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continued on page 46 Obituaries July 7 • 2016 45 Davidson JOAN DAVIDSON, 82, of West Bloomfield, died July 2, 2016. She was kind and giving, and loved hosting large family dinners, where everyone was always welcome in her Huntington Woods home, a home she shared with Stuart for 45 years. She loved to garden, read, visit museums and learn about history. She spent her summer and winter weekends in Northern Michigan, skiing and boating. She loved noth- ing more than having a house full of people with her at their Northern Michigan chalet. A graduate of University of Michigan, Joan worked for many years as a myofascial functional therapist in Stuart's dental office. Mrs. Davidson was the loving wife of Stuart for 62 years; mother of Kim and Steven Friedman, Kayli Davidson, Scott and Melissa Davidson, Jon and Ellyn Davidson. She adored her 12 grandchildren, Brad Botham, Rob Botham, Juliann Botham, Justin Friedman and his fiancée, Dani Devenson, Brad Friedman, Ricki Friedman, Taylor Davidson, Burke Davidson, Hunter Davidson, Lacey Davidson, Brett Davidson and Seth Davidson; sister Susan Ablecop; a world of friends whom she loved like family. She was the cherished daughter of the late Aaron and the late Marilyn Karabelnick. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Special Olympics of Michigan Area 16, 4024 Student Recreation Center, Kalamazoo, MI 49008; FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, 16057 Tampa Palms Blvd. W., PMB 373, Tampa, Florida 33647; or Alzheimer's Association–Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. Passionate Pacesetter Z ionism, history, art, genealogical research and always her fam- ily, shaped the world of Betty Provizer Starkman — recognized in 2011 by Jewish Senior Life as an "Eight over Eighty" honoree for her lifelong commu- nity leadership. Never content to be a "paper member" of organizations, in 1985 Betty founded and was the first president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan (JGSMI). She participated alongside her beloved pediatrician husband, the late Dr. Morris "Morrie" Starkman, in Dr. John J. Mames Chapter-Michigan Region of the American Red Magen David for Israel or ARMDI (now known as American Friends of Magen David Adom) for about 25 years. The couple donated an ambu- lance to Israel on behalf of the family. Betty Starkman, 86, of West Bloomfield died June 28, 2016, following a long illness. Rabbis Joseph Krakoff and Jennifer Kaluzny officiated at her June 30 funeral held in Davidson/Hermelin Chapel at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. A recipient of awards for her work with ARMDI, the Anti-Defamation League and Israel Bonds, "Betty deeply embod- ied the values of integrity and authentic- ity," said Rabbi Krakoff. Betty was born in Detroit on July 18, 1929, to Rose (Bodenstein) and Jack Provizer from Poland. Their families became pioneers in pre-state Israel. Rose and Jack left Israel for the U.S., eventually settling in Detroit, after he suffered three bouts of malaria in a year. Jack owned Jackson's Snappy Clothes in Detroit and later worked at Osmun's, a men's clothing store. Influenced by her father, Betty joined a Zionist group at Central High School. After the United Nations partition of Palestine passed in 1947, she wanted to help Israel in the War of Independence. Instead, she took advice to stay home and educate others about Israel. Betty helped in that pursuit by par- ticipating in the oratory contest of Delta Sigma Rho, an honorary speech frater- nity. As Betty told the Jewish News in March 2000, the year was 1950 and the contest was for men only, so "Wayne University entered me under the name of Billy Provizer. My coach told me to just get up and talk." In his eulogy, Betty's son Robert "Rob" Starkman said, "She tucked her hair inside a cap and won." Betty said the organizers were amazed "when it was discovered that a woman passionately spoke on behalf of the infant among nations, Israel. … We opened the doors for future women orators." A defining moment in Betty's life happened in February 1969. She orga- nized a rally with the Jewish Community Council to protest the public hanging of five Jewish Iraqi scientists in Baghdad. About 1,500 were expected in Kennedy Square in Downtown Detroit; 11,000 showed up. Yet, in the pre-feminist era, "Mom wasn't allowed to address the audience that day," Rob said. Sexism also denied Betty's ambition to become an attorney. Instead, she made use of her master's degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin. DEVOTED WIFE Betty met her Toronto-born husband on a blind date. Engaged after four months, they married in the old Taylor Street Shul on Christmas Day, 1952. Morrie went immediately to Korea for military service. Betty kept every letter he wrote during their two years apart. A devoted wife, Betty made Morrie breakfast every morning. Building their dream home, said daughter Susan "Sue" Rott, they "picked out every brick, every stone — every morsel of that house — together." The Starkmans enjoyed dancing, the- ater and opera. They collected art and artifacts, particularly Judaica, on travels around the world. Morrie died in June 1993. Charlie Starkman said his grandmoth- er "talked about how art brings people together." She was "passionate about sharing her stories." Meredith Starkman recalled how her grandmother passed on a precious bat mitzvah gift, the pinky ring Betty's father made in the 1920s using two diamonds and a ruby found inside an unclaimed pouch. When it came to food, Betty loved deli. Rob recalled the "chop, chop" of her cutting hard salami for a late-night sandwich. Sue said her "mother and grandmother would go early to Eastern Market to buy the cukes" they turned into pickles. GENEALOGY EXPERT Betty took up genealogy in 1979. With typical gusto, she became an expert in the field. JGSMI officer Diane Freilich said, "Betty was extremely well-versed in Eastern European research due to her extensive travels to those countries" prior to the rise of the internet and the Ancestry and JewishGen search sites. Noted genealogist-author Neil Rosenstein of New Jersey said Betty's valuable family information got her name mentioned in "Volume 1 of the second edition of my book, The Unbroken Chain, in 1990." Betty traced her Provizers back to 12th-century Spain. To their mutual delight, JGSMI leaders Leah Jordan Bisel and Marc Manson turned out to be her relatives. "She was the guiding light and driv- ing force in teaching me the correct way to do my family research," Manson said. "Betty taught me and many others that genealogy was not just a hobby, but truly a work of love." Betty Starkman was the wife of the late Dr. Morris Starkman; mother of Robert Starkman (Janie Hamburger) and Susan Rott; grandmother of Charlie Starkman, Meredith Starkman, Brandon (Rachel) Shallop, Devin Shallop, Leslie Rott and Molly Rott; sister of Harold (Gail) Provizer; aunt of Jeff and Kari Provizer, Marc Provizer and Traci (Jeff ) Kaye; sister-in-law of Ann (Starkman) and Dr. Norman Moss. She is also survived by other family, friends and her caregiver, Margo Sliwinska. She was the daughter of the late Rose and the late Jack Provizer; mother-in-law of the late Neal Rott; and daughter-in- law of the late Leah and the late Charlie Starkman; and sister-in-law of the late Joan Provizer. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to American Friends of Magen David Adom-Midwest Region, 30100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 150, Pepper Pike, OH 44124, 877-405-3913, www.afmda.org; Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan, PO Box 251693, West Bloomfield, MI 48325, www.jgsmi.org; BBYO-Michigan Region, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, 248-432-5684, the Lester J. Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles Street, East Lansing, MI 48823, 517-332-1916, www.msuhillel. org/donate. Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman Chapel. * Betty Starkman Esther Allweiss Ingber | Contributing Writer