Johnnie Ruth Friedman was born August 14, 1918 in Clarksville Arkansas died peacefully at home in N.Y.C. Nov 9, 2018 from natural causes. J.R’s mother died shortly after childbirth, and she was raised by her Grandmother, Elizabeth Colvett as a Methodist. She traveled to school often by horseback, and lived a rural life on the family farm.
As a young woman in the midst of World War II she graduated from the Spark’s School of Nursing in Huey Longs’ New Orleans. J.R joined the army as a Lieutenant in the nursing corp. and transferred to Ft. Sam Houston in Texas, functioning as an operating room nurse.
There she met the love of her life, Major Bernard Friedman M.D., honorable mention All American football player for Duke and gifted surgeon. They married shortly thereafter in N.J. surrounded by Dr. Friedman’s extended family including his parents, three brothers and sister, and their spouses and children. They all loved J.R. instantly, and she embraced her new life as an active participant in the Jewish faith.
As a member of Temple Israel she started a food-for-homeless program, a Passover fund to help Jews in the armed forces celebrate, and spear headed the creation of the Temple Israel library. For 25 years she attended every Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and gave each child a ceremonial bible. She was President of the sisterhood of Temple Israel. J.R. was one of the original members of Interfaith Neighbors, an organization of all the major religions dedicated to the poor.
She developed a passion for the arts, and especially loved the N.Y. Philharmonic and the N.Y. City Ballet .J.R. touched the lives of many and served as a trusted confidant. Her legacy is as a role model for her humility, wisdom, grace, beauty, dignity, selflessness, and her nonjudgmental acceptance of everyone who sought her friendship and counsel.
She is survived by her two children Elizabeth Lynn Friedman and Sanford James Friedman M.D. as well as many close friends who were especially helpful during the final months including Louise and Mattie Cooper, Laura Guimaraes and her family, and Nancy Stanek. She also leaves behind her loving daughter-in-law Virginia Friedman,and her grandchild Allegra Stanek ,who gave her limitless joy.
The funeral will be at Temple Israel,112 E 75th St, Manhattan at 11 AM Wednesday ,Nov 14 .Please send donations to the United Nations Refugee Agency. UNHCR
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