"Those who knew Belle Kersh agree that she was unflaggingly energetic and devoted to her family. And, for most of her life, she was one "hot redhead" with charisma to burn, said daughter Marilyn Schwartz. Mrs. Kersh, 92, a former Detroiter of Clearwater, Fla., died March 15, 2003. Mrs. Kersh had two long and productive careers. First, she was a kindergarten teacher with the Detroit Public Schools for more than 40 years. Then, she became a director of son David Kersh's former Metro Passbooks enterprise — involved in sales and overseeing the production and printing of the dining-entertainment coupon books sold in the United States and Canada. Born in New York City, July 4, 1910 and raised in Detroit, Mrs. Kersh finished high school early at age 14 and plunged into work. Brother Irving Steinberg remembers her job in a food market during the Depression. "She always loved people — I never saw anything like it," he said. "She brought the customers in." Mrs. Kersh graduated as a teacher from Michigan Normal College (the forerunner of Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti. During her distinguished career, she introduced innovative curricula that eventually were adopted for all Detroit kindergartners, daughter Marilyn said. When Mrs. Kersh retired from teaching in 1972 at Detroit's Courville Elementary School, her students were in tears, said son David. But retiring was not her intention, as she turned her talents to Metro Passbooks. "She was a whiz at math and could sell anything to anyone," David said. At 73, she founded her own business, Metro Publications, to handle production of the coupon books. She retired eight years later in 1991. Mrs. Kersh was married 63 years to Dr. Irving Kersh, a dentist, until his death in 1998. They were Temple Israel members. She was a Hadassah group leader at one time and also belonged to Pioneer Women and B'nai B'rith Women. As her niece Ilene Monkman explained, Mrs. Kersh was curious about everybody and everything. She loved to talk and tell stories but also "showed undivided interest in whomever she spoke to and would ask a million questions." Mrs. Kersh "traveled at the drop of a hat," her niece said, and did her best to visit all of the far-flung relatives she kept in touch with. Few things gave Mrs. Kersh more pleasure than taking care of her son David's three daughters. She frequently took the girls places and hosted sleepovers. David said his mother was fastidious about her appearance. "Even when she was close to 90, she would not go anywhere without having her hair done," he said. "Her clothes were always immaculate." Piano playing was one of Belle Kersh's many talents. Marilyn said her mother had played at the Marriott Hotel in Clearwater as recently as six weeks ago. She also retained her charm. Once after Marilyn had stepped away, she returned to find Mrs. Kersh, then in her 70s, "entertaining 15 guys in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel in Phoenix." She just looked on in amazement at her charismatic mom. Mrs. Kersh is survived by her sons, David Kersh of Hawaii, Richard Kersh of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughter, Marilyn Schwartz of Clearwater, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Irving and Adel Steinberg of Farmington Hills; grandchildren, Jacqueline, Jessie and Ashley Kersh. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Irving Kersh and dear sister of the late Marion Phillips.

Interment was at Machpelah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice."