18 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022
continued from page 16
groundbreaking ceremony
for the Eugene and Elaine C.
Driker Trail on Belle Isle, part
of the Ralph Wilson Gateway
and Trail, the official southern
trailhead for Michigan’s Iron
Belle Trail, a 2,000-mile hiking
and biking route stretching
from Belle Isle to Ironwood in
the Upper Peninsula. The trib-
ute holds special meaning for
Eugene, who spent many happy
afternoons at Belle Isle with his
parents, and later, with his chil-
dren and grandchildren.
“He always led us to a better
path and a greater good,
” said
Mary Wilson, widow of the late
Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
Judaism and Jewish values
were important to Eugene, and
he selflessly gave his time and
monetary support to many
Jewish organizations including
the American Jewish Committee
(now JCRC/AJC) and serving as
president of Jewish Vocational
Service (now Gesher). He was
a staunch supporter of Jewish
Family Service and Kadima
Mental Health Services. (Earlier
this year, Jewish Vocational
Service and Kadima merged
into one organization under the
name Gesher Human Services.)
“Eugene was dedicated to the
City of Detroit and to the Jewish
community; he was involved in
both at the highest level,
” said
Bob Aronson, former CEO of
the Jewish Federation of Metro
Detroit. “I relied on him for his
advice and counsel, as many
others did.
”
He was an avid supporter
and former chair of the board
of directors of the Yiddish
Book Center in Amherst,
Massachusetts.
The Drikers loved traveling
to destinations near and far,
including Europe, Africa, Israel,
“TO SAY THAT EUGENE WAS
A GIANT IN OUR LEGAL
COMMUNITY, OUR GREATER
DETROIT COMMUNITY AND OUR
JEWISH COMMUNITY IS A VAST
UNDERSTATEMENT. ”
— THE HONORABLE GERALD ROSEN,
FORMER CHIEF JUDGE U.S. EASTERN DISTRICT
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
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Jewish News Tribute Ad_Driker_vFINAL-HR.pdf 1 10/6/2022 10:29:22 AM
JCRC/AJC mourns the passing of Eugene Driker
A visionary for Detroit – A leader in Jewish Detroit – An inspiration to us all
May his memory be a blessing
Eugene Driker with
his daughter Elissa