Detroit Comedian Ben Konstantin of West Bloomfield Dies

Metro Detroit comedian Ben Konstantin of West Bloomfield died of pancreatic cancer on July 13. He was 47.

A funeral service was held July 15 at Ira Kaufman Chapel, and burial was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham. 

Comedian Mike Stanley told WJBK-TV that he and other friends are holding a comedy event at Bricks of Northville Saturday. Funds will go to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, in Konstantin's name. The event starts at 8:30 p.m.; Bricks is at 133 W. Main St. in Northville.

According to the fundraising website, Konstantin went into the hospital shortly after he and his wife, Julie, were married in July of 2012. Doctors initially thought he had pancreatitis; he was diagnosed with cancer in September. 

Konstantin is survived by his wife Julie Tracht and their infant daughter Samantha Bette Konstantin; his parents William and Miriam Konstantin; sister Lynne (Jeffrey Hermann); parents-in-law Janice and Arnold Tracht; brother-in-law Ryan (Debbie) Tracht; sister-in-law Sari Tracht; nieces and nephews Charlie and Annabel Hermann, Emily, Noah and Jessica Tracht.

Others who recently passed away include:

• Beulah V. Neal
• Lillian Kellman
• Herbert Kollin
• Ruth Rich
• Mary Meyers