110 | MAY 19 • 2022
OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
D
r. Maurice Reizen, former director of the
Michigan Department of Public Health,
passed away at the age of 103. He left with
a long list of degrees, honors, awards and achieve-
ments that are his legacy.
Maurie was born in Detroit in
1919 to Max and Minna Reizen.
He attended Durfee intermediate
school and graduated from Central
High School. He spent his summers
as a camp counselor and waterfront
director at Camp Nahelu, which he
loved; he spent the next four years
getting a bachelor’s degree from the
University of Michigan. After that,
he enrolled in the newly formed
University of Michigan School of
Public Health.
Meanwhile, he met his wife-to-be,
Leanor, in the choral union at the University of
Michigan.
The Army called Maurie after he had complet-
ed the coursework for his degree, but he did not
have time to write his thesis.
It was good fortune that Maurie was accepted
into the medical administration officer candidate
school. He spent the next four years at various
military locations, being discharged with honor as
a captain in 1945.
After the service, Maurie made it his number
one priority to complete his masters’ thesis. He
was awarded a master of science in public health
at U-M, and then enrolled at the University of
Rochster Medical School, where he earned his
M.D.
As a doctor, he opted to practice family medi-
cine at the Memorial Clinic in Warren. At some
point, he felt the need to return to his first love
and accepted the position as director of the
Ingham County Health Department in Lansing.
During his three years there, the public health
code was conceived, nurtured and brought to fru-
ition, the spacious Bake-Olin west building was
designed and completed, and Michigan moved to
the forefront nationally in programs designed to
cope with toxic chemicals in the environment.
In 1970, Gov. Milliken selected Maurie to be
director of the Michigan Department of Public
Health, where he remained until his retirement.
On the occasion of his retirement, the gover-
nor sent him a letter which stated: “In your
tenure as director of the Michigan Department
of Public Health, you have led the department
through some of its finest times as well as
some of the state’s most troublesome times.
Your active involvement in the development of
the public health code has led to a legacy that
will stand for years as one of the most modern
and comprehensive public health codes in the
country. It was a landmark piece of legislation
to which other states have looked for
guidance and inspiration. Your coun-
sel has always reflected your deep
concern for the health of the citizens
of Michigan. I can think of few who
have served in leadership positions
in the state who have more warmth,
compassion and understanding for
humanity.”
One of Maurie’s proudest moments
was when he was awarded the Roy R.
Manty distinguished service award in
2013. In the nomination, it was said,
“Dr. Maurice Reizen’s legacy in public
health is unmatched. Throughout his long and
stellar career, Dr. Reizen achieved local, state-
wide and national recognition as an advocate for
individual and community health. The public
health code that Reizen and a team of public
health officials wrote has been copied by many
other states. Some of his other notable achieve-
ments are: advocating for flouridated drinking
water, a well-baby clinic at Cristo Rey in Lansing,
securing funding for many local health causes,
teaching and mentoring public health students,
and expanding the state’s rubella immunization
program to vaccinate more than 90 percent of the
state’s young children.
”
Even in his retirement years, he maintained a
consulting role, volunteered in the health com-
munity and served on various boards to lend his
expertise.
As his son, Mark, and daughter, Nancy, said,
“Dad was honest, honorable, just and fair. He was
one of a kind and he will be greatly missed.
”
Dr. Reizen is survived by his son, Mark; and
his daughter, Nancy (Howard) Serlin; grandchil-
dren, Jason Reizen, Jennifer Matley, Daniel (Miry
Bernard) Serlin, David (Dana Shapiro) Serlin;
great-grandchildren, Molly Matley, Cameron
Matley, Andrew Serlin, Leia Serlin (fiancé, Carter
Fox), Ludy Serlin and Olivia Serlin.
He was the beloved husband of the late Leanor
Grossman Reizen; father of the late Bruce Reizen;
brother of the late Alice Reizen Sklansky; brother-
in-law of the late Morris Sklansky; great-grandfa-
ther of the late Griffin Matley.
A memorial service will be held at a future
date. Condolences may be shared with the family
at familyfuneralcarekeego.com.
A Dedicated Health Professional
Dr. Maurice Reizen
FRIEDA
APPLEBAUM, 103,
of West
Bloomfield, died
May 9, 2022.
She is sur-
vived by her son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Edward and Eva
Applebaum; daughter and
son-in-law, Lois and Jerry
Beznos; grandchildren, Daniel
and Janet Applebaum, Rachel
and Hayden Milberg, and
Lauren and David Grossman;
great-grandchildren, Ezra and
Arlo Grossman, Asher and
Naomi Milberg.
Mrs. Applebaum was the
beloved wife of the late M.
Lawrence Applebaum; the lov-
ing sister of the late Max and
the late Minnie Millman, the
late Bertha and the late Jerry
Friedman, and the late Eva and
the late Mark Chessler.
Interment was at Clover
Hill Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made
to Detroit Institute of Arts,
5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit,
MI 48202, dia.org/support/
donate; Cranbrook Educational
Community, Development
Dept. 77428, P.O. Box 77000,
Detroit, MI 48277-0428,
schools.cranbrook.edu/giv-
ing/ways-to-give; Friendship
Circle, 6892 W. Maple Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322,
friendshipcircle.org/donate;
or to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
SANDRA M.
ARFA, 79, passed
away May 5, 2022,
in Madison,
Wisconsin.
Sandy was
director of the University
of Wisconsin’s program for
English as a Second Language
for international students