Bernard Friedman, 90, passed away January 15, 2015. Born June 20, 1924 in New York City, Bernard referred to himself (with typical gentle humor) as a “born again Hoosier.” After military service during WWII, thanks to the GI Bill, he graduated from City College of New York. He married Frances Ruth Prinz in 1948, and they moved to Bloomington, IN, where Bernard earned an MA (1951) and a PhD (1959) in history from Indiana University. His first faculty position with Bemidji State College (now University) took them to northern Minnesota. In 1961 they returned to Indiana when he became a faculty member in the history department at what would become Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis. Bernard was instrumental in the development of IUPUI, and was chairman of the history department from 1981-1988. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1994. He pursued academic scholarship, wrote poetry, and completed a mystery novel (unpublished) set in Minnesota. Bernard profoundly appreciated the natural beauty of the north country and the Midwest. He enjoyed life in Indianapolis, and even when Alzheimer’s disease was clouding his memories, he would observe that Indianapolis was “the tree city.” Bernard was deeply concerned about economic equality and social justice throughout the world, and he passed these values on to his children and grandchildren. And of course, he was a truly loving and beloved husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances P. Friedman. He is survived by his daughter, Amy Friedman, Indianapolis; son, William Friedman, Cleveland; and grandchildren, Samuel Russell, Rebecca Russell, Maxwell Friedman and Benjamin Friedman.
Memorial donations may be made to: the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org. Arrangements by Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory.