48 | AUGUST 8 • 2024
J
N
SOPHIE
BERKOWITZ, 97, of
West Bloomfield, died
July 29, 2024.
She is survived
by children, Paula
(Michael) Preisler, Susan (David)
Efros, Howard (Sue) Berkowitz,
Jay Berkowitz, Francine (Martin)
Greenberg, Ira (Cindy) Berkowitz;
loving grandchildren, Daniel
Preisler, Michelle (David) Fox,
Carly Efros, Aaron Berkowitz,
Lisa (Nick) Suciu, Meg Berkowitz,
Ryan Berkowitz, Neil Greenberg,
Lauren (Ray Hobbs) Greenberg,
Jeffrey (Jeri) Berkowitz, Jessica
(Trent) Busch and Jeremy
Berkowitz; adoring great-
grandchildren, Leo and Aviva
Fox, Arthur, Whitney, Henry and
Isaiah Berkowitz, Adam Scuiu,
and Harper Hobbs, Josie and
Julian Berkowitz, Freddie, Mae
and Tommy Busch; many loving
nieces, nephews, great-nieces and
great-nephews, great-great-nieces
and great-great-nephews.
Sophie was the devoted,
longtime, loving companion of
the late Martin Singer; mother of
the late Harvey Berkowitz.
Interment was held at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham. Contributions may
be made to Jewish Senior Life
or to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
MARSHA BLITZ, 89,
of West Bloomfield,
died July 28, 2024.
She is survived by
her children, Michael
(Julie) Blitz and Stacy
Blitz; grandchildren, Jennifer
(Ryan) Darichuk, David Blitz,
Alex (Alexa) Blitz and Alyssa
Campbell; great-grandchildren,
Ella, Lucas, Harden and Jalyssa;
many other loving family
members and friends.
L
ucille Carol Bensinger Adler
was born May 18, 1939, in
Louisville, Ky., to Edward
William Bensinger Jr. and Jeane
Bensinger (Alpert). She died
peacefully with family at
her side on July 30, 2024,
in Columbus, Ohio.
Lucille grew up the
oldest sister of Elaine
and Marcia. She was a
graduate of Atherton
High School and briefly
attended Syracuse
University before transferring to
the University of Louisville. She
developed an aptitude for art that
she cultivated throughout her life,
applying it not only to her career
as a commercial interior designer,
but also to her painting and to the
Halloween costumes she created for
her boys.
She met Sheldon Adler through
mutual friends in Louisville, married
and had sons Brent and Scott. In
1968, they moved their young family
to Southfield, Michigan. Lucille
resumed her career in interior
design, originally for Sable Office
furniture then Gorman’s in Detroit
and Southfield, retiring after almost
30 years.
She was active in the community,
schools and an early member of
Temple Kol Ami. In Southfield, she
made many close friends and shared
holiday meals with Sheila and Bernie
Abrams and their children, whom
Lucille looked upon as her own
family.
She was immensely proud of her
sons, both doctors, though one was
only “sort of a doctor.” (Scott earned
a Ph.D.) Lucille had an unending
affection for her daughters-in-law,
Pam and Dana, as evidenced by the
fact that she always referred to them
as her “daughters.” It made for very
confusing conversations, but she
would have it no other way.
Once she and Sheldon retired,
they began wintering in Florida.
They enjoyed a close relationship
with nearby Marcia and Al, and
visits from Elaine and Miles. Lucille
and Sheldon loved traveling the
world, playing bridge and sitting by
their pool, planning for visits from
grandchildren.
Lucille was a devoted grandmother
who enjoyed spoiling Anna, Rose,
Sam, Naomi and Gabe as well as
her granddogs. After Sheldon died,
Lucille and her second husband, Jack
Lessing, lived between Ann Arbor
and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She and
Jack embarked on many wonderful
trips from Israel to Indonesia.
As life slowed down, they moved
back to Ann Arbor, and Lucille
eventually needed to be closer to
family in Columbus, Ohio, where
she was able to celebrate her 85th
birthday and spend time with all her
grandchildren, sons and “daughters.”
Lucille was predeceased by her
husband, Sheldon Adler. She is
survived by her husband, Jack
Lessing; sons and daughters-in-law,
Brent and Dana Adler, and Scott
Adler and Pam Antell; grandchildren,
Anna, Rose, Sam, Gabe and Naomi;
her sisters and brothers-in-law,
Marcia and Albert Schmier, and
Elaine and Miles Berman; many
beloved nieces and nephews.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made
to Alzheimer’s Association-Greater
Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph
Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI
48033, alz.org/gmc; American
Diabetes Association National Office,
P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215,
diabetes.org; or American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee, P.O.
Box 4124, New York, NY 10163, jdc.
org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.
A Loving Family Woman
continued on page 50
OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
Lucille
Adler