Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/917841
16 December 21 • 2017 jn continued from page 14 continued on page 18 neled many gifts toward medical research on multiple sclerosis and related diseases. The Mayo Clinic Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Neuroscience Center is the nation's top neuroscience research center. In the Henry Ford Health System, he and Marcia co-founded the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center. And they provided significant support to establish the Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute at Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak. "I am heartbroken over the pass- ing of Gene Applebaum, who I have known for nearly 20 years," said Margaret Cooney Casey, senior vice president, Beaumont Health, and president, Beaumont Health Foundation. "He was a lovely, kind, charming and brilliant man, always willing to mentor and assist others in the business and philanthropic communities. Gene, as a trained pharmacist and successful business- man, highly valued both health care and education. "He also co-chaired Beaumont's comprehensive campaign that raised more than $200 million for Beaumont Health System, com- pleted in 2011. Gene was a member of the Beaumont Health Foundation Board and past Beaumont Health Trustee. He will be sorely missed by many in our community who so admired and loved him." In Israel, he was co-founder of the Applebaum-Hermelin-Tauber Child Development Center in Yavne and established the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professorial Chair at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. FAMILY & FRIENDS Though he was active in business and philanthropy, he was able to leave all that behind when he was with his family and friends. His family came first. "We knew we were lucky — Dad had a kind of magic about him," Pamela and Lisa Applebaum said about their father. "He was happy, kind and nurturing, soft and tough, always a mentsh. He was loveable, likeable, approachable — an every- day guy." Pamela said, "He was a phenom- enal role model. He always felt very strongly about taking care of the generation before you and he made sure we were all involved in caring for both his and our mother's parents. Caring for family was always really important to him and that transfers to the whole community at large. You can't just take care of yourself. You have to take care of others." Lisa said, "One of the most impor- tant things he taught us is to give back, and how much of a difference it can make in the lives of others. I carry my dad's values around with me." In remarks from the sisters offered at the funeral officiated by Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, they said, "There were countless random acts of kindness. He did so much that he never shared publicly or told us about. Whenever someone shared a 'Gene' story with us, and we told him about it, his eyes would twinkle, knowing that he had changed some- one's life." Local businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan Gilbert agrees. "Gene Applebaum was many things. Family man. Entrepreneur. Community leader. But what impressed me most about Gene was how he treated people. He greeted his newspaper boy (and I was one of them) with the same friendly warmth that he would greet sena- tors or CEOs," Gilbert said. "He didn't care who you were or where you came from; he knew who he was and none of the success and wealth he achieved was going to change him. "Gene was a friend, partner and mentor. I am going to miss him The Applebaum family at the dedication of Applebaum Village at Camp Maas, 2016 jews d in the COURTESY TAMARACK CAMPS Eugene Applebaum was an inspirational and adored business leader. A generous philanthropist, he leaves a legacy to future generations locally, nationally and worldwide. His warmth and caring, sense of humor and dedication to family, friends and community will be deeply missed. We wish sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n c o m m u n i t y m o u r n s t h e l oss of M r. Eu ge n e A p p l e ba u m — a d e d i ca te d p h i l a n t h ro p i st , a pa ss i o n a te vo l u n te e r, a n d a c h e r i s h e d f r i e n d . T h e A p p l e b a u m Fa m i l y 's g e n e r o u s c o n t r i b u t i o n s c o n t i n u e t o c r e a t e l i f e - c h a n g i n g i m p a c t a t U - M a n d b e y o n d . We a r e d e e p l y g r a t e f u l . — P R E S I D E N T M A R K S C H L I S S E L A N D T H E U - M B OA R D O F R EG E N TS I N M E M O R I A M Eugene Applebaum 1 9 3 6 – 2 0 1 7