Friedman Remembered in Riverside Park
a plaque in memory of longtime schwab house resident dr. bernard friedman will be dedicated in a may ceremony in nearby riverside park.
friedman, who died jan. 6 at the age of 93, was a popular resident who served on the co-op's board of directors for 23 years. he was also remembered for his smaller contributions to the building. he founded a co-op newsletter and lit the first candle on the menorah during annual hanukkah celebrations.
"wherever he was in the building, whether it was at a board of directors meeting or sitting in the lobby, people would go up to him and ask, 'hey, bernie, what do you think of this?'" said michael palmer, the co-op board's vice president, who served with friedman. "he was loved and respected by everyone in the building."
friedman devoted his life to education and learning, working as an english teacher, school principal and community superintendent of schools for district 7 in the south bronx. he was also a professor of education at yeshiva university. he taught himself six languages and traveled the world in to his 90s.
"i think everyone here will remember his ongoing quest for knowledge, his humanism and that he was always there to help," palmer said.
the dedication ceremony is may 23 at 2 p.m. at the plaque, which will be installed the prior week on a bench facing the hudson river, between west 73rd and west 74th streets.