Was there ever such a bon vivant combined with a Torah scholar and musicology professor par excellence? I think our world has lost a great man and we deeply mourn his passing. He is "gathered to his ancestors," as the Torah says about Abraham and others. We who were blessed to know him, learn from him, joke with him, experience his kindness — are truly richer because of him.

I personally first met Marty when I was a teenager in USY at Adat Shalom Synagogue on Curtis in Detroit. He and his dear wife Judy, z'l, actively supported the Hebrew musical productions of our mid-1960's USY group, including Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story and Finian's Rainbow. Our dear USY advisor, Allan Gould, z'l, was a dear friend of Marty's and I was privileged to hear some of their interesting conversations about music, Jewish life in New York, Yiddish and liturgy. Marty and Judy were also good friends with the wonderful rabbi of Adat Shalom, Rabbi Jacob Sega, z'l, and his family. So really — in Olam HaBa — Marty will have good company again from these friends of old.

Later when I finished rabbinic school in 2006, Marty came to my ordination party and a few years later I began working at the Downtown Synagogue, which Marty had helped to keep alive almost single-handedly following the death of Rabbi Noah Gamze, z'l. There it was that he invited me to do Shabbat morning Torah studies, teach some adult ed classes and give the High Holy Day sermons. Marty led the Shabbat and holiday services, always supporting different Torah readers, Hazzan Roger Skully and others, and keeping the minhag that Rabbi Gamze had created for the congregation. 

Certainly as President of the congregation, Marty had many other decisions to make, always trying to keep harmony among the many different people that began to attend and help grow the congregation during the past 20 years. Probably one of the most challenging moments and decisions — one that we later laughed about — was the High Holy Day observances that were supposed to be at the Radisson Hotel on 9 Mile Rd in Southfield; suddenly, he was informed that there was no electricity because the bills hadn't been paid. And so he had to quickly find another place and move the whole shebang to the Garden Inn Hotel a few miles away. But Marty always persevered with much grace and good humor!

He always greeted everyone who attended services with genuine kindness and was interested in their stories. Of course, he could relate something pertinent or humorous from his own life experiences, too. 

I also remember how he came twice to programs I had organized about the musical sources of our liturgy — one of the most fascinating topics he was so well-versed in. Yes, the music from the Shema comes from a Viennese waltz, for example!

Among other things that I will always be grateful to knowing Dr. Martin Herman was his unending support for the rebirth of Detroit, and his great encouragement and support of the interfaith organization I started while at the Downtown Synagogue some 15 years ago. It is still a strong organization that works to support families and children in Detroit. And I am happy to say that the Downtown Synagogue is one of the faith-based sites that got involved with adopting a public school in Detroit, as does DION (Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network).

In these later years when he could no longer live alone in the house on Warrington in Detroit, he adapted to living at The James, senior housing in Ferndale. Of course, Andrea Kannon and her dear family were the ones who saw him through this major transition. She continued to bring him kosher food — except on Passover when she was busy — so I had the honor these last two years.

We will also miss picking Marty up from his apartment and having him come to our house for dinner, often on Erev Shabbat or for Havdallah. We always had lively conversations then with him — along with Dr. James Allen Jones and Gar Sims Jones, who joined us for these fun evenings. He would often reminisce about his years in France, and his adventures there — his French still excellent.  

Now it is time to say Shalom u L'hitraot. May Marty's name forever be a blessing among us and all who knew him — and may HaShem take good care of this special soul whom we love dearly.