42 | DECEMBER 29 • 2022
ARTS&LIFE
ART
F
or decades, Mark Schlussel has
played a vital role in developing
Metro Detroit’s Jewish community
and healthcare system.
As a longtime attorney, managing
member of Schlussel and Shefman
Law Firm, past president of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and
CEO of Curus, which manages healthcare
solutions, Schlussel has led a vibrant and
impactful career.
He was also one of two founding
co-chairs of the Jewish Fund, which was
developed from the sale proceeds of Sinai
Hospital to Detroit Medical Center. Now,
the Jewish Fund has distributed more
than $70 million in grants into the Jewish
community.
Schlussel is also a strong supporter
of The Heroes Circle inspired by Kids
Kicking Cancer, a program that uses
martial arts as a therapy to reduce pain
experienced by children with an
illness. In fact, he helped secure
the initial funding that launched
the organization, which is now
committed to helping 1 million
children worldwide.
Most recently, Schlussel was
honored for his contribution
to the organization at the Kids
Kicking Cancer’s Heroes Circle
Global Staff Conference on Dec.
5 in Southfield.
LIFE FROM A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE
While Schlussel’s dedication and impact
are felt by thousands today, the 82-year-old
philanthropist is turning his creative vision
toward a personal endeavor: painting.
“
As you age, you look at life from a lot
of different perspectives,” he explains. “
As
I look at my artwork, it’s a reflection of
different periods of my
life during the last 25
years.”
A quarter-century
ago, while working at
a major national law
firm, Schlussel always
found himself dood-
ling. One day, a fellow
attorney walked by
and noticed Schlussel’s
doodles. “He said,
‘That’s really interest-
ing,’” Schlussel recalls.
“‘Why don’t you try it
in color?’”
Encouraged by his colleague, Schlussel
went home and bought pencils, colored
pencils and parchment paper. He then
called his friend, Bob Aronson, former
CEO at Federation, who was a gifted
printmaker, for advice. Aronson told
Jewish community leader Mark Schlussel
finds enrichment in painting.
Creative
Expression
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Mark Schlussel