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

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

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

