OUR COMMUNITY
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14 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022
ON THE COVER
chair for the Wayne State Law School and a
steadfast donor, making numerous gifts and
establishing several endowed funds. He was
instrumental in creating the Levin Center for
Oversight and Democracy at the law school
and served as its first board chair.
“His passion, generosity and brilliance
made a difference to so many,
” said Wayne
State University President M. Roy Wilson.
“His greatest impact was often behind the
scenes as a counselor, storyteller and trusted
friend.
”
HIS MOST IMPORTANT PARTNER
As an undergrad, Eugene majored in math
and joined the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.
Through a fellow “Sammy,
” he met his wife of
63 years, Elaine, who was pursuing a degree
in education.
“He liked telling people he traded his bottle
cap collection and two dead toads for my
phone number,
” Elaine said.
The couple got married after Elaine graduated,
and she taught school in Livonia while Eugene
completed law school. Despite their youth, they
created a bond based on love, trust, shared values
and mutual respect.
“Our enduring marriage was a combination
of dumb luck and hard work, tempered by life’s
realities and enhanced by the remarkable bounty
of our children and grandchildren,
” said Elaine,
who described it as “a marriage made in heaven.
”
Eugene’s first job was in the anti-trust division
of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington,
D.C. After their daughter, Elissa, was born,
they moved back to Detroit to be closer to their
families, buying a home in Green Acres near
Livernois and Seven Mile and welcoming their
second child, Stephen.
In 1968, he and four other lawyers founded
the firm Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, P
.L.L.C.,
located in downtown Detroit. Eugene and his
partners soon earned a reputation as “lawyers’
lawyers,
” skillfully representing a variety of cli-
ents that included law firms, government entities
and businesses ranging from small start-ups to
large corporations.
“Eugene was always the heart and soul of our
firm,
” said Todd Mendel, one of his partners.
“His integrity and wisdom in tackling vexing and
complex business matters are legendary.
”
“IN MY 57 YEARS OF
FRIENDSHIP WITH
EUGENE, I HAVE SEEN
HIS CONTINUOUS
DEDICATION TO THE
MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS IN LIFE: HIS
FAMILY, HIS PROFESSION,
HIS JEWISH HERITAGE
AND HIS COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES.”
— THE HONORABLE PAUL D. BORMAN,
U.S. EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
ABOVE: Eugene and Elaine
Driker with their granchildren,
(left to right) Emma and Sophie
Driker, Caleb, Rebecca and
Charlie Driker-Ohren.
“HE HAD
A HEARTY
LAUGH AND A
WONDERFUL
SENSE OF
HUMOR.”
— DON ROSENTHAL, LONGTIME
FRIEND FROM CAMP SEAGULL