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

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