OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
LEONARD BAKST, 89, of West Bloomfield, died April 10, 2021. He is survived by his son and daughter-inlaw, Marc and Wendy Bakst; daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Jordy Sacksner, and Cindy and Mark Weingarten; grandchildren, Noah Bakst, Danny Bakst and Syd Hutnick, Chloe Bakst, Jamie, Evan, Marlee and Jillian Sacksner, and Erin, Merrick and Tori Weingarten; brother-in-law, Leonard Zucker. He is also survived by Leonard Zucker’s companion, Shari Dworkis; and many loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Bakst was the beloved husband of the late Janet Bakst; the loving brother of the late Rita and the late Lawrence Terebelo, and the late Harriet and the late David Rogoff; the dear brother-inlaw of the late Marsha Zucker. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, jfsdetroit.org; National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017, nationalMSsociety.org; or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ANDRA WINKELMAN BARR, 76, of Farmington Hills, was born in Detroit on April 1, 1945, and died on April 11, 2021. As a teenager, Andra attended the National Music Camp at
Interlochen, where she danced, played the piano and created wonderful memories that lasted a lifetime. She graduated from Mumford High School in 1963 and then from Michigan State University. She earned her master’s degree in education from Marygrove College and spent her professional career teaching children with special needs, tutoring and performing educational testing and evaluation. Andra had an affinity for learners who needed extra attention and care and took great pride in her successes with her students. Andra was a good cook and baker and delighted in trying new recipes and partaking in delicious meals. She enjoyed getting dressed up to attend classical music concerts and the theater and took special pleasure in festive gatherings with family and friends. She relished visits with her family; conversations with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews were a highlight. Andra loved to laugh and was able to find humor in life even when she faced health challenges toward the end of her days. Mrs. Barr is survived by her siblings, Margi Epstein and Roger and Linda Winkelman; her children, Alan and Christy Barr, Pamela and Jeffrey Silk, and Tracey Barr; her husband and partner of 28 years, Bruce Soble; her grandchildren, Sean Barr, and JJ and Ava Silk. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Peggy Winkelman; and her brother-in-law, Donald Epstein. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Interlochen
Center for the Arts, Attn: Philanthropy Office, P.O. Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643, interlochen.org/ support/gifts-memory-orhonor; or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. JILL BECKERMAN, 76, of Commerce Township, died April 11, 2021. She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Bryan and Teresa Beckerman, Scott Beckerman; grandchildren, Eden Beckerman and Brooke Beckerman; many other loving family members and friends. Interment took place at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. Contributions may be made to Congregation Beth Shalom or the Teddy Bear Gift Fund at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. DORIS EPSTEIN, 91, of Southfield, died April 15, 2021. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Dr. William Rubin; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Joanie Epstein; grandchildren, Marshall (Andra) Rubin, Spencer (Tiara) Rubin and Ethan Rubin; great-grandchildren, Brenton and Elaira; brother-in-law, Louis Dorfman; many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Mrs. Epstein was the beloved wife of the late
Raymond Epstein; sister of the late Lillian (late Phillip) Bernstein, the late Mitcheal (the late Hilda) Bloom, the late Gerald (the late Frances) Bloom and the late Anita Dorfman. Interment took place at Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. IRA GERSON HARRIS, 82, passed away peacefully at his Huntington Woods home April 7, 2021. Even as his long struggle with Parkinson’s disease made reading difficult, Ira loved a good obituary and routinely read them, correcting grammatical errors, shaking his head at the loss of someone he knew and occasionally delighting in a remarkable detail. Ira was the most interesting man in the world, or at least the greater Detroit area. Born in Detroit on Dec. 4, 1938, to Herb and Ceil Harris, Ira earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan. While he hoped to become a French teacher, he ultimately decided to follow in his father’s footsteps as a criminal defense attorney, serving clients for more than 50 years. But it was his range of passions that truly made him unique. A Saturday could include shul at B’nai Moshe, followed by car racing at Waterford before spending continued on page 48
APRIL 22 • 2021
|
47
