MARCH 2 • 2023 | 59

nonprofit Everything Animals 
Resource and Activity Center, 
Jan promoted her advocacy 
with humane education and 
outreach activities. For the past 
20 years, Jan made regular fea-
tured appearances at Mohonk 
Mountain House in New Paltz, 
N.Y., with her mostly rescued 
animal ambassadors to the 
delight of visiting guests. 
Jan specialized in animals 
that many would consider to 
be unhuggable or unlovable. 
She believed these animals are 
pure magic and a catalyst for 
changing people’s attitudes to 
that of compassion — the goal 
of humane education. Her 
programs were amusing, infor-
mative and filled with animal 
facts meant to challenge her 
audiences’ perspectives. 

 In addition to her loving 
husband, Rich Blazeski, Jan is 
survived by her sister, Mindy 
Berlin-Herman (Sam Herman); 
niece, Loni Wildern (Kyle) 
and great-nephew Luka; neph-
ew, Josh Herman (Tannaz 
Guivi); cousin and lifelong best 
friend, Wendy Shepherd (Ken 
Hershenson), cousins by the 
dozens around the country, 
and many dear and loving 
friends in Michigan and New 
York. 
A Celebration of Life will 
be held in the spring. To help 
carry on Jan’s legacy of helping 
animals, contributions may 
be made in her memory to: 
Everything Animals Resource 
& Activities Center, Attn: 
Rich Blazeski, P.O. Box 104, 
Bullville, NY 10915.

ALICE BROOKS, 98, of West 
Bloomfield, died Feb. 22, 2023. 
She is survived by her son 
and daughter-in-law, Edward 
and Marsha Brooks; sister, Dr. 
Barbara Raby; grandchildren, 
Anthony and Liuda Brooks, 
Tara Brooks and Luis Velis; 
great-grandchildren, Kiera, 
Alexandra, Gabriela; also sur-
vived by loving nephews, Glen 
Raby, Lynne Page, Anita Fox, 
Mark Raby and their families. 
Alice was the beloved wife 
of the late Leon Brooks; dear 
daughter of the late Ernest and 
the late Mary Weinberg; lov-
ing mother of the late Daniel 
Brooks; cherished sister of the 
late Edna Weinberg. 
Contributions may be 
made to Jewish Community 
Chaplaincy and Outreach 

program of Jewish Senior Life, 
15000 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak 
Park, MI 48237; or Hebrew 
Benevolent Society, 26640 
Greenfield Road, Oak Park, 
MI 48237. Funeral service 
was held at Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel. Interment took place 
at Hebrew Memorial Park. 
Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel.

JUDGE MELVYN 
GVAZDA, 84, of 
Commerce Twp., 
died Feb. 22, 2023. 
He is survived by 
his loving daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Dr. 
Melanie and Glen Schwartz; 
grandchildren, Avery and Ari; 
and many other loving family 
members and friends. Melvyn 

continued on page 60

Serving each family.
Consoling each heart.
For 105 years.

