MARCH 14 • 2024 | 63
children, Shari (Rob)
Artinian, Laurie (Ken) Lustig
and Judith (Darren) Pontin;
grandchildren, Shannan,
Brett, Brooke and Cathlene.
He is also remembered by
many family members and
friends.
Interment was held at
the Great Lakes National
Cemetery in Holly.
Contributions can be made
to any charity that supports
Israel or to the Jewish War
Veterans. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
MAX
FREDRICK
FUTERNICK,
34, of Ann Arbor,
lived a life of
exuberance,
empathy, and heart until it
was extinguished
unexpectedly on March 3,
2024.
Max entered the world
big and booming, bright-
eyed, and almost comically
muscular. And from the
moment he could talk, he
had so much to say. “He was
just a little spark plug of life,”
said his mother, Margaret
Weissman, “and so much
fun.”
From an early age, Max’s
kinetic personality was
impossible to contain.
When he was 3, Max was
buzzing around the backyard
raising a ruckus when his
papa stepped outside to tell
him to pipe down. “Sure!”
Max shouted, never looking
back as he continued to
run and laugh. His papa,
who could be intimidating
to the rest of the world,
surrendered to Max’s energy.
“Let’s embrace his joy and
spirit,” Max’s papa said. It
was good advice.
Max was co-captain of the
then-Andover High School
swim team in Bloomfield
Hills and graduated from
Michigan State University,
where he majored in
international relations
within MSU’s James Madison
College, along with Jewish
Studies. After college, Max
lived in Los Angeles, Chicago
and, ultimately, Ann Arbor,
working in various roles at
Zingerman’s and Thomson
Reuters.
Max had a dazzling mind,
achieving a nearly perfect
score on the ACT and, just
for fun, taking the LSAT,
the standardized test for
prospective law students,
to see if he could beat the
score of his sister, Sarah
Futernick, who is now a
lawyer. He did. Max seemed
to know something about
everything, and loved to talk
(or more accurately, argue)
about politics, history, food
or really anything at all. A
natural athlete, Max excelled
at skiing, wakeboarding and
basketball.
Max had too many hobbies
and interests to cover in an
obituary, and particularly
loved hiking, tending to his
plants, high-quality produce
and olive oil, and most
genres of music from funk to
bluegrass. He had a special
connection with animals,
particularly his sister’s dog,
Wally, whom he declared a
brother.
Max loved his family and
was generous to a fault.
He treasured his weekend
swim and deli dates with his
father, Irwin Futernick, with
whom he shared the same
deep voice, mannerisms and
gentle heart. He loved his
momma, Margaret, beyond
measure and was looking
forward to numerous trips
the two planned together.
Max and his sister Sarah
were extraordinarily close.
They had their own language
from an early age, even
forming imaginary lands,
games and characters to play
in home videos. Max and
Sarah were always present
in each other’s lives through
numerous phases, trips and
locations, which resulted in
countless shared friendships
and experiences. And Max
thrived as an uncle. Nothing
made his nieces Lilah and
Elenora happier than when
Uncle Max came to visit or
appeared on Facetime.
Asked what she learned
from Uncle Max, young
Lilah, 3, offered that “he
taught me to fart outside.”
Max would be very proud of
this accomplishment.
Loved ones are remember-
ing Max for the joy and
laughter he brought to their
lives, and the resilience he
demonstrated throughout
various challenges he faced.
Since his death, Max’s family
has been inundated with
heartfelt messages from a
diverse cast of friends across
the country, which Max
easily accumulated wherever
he traveled. Particularly
meaningful are the messages
received from those in the
Ann Arbor sober community
who shared how Max helped
them in their recovery or
even saved their lives.
Supporting others and
giving back was a huge
part of Max’s life. He never
judged other people and got
along with nearly everyone
from all walks of life. Max
could float seamlessly
through different parts of
society, but always stayed
true to himself and his
values regardless of his
surroundings.
Put simply, Max was a
mensch. He was special. He
will be so missed.
He was the beloved son
of Irwin Futernick and Julie
Ritten, Margaret Weissman
and Donnie Weinstein; dear
brother of Sarah Futernick
and Matthew Peven, Peter
and Emily Nagle; loving
uncle of Lilah Peven, Elenora
Peven and Daxton Nagle. He
is also survived by his dog-
brother, Wally, and many
other loving family members
and friends.
Interment was held at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham. Contributions
can be made to the The
Prechter Bipolar Research
Program at Michigan
Medicine. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.
FREDERICK
“FRED”
GORDON, 87, of
Bloomfield Hills,
died March 1,
2024, with his
immediate family by his side.
Fred was born July 7, 1936,
in Detroit and was a 1954
graduate of Mumford High
School. After high school,
Fred graduated from the
University of Michigan with
a B.A. in business. He then
went on to complete an MBA
at Northwestern University
and a JD at the University of
Michigan.
Fred was an accomplished
attorney and real
estate entrepreneur. He
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