ALBERT BLAIZE

Born in Detroit, Michigan on September 5, 1927

Albert was born on Labor Day, September 5, 1927 to Mollie (Lipko) , a Polish immigrant , and Harry, a Russian immigrant.

He grew up in Detroit and attended McCullough Elementary, Durfee Intermediate and Central High Schools. Al was nick-named “slugger” for his love of the game of baseball. On any day, he could be found on the corner lot swinging away with his friends, if he wasn’t at Hebrew School at B’Nai David, or Boy Scout Troop 35 meetings learning to blow a bugle.

During WWII, Al enrolled in summer school, so he could join the US Navy at age 18. He was stationed at the Naval War College, in Rhode Island, awaiting posting to a ship that was not completed prior to the end of the war. There, he was assigned to the flag pole, where he played morning reveille and evening retreat.

The war ended prior to his serving a full year, so after resuming his education at Highland Park Junior College and Northern Illinois College of Optometry, he was drafted into the US Army. Although he was in the Naval Reserve, he was sent to an army hospital in Korea. In Korea, besides assisting in eye surgeries and medical procedures, he managed to play softball and ping-pong and befriend Detroiters who became life-long friends.

He returned home and opened his first Optometric practice downriver, but later moved it to neighboring Wyandotte to establish Wyandotte Optical Center (which still bears his name on the door). He was an active member of the Lions Club, promoting better vision and hearing.

On Memorial Day in 1959 he met his future wife, Roberta Gay Jacobs, on the beach at Kensington Park. On February 28, 1960, they were married at Shaarey Shomayin Synagogue in Oak Park, Michigan. In 1961 their daughter, Nancy Jo-Lynn was born, and in 1963, their son, Gerald Norman arrived.

Al remained faithful to his love of baseball, from ushering at games while in high school, to playing softball through his adult years on Sunday mornings, wherever he lived. He and several friends were on the Mama Mia team together and also played at Oak Park Municipal fields. He even played in Florida, after his retirement to Delray for the winters, with friends in Pompano Beach.

His love of outdoors led him to boating at his summer home in Waterford on Lake Oakland, before moving to Orchard Lake where he learned to sail. First, a sunfish, and then a Rebel.

Al enjoyed all sports, including golf, bowling and tennis. If he wasn’t playing, he was watching on TV. He also loved playing his trumpet, which he had learned to play by ear, later learning to read music when his son Gerald was learning the cornet in school. Often, he would practice, playing along with recordings of Al Hirt.

Al enjoyed family gatherings, hosting picnic dinners for friends and beautiful sunsets on Orchard Lake. He had three grandchildren, Joshua Joseph, Cary Lev and Aliza Michelle Tresser.

Al suffered from frontal lobe dementia in his mid-eighties and passed away on September 30, 2016 at Sunrise of West Bloomfield.