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Louis L. Frydman

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City College of New York Columbia University New York University Yale University

Louis Frydman Obituary

Louis L. Frydman passed away peacefully on January 24, 2012 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Lou was born in Lodz, Poland on July, 1, 1930. His parents were Ryvka Ekerman and Chaim Majer Frydman. Lou and his brother Abraham Frydman, just 1 1/2 years Lous senior, were the only members of their large extended family to survive the Holocaust. Lou and Abraham survived three ghettos, numerous concentration camps, and three death marches. At the wars end Lou was less than 15 years of age. For a year the brothers attended a U.N.-administered school for orphans of many nationalities and religions. They then came to the United States. Lou earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Sociology from the City College of New York in 1954, a Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University in 1956, and a Doctorate in Psychology from Yeshiva University in 1968. After receiving his Masters degree, Lou was employed as a therapist at the Jewish Family Service in Cincinnati. Later he worked at the Westchester Jewish Community Services in White Plains, N.Y. and also as an Adjunct Professor at New York University. In 1969 Lou and his family came to Lawrence where he taught at the KU School of Social Welfare until his retirement approximately 12 years ago. In addition to teaching his social welfare courses Lou made frequent presentations about his Holocaust experiences to KU students, to students in public schools in Lawrence and Perry, and to students at St. Johns Catholic School. He also made presentations at Fort Riley, the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, and elsewhere. In May 2007 Lou was the featured speaker at the Holocaust Remembrance Service at the Kansas State Capitol. Lou also provided testimony to the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation and the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University. Upon his arrival in Kansas Lou set to work almost immediately to study the Kansas mental health system. Lou devoted himself for many years to changing the Kansas involuntary commitment statutes and later, after these laws were changed, he worked tirelessly to help empower groups of former mental patients. In the late 1970s Lou received funding from the Fulbright Committee and the National Institute of Mental Health which enabled him to travel to Poland to compare its mental health system to ours. Lous favorite activity was getting together with his family and friends who will always remember his keen sense of humor. He also enjoyed traveling and gardening. Throughout his life he read widely to deepen his knowledge about the Holocaust. In 1954 Lou married Jane Brunner in New York City. Lou is survived Jane and by their three sons: Dan and wife Bettie Frydman of St. Joseph, Missouri, John and wife Laurie Martin-Frydman of Lawrence, and Richard and wife Amy Lee, also of Lawrence. Lou is also survived by five grandchildren: Hannah, Jacob, Tess, Alyson, and Sofie Frydman, and by two step-grandchildren: Jason and Jacob Dickerson. The family requests no flowers. Those wishing to make a contribution in Lous memory are encouraged to contribute to a charity of their choosing. A celebration of Lous life will be held in the Spring of this year.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Jan. 29, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Louis Frydman

18 Entries

James calderon

February 26, 2023

What a Life this Man lived !!!

S Lerer

February 16, 2012

The staff of American Cancer Fund™ at www.AmericanCancerFund.org is sorry to hear of Louis' passing. We have received memorial contributions in his name and our sincere condolences go out to his family.

Andrzej

February 13, 2012

Bedziemy o Tobie pamietac Lolku, tak jak pamietamy o Abbie. Znowu jestescie razem.

Maureen Moffitt Wilt

February 8, 2012

I was so saddened to hear about Lou's passing. He was one of the most inspiring professors I've been privileged to have. He had a huge influence on my life, social work practice and teaching. I will always be grateful for the wisdom he imparted, his kindness, sense of humor, concern for others, and his wonderful laugh. My condolences to all his family and loved ones. His passing is such a profound loss for our world. He will be sorely missed.

Maurice Simpson

February 5, 2012

Our deepest sympathy to John, Rick and Dan and your families.
Resse and Michele Simpson

February 5, 2012

Dear Jane, John, Rick and families,

We are so sorry for your loss. Lou's life touched many people and he will be missed.

Love, Barbara & Mike Malone

Mary Mugridge-Morris

February 2, 2012

I so enjoyed my classes with Dr. Frydman and my deepest sympathies to all of his family and friends. He will be deeply missed.
Mary Mugridge Morris

Kathy Sposato (Mayo)

February 1, 2012

Rick and John I am so very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful man he was. My thoughts are with you

Steve Ozark

February 1, 2012

Dear Rick and Family,
My deepest sympathies on your Father's passing. Mr. Frydman sounds like a great man. I didn't know that we share common Polish heritage. My prayers go out to you all.

February 1, 2012

I was saddened to hear about your loss, sending my condolences to you all (the family). Stacey Ezekwe

Bob Dunlap

January 31, 2012

We are sorry for your loss, our condolences to the family.
Bob and Gudrun Dunlap

Duane Olberding

January 31, 2012

To the Frydman family: I know Rick and John and it is very obvious from reading the story of Louis' life where they both received some of their lessons on caring for people. I am sorry for your loss and my prayers and thoughts are with all of the Frydman family. Duane Olberding.

Pete Wiklund

January 31, 2012

Jane,
We are sorry for your loss. Many times seeing Lou in my practice was the bright spot of my day. We will miss him.

Ann and Pete Wiklund

January 30, 2012

I am so sorry about your loss. Words seem so inadequate on such occasions but know that my prayers are with you and your family.

Kala Bhana

Beth Reiber

January 30, 2012

His life story is amazing, and I can't wait to see Caryn's book. Although I didn't know him well, there are two things that come to mind having seen him many times over the years at Jake's soccer/futsal games. Mr. Frydman raised great sons, and he was devoted to his grandchildren. That is part of his living legacy.

Ed Hiscock

January 29, 2012

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Mr. Frydman was a remarkable person with a remarkable story. I had the honor of taking his testimony for the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, and I know his recounting of those years brought new insight into the history of the Holocaust. Please know that your family is in my thoughts.

Kendall Simmons

January 29, 2012

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I knew Lou through my years at the KU Libraries. He was always one of my favorites.

Now I, too, work to help people with mental illness empower themselves (through the Recovery and Hope Network here in Lawrence...to which I'll be making a donation in Lou's name). I'd like to think that I'm making at least a tiny bit of the difference that he did.

Lou was a very special man. I'm so glad I knew him.

Duane & Betsy Evans

January 29, 2012

The passing of Lou leaves an empty spot on our small planet. Our sincere condolences.

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