64 | APRIL 11 • 2024 

D

r. Michael Sherwin Parr, 
82, of Sacramento, Calif., 
formerly of Detroit, died on 
March 25, 2024.
Born in Detroit, 
Michael grew up 
surrounded by a lot of 
family as well as close 
friends who remain so 
to this day. He was quite 
an accomplished athlete, 
playing various sports. 
As a teenager, Michael went to 
work in his father’s dry-cleaning 
business, Parr French Cleaners, in 
Detroit. In 1958, Michael graduated 
from Mumford High School and then 
attended University of Michigan, 
along with some of the same close 
friends from childhood, all of whom 
became doctors. Michael fast-tracked 
to a medical degree in seven years, 
later completing his residency as an 
OB/GYN in Detroit.
Along with his first wife, 
Jacqueline, and their two sons, 
Howard and Stuart, Michael moved 
to Sacramento, Calif., to serve at 
Mather Air Force Base. Just before 
an intended move back to Detroit, 
Michael was offered a job at the 
U.C. Davis Medical Center and he 
remained in Sacramento. A few short 
years after moving to Sacramento, 
Michael and Jackie had a daughter, 
Wendy.
Michael moved into a private 
medical practice at American River 
Hospital. He later married his second 
wife, Elizabeth “Libby,
” whom he 
had met in kindergarten at Roosevelt 
Elementary. Along with Libby’s son, 
Jamie, and daughter, Robin, the 
family grew in size and closeness.
Michael then took the bravest step 
of his life in getting treatment for 
addiction. More than 40 years sober 
at his death, he always said it was his 
proudest achievement. He became 
board-certified in addiction and 
helped thousands of people overcome 
their addictions. It is not uncommon 
to meet someone at an event or on 

an airplane who was either delivered 
as a baby by Michael or counseled 
to sobriety by him. He lived a life of 
tremendous impact, winning many 
awards along the way, including 
Sacramento Person of the Year.
Aside from many volunteer 
activities, Michael was involved with 
the National Basketball Association. 
For 25 years, he worked with the 
all the Rookies, helping them with 
learning about drug and alcohol 
abuse issues. He also mentored 
many of them on adjusting to their 
new-found success. Often, at his 
beloved Sacramento Kings home 
games, many of the players would 
approach him with hugs and thanks 
of gratitude.
For the past nine years, Michael 
has been with his partner, Beth 
Harney. She and her son, Austin, and 
daughter, Sarah, have been a bedrock 
of care for Michael when he faced 
health challenges of his own. Through 
it all, Michael continued to provide 
counseling to addicts and alcoholics 
throughout the world, always saying, 
“It is my purpose in life.
” 
Michael was predeceased by his 
parents David and Bertha; sister, 
Maxine; and his wife, Elizabeth Parr. 
He is survived by his partner, 
Beth Harney; children, Howard 
(Gina) Parr, Stuart Parr (partner 
Ozlem), Wendy (Caroleen) Parr, 
Jamie (Lisa) Miller, Robin (David) 
Cahayla; Beth’s children, Sarah 
(Remko) Van Den Toorn and Austin 
Harney (fiancée, Alexis Bibler); his 
eight grandchildren, Riley, Nicole, 
Dylan, Carter, Claire, Harper, Teo 
and Kennedy; sister-in-law, Ruthanne 
(Arvin) Pearlman; brother-in-law, 
Michael (Linda Seltzer-Sucher) 
Pickman. Michael had many friends 
and family in Detroit and throughout 
the country. 
Michael was interred in 
Sacramento. Contributions may be 
made to The Retreat, theretreat.org, 
(866) 928-3434; or a charity of your 
choice. 

He Impacted Many

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

Dr. Michael 
Sherwin 
Parr

survived by her caregiver-friends, Theresa, Car, 
Lisa, Marlo and Kasha, and all the staff and her 
friends at Meer, who meant the world to her. 
Mrs. Ehrlichman was the beloved wife of the 
late Howard Ehrlichman; the special sister of 
the late Henny and the late Martin Spector; the 
loving aunt of the late Anita Mellen; the dear 
daughter of the late Erna and the late Joachim 
Koenigsberg. 
Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. 
Contributions may be made to Jewish Senior 
Life of Metropolitan Detroit, 6710 W. Maple 
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jslmi.org; 
Zekelman Holocaust Center, 28123 Orchard 
Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, holo-
caustcenter.org/tributes; JARC, 6735 Telegraph, 
Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, jarc.org/
give; or Brighton Hospice, 26075 Woodward 
Ave., Suite 300, Huntington Woods, MI 48009, 
brightonhospice.com. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

HELEN GOTTLIEB, 84, of 
Franklin, died March 29, 2024. 
She is survived by her daughters 
and sons-in-law, Lisa and Steve 
Rotter, and Susie Gottlieb and Jeff 
Davis; grandchildren, Jacob Rotter 
and Michelle Sheyman, and Maxwell and 
Hannah Rotter, Joshua Davis and Sophie Davis; 
brother, Howard Hack; sister-in-law, Arlene 
Licht; nieces and nephews, Stacy and David 
Gordon, Mindy and Jimmy Aronovitz, Lainy and 
David Mackey, and Darcy and Jason Eisenberg. 
Mrs. Gottlieb was the beloved wife for 51 years 
of the late Stewart Gottlieb; the dear sister-in-law 
of the late Ron Licht; the devoted daughter of the 
late Teresa and the late Philip Hackelman; the 
loving daughter-in-law of the late William Simon 
and the late Jeanette Gottlieb. 
Interment was at Oakview Cemetery. 
Contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels, 
National Council of Jewish Women, 26400 
Lahser Road, Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033, 
ncjwmi.org; or Friendship Circle, Meer Family 
Friendship Center, 6892 W. Maple Road, West 
Bloomfield, MI 48322, friendshipcircle.org/
donate. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

ARLENE GREER, 80, of Novi, died April 4, 
2024. 
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-
law, Barry and Linda Greer; sister, Vickie Panter; 
niece and nephews, Ilynn and Daniel Metz, and 
Ian Panter; great-niece and great-nephew, Harley 
Rose Metz and Jenner Greer Metz. 
Ms. Greer was the devoted daughter of the late 
Harry and the late Goldie Greer. 

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