DECEMBER 22 • 2022 | 59

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, 
tamarackcamps.com; Jewish 
Hospice & Chaplaincy 
Network, 6555 W
. Maple, West 
Bloomfield, MI 48322, jewish-
hospice.org/donate/tributes; 
or Congregation Beth Shalom, 
14601 Lincoln, Oak Park, MI 
48237, congbethshalom.org. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.

JUDITH ANN 
KOVACH, 79, of 
West Bloomfield. 
After a long, heroic 
battle with cancer, 
Judith died Dec. 
10, 2022, with her family by her 
side 
Judith worked in the mental 
health field, earning her Ph.D. 
in psychology at the age of 40. 
She was a highly respected lead-
er, serving on boards and help-
ing to create policy to advance 
the field. 

In addition, she was a fierce 
advocate for human rights, 
lobbying to end bullying, create 
Holocaust education curricu-
lum and establish equal rights 
for members of the LGBTQ 
community. She worked to the 
very end counseling, mentoring 
and lobbying. 
She was lucky enough to 
find her true soulmate in her 
beloved husband, Richard, who 
passed away in 2017.
Ms. Kovach is survived by her 
daughter, Lisabeth Lobenthal 
(Patrick Thomi); and her son, 
Adam Lobenthal (Jackie); seven 
grandchildren, Sarah, Ruth, 
James, Jamie, Michaela, Joseph 
and Aaron; nine great-grand-
children, Orianna, Okira, Obie, 
Noah, Layla, Gracie, Owin, 
Parker and Kensley. 
She was predeceased by her 
husband, Richard Lobenthal; 
daughters, Melissa and Debbie; 
son, Joshua. She was dearly 

loved and admired and will be 
truly missed. 
Contributions may be made 
to the Cancer Thrivers Network 
for Jewish Women at Jewish 
Family Service. Arrangements 
by Dorfman Chapel.

SHELDON PEARSON, 91, 
former Detroiter, died Dec. 14, 
2022, after a brief recovery from 
COVID 19, in Los Angeles, 
Calif., at the LA Jewish Home. 
Sheldon graduated from 
Detroit’s Central High School 
in 1948, was scouted as an out-
fielder by the Detroit Tigers and 
went on to notable careers in 
dance performance and instruc-
tion, cosmetology, film and the-
ater and real estate. He gained 
positive reviews for his perfor-
mances from the Los Angeles 
Times and other prominent 
publications and maintained 
many cherished relationships in 
the entertainment field, includ-

ing Sean and Taki Kenney, and 
the David, Sherry and Rujean 
Feldman family. 
Mr. Pearson is survived by 
his wife, Choey Fong Pearson; 
brother, Frederic Pearson; sis-
ter-in-law, Melvadean Pearson; 
son, David; granddaughter, 
Angelique Barr; nieces, Rhonda 
Hacker, Helen Pearson, Emma 
Zemba; nephew, Nathaniel 
Pearson; cousins, Suzanne 
(Harold) Tobes, Laura, Cheri 
and Stephen Eisenberg. He also 
has surviving relatives among 
the Stahl family of northern 
California. 
He was the son of Harry and 
Lillian Pearson, brother of the 
late Beverly Hacker.

RAYMOND 
PEPPER passed 
away on Dec. 10, 
2022, after a long 
illness. 
He lived in 

continued on page 60

Judaism embraces all facets of life . . . including death.
Trust us to assist you with dignity and grace.

