AUGUST 10 • 2023 | 61

D

elores Michael, 96, of Troy, died 
July 15, 2023. 
She passed away from natural 
causes Saturday, July 15, 2023. Delores was 
born on Jan. 13, 1927, in Detroit, to Irving 
and Helen Rubin (who emigrated to the 
United States from Russia and Lithuania, 
respectively). She was the 
younger sister of Norman. 
Delores attended schools 
in the Detroit area and, after 
graduating high school, she 
continued her education by 
taking many college courses 
in a variety of subjects. 
At a USO party in Detroit 
during World War II, 
Delores met her future husband, Gerald 
D. Michael; and they married on Aug. 20, 
1946. They remained happily married for 
72 years until Gerald passed away on May 
17, 2019, from natural causes at the age 
of 95. Delores and Gerald welcomed two 
daughters during their long-term marriage, 
Margery and Nancy Michael (aka Nancy 
Chamberlain-Strupp). They later became 
grandparents to Lisa Collinsworth and 
great-grandparents to Lisa’s son, Tristen. 
They were also stepgrandparents and 
stepgreat-grandparents through the 
marriage of Nancy to Paul Strupp (via 
Paul’s son, Sean).
Delores was not only a wife, mother, 
grandparent and great-grandparent, she 
was also a loving sister, sister-in-law, aunt 
and cousin. She adored her sisters-in-law, 
Anne Rubin and the late Joy Levine; and 
her late brother-in-law, Israel Levine. She 
adored all her many nieces and nephews in 
the Rubin and Levine family. Delores also 
greatly enjoyed her many, many friends. 
She was a very loving and caring “pet 
mama” to her several dogs and cats (most 
of whom were brought home to Delores by 
her daughter, Nancy).
Delores was highly intelligent and 
had a mind for seeking new ideas and 
adventures. She traveled the world with 
Gerald many, many times and luckily got 
to visit most parts of the world at least 
once, some beloved places, repeatedly. 
The years of traveling the globe developed 

in both Delores and Gerald a passion for 
world affairs; Delores had a deep passion 
for U.S. and Michigan politics.
During her life, Delores acted as 
president of the Women’s Alpha Omega 
organization. She and Gerald were active 
on a long-term basis in that organization 
and in the Alpha Omega Players group. 
With the Players, they participated in 
many different roles over the years (actor, 
singer, dancer, writer, co-producer and/
or director). Delores always loved to sing, 
loved to listen to music (and could play 
the piano). She also loved to dance with 
Gerald at their many social events; they 
took years of individual ballroom dance 
lessons to improve their dance steps and to 
appear effortless. 
Delores was adored during life and will 
be greatly missed by all those who were 
lucky to know her during her long life. Her 
family and friends already miss her and 
cherish the many memories they have of 
her. May her soul rest in loving peace.
Mrs. Michael was the beloved wife of the 
late Gerald D. Michael, DDS; cherished 
mother of Margery J. Michael and Nancy 
L. and Paul Chamberlain-Strupp; proud 
grandmother of Lisa Collinsworth; 
adoring great-grandmother of Tristen 
Collinsworth. She is also survived by her 
stepson and daughter-in-law, Sean and 
Brenda Strupp and their children; sister-
in-law, Anne Rubin, and her children 
and grandchildren; the children and 
grandchildren of the late Joy and the late 
Israel Levine. She was the loving sister of 
the late Norman Rubin.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park 
Cemetery. Contributions may be made 
to ASPCA (The American Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), P.O. 
Box 96929, Washington, D.C., 20090-
6929, aspca.org; International Fellowship 
of Christians and Jews, 30 N. LaSalle St., 
Suite 2600, Chicago, IL 60602-3356, ifcj.
org; Jewish National Fund, 42 E. 69th St., 
New York, NY 10021, jnf.org; or Detroit 
Symphony Orchestra, 3711 Woodward 
Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-2444, tickets.dso.
org/support/donate. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

Life to the Fullest

Delores 
Michael

Sisskind; his granddaughters, 
Caitlin Hennessy and Alison 
Hennessy; by his sister and 
brother-in-law, Barbara and 
Larry Cutler; and the family’s 
own angel on earth, Robyn 
Smith.
There will be a celebration 
of life planned for a later 
date. Contributions may be 
made to National Kidney 
Foundation of Michigan, 
1169 Oak Valley Drive, 
Ann Arbor, MI 48108, 
nkfm.org/get-involved/giv-
ing. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

DR. DAVID JAY 
TORBY, 73, of 
Farmington Hills, 
died Aug. 1, 2023. 
He is survived 
by his wife of 49 
years, Joyce Torby; daughters 
and sons-in-law, Alyssa and 
Byron Hauck, and Michelle 
and Michael Doa; sister and 
brother-in-law, Linda and 
Steve Sobel. 
Dr. Torby was preceded in 
death by his parents, Kenneth 
and Mildred Torby. 
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made 
to University of Michigan 
School of Dentistry, Dept. 
of Orthodontics, 1011 N. 
University, Suite 1420, Ann 
Arbor, MI 48109, dent.
umich.edu/alumni-giving#-
giving; SPCA of Southwest 
Michigan, 6955 W. KL Ave., 
Kalamazoo, MI 48009, 
spcaswmich.org/donate; or 
American Heart Association, 
26555 Evergreen Road, Suite 
570, Southfield, MI 48076, 
heart.org/en/affiliates/michi-
gan/detroit. Arrangements by 
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

