18 | MAY 9 • 2024
a positive impact in the
community.
A committed citizen and
community advocate, she
chaired the Tikkun Olam
committee at Beth Ahm
for many years. Kalef, who
resides with her husband at
JSL’s Meer Apartments, also
served as president of its
Resident Council for three
terms, encouraging and
implementing numerous
social action initiatives to
benefit West Bloomfield
firefighters and police
officers, Yad Ezra and the
homeless population.
Kalef has always enjoyed
writing. She penned a
popular column for many
years in the PhenomeNews
magazine called “Let’s Get
Organized” and worked with
businesses and homeowners
to help them do the same.
She also writes content
for the Meer Apartments
newsletter. Since moving to
Meer Apartments, Nancy has
served as the ambassador
who welcomes visiting
prospects and new residents.
BARRY KAUFMAN
Barry Kaufman’s career was
spent at Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Michigan as an
administrative assistant in the
automotive department.
Active throughout his
life in Jewish causes and
community activities, he
was president of Tucker
Grant B’nai B’rith, served
on the B’nai Moshe board of
directors and as past president
of the synagogue’s men’s club,
and chaired the Yom HaShoah
Candle Program.
Kaufman volunteered
for several three-week
assignments in Israel with
the IDF, using his ham radio
skills to refit antennas on
jeeps. He also served on the
Youth Connection, helping
at-risk teens in underserved
communities in Detroit,
Pontiac and Mount Clemens.
For the past 14 years,
Kaufman, who lives in West
Bloomfield, has been living
with Lewy Body Dementia.
He has made up his mind
not to let the disease define
him or bring him down.
Always smiling, he advocates
for others struggling with the
disease. Kaufman is an active
participant in research, support
groups, multiple studies at the
University of Michigan, and
has written many articles about
Lewy Body Dementia focused
on creating caring communities
for those dealing with it daily,
including a few in the Detroit
Jewish News. His outlook
and involvement even led to
stories in AARP Magazine.
ALAN S. SCHWARTZ
Alan S. Schwartz is highly
regarded for his distinguished
career as a corporate attorney
at Honigman LLP and for
his leadership and service
supporting many of Detroit’s
most important Jewish
and civic organizations. At
Honigman, where he was
chair and CEO and now
serves as Chair Emeritus,
Schwartz counseled clients
for more than a half century
on their most important
business and personal
matters.
In the community, he was
president of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek and chaired its
endowment campaign, chair
of Clover Hill Park Cemetery
and the Karmanos Cancer
Institute, and served as a
director of JARC, the Detroit
Regional Chamber and
Legacy Detroit. Schwartz has
also served as general counsel
to the Detroit Institute of
Arts for more than 40 years.
He has mentored numerous
community leaders and
professionals, including
CEOs and philanthropists,
by sharing his wisdom and
experience.
He and his wife, Sandy, of
blessed memory, have been
major supporters of many
Detroit Jewish institutions,
including the Cancer Thrivers
Network for Jewish Women,
which Sandy co-founded.
SUZANNE SIMON
Suzanne Simon is a former
early childhood and parent
educator and past presi-
dent of the Metro Detroit
Association for Education of
Young Children (MDAEYC),
who has volunteered for
many decades supporting
children’s and Jewish causes
close to her heart.
Over the last several
decades, she has volunteered
at Yad Ezra kosher food
pantry, Friendship Circle’s
Ferber Kaufman LifeTown
and Oakland County Family
Court serving as a Children’s
Advocate. As an early child-
hood educator, she was a
volunteer evaluator, trav-
eling to preschools across
Michigan to assess sites for
national accreditation. She
volunteered regularly at
Sunday brunch events for
FJA student Grace Kleinfeldt
interviews Eight Over Eighty
Honoree Sharon Alterman.
OUR COMMUNITY
continued from page 16
BRETT MOUNTAIN