Dr. Jules Daniel Friedman

Jules Daniel Friedman was a husband, scientist, father, brother, uncle, and a grandfather. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, October 24th, 1928. Jules grew up with his sister Ann, and parents Jack and Sophie, in Highland, NY on the grounds of Friedman’s Hotel – a working apple farm which later became known as the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. He later moved into “town” with his family. Although Jules left Highland, it never left him; throughout his life, he told stories of his childhood there.

Jules was the first in his family to go to college. He earned a full scholarship, getting a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Cornell University and then a PhD in Geophysics at Yale University. He went on to have a successful career at the United State Geological Survey for 42 years, having the opportunity to visit hundreds of places across the world of geologic interest with a specialization in volcanoes. He published 34 scientific papers and was cited 619 times by colleagues, including an article in the New York Times that referenced Dr. Friedman and his work on the volcano Mount Soufriėre on Saint Vincent Island. He received a Group Achievement award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1974; a Quality of Scientific Work award in 1979 for the development of infrared radiation technology and coordination with reading satellite imagery with Skylab; was a Fellow in the Geological Society American; and a member of the American Geophysical Union (secretary, Executive Committee, front range branch 1982-1983).

In the early 1960s, Jules acted as Secretary of the Test Site Committee for the then-secret Rufus Project, a joint military-scientific operation to test Minuteman nuclear devices in remote locations throughout the Western United States. As mentioned in a 1973 Newsweek magazine article, Jules later used technology developed for Project Rufus to measure and try to predict volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Washington State.

Jules was curious about the world. He loved to travel and encouraged his family to do so as well. He went all across Europe, with many trips to Iceland, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, with Italy and Maine as particular favorite destinations.

Jules spent almost a decade going back and forth from Washington, D.C. to Iceland doing research, and every time there was a new eruption from the volcanoes, Surtsey and Jólnir. He witnessed the eruptions from a boat, bringing along his father-in-law while working with Gudmunder Palmason, Icelandic chess player and geologist. They flew onto Surtsey, one of the first visitors to the new island. He hiked up on Mount Saint Helens twice right before it erupted and he went into the crater of Mount Saint Helens right after the eruption as well, luckily safely making it down the mountain. National Geographic magazine featured a photo of Jules and a colleague in the heart of the steaming crater. He always came back with great stories.

Jules loved reading the classics and telling stories to his children. He was curious about the world and often had his nose in a book. He was especially interested in history, particularly Lewis and Clark, World War II and the Holocaust. He loved to share his knowledge about history, wars, and ideas in general.

Jules’s interest in different cultures joined with his great love of food. He loved food, both from cultures that were exotic to him as well as those that made him feel at home, such as babaganoush, hummus, olives, thai food, hearts of palm, borscht, kugel, matzo ball soup, meatballs, and most importantly Linda’s cooking! With Linda and his family, he enjoyed wonderful home-cooked meals and going out to fancy as well as exploring hole-in-the wall restaurants. His delight in the food often led to a “oo-oo-ooo what did you get?” request for a taste.

Jules had a curious, charming, and intellectual nature that was warm, loving, funny, and inspiring, not the least of which included putting mousse on the end of his kitty’s nose to see what would happen.

Jules is survived by his wife, Linda Friedman; his three children: Susanne Rockwell, Jack Friedman, and Lisa Kari Friedman; his four grandchildren: Nathan Friedman, Hugo Webber, Hannah Friedman, and Augustus Webber; his stepdaughter: Lori Midson, and her son: Elliott Midson; his three nieces: Lois Schmalz Miller, Lorraine Schmalz McMillen, Eileen Schmalz Maisel, and their children: Michael and Haley Miller, Rebecca McMillen, and Ellie and Mackenzie Maisel.

His quirky, fun, serious, and loving self is dearly missed.

We love you Dad/Jules/Grandpa Jules!