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Fred M. Butzel, Leader of Detroit Jewish Community, Dies at 70; Active in Many Causes

May 23, 1948
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Fred M. Butzel, leader of the Detroit Jewish community, and one of Michigan’s test known social welfare figures, died here last night at the age of 7O. Honorary president of the local Zionist Organization and chairman of the state United Jewish Appeal, he devoted a life-time to furthering the programs of nearly every Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropic and social welfare group in the community.

He was active, and in most cases held top leadership positions, in Jewish welfare, educational and civic defense groups too numerous to list. When he was 60, a Jewish National Fund forest was planted in Palestine in his honor. News of his passing was carried this morning in front page obituaries here and tributes to his memory from the city’s leaders are pouring into local newspaper offices. He was a native of Detroit and practiced law here since l899.

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