Legendary Detroit Weatherman Sonny Eliot Dies in Farmington Hills Home

TV pioneer Eliot, 91, passed away peacefully at home in Farmington Hills.

Detroit's beloved weatherman, Sonny Eliot, passed away in his Farmington Hills home Friday. He was 91. The Dorfman Chapel in Farmington Hills is handling funeral arrangements, which are pending. Known for his sunny disposition and his rapid-fire quips, Eliot had a 60-year career in Detroit broadcasting and was a pioneering TV personality. Eliot joined the staff of WWJ-TV (now WDIV) after World War II and stayed there for 35 years. He was a weatherman, host of the annual Thanksgiving Day parade broadcast and hosted an "At the Zoo" series. After TV, he kept the fun going on WWJ radio (950 AM). He was born Marvin Schlossberg on Dec. 5, 1920, in Detroit. Eliot was also a veteran of World War II, according the The Michigan Compainion book, and …

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Ronald Wolf

9:15 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Thank you RJ for posting this, I missed this Patch collection of memories of a life well lived.   more ›

Funeral Arrangements for St. Clair Shores Residents who Died in Automobile Accident

Funeral arrangements have been set for Wesley A. Frasard Sr., Ledger "John" Frasard and William "Bill" Petrocy who died in an automobile accident in South Dakota.

Funeral arrangements have been finalized for the three St. Clair Shores residents who died in an automobile accident Nov. 7 in Mellette, S.D. Visitation and services for brothers Wesley A. Frasard Sr., who worked for Frasard Electric, and Ledger "John" Frasard, a retired Grosse Pointe Shores Public Safety Officer and founder and owner of Frasard Electric, will be held at the Kaul Funeral Home in St. Clair Shores. Visitation and services for William "Bill" Petrocy, owner of Nick's Jewelry, will be held at the Kaul Funeral Home in Clinton Township. The following obiturary information was provided by the Kaul Funeral Home. Wesley A. Frasard Sr. Wesley A. Frasard Sr., age 71, died in an automobile accident, along with his brother Ledger "John…

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Councilman Loved Family, Grosse Pointe Farms

Grosse Pointe Farms mayor pro tem Joe Leonard loved the city he retired from and later represented as a city councilman. He also enjoyed his time with family, including three grandsons.

Joe Leonard loved Grosse Pointe Farms. He loved living there. He loved working there and he loved serving residents as a city councilman. He also loved spending time with his family and at Pier Park. Leonard, 76, died at his home Sunday. He had a lengthy battle with cancer that was originally successful but the cancer returned and his health had been declining, Mayor James Farquhar said. He was with his family, Farquhar said. Leonard was first elected to the Grosse Pointe Farms council in 2003--the year after he retired from the city as its Public Service Director. He was then re-elected to council in 2007 and most recently in 2011. Farquhar and fellow councilman Peter Waldmeir both expressed how sorely Leonard will be missed not only as a…

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Pete Waldmeir, GP Woods

11:31 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Joe Leonard was, indeed, one of the good guys. He was a great sounding board for rookie council members (like me, when I first signed on at GP Woods) and his approach to problems was always intelligent and even-handed. He'll be missed by many friends and family.   more ›

Obituary: Wm. Taylor Flaska, 23

The Grosse Pointe South High School graduate Wm. Taylor Flaska scored the winning goal for the 2007 State Hockey Championship game against Muskegon Mona Shores.

Wm. Taylor Flaska, 23, most recently of California, died suddenly June 15. He graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School and grew up in Grosse Pointe Park. A visitation is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, from 1 to 9 p.m. at Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park with a 7 p.m. service, which will include eulogies from family and friends. According to the memorial on Verheyden's website, "Taylor had a heart that was bigger than life and so his legacy will live on..." He is survived by his parents, Kenneth and Roxanne Flaska and his brother, Connor Flaska. Dozens of families from the Grosse Pointes have expressed their condolences to the Flaska family on Verheyden's website, expressing sorrow but also sharing stories and photos. …

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Obituary: Addison Puma

Addison Puma, the daughter of Ardmore Elementary School teacher Vincent Puma whom the school rallied around earlier this year, died June 9, 2012.

Addison Lily Puma was not old enough to go to kindergarten, but her courageous battle with cancer inspired an entire elementary school to rally around her, her family and the hospital where she was being treated. Addison Lily Puma was only 4-years-old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer and traveled to St. Jude Hospital Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for treatment. While she was receiving treatment, an organization of parents and children at Ardmore Elementary School—where her father Vincent is a fourth-grade teacher —organized a bowling fundraiser for the hospital.  The community event organized by Kids Who Care raised $7,646.27 for St. Jude through donations, raffles and registration. Addison Lily Puma lost her …

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Remembering Grosse Pointer Jane Bashara

Jane Bashara's leadership skills began when she was a child and continued into adulthood.

Jane Bashara was a leader even as a child. She was the oldest of four children and remained close with her siblings as an adult, her youngest sister Julie Rowe said. "She was an amazing person," Rowe said. "She was a leader. She was a mentor to everyone. Those same qualities (her friends) speak of she showed when she was young." Her friends in the Grosse Pointes described her as selfless and supportive. Amy Graham, a friend of Bashara's who organized the candlelight vigil on the front lawn of Grosse Pointe South last week, said she first got to know Bashara years ago when other people were not necssarily friendly with her.  The pair grew close and Bashara was a constant source of encouragement to Graham. When Graham began having children, …

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Remembering Scott Ivers: 'A Family Man'

The Ivers family and many Grosse Pointe residents are preparing for his visitation and funeral, which are Friday. The Grosse Pointe Public Libraries will close for a few hours Friday afternoon so employees will be able to attend the service.

Belle Isle holds a special place in the heart of the Ivers family. It is where James Scott Ivers spent a great deal of time during his childhood. It is where he and his widow, Tammy Ivers, took their children when they were younger. It is also where Scott propsed to Tammy. They would have been married 18 years in April. Although the family had spent less time there in recent years, it still represents fond memories and good times, Tammy Ivers said, noting how the discovery of her husband's body behind the nature center has not disturbed her memories of the family's time there. Tammy Ivers was not expecting her husband's death but after spending some time searching for him herself on Belle Isle along with some relatives, she is relieved he …

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Grosse Pointe's Ruth Cain Dies at 87

Regarded for her role as a mother and career woman in a time when that was not the norm. She died of heart failure Saturday at Beaumont Hospital Grosse Pointe.

Obituary: Cyril A. Grobbel, 85

The owner of the oldest independent corned beef in the U.S. grew up in the Pointes and later moved to Port Huron. He died Wednesday.

Cyril A. Grobbel, Jr., 85, died Wednesday, October 19, 2011 He was the loving father of eight children: Cyril III (the late Mary Ann Mac), Melea, Marita (Dennis Andrus), Christopher (Karen Oliver), Regan Stolarski (Joseph), Jason (Renee Brown), Cassandra Budzik (Bob), Anastasia Minor (Scott); and beloved brother of Patricia Kemp (Bill); and devoted grandfather to 22 grandchildren. Cy grew up in Grosse Pointe where he attended Grosse Pointe High School. As a teenager, he played saxophone in his band called the Sultans of Syncopation. In high school, he took a class in avionics and later enjoyed piloting small planes. He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration from University of Detroit and graduated in 1948…