64 | NOVEMBER 14 • 2024 

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

R

obert (Bob) Naftaly was 
known throughout the 
Southeast Michigan 
region as a supreme fixer and 
consummate strategist who 
devoted his time and energy 
to both the Jewish community 
and the Southeast Michigan 
community at large.
Naftaly, who died Nov. 3, 2024, 
at the age of 86, was a connector 
who truly loved people and 
brought them together, said Rabbi 
Joseph H. Krakoff, CEO of the 
Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network, who officiated at his 
funeral. 
Growing up in Detroit, Naftaly 
never saw himself as a “math 
guy,” earning C’s in the subject 
at Central High School. An 
uncle convinced him to become 
a certified public accountant. 
He went to work at the uncle’s 
accounting firm while taking night 
and evening courses at Walsh 
College. 
After completing a degree 
in accountancy and financial 
management in 1959, he passed all 
five sections of the CPA exam on 
his first try, a rare achievement, 
especially for someone only 21. 
He later served as the president 
of Walsh’s alumni association and 
as a trustee on its college advisory 
board. Walsh honored him with its 
distinguished alumnus award and 
an honorary doctorate in 2014.
After 20 years as a founder and 
managing partner at the Detroit-
based firm of Geller, Naftaly, 
Herbach and Shapero, Naftaly 
volunteered to serve Michigan Gov. 
Jim Blanchard’s administration as 
part of a crisis committee looking 
into the state’s precarious financial 
condition. Six months later, the 
governor appointed him director 
of the Office of Management and 
Budget.

Following his state service, 
Naftaly worked briefly for Detroit 
Edison, then was hired by Blue 
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 
as executive vice president and 
chief financial officer. In 1998, 
he became president and CEO of 
PPOM, an independent subsidiary 
of Blue Cross Blue Shield. The 
organization was in a precarious 
financial position when he started; 
by the time he retired after 15 
years, it had a surplus of $1 billion.
Naftaly also worked on the 
campaigns of Sen. Carl Levin and 
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, 
who appointed him chair of the 
state tax commission in 2003.

JEWISH COMMUNAL SERVICE
He was active in the Jewish com-
munity, starting with the Anti-
Defamation League, which gave him 
its Lifetime Achievement Award. 
He was president of Congregation 
Beth Moses (now part of Beth Ahm) 
and the Jewish Home for Aged, now 
Jewish Senior Life. He later joined 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where 
he and his wife, Anita, were married 
33 years ago.
He served as president of the 
Jewish Federation from 1995 to 
1998, and helped establish its 

Partnership 2000 program (now 
Partnership2Gether), connecting 
Detroit businesses to Israel. He 
received the Fred M. Butzel Award, 
the Jewish Federation’s highest 
honor, in 2002.
Naftaly also oversaw the 
transition from Jewish Senior 
Life’s direct management of two 
nursing homes, Borman Hall and 
Prentis Manor, to its contracting 
with HCR ManorCare to operate 
the Marvin and Betty Danto 
Family Health Care Center in 
West Bloomfield. (Preferred Care 
Michigan took ownership of the 
center in 2023.)
Mark Davidoff, president 
and CEO of The Fisher Group 
and former COO of the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit, says he saw 
Naftaly as a guardian angel who 
was there for him at every step of 
his career.
“He was the one to call when 
there was a crisis in confidence or 
a problem that needed attention,” 
he said, adding that Naftaly was 
able to balance between the 
sometimes-competing objectives 
of “margin” and “mission,” finding 
ways for nonprofits to make money 
to serve the community.
Naftaly’s reputation as a doer 

was spotlighted again in 2021, 
when he helped save health 
benefits for 872,000 UAW retirees 
across the country by creating, 
organizing and overseeing the 
Voluntary Employee Benefit 
Association trust, now known as 
the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits 
Trust.
Naftaly enjoyed spending the 
winters in Florida, starting with 
one month at a time and eventually 
spending half the year there. He 
was treasurer for 18 years at the 
Allenisles Country Club and 
also involved with the Jewish 
Federation of Palm Beach County.
He was a huge University of 
Michigan football fan. Shortly 
before he died, he asked to be 
released from the hospital so he 
could be at home to watch the 
U-M game on his big-screen TV, 
which he did surrounded by family 
members. They also joined him 
as he watched one of his favorite 
movies, Defending Your Life.
Anita Naftaly said her husband 
“always understood the profound 
importance of being part of the 
Jewish community, dedicated to 
helping those in need and making 
a positive impact for future 
generations, all with a heart full of 
compassion and empathy toward 
others.”
Bob Naftaly is also survived 
by his children, Lisa (Howard) 
Brown and Beth Naftaly Kirshner; 
stepchildren, Bruce Millman, 
DO (Kristine Togan) and Alan 
Millman, MD; six grandchildren; 
sister, Janice (Dr. Raymond) Katz; 
and brother, Gerald Naftaly.
Memorial contributions may 
be made to the Jewish Federation 
of Detroit, the Jewish Federation 
of Palm Beach County or Jewish 
Hospice & Chaplaincy Network.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel. 

Bob Naftaly Leaves a Lasting Legacy

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bob 
Naftaly

