24 | AUGUST 25 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

M

ore than 50 Central 
High School alum-
ni who graduated 
between 1941-1955 came in 
late July to Shabbat services at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 
where they were called up to the 
bimah for a group aliyah and to 
receive special blessings from 
both Rabbi Yonaton Dahlen and 
Rabbi Aaron Starr.
Because of the pandemic, it 
has been several years since CSZ 
has had an event for the Central 
High grads, something they’ve 
done several times in the past. 
“Some of the grads told me 
they hadn’t been to a public 
event in two years,” said CSZ 
Director of Engagement Alaine 
Ashkenazi. “It was time for them 
to get out and socialize.”
Chris Lambert, founder and 
CEO of Life Remodeled, a 
nonprofit working to revitalize 
Detroit neighbor-
hoods, spoke about 
the amazing revi-
talization efforts at 
both Central High 
School and Durfee 
Middle School. 
Arrangements are 
being made now for the alumni 
to take a bus and tour Central 
and Durfee with Lambert. “It 
will be a nice continuation of the 
reunion,” Ashkenazi said.
After the program, everyone 
stayed for lunch, sang songs 
from their years at Central, 
reunited with friends and 
perused the memorabilia in the 
lobby (including yearbooks, 

photos and old T-shirts and 
jerseys). 
Event chairperson Leo Silber 
(Class of 1947) planned the 
reunion along with Ashkenazi 
and brought most of the Central 
High memorabilia. “He was 
so enthusiastic and passionate 
about this Central High School 
Shabbat!” Ashkenazi said.
Included in that memo-
rabilia was a Central High 
T-shirt featuring a couple 
dancing. Alumna Joanne Kay 
Lichtenstein Viviano (Class of 
1947) shared that she actually 
designed that famous Central 
T-shirt (and she never got credit 
for it). 
Viviano is an illustrator and 
earned her teaching certificate 
in art education at Wayne State 
University in 1952. She taught 
art education at McCall School 
and later Temple Israel Religious 
School for 30+ years and was a 
beloved docent at the DIA for 30 
years. She is currently working 
on a project with a local artist 
to benefit local Alzheimer’s. 
Viviano was at the reunion with 
her daughter and her niece.
JN Editorial Assistant Sy 
Manello (Class of 1954) was at 
the reunion. “It was a very nice 
event. They gave us all honors 
for the Torah reading and it was 
a nice luncheon. It was good 
to get out of the house and see 
people,” he said.
Ashkenazi said, “It’s just a 
nice opportunity to bring people 
together. It motivates people to 
come out and socialize.” 

PHOTOS BY CSZ

Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
celebrates grads from the 
classes of 1941-55.

Central High 
Shabbat

Alaine 
Ashkenazi

JN STAFF

Leo Silber preparing 
for the Central High 
Shabbat

Alumna Joanne 
Kay Lichtenstein 
Viviano wears 
the T-shirt she 
designed.

Central High 
memorabilia

