Note: I wrote the article below in 2009 shortly after the death of Judge Kaye Tertzag, one of my heroes in the law. It appeared in a blog I was writing at the time, and thereafter a group, including me, took the idea of a Purple Sportcoat award dinner, and started the event 2010. It was very popular, and looked to become a permanent feature of the Michigan legal community. The last event, in 2020, came less than a month before the COVID shutdown. For a while there were no banquets of any kind. By February of 2021, things began to open up again. But no Tertzag Dinner, which was understandable in that environment. But no event in 2022, 2023 and I am informed that the only person whose wishes matter (apparently) states that there is “no hope” of an event in 2024. The Tertzag Tribute Dinner and the awarding of the Purple Sportcoat is (apparently) done. This is sad indeed as people our Kaye Tertzags are in diminishing supply in this Zoom litigation environment. He and his principles need to be remembered and honored as often as possible. It is possible. I am publishing this again here as a foundation for a new piece on this blog about the judge and the event.-the Editor
On Thursday, February 5, 2009, we lost a truly great man with the passing of Kaye Tertzag. “Chach’s” life was the stuff of a Hollywood movie. Born and raised in the DelRay section of Southwest Detroit, Kaye was the son of Armenian immigrants who had fled the Turkish genocide. Speaking only Armenian, he learned English in elementary school. He went to Detroit Southwestern, where he played basketball and ran track. He attended Wayne State, playing basketball, going to class and working as a janitor at Ford Motor. After college he taught at River Rouge High, going to law school at night. After passing the bar, he continued to teach, while running a store front practice at nights and on weekends.
He became city attorney of River Rouge and Melvindale, and was appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Bench by Governor Blanchard in 1987. He retired from the bench in 2004 and ran a thriving facilitation practice well into 2008, when he became ill.
He married the love of his life, Kathy in 1962, and they raised 3 children, Kyle, Kraig and Kara.
He was active in local politics, and most recently helped his son, Kyle win election to the Allen Park City Council.
He was the first Downriver attorney appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
More about Judge Tertzag’s life and career can be found in the excellent obituary written by Rene Cizio, which appeared in the February 6, 2009 edition of the Downriver News-Herald. However, the article could not come close to capturing the true magic of this man. On Sunday, February 8, hundreds upon hundreds packed the Allen Park Civic Auditorium to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Judge Kaye “Chach” Tertzag.
The dais was filled with nearly twenty speakers, from childhood friends, to lawyers, judges, elected officials, and one of my favorites, the lady who worked with Kaye on Southwestern High School reunions. Afterward, his wife Kathy, his two sons, and two grandsons spoke. Finally, Kaye’s daughter Kara, a practicing attorney, had cups of sambuca passed out to all, and led the group in a final toast to her father in his native Armenian language.
Reflecting afterward, I realized the memorial was nowhere near long enough. I don’t think they would have run out of stories if the program were ten times as long. Tales of the husband, the father, the grandfather, the friend, the athlete, the janitor, the teacher, the lawyer, the politician, the judge, the facilitator, the leader of the contingency bar association, quite frankly, had me, and have me in awe.
How did he do it all? How did he retain the smile, the compassion, the energy as he did so many things, all of them well. He was a deep thinker, yet master of the revels as well. He was that rarest of human beings, a regal man with the common touch. Humble, amid an embarrassment of talents, which come to think of it might be a rarer thing yet.
I saw a photographer there, but I don’t think the event was taped. I hope it was. It was the kind of thing that I’d buy.
I still have Kaye’s magnetized facilitator’s business card, with the clasped hands, on my refrigerator, where it will remain.
Judge Tertzag was not laid out in his signature purple sport coat. He gave instructions that it was to be left in this world. Given his example as a lawyer, judge and facilitator, perhaps some group might consider awarding a yearly “Tertzag Master of Practice” Award, bestowing a purple jacket (instead of a green) to the winner. An idea worth thinking about.
There were many “Tertzagisms” yesterday. I’ll try to put together a couple that serve to guide lawyers into the future.
“Be Prompt, Be Prepared, Be Polite…Be Well.”
I bought my first bottle of Sambuca today.
(The picture at the beginning of this article was taken during September of 2008, while Judge Tertzag was gallantly fighting his cancer. It is taken from his son Kyle’s Facebook page and is used here with Kyle’s kind permission.)
Feb 9, 2009 9:43 PM by Mike Butler
