18 | DECEMBER 22 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

W

hen it comes to 
his alma mater, his 
beloved University 
of Michigan, Jack Caminker, 
100, wears his heart on his 
sleeve. The Class of 1946 
graduate also wears it on his 
University of 
Michigan cap 
and his favorite 
University of 
Michigan jack-
et. And to no 
one’s surprise, 
that love for 
the Wolverines 
showed up in 
the form of a giant Block 
M made of frosting on 
his birthday cake. It was 
served, with maize and 
blue napkins, of course, 
when Jack’s family gath-
ered for a dinner party 
the evening of Dec. 3 at 
the Andiamo restaurant in 
Bloomfield Township to honor 
his centennial year. 
Actually, the true “icing on 
the cake” was the amazing 
reunion of family members 
who traveled from four states 
to honor the treasured patri-
arch of their family. Among 
them were Jack and late wife 
Eve’s three children and their 
spouses: daughters Nori 
(Dr. David) Levine, Bette 
Caminker (Joe Craig); son 
Rabbi Harold Caminker; and 
son-in-law Larry Brown, hus-
band of Jack’s late daughter 
Marcia. 
Jack, or as he is affectionally 
referred to as “Grandpa Jack,” 
was further overwhelmed 
by the presence of six of his 
eight grandchildren and 15 

great-grandchildren — with 
another on the way! 
“The party was amazing,” 
said Jack. “I normally see my 
children and grandchildren by 
tech and pictures, but to actu-
ally get the chance to see them 
in person and hug and kiss 
them, was just wonderful.” 
Jack officially turned 100 
on Sunday, Dec. 4, the day 
after his dinner party. But he 
received, as he called it, “a nice 
birthday gift” a day earlier 
at his birthday bash, when 
that same evening Michigan 
defeated Purdue in the Big 10 
Football Championship game.
You technically could thank 
the football gods. As it turns 
out, Jack, a member of Temple 

Israel since 1946 and a former 
president of the congregation 
(1969-1970), regularly attends 
Friday night services. He told 
me he actually said a prayer 
on behalf of the Wolverines at 
one service, looking for any 
edge that could help secure a 
victory. The power of prayer 
goes a long way, that and a 
balanced offense and defense. 
Temple Israel was well rep-
resented by clergy at Jack’s 
party. Rabbis Harold Loss, 
Jennifer Kaluzny and Marla 
Hornsten were all in atten-
dance. “Temple Israel is truly 
a second home for Jack, an 
extended family,” Loss says. 
“Even on the coldest nights, 
when others might choose not 

to brave the elements, Jack 
can always be counted on to 
be front and center at our ser-
vices.”
Kaluzny adds, “At 100-years 
old, Jack is a living history of 
Temple Israel. He’s extremely 
proud of the clergy and all that 
the temple stands for. I know 
so because Jack never fails to 
go out of his way to tell us!” 

INDESCRIBABLE 
GRATITUDE
Jack’s daughter Nori shared a 
recording with me of eloquent 
words her father delivered 
at his birthday celebration, 
speaking for nine minutes 
without a single note in front 
of him.

Jack Caminker celebrates his centennial.
A ‘Maize and Blue’ Birthday

Alan 
Muskovitz
Contributing 
Writer

ABOVE: 100-year old Jack Caminker waves to the sellout crowd of 110,225 at the Big 
House in Ann Arbor after being announced as the University of Michigan’s “Hero of the 
Game” during the Michigan-Maryland football game on Sept. 24. (L-R) Jack’s daughters 
Nori Levine, Bette Caminker, son-in-law Larry Brown, grandson Benjamin Levine, son-in-
law David Levine, and Jack Caminker. (Back row) Members U-M Navy ROTC Program. 

MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY

