GEORGE J. MASKIN

Age 90, of Novi. Beloved husband for over 60 years to Elaine Maskin. Dear father of Richard (Dorothy) Maskin, Douglas (Marie) Maskin and Julie (David) Rollins. Devoted grandfather of Tricia (Dale Kortes) Maskin, Bridget (Matthew) Genette, Genevieve (Claudio) Caffeli, Colleen (Todd) Preheim, Robert Maskin, Joshua Rollins and Sarah Rollins. Proud great-grandfather of Thomas, Aiden and Sydney Genette, Alyssa Kortes, Derek and Katherine Preheim. Brother of the late Rosalyn Reder, the late Philip Maskin and the late Dr. Meyer Maskin. Brother-in-law of Robert and Sonny Barnett, Dr. Benjamin and Jeanette Reder. Son of the late Louis and the late Jennie Maskin. He officiated sporting events in eight decades (the 1930's to the 2000's). Elected to the Baseball Writers of America Association in 1948 - the oldest living member in the Detroit Chapter. Elected to the Michigan High School Sports Hall of Fame. Elected to the Catholic League Sports Hall of Fame. Elected Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2003). Born in Hamtramck, MI on March 14, 1917. Northern High School - worked on the school newspaper and interned at The Detroit Times. Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) - earned a scholarship by sending in a story he had written. He became the sports editor of the Michigan State Journal, where he worked with the late Hal Schram. He began his sports officiating career at Michigan State College. Detroit Times, 1939 (owned by Hearst Corporation) - went to work there directly out of college. Among his first assignments was to cover high school and college sports. He was the first journalist in the State of Michigan to establish high school and college football and basketball ratings; they have been in use ever since. Stars and Stripes - joined the Army in 1940. George wrote sports for the Stars and Stripes. He also officiated baseball and softball games for the Armed Forces in England, Ireland and Scotland. Detroit Times - returned after the war and continued writing about college and high school sports. Annually, he took local baseball players to New York City to play in the Hearst All-Star Game. Among those included several former major league players, such as Bill Freehan. The paper was purchased by The Detroit News in 1960. Baseball Writers of America Association - has voted for every member of the Hall of Fame since 1948. Officiating sports events at the middle school, high school and college level, including football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. George umpired collegiate baseball games for The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and University of Detroit. He also umpired the sandlot leagues of Detroit, where many future major leaguers played, including Bill Freehan and Willie Horton. He continued into the year of 2003 to officiate baseball, softball and volleyball. College World Series - selected to umpire college baseball World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. While covering the Detroit Pistons for The Detroit Times, in the late 1950's, the commissioner of the National Basketball Association asked him to referee a game because the regular official was ill. He did so and then wrote a story for the newspaper afterwards. Detroit Pistons - served as a public relations director/assistant executive manager from 1960 until 1974. His job included scheduling all games, travel, game announcer and attending league functions. He would then write stories for The Detroit News and Free Press after each game. Also he worked in The Detroit Free Press sports department. Observer/Eccentric newspapers - sports editor and covered all the high schools in the area during the 1960's and 1970's. Michigan Stags Hockey - served as public relations director in 1974. Hazel Park and Detroit Race Tracks - served as public relations director from 1974-1984. Has been a part of the Detroit sports scene for more than 60 years. Long-time member of Temple Beth El. Extensive travel - including Israel Trip with his grandson for his Bar Mitzvah in 1993. SERVICES 11:30 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING AT THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL, (248) 569-0020. INTERMENT AT BETH EL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY. www.irakaufman.com