DECEMBER 8 • 2022 | 71

continued from page 69

continued on page 72

was held at Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel. Interment took place 
at Machpelah Cemetery in 
Ferndale. Arrangements by 
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

BETTY RUTH 
GILBERT, 90, of 
Farmington Hills, 
died Nov. 18, 2022. 
She is survived 
by her children, 
Jeff Hecker, Barbara Torango, 
Harlyn (Peter) Gosling, Karen 
Gilbert; brother and sister-
in-law, Edward and Karin 
Ruzumna; grandchildren, 
Brett Gilbert, Vienna (Greig 
McIntosh) Torango, Jill-Ann 
(Justice) Coughenour and 
Jennifer (Kevin) Flanagan; 
great-grandchildren, Zoe, 
Penelope, Aidan, Charlotte 
Grace and Declan; many loving 
nieces, nephews, other family 
members and friends. 
Mrs. Gilbert was the beloved 
wife of the late Sheldon Gilbert 
and the late Victor Hecker; 
mother of the late Eric Gilbert; 
sister of the late Dr. Larry 
(Heidi) Ruzumna and the late 
Caroline Peck. 
Interment was at Adat Shalom 
Memorial Park Cemetery in 
Livonia. Contributions may be 
made to the Wounded Warrior 
Project or to a charity of one’s 
choice. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

ALLEN 
GREENSTEIN, 
75, of Keego 
Harbor, died Nov. 
24, 2022. 
He is survived 
by his children, Shawn (Tony) 
Fayne and Adam (Gypsy) 
Greenstein; grandchildren Axle 
Greenstein, Salome Greenstein, 
and Sasha Fayne; sisters and 
brothers-in-law, Francine Efros 
and Howard Efros, and Sharon 
and Tom Tout; loving nephews, 
Jeremy (Anne) Efros, Josh 

Efros, Daniel Tout, Nicholas 
Tout; his former wife, Toby 
(Mark) Gantz; many cherished 
friends. 
Mr. Greenstein was the dear 
son of the late Frank George 
Greenstein and the late Clara 
Greenstein; uncle of the late 
Michael Efros. 
Contributions may be made 
to the Jewish War Veterans or 
to the Alzheimer’s Association. 
Arrangements by Dorfman 
Chapel.

GLORIA 
HANDELSMAN, 
92, of West 
Bloomfield, died 
Nov. 23, 2022. 
She is survived 
by her daughters and sons-in-
law, Lori and Robert Russell, 
and Julie and Lawrence August; 
grandchildren, Lindsay and 
Daniel Vazquez, Sarah Russell 
and Eric Stininger, Melanie 
and Brian Miller, and Allison 
August and Andre Lofrano; 
great-grandchildren, Hazel 
Stininger, Zoey and Michael 
Vazquez, Dakota Miller and 
Aila Lofrano; brother-in-law 
and sister-in-law, Herbert and 
Norma Handelsman.
Mrs. Handelsman was the 
beloved wife for 66 years 
of the late Myron “Mike” 
Handelsman; the dear sister-in-
law of the late Faye and the late 
Oscar Katz. 
Interment was at Machpelah 
Cemetery. Contributions may 
be made to Jewish Hospice 
& Chaplaincy Network, 6555 
W
. Maple, West Bloomfield, 
MI 48322, jewishhospice.org/
donate/tributes. Arrangements 
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

OPHELIA 
HERMAN, 92, of 
West Bloomfield, 
died Nov. 30, 2022. 
She is survived 
by her husband 

“He was all about creating 
memories,” Staci said. 
After being reelected in 
2014, he became a judge 
in the newly formed 44th 
District Court, serving 
Berkley and Royal Oak 
after the two courts 
merged as a result of state 
legislation. There, he 
spearheaded the expansion 
of the Sobriety Court 
program and created 
a Teen Court aimed at 
supporting at-risk youth.
“His positive impact was 
felt immediately,” said Chief 
Judge Derek W. Meinecke, 
who served with Jamie at 
the 44th District Court. 
“He found time to have 
individual relationships 
with all the employees, and 
he loved being a judge for 
the opportunity to help, to 
solve problems, to heal. He 
understood what service 
meant.”
In 2019, the Wittenbergs’ 
world was upended when 
Jamie was diagnosed 
with glioblastoma, an 
especially aggressive form 
of brain cancer. Instead of 
complaining, he jumped 
into action, making lifestyle 
changes that included a 
strict Keto diet combined 
with intermittent fasting. 
His determined efforts 
allowed him to survive far 
longer than his original 
prognosis, handling his 
full docket despite four 
surgeries, chemotherapy and 
radiation. 
“He never complained 
about his disease; said it 
happened to him because he 
could handle it,” Staci said, 
“and it never took away his 
ability to love.”
In November, “Judge W” 
was reelected for a third 
term in the 44th District 
Court. Judge Meinecke, 
his friend and bench mate, 

came to the Wittenberg 
home to perform the 
swearing in ceremony. 
“He would often remark 
that he believed he was a 
better judge having gone 
through his trials, because 
he gained even greater 
perspective and found an 
even greater connection 
with those that appeared 
before him, who may 
have had hard times and 
challenges of their own,” 
said Meinecke. “Judge Jamie 
Wittenberg was simply the 
best of us.”
Judge Jamie Wittenberg 
is survived by his beloved 
wife, Staci; cherished 
children, Arielle, Talia, 
Brooke and Maya; devoted 
parents, Howard Wittenberg 
and Mollie Wittenberg; 
dear sister, Jodie (Gary) 
Heicklen and brother, 
Robert (Kimberly Palter) 
Wittenberg; adoring in-laws, 
Stephen and Joan Redisch; 
and dearest brother-in-law, 
Michael (Heather) Redisch. 
He is also survived by many 
loving nieces, nephews, 
extended family members 
and a world of devoted 
friends.
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to a GoFundMe account 
for the future education 
of the Wittenberg’s four 
daughters at https://tinyurl.
com/2zxv3tf4; the Fetal 
Care Center at Cincinnati 
Children’s Hospital, PO 
Box 5202, Cincinnati, OH 
45201, (513) 636-4484, 
www.cincinnatichildrens.
org/service/f/fetal-care; or 
Tamarack Camps, 6735 
Telegraph Road, #380, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, 
(248) 647-1100, https://
tamarackcamps.com. 
Arrangements were by 
Dorfman Chapel. 

