112 | MAY 19 • 2022
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OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
grandchildren, Maxwell and Gavin
Barry, and Cameron and Jeremy Kay;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Michael
and Cathy Barry, and Gordon Barry.
Mr. Barry was the devoted son
of the late Julius and the late Lillian
Barry.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
Variety the Children’s Charity, 600
S. Adams, Suite 230, Birmingham,
MI 48009, variety-detroit.com; or
City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road,
Duarte, CA 91010, cityofhope.org.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.
RICHARD N. DONER,
72, of Orlando, Fla., died
May 6, 2022.
He is survived by his
daughter and son-in-
law, Jessica Doner and
Nicholas Smedes; sister and brother-
in-law, Jill Doner Kagle and Steven
Kagle; sister, Jacqueline Doner
Moore; grandson, Artemis Grey
Doner Smedes; many other loving
relatives and friends.
Mr. Doner was the devoted son of
the late Milton J. Doner and the late
Ilsa Haas Doner.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to an animal shelter of one’s
choosing. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
MELVIN FREEMAN, 79,
of West Bloomfield, died
May 10, 2022.
He is survived by his
wife of 56 years, Norrine
Freeman; sons and
daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Maria
Freeman, Joel and Randi Freeman;
grandchildren, Henry and Jack
Freeman, Rayna and Peri Freeman;
brother-in-law, Sheldon Koven;
many loving cousins.
Mr. Freeman was the devoted son
of the late Frank and the late Rae F.
Freeman.
Interment was at Beth El
Memorial Park. Contributions may
D
r. Arthur Klass, M.D., a resident
of Sarasota, Fla., and former
long-time resident of West
Bloomfield, died peacefully at home on
May 9, 2022, after bravely battling
years’ long health issues.
Arthur was born in Rochester,
N.Y., in 1929, just as the Great
Depression descended on the
nation. While the struggles
defined the times, Arthur’s
memories were filled with joyful
family moments of drinking tea
at his bubbie and zaydie’s house,
with a dollop of strawberry jam
sweetening each cup; going to
the Empress Theatre on Clinton
Avenue with his brother, David,
for 10-cent movies (that included ice
cream); and looking forward to his
mom’s incredible chocolate cake each
birthday.
After losing his mother when he was
only 11, Arthur, his father, brother and
close-knit family supported one anoth-
er; as years went by, he set his sights
on becoming a physician. He worked
tirelessly to pay for his education, and
his determination paid off. Arthur
received his bachelor of science degree
at University of Rochester and was then
admitted to the University of Buffalo
Medical School, where he proudly earned
his M.D. credentials in 1956.
He served as captain in a mash unit in
South Korea for one year and received
the Army Commendation Medal in 1961
for going above and beyond as he com-
mitted himself to helping those in need.
Once back in the States, Arthur enter-
tained an offer to practice in San Diego,
Calif., but instead, accepted a position
in Detroit, where he became head of the
G.I. Department at Sinai Hospital and
one of the pioneers of G.I. laser applica-
tions, leading to the hospital’s then-desig-
nation as “the most extensive multi-disci-
plinary laser unit” in the country.
At his core, Arthur loved being a doc-
tor. In turn, his patients loved him, writ-
ing him letters, poems and heartfelt notes
when he retired. When he did hang up
the stethoscope to become a consultant
with Blue Cross Blue Shield, he had long
distinguished himself as one of the most
respected and trusted
board-certified gastroen-
terologists in the state.
But his career was
only part of his proud-
est accomplishments.
In Detroit, Arthur met
and married his beauti-
ful wife, Judy. Together,
they raised four chil-
dren he greatly loved;
and he doted on a bevy
of adored and lovingly
spoiled dogs and cats
(and a robin redbreast named Pretty
Bird.)
As an intellect and lifelong education
advocate, Arthur was a voracious reader
of medical journals, newspapers, novels
and biographies; he enjoyed conversa-
tions that challenged and nurtured his
insatiable curiosity and love of learning.
He appreciated great art, had a yen for
travel, basked in the beauty of classical
music and regularly trounced his young-
est daughter in gin rummy.
He was the kind of person you could
always depend on. He had a dry wit and
subtle sense of humor that could take
you by surprise in a wonderful way. He
genuinely made the world a better place.
Dr. Klass is survived by his wife, Judith
Ann Klass; children, Susan Klass, Nikki
(Bruce) Ingber, Michael (Gaia) Klass and
Melissa Siegler; grandchildren, Amelia
Klass, Bridget Klass, Matthew Ingber,
Megan Ingber, Aaron (Jessica) Ingber
and Joshua Mendelson; great-grand-
daughter, Scarlett Ingber; and his beloved
dog and granddog, Sasha and Berty.
At his wishes, no service is planned. To
honor Dr. Klass, the family asks for con-
tributions in lieu of flowers to one of the
following: St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital (st.jude.org); Florida Rescue
Farm (floridarescuefarm.org); Planned
Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org).
Devoted to Helping
Those in Need
Dr. Arthur Klass