Mary Jane Weinbaum

Mary Jane (May) Weinbaum, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, died on November 10, 2017 at the age of 83, surrounded by her loved ones, in Royal Oak, MI after a 16-year battle with Parkinson's. She and her husband Bob had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 24th. May was born in New York City of immigrant Irish parents. She married and divorced young, and having decided it would be better to be poor in paradise she relocated in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with her three young children in tow. In October 1966, while doing the books at a small guest house, she caught the eye of a vacationing Washington, DC lawyer. Within 8 months and after only 21 days in each other's company during that period, the Catholic divorcee married the Jewish bachelor who was working at the U.S. Department of Justice at the time, and she and the kids joined him in Washington. The nation's political climate in the late 60's and early 70's sparked in May a deep sense of justice. After moving to suburban Detroit, the last of her four children arrived and she became involved in the anti-war movement. May hosted actress-turned-activist Jane Fonda in her home for an anti-war fundraiser and was a delegate to the People's Peace Treaty Conference in Paris. Also of note was her protest at GM headquarters for GM's role in arms production when by then Bob was an attorney (in that very same building) for the automaker. May marched in front of the building with her baby in her arms, and with Bob's blessing. The family moved to Detroit proper in 1973 where May focused on the local political issues of the day, and there were many. May loved to cook and she was a great one. At bedtime, she often read her cook books before falling asleep. Be it her chicken soup, a poached salmon in aspic, meatloaf, spaghetti, or a cassoulet, it was wonderful. Her holiday turkeys were always moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. She was a fearless chef and enjoyed trying new recipes, making her own changes along the way. How often did Bob ask, "Honey, can you make this the same way again?" And the reply was always, "I'll try". Life's next chapter was written by May and Bob's love for the tropics where they met. They fell for Key West on their first visit there and eventually became home owners for almost 40 years. Their tropical home away from home for six months of the year overflows with treasured memories for family and dear friends - the sultry warm breezes, the Cuban coffee, the chickens, the Conch houses, the different "pace", soon became part of one's DNA. In 2007 May and Bob simplified their lives in Michigan by selling their suburban home and moving into a downtown Royal Oak condominium to facilitate May's increased mobility challenges. From an early age May possessed the indomitable spirit she carried throughout her life, in everything she did. Bob was her partner, her mate, in every sense of the word. As the going started to become difficult for May, Bob was at her side every step of the way. She also was blessed with extraordinary caregivers both in Florida (Melissa, Kristie, Fiona, Pauline, Margaret, Annette), and in Michigan (Cheri, Kimba, Valerie, Martha, Angela). For each of them, May's well-being always came first. We will miss Mary, this extraordinary human spirit, in so many ways, among them: her voice, her zest for life, her laughter, her intellect, her passion, her character, her love of her family and friends, especially the joy she felt in the presence of her grandchildren and great grandchild, and her concern for justice in this world. May was the beloved wife of Robert C. Weinbaum; loving mother of Jeanne (Michael) Sarnacki, Robert (Joy) Angelastro, Amy Anthony and John Weinbaum; grandmother to Elliot (Leslie), Franny (John), Jordan, Nicholas, Cortlyn and Ty; great grandmother to Rocco; dear sister to Anne Wettler, Ed Nugent, Sr., the late James Nugent, the late Henry Nugent and the late Hugh Nugent. To those who wish to remember May with a charitable donation, please consider a contribution to the Michael J Fox Foundation or the charitable organization of your choice. The Michael J. Fox Foundation Donation Processing P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 A celebration of May's life will be held on Friday, December 8th, at the Red Run Golf Club at 2036 Rochester Road, Royal Oak, MI starting at noon, followed by lunch. Valet included.

Mary Jane Weinbaum

May 15, 1934 - November 10, 2017