Detroit advertising icon Fred Yaffe dies at 86

Note: A previous version of this story had the wrong date for the funeral. A previous version of this story incorrectly credited the creation Little Caesar's "Pizza, Pizza" slogan to the wrong person. The phrase was created by Chato Hill and Larry Zuger in 1979 at Sohigian & Partners. This version is correct.

Detroit advertising trailblazer, Fred Yaffe, an Adcraft Hall of Famer, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 86.

Yaffe's name has been on an ad agency in Detroit since 1959. He helped some of the biggest brands locally and nationally reach their business goals and achieve success.

He worked with many of Detroit's top brands, including Perry Drug Stores, Art Van, Faygo, ABC Warehouse and countless others. Yaffe believed that helping his clients succeed went beyond just marketing. He became immersed in their operations and looked for ways to make their business better — whether it was a marketing solution, a business solution or something out of the box.

Yaffe is credited with helping the Detroit ad industry become what it is today. But he was an entrepreneur beyond running his own agencies, investing in everything from quick service restaurants to elevator jack hole drilling.

Yaffe's funeral was held Tuesday at the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield. 

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Yaffe; son and daughter-in-law James Yaffe and Jane Ross;  grandchildren India Yaffe and Jonathan Yaffe; and other family members. 

Those who wish to honor Yaffe can make a contribution to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mount Elliott St., Detroit, MI 48207, www.cskdetroit.org; or to the Beaumont Health Foundation, P.O. Box 5802, Troy, MI 48007-9627, www.beaumont.org/giving. The family asks that gifts be directed to the "Transplant Center and Patient Support" fund designation.