh Brewery, Bendix, 
Arizona State University’s Department of 
Foreign Languages and, finally, Motorola, 
supporting the Iridium satellite project. 
After retiring, Donna devoted many 
years to volunteer service. She taught 
English as a second language in Arizona. 
She was dedicated to the work of the 
American Red Cross and was recognized 
for her support of their mission tracing 
survivors of the Holocaust. 
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests 
a donation to the Cascades Chapter of 
the American Red Cross: tinyurl.com/
RCsupervolunteer. 

c. 2007