Life without my brother, Michael Wrublewski
The stone-setting for Australian Maccabi stalwart and former owner of the Sydney Kings basketball team Michael Wrublewski will be held on Sunday…Odile Faludi speaks to his sister.
Michael Wrublewski and Suanne Adelman
Michael Wrublewski, a former president of NSW Maccabi and a member of Maccabi World Union was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1988 for Services to Sport and the Community. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000. He was the Chairman of the Sydney Kings from 1987-2000 and was involved in the administration of major Sporting Events including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the Women’s World Basketball Championships in 1994.
Suanne Adelman, Michael’s sister, 14 years his junior, candidly speaks to Maccabi News about her loss, grief and pain of losing her beloved brother aged 63 from pancreatic cancer a year ago.
Looking into Suanne’s eyes you only see one thing … incredible sadness. A loss that she finds hard to put into words. Her eyes are full of tears and her heart is full of love. For Michael’s loved ones left behind each day is a cruel reminder of his absence. Michael’s persona was bigger than life and so is his memory. Suanne recalls, “Friday night dinners were the best. We would all come together…the three Wrublewski siblings and their partners and children and it would be a very special family time. We miss his presence so much, even his terrible jokes don’t seem so bad now!”
They say that when you leave this earth you should be exhausted with every last ounce of energy having been spent, that certainly wasn’t the case with Michael. He was always working on the next project and thinking of new ideas. Suanne is quick to say, “It’s his ideas, the challenging conversations and thought provoking discussions which I miss so much. His clever guidance and advice. Michael would never close a door, he believed everyone had something to offer and keeping the mind open like a door to every opportunity was the key to his success.”
Maccabi News asked Suanne to sum up Michael in a few words, Her response simple, “It would have to be, “unforgettable and unique”. Adam his eldest son from his first marriage, together with Michael’s wife, Shauna are currently fine tuning The Michael Wrublewski Foundation. If anyone has queries they can contact Adam on 0412-368-968. Michael’s consecration is this Sunday, August 15th at 10.30am at Rookwood Cemetery. Everyone is invited.
