Douglas Bloom
Interviewed by Sharon Alterman
July 26, 2005
Max M. Fisher Federation Building
Douglas Bloom
Video 01:02:14
Douglas Bloom
Audio 01:02:14
Abstract
In this interview, Douglas Bloom speaks of his early childhood in Detroit as part of a multi-generational home in a neighborhood that did not have many Jewish families. He talks about his educational background, his religious education, and relates a few memories about downtown Detroit, and his summers at Camp Hiawatha and Cranbrook.
Bloom mentions his families’ involvement with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, his college years, and working for his uncle’s automobile parts manufacturing business.
Bloom speaks about his family; he mentions his marriages, children and grandchildren. At this point, Bloom talks about how he became involved in the Jewish community, beginning with him being active in the Temple Beth El Brotherhood, and then with the National Board of National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. He talks about how he became involved with the Federation and then on the Jewish Community Center Board and also the Jimmy Prentis Morris building at the Center.
Bloom speaks at length of the Jewish Community Center and the coming of the new Jewish Academy within the Center. He talks about the Ford Hospital and the Barbara & Douglas Bloom Matzo Factory. Bloom discusses his involvement in Partnership 2000 and the medical help that was facilitated through it.
When asked about the issues the community faces, Bloom speaks about funding, finding new donors, and then where to spend the funding. Bloom discusses his thoughts on leadership and the type of leader he believes himself to be. He also discusses his late life bar mitzvah.
Finally, Bloom leaves a message to the community to never stop learning and reminds that it is never too late to become active.
History of Narrator
Douglas Bloom was born on December 30, 1938 to Josephine and Arthur Bloom. He is a former president and founding partner of Bar Processing of Birmingham, a major steel processor for automotive parts in the US.
Retiring from the steel business in 1995, Mr. Bloom also has a long career serving the community in numerous leadership capacities. He is a former president of the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. A passionate community activist and fundraiser, Bloom is a past chair of Federation’s Partnership 2000 Committee, Federation’s Education Division, Industrial Automotive Division, and the $25,000 and $10,000 Division. Bloom has also served on the JCC’s Senior Adult Committee, as well as the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods and the American Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Transcript
Important Subjects
Important Names
Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Douglas Bloom Oral History Interview, July 26, 2005.