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.

