[Fredslist] R.I.P. Jack Friedman - a good friend

[Thomas Grech]

Beautiful, heartfelt tribute to a terrific man and friend. Thank you Jack and thank you Corey.
Tom

Thomas J. Grech
Phone: 917-865-2699Fax: 801.340.0948
email: tom_grech at hotmail.com

From: Bearak at me.com
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2015 23:56:11 -0400
To: fredslist at gothamnetworking.com; Gclist at gothamnetworking.com
Subject: [Fredslist] R.I.P. Jack Friedman - a good friend

I - and all of Gotham - lost a very dear and good friend today.Jack Friedman, executive director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, passed away earlier today just days short of his 56th birthday, this Sunday when many will gather in his memory to celebrate his life of giving.Jack's funeral takes place,
 Sunday, April 12, 12:30 p.m.AtParkside Memorial Chapels98-60 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park 11374
Jack and I have known each other some three decades.  His most distinguishing feature -- and I am sure more than a few others will attest to this -- putting family, friends, colleagues and the public before himself.
Before he joined the chamber he took a job that I had turned down at the recommendation of the previous job holder.  Jack took the gig and tamed the elected (at least for as long as he worked there).
I personally recruited Jack to serve as a trustee of my (Northeast Queens) Jewish Community Council knowing he could be the president who could succeed our common friend Jeff Gurdus (also of blessed memory); Jack performed admirably.
Jack was the field general of my lone race for public office (that I try not to recall); its lack of success was not on him.  We both rebounded the following year each gaining election to NYC's premier Community School Board serving district 26 in 1989.  I called it doing time; it was several night meetings a week.  For some reason Jack chose to endure it until legislature abolished the boards and impose mayoral control.  I thought I took the smarter route serving one term.  Jack stayed on and colleagues made him President and he got locked up in that no-pay all give position for five years until until they abut down the school boards.
Of course no respite for this guy, he helped the BBYO that our daughter were active in and Bellerose Jewish Center exists today because of his smarts and ability to make sound deals.
Lately we served together on The board of a senior agency, SNAP, where this year we recruited two new Gotham members - Susan Cohen and Mindy Stern - to join us on the board.
Jack introduced me to Tom Grech who is now a member of Gotham Green.
I brought Jack a few years back to Gotham Towers.  He joined our tribe and has been an invaluable connector for so many of us.  Gotham enjoys a nice partnership with the chamber.
When I attended a chamber committee meeting it was rare that we did not meet after in his office to chat on not just chamber matters but politics -- Jack was perhaps the penultimate political junkie, family and music -- his was into Springsteen and Southside Johnny the way I love Poco and John Fogerty; we attended a Bruce show at the Meadowlands of course, and a few summer back The Good Rat.
We never coined a name like the Travelin' Wilburys for our drives long or short but I know I'll miss the chats.
And through all that he was a good dad and husband.  
Jack, we miss you friend.Corey B. Bearak, Esq.
Government & Public Affairs CounselNetworker of the Year-2012| co-chair, GOtham GREEN | Gotham Towers | LI Legal | co-chair, Brooklyn Power Breakfast | co-chair, Staten Island Gotham  | Gotham Sponsorships ChairP.O. Box 135, Glen Oaks, NY 11004
(718) 343-6779 ♦ facsimile (888) 379-3492
Bearak at me.com ♦ StrategicPublicPolicy.com ♦ Bearak on TwitterAuthor, The Public Ought To Know, available on Kindle and Nook and Apple devicesIf you receive this email and did not request it, please reply and I will kindly remove your email address from the list.This Internet Email Transmission may contain Confidential or Privileged Information which is intended only for use by the individual or entity for which the transmission is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, dissemination, copying or distribution of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify this office by telephone immediately so that we can arrange for the return of the documents to us at no cost to you.[sent from my MacBook Pro]

Corey B. Bearak, Esq.Government & Public Affairs CounselBearak at me.comStrategicPublicPolicy.com(718) 343-6779Author, The Public Ought To Know http:/:tiny.cc/fv2tpxSent from my iPhone
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