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