OCTOBER 13 • 2022 | 19
New York and Florida. They
spent many happy summers
at their condo in Glen Arbor,
exploring scenic Leelanau
County with their children and
grandchildren.
Eugene and Elaine took up
bicycling together and enjoyed
numerous bike rides with
friends and family. As recently
as August, Eugene completed a
15-mile ride up north, which he
commemorated with a photo of
his odometer to authenticate his
accomplishment. In April, he
published a 400-page memoir
called Dexter Boy Diary, the
culmination of 25 years of doc-
umenting memories and stories
about his life from childhood to
the present.
“He taught me the impor-
tance of philanthropy and the
pleasure that comes from giv-
ing to people and institutions
whose missions are to provide
pathways to a better life for their
constituents or enrich the fabric
of Detroit, the city he loved so
dearly,
” said Elaine. “He was my
North Star, my guidepost, my
friend and my mentor.
”
More than 600 people
attended his funeral, officiated
by Rabbi Matthew Zerwekh and
Cantorial Soloist Kelly Onickel
at Temple Emanu-El in Oak
Park.
Eugene Driker is survived
by his devoted and cherished
wife of 63 years, Elaine Driker;
beloved children, Elissa (Jay
Zerwekh) Driker and Stephen
(Jennifer) Driker; son-in-
law, Perry Ohren; treasured
grandchildren, Charlie, Caleb,
Rebecca, Sophie and Emma; a
loving circle of extended family
and a world of friends.
Eugene was the son of the
late Charles and the late Frances
Driker and the brother of the
late Ruth Driker (Irv) Kroll and
the late Jack (Trudy) Driker.
Contributions in his memory
may be directed to the Eugene
Driker Endowed Scholarship in
Law at Wayne State University,
5475 Woodward Ave., Detroit,
MI 48202, (313) 577-2275,
https://giving.wayne.edu/
donate/driker; or The Driker
Family Fund for College
Students at the Yiddish Book
Center, 1021 West St., Amherst,
MA 01002, (413) 256-4900,
www.yiddishbookcenter.org.
Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. Interment
was at Machpelah Cemetery.
Eugene and family at the dedication of the Applebaum-Driker Theater
at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Mass. Eugene was involved in
the center for many years, eventually joining the board and becoming
its chair.
“HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON
I CALLED IN A CRISIS. SOMEHOW
HE ALWAYS KNEW WHAT TO DO.”
— AARON LANSKY, FOUNDER OF YIDDISH BOOK CENTER
The Yiddish Book Center
Board of Directors and
staff mourn the loss of our
longtime Board member
and treasured friend, Eugene
Driker. He was a lamed
vovnik, a man of uncommon
wisdom, judgement,
generosity, and humanity,
and the world will be a
sadder place without him.
Zkhroyne hatsadik l’vrokhe
Eugene Driker
– May the memory of the
righteous be a blessing for us all.