Mr. Friedman was born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrant parents. He grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Cherry Street where his father delivered beds in a horse-drawn carriage and his mother made pickles in a barrel. In the third-floor walk-up, the toilet was down the hall and the Turkish bath was on Monroe Street. As a child, he studied violin at Julliard, giving up this training at 12 when his family moved to Jersey City. At Dickinson High School in Jersey City he was on the track team as a 440 runner and high jumper.
He was a law clerk for Wilmot L. Morehouse in the Borough Hall section of Brooklyn while working his way through Brooklyn Law School where he earned an LL.B. in 1931. Working as a lawyer for Mr. Morehouse before he joined the Army in 1942, he assisted in the re-organization of the "Brooklyn Eagle" newspaper. After returning from the Army in 1945 he was able to acquire an associated business called The Eagle Library, which published paper-backed law books for police trainees. In addition to his private law practice, he continued publishing until 1969 when, for various reasons, Eagle Library ceased operations. Mr. Friedman was active in his law practice specializing in bankruptcy until his retirement in 1984 at the age of 79. He lived in Hillsdale, New Jersey from 1950 until 1986.
Besides playing the violin throughout his life, he enjoyed opera, the ballet and the New York Philharmonic. His mastery of the English language allowed him to do the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Julianne Smoral Friedman of Annapolis, MD; a son, Robert J. of Baltimore, MD; an son, Jeffrey C. of Annapolis, MD and two grandchildren.
Copyright © 1996 Robert J. Friedman
All rights reserved.