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34 | JUNE 8 • 2023 

here’s to

J

ust when the cult-classic 
film Butch Cassidy and the 
Sundance Kid was released 
in 1969, Rob Wolk got the nick-
name “Sundance.
” He promised 
his mother, who was a big fan 
of the movie, that one day he’
d 
open a business and name it 
“Sundance.
”
Rob, 73, of Birmingham, did 
exactly that.
In 1973, he opened Sundance 
Shoes in Northland Center, a for-
mer shopping mall in Southfield 
that was once the largest of its 
kind in the world. It was the 
perfect location for his business. 

Through the doors walked the 
likes of Aretha Franklin and box-
ing legends Tommy Hearns and 
Sugar Ray Leonard, who were 
regular clientele.
“It was a terrific store,
” Rob 
recalls. “
A lot of celebrities would 
come in.
”
While famous clientele was 
definitely a perk, it was the ener-
gy of the store that Rob would 
always remember — a feeling 
he describes as “positive” and 
“exciting.
”
Now, Rob is celebrating 50 
years in business and working 
alongside his daughter, Katie Ray 

Celebrating 
50 Years in 
Business

Sundance Shoes remains one of 
Metro Detroit’s top shoe stores.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Katie Ray 
Johnston and 
Rob Wolk

Former U.S. Representative Andy Levin will 
receive the Raphael Lemkin Human Rights 
Award for his commitment to protecting 
workers, fighting climate change, and 
advancing justice and human rights for Israelis 
and Palestinians. The award is presented 
annually by T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights 
organization that represents more than 2,300 
rabbis and cantors in the U.S. and Canada. 
The award is named for the Jewish refugee 
lawyer who coined 
the term genocide 
and fought for the 
establishment of the 
Genocide Convention, 
just after most of 
his own family was 
murdered by Nazis.

The Donald R. 
and Esther Simon 
Foundation has awarded 
a grant of $27,500 to 
Hillel of Metro 
Detroit for use 
toward the 2023-
2024 staffing 
of on-campus 
Rabbi-Educator 
Michele 
Faudem. The 
foundation is 
built upon the 
legacy and philanthropy 
of Donald R. and Esther 
Simon and their children. 
With recognition of the 
family’s original roots 
in Michigan, the Simon 
Foundation supports 

projects that address 
Jewish life and identity, 
cancer research and 
support services, the 
cultural arts 
and social 
justice issues 
which make a 
positive impact 
in the lives of 
this generation 
and the next. 
Rabbi Faudem 
influences the 
students’ experiences 
by providing ready 
access to Jewish 
learning, thought-
provoking programming, 
personal counseling/
guidance. 

American Friends of ALYN 
Hospital announced Paula 
Glazier has been elected 
as president of the board of 
directors. A lifelong resident of 
the Metro Detroit area, Glazier 
was a founding member and 
a president of the Detroit 
Friends of ALYN, a group of 
dedicated volunteers who 
raised more than $1 million for 
the hospital.