Obituary of Daniel J. Friedman

DANIEL J. FRIEDMAN July 13, 1946-2011 Daniel J. Friedman, 65, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, November 1 at his home in Mendham, NJ. Dr. Friedman was born in East Rockaway, NY on July 13, 1946, the son of the late Mae and Phil Friedman. He grew up there with his brother, Richard, where, playing on the shores of Long Island, he cultivated his love for nature. He graduated from East Rockaway High School, SUNY Buffalo (class of 1969) with a degree in Biology, and SUNY Binghamton in 1970, where he obtained a Master degree in education. He began his career as a biology high school educator in East Rockaway, NY. In the early 1980's he enrolled in the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, NY, successfully achieving a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. He subsequently practiced as a chiropractor on Long Island throughout the 1980's and 1990's. In 2001, he returned to high-school teaching as an educator of advanced placement courses in Biology and Environment at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ. Dr. Friedman was passionate about his craft as a science educator, beloved by the Ridge faculty, dedicated to his students, and proud of their accomplishments. From his travels, he was particularly interested in infusing examples from the real-world into his teachings, giving his students insights into how contemporary societies are influenced by natural events and man-made impacts. His personal passions were opera and 18th century music, and he was well-studied in both. He was an avid collector of classical music recordings and a regular attendee at performances. He was a lifelong observer of nature, wildlife, the great outdoors, and photography. He loved studying Latin culture and was well-travelled through South America. He is survived by his partner, Scott Baker, his brother, Richard Friedman, former wife, Diana Friedman, son, Paul Bryant, nephew Peter Friedman, and niece, Nicole Friedman. He will be missed by his family, dear friends, and colleagues, who regarded him fondly and whose lives he touched. A memorial reception, to take place in the ensuing weeks, will be announced prior to the event. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made toward scholarship support of highly-motivated students through the National Society for the Gifted and Talented at www.nsgt.org (