SIDNEY FRIEDMAN

Sidney Friedman, 96, of Kingston and Aventura, Florida died Friday, Dec 20, 2024 at his home in Kingston, surrounded by his family.

Sidney was born in Pittston to the late Jack and Anna (Levy) Friedman. After Sidney’s mother died when he was six years old, his father married Sidney’s maternal aunt, the late Rose Friedman, who adopted Sidney and his younger brother Philip. Sidney is a graduate of Pittston Area High School and he studied Business at the University of Pennsylvania before serving in the US Military during the Korean War. When Sidney returned from his military service, he began working in his father’s electrical supplies business, which became Friedman Electric. Sidney was a devoted businessman; he had an extremely strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial vision. At the age of 38, Sidney moved the headquarters of Friedman Electric from Pittston to Exeter and oversaw its expansion. Sidney would eventually run the company with his son Robert Friedman, who joined him in 1978. Together, Sidney and Robert built Friedman Electric into one of the top 100 electrical distributors in the country, operating twelve locations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Sidney was also extremely devoted to his family. He had a beautiful marriage with his wife of 56 years, the late Pauly Friedman, who was a pillar of the Wilkes Barre community. Sidney and Pauly built their family on shared values of generosity, love, hard work, and resilience and they passed their lessons on to their children Anne and Rob. Sidney and Pauly had their first date at Grico’s restaurant in Exeter, which ironically is now part of the Friedman Hospitality Group. Sidney was a man of integrity. He was extremely philanthropic, and he believed in giving back to the community. Together with his wife Pauly, Sidney supported many important local organizations including Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley, student scholarships at Wilkes University and Kings College, the Pauly Friedman Art Gallery at Misericordia, the Pauly House and the Anne Friedman Glauber House at Misericordia, both initiatives that support single mothers who are students. Sidney and Pauly also funded the Friedman Observatory and the Friedman Art Gallery at Penn State, Lehman Campus. In addition, they were longtime supporters of Temple Israel in Wilkes Barre and the Sidney and Pauly Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston.

In his later life, Sidney enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and spending time with his beloved family. For the past eight years, he was cared for by his devoted aid, Audrey Hall.

Sidney was preceded in death by his wife Pauly in 2008, his daughter Anne in 2017, and his brother Philip in 2021.

Sidney is survived by his son Robert Friedman, Dallas; four grandchildren, Lili and David Glauber; and Diane and Haley Friedman; and three great grandchildren, Agatha, Pip (Philip), and Ori Glauber.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 23 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, 348 S. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, with Rabbi Larry Kaplan and Cantor Ahron Abraham officiating. Interment will follow at the West Pittston Jewish Cemetery.

Shiva will be observed at 796 Milford Drive, Kingston, 7 to 9 p.m. on December 23 and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on December 24.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Sidney and Pauly Friedman Jewish Community
Center in Kingston.

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