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