Upcoming Services
| Gary Kukes |
Sun Nov 24th at 10:00 IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL | |
| Jeffrey Hale Miro |
Fri Nov 22nd at 12:00 IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL | |
| Micah Rump |
Sun Nov 10th at 1:00 IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL | |
| Philip Marvin Levi Elkus |
Wed Nov 6th at 1:30 IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL |
FUNERAL DETAILS
Harold Berry
Harold Berry, 88, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, died after sunset on 20 November 2013. The Funeral was held at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell, Southfield MI 48034 on Sunday, 24 November 2013 at 11:00 AM . Rabbi Joseph Krakoff and Hazzan David Propis officiated. Click  to watch a video of the recorded service.Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
The family of Harold Berry will be gathering through the evening of Wednesday, November 27 at the residence of Peter and Miriam Berry Seagle, 4372 Greenstown Drive, West Bloomfield MI 48323. The phone number is 248-681-8176. Religious services will be conducted at 7 PM Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings. The family requests that friends begin visiting each day at 3 PM. Family members include: Beloved husband of 67 years of Barbara Berry. Cherished father of Larry (Sharon) Berry, Elliott Berry (Campbell Harvey) and Miriam (Peter) Berry Seagle. Dear brother of Selma (Jack) Berry Schwartz, Barbara (Stephan) Morse, Marcy (Michael) Feldman and the late Joan Provizer z'l. Loving grandfather of Matthew Berry, Katherine Berry, Jacob (Anna) Berry, Meggie Berry Harvey, Olivia (Tim) Seagle Brennan and Elizabeth Seagle. Proud great grandfather of Eliana Seagle Brennan. Dear uncle of Betsy (Jeff) Heuer and Rebecca Snider. Also survived by loving great nieces and nephews and a world of loving family and friends. Harold Berry was a real estate developer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a leader of the Detroit area Jewish community. Mr. Berry served stateside in the US Air Force in World War II. After testing the waters as a lawyer, Berry joined his father, Louis Berry, in his commercial real estate business in 1952. Over several decades they owned and operated hotels throughout the eastern United States from Chicago to Washington, New York and Boston, including the historic Willard Hotel in Washington and the Navarro Hotel on Central Park South. Berry and his father also owned and managed several significant office buildings including the David Stott Building in downtown Detroit. In 1963 they joined with Max Fisher to purchase the Fisher Building, a Detroit area landmark designed by Albert Kahn. Mr. Berry later switched the focus of his investments purchasing two major Midwestern media outlets, WTTV In Bloomington/Indianapolis, Indiana, and WWJ Radio in Detroit. Of greater meaning to Mr. Berry than his achievements in business, was his commitment to Judaism, the Detroit Jewish community, and the State of Israel. Like his father before him and his oldest son after, he was President of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, one of the largest conservative Jewish congregations in the United States. He was a life-long supporter of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Along with his wife of 67 years, Barbara Dann Berry, he was made an Honorary fellow of the University and inscribed on its Wall of Life on Mt. Scopus in 2005. He was a founding member of the Hillel Day School of Detroit, also served in leadership positions in the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, the American Jewish Committee, the Louella Hannon Memorial Foundation, and the Michigan Chapter of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Mr. Berry was also deeply involved in the secular world. He was Michigan Chairman of Business Executives Move for Vietnam Peace and the Finance Chairman for the McGovern Campaign for the State of Michigan. These activities earned him a spot on President Richard Nixon’s infamous enemies list. Having become accustomed to the warm friendship and admiration of his peers, Mr. Berry somewhat sheepishly noted, “The whole idea of being on anyone’s enemy list surprises me, although with this administration, it shouldn’t. While it is a shock that a member of the government would do this…..I’m flattered.” After the death of his father in 1995, Berry became the patriarch of a large loving family. He was a devoted husband , father and brother . His entire family marveled at his determination to reach out to family members literally across the globe. He adored his six grandchildren, and cherished his good fortune in living to hold his great granddaughter, Eliana Seagle Brennan, born September 16, 2013. People with anything more than a superficial familiarity with Mr. Berry were amazed at his breadth and depth of his knowledge of American, Jewish and European history—all largely self –taught. He was also a determined philosopher. He summed up his life philosophy as follows: “Have some fun, do some good, and be able to pick up the bill.” It is suggested that those who wish to further honor the memory of Harold Berry may do so by making a contribution to: American Friends of Hebrew UniversityClick to Visit Charity Website or Congregation Shaarey ZedekClick to Visit Charity Website or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy NetworkClick to Visit Charity Website or A charity of your choice |