32 | DECEMBER 7 • 2023 J N J udge Bernard Friedman and Stan Meretsky’s friendship means the world to them. It’s an alliance celebrating its 75th year, forged in 1948 when the two were kindergarten classmates at MacCulloch Elementary School on Wildemere and Tyler in Detroit. Their lifelong friendship was nurtured though the closeknit community they called home — the beloved old Dexter-Davison Jewish neigh- borhood. This year, these two “boys” officially became octogenarians. They were born in Detroit in 1943, preceding the Boomer era by just three years. Meretsky and Friedman, now both West Bloomfield residents, turned 80 in July and September respec- tively. Depending upon whose company they’re in, you might hear Bernard refer to Stan as “Stanley” or “Stosh” and Stan call Bernard “Bernie” or “Bernardie. ” Or “hey, you” also works, Stan said. Friedman recently announced that after 35 years as a U.S. Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan he’s going to go on “inactive status. ” That means “kind of” retiring. He’ll work a lot less and mostly sub- stitute for federal magistrates on arraignments and other prelimi- nary hearings. Meretsky spent the first half of his career as an advertising and marketing executive, with stops at AAA Michigan and his own ad agency, Meretsky/ Response. For the last 31 years he’s been the sole proprietor of the McCullough Corp., a surplus brokerage business that sells tools and auto parts on a wholesale level. The name of his firm was inspired by his cherished elementary school. FRESSING OVER FRIENDSHIP I had the pleasure to break bread with these two gentlemen recently at the Pickles & Rye Deli in West Bloomfield. Stan had reached out to me and asked if I’ d like to hear about a friend- ship that was now in its eighth decade. I’ve always been hope- lessly nostalgic, especially when the backdrop is about growing up in Detroit. I was all in. As you’re about to learn, it was only fitting that a deli would provide the perfect set- ting ting for this walk down Memory Lane. Faster than you can say: “I’ll have a corned beef on rye, ” joy- ful remembrances and detailed memories of their childhood came pouring out of Bernie and Stan like scratchy, old, black- and-white 8-millimeter films projecting onto a vintage tripod movie screen. Y ou could almost hear the clickety-clack of the film threading its way through the projector of their minds. OUR COMMUNITY Bernie & Stan Alan Muskovitz Contributing Writer For 75 years, these two childhood pals have remained best friends. “TO THE WORLD YOU MAY BE JUST ONE PERSON, BUT TO ONE PERSON YOU MAY BE THE WORLD.” — DR. SEUSS Bernie and Stan — now and then. ALAN MUSKOVITZ