E
lliot Gottfurcht, formerly of Detroit,
recently died in Santa Monica, Calif.,
surrounded by his loving family
members: his daughter, Marlo Gottfurcht
Longstreet; his granddaughter, Casey
Longstreet; his son, Grant Gottfurcht; and
his grandson, Jackson Gottfurcht.
El, as he was affectionately known
throughout life, was born on New Year’s
Eve in 1939 to Fred and Helene Gottfurcht
in Detroit. He often said that he grew up
in “Camelot,” formal-
ly known as Palmer
Woods, at the northern
end of Detroit, where
he made and enjoyed
lifelong friendships.
El attended Hampton
School; and before
he entered Mumford
High School, he was
invited to join and was
inducted in The Saxons,
a social service and
athletic club, becom-
ing a “Saxon for Life.”
He was an outstand-
ing athlete, lettering
in varsity football at
Mumford. He went on
to study at Western
Reserve University
in Ohio. Following this, the pioneer and
adventure spirit struck him, drawing him
to Los Angeles, where he graduated from
USC. From the time that El arrived in Los
Angeles, his “star” rocketed.
Elliot Gottfurcht developed several
significant real estate projects in the Los
Angeles area, including Beverly Glen,
Sierra Tower and the Carriage House, now
known as the “W” Hotel, and one of the
most outstanding and most affluent resi-
dential developments, Beverly Park.
El was also active in Michigan real estate
as a major partner in North Park Towers,
North Park Place and North Park Square.
He never stopped working and had several
pending projects even at the time of his
demise.
El invented and patented numerous tech-
nology discoveries and even wrote several
screenplays. When his beloved grandson
Tanner died, El and his daughter Marlo
created the Tanner Project Foundation and
Stage O Health.
Elliot was a pioneer, a believer, a think-
er and a creator of visions, most of which
were ahead of his time. Over the years,
he was also affectionately known as “Billy
Rote” or “Bad Billy Rote” because he had
the reputation of being wild, crazy, funny,
stubborn, sensitive, inspirational, talented,
memorable, unique, generous, kind, loving
and incredibly humble.
El liked to work from
home, even back before
it became as popular as
it is today. He was defi-
nitely ahead of his time.
He loved his family
and was a great dad and
“papa” to his children
and grandchildren. He
was proud of his kids
and his grandkids. His
family and friends were
so lucky and proud to
have him always by their
side and couldn’t ask for
a better supporter and
cheerleader.
El was a private per-
son who respected oth-
ers’ privacy as he would
ask that his own privacy
be respected, keeping his own battle with
cancer private.
Elliot Gottfurcht is survived by his
daughter, Marlo Gottfurcht Longstreet; his
granddaughter, Casey Longstreet; his son,
Grant Gottfurcht; his grandson, Jackson
Gottfurcht; his brother, John Gottfurcht;
cousins and many friends.
Elliot was predeceased by his parents,
Fred and Helene Gottfurcht; his grandson,
Tanner Longstreet; his older sister, Renda
Gottfurcht Hertz; and his younger brother,
James Gottfurcht.
In an immediate-family very private
burial, he was laid to rest right next to his
beloved grandson Tanner; they are togeth-
er again. El will always be in the family’s
hearts and greatly missed and loved.
Contributions may be made to the
Tanner Project Foundation, 15332 Antioch
St., Suite 325, Pacific Pallisades, CA 90272,
tanner/project.org.
A Memorable, Talented Man
OCTOBER 27 • 2022 | 69
Elliot Gottfurcht
Iris Schultz.
Interment was at Adat
Shalom Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made
to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
MAGGIE
THIRMAN, 97,
of West
Bloomfield, died
Oct. 14, 2022.
She was active
with Hadassah,
the Zekelman
Holocaust Center
and was a long-
time member of
Congregation B’nai Moshe
and its sisterhood.
Mrs. Thirman is survived
by her sons and daughters-in-
law, Mark and Stacey Thirman
of Wayland, Mass., Dr.
Michael and Karen Thirman
of Wilmette, Ill.; grandchil-
dren, Sarah Thirman, Sam
Thirman, Charlotte Thirman,
Lilly Thirman, Dr. Jonathan
Thirman and Rabbi Goldie
Guy, Daniel Thirman, Hannah
Thirman.
She was the beloved wife
for 57 years of the late Marcel
Thirman; dear sister and sis-
ter-in-law of the late Phyllis
and the late George Hoffman.
Her parents and four other
siblings were murdered during
the Holocaust.
Contributions may be
made to Congregation B’nai
Moshe, 6800 Drake Road,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322; or
Zekelman Holocaust Center,
28123 Orchard Lake Road,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334.
Services and interment were
held at Oakview Cemetery in
Royal Oak. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.