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8/80 SPOTLIGHT: RICHARD KRUGEL

8/80 SPOTLIGHT: RICHARD KRUGEL

By Jo Strausz Rosen

For 80 years, Richard Krugel has celebrated his birthday on Valentine’s Day. The sentiment is not lost on us. Richard is a sweet and kind man who has spent most of his life volunteering in the Detroit Jewish community. He and his wonderful wife, Sally, have been honored for their volunteerism on many occasions. He feels strongly about shining a light on the good work that Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit has accomplished since 1907. JSL is grateful we can honor Richard this year during our 30th Annual Celebration of Eight Over Eighty, The Tikkun Olam Awards.

During his active life, Richard served as Chair of the Jewish Fund, and sat on boards of AJC/JCRC, Tamarack (Fresh Air Society), the United Jewish Foundation and continues to be active as a lay leader and fundraiser for Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. In 1981 he received the Frank Wetsman Award for Young Leadership and in 2014, Richard’s lifelong service to his community was recognized with the Fred M. Butzel Award, JFMD’s highest honor. Throughout his volunteer work, he has been a caring and generous orthopedic surgeon at the DMC in Detroit for over 50 years, giving his time and talent to care for those less fortunate.

Richard and Sally love to learn. They study weekly with Partners in Torah; travel to Israel often, sponsor adult education opportunities and love the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They are devoted to their 3 sons, Joel, Noah, and Howard and all their grandchildren who reside around the country. The Krugels enjoy celebrating all the Jewish holidays in person in the homes of their loved ones and friends. During his interview, Richard showed us his collection of his own paintings as we toured his lovely Bloomfield Hills home. To honor Richard Krugel and any of the other well deserving Eight Over Eighty honorees, please contact Nicole at 248-592-5098 nlupi@jslmi.org.

You can also follow this link to our website to purchase tickets to our gala lunch on May 21, 2023. Jslmi.org/8over80/

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