By Carol Ann Rudy, Longtime contributor to iNews Cayman

Richard Friedberg, 1940 – 2020

Richard Friedberg 
September 28, 1940 – December 26, 2020 
Spartanburg, South Carolina – Richard Saul Friedberg, age 80, passed away at home in Spartanburg, South Carolina on December 26, 2020 after a long illness with his wife, Carol-Ann Rudy-Friedberg by his side.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren from his first marriage to Carolyn Ruth Friedberg of Johnstown Ohio, his daughter Lisa Lorraine Friedberg of Columbus Ohio, son Glen Michael Friedberg and wife Ceisa of Hollywood Florida, son Todd Robert Friedberg and wife Kathryn Ann, Kirk Daniel Friedberg and wife Carrie Suzanne, all of Columbus Ohio. His grandchildren are Irene Michelle, Michael Glen (both of Hollywood), Katharine Elizabeth, Jayden Isaac (both of Columbus). Also surviving him are his stepson James George Hands of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, stepdaughter Jennifer Kelly Hughes of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and step-grandchild Kathryn Sophie Hands of Calgary. 

Richard was born in Cleveland Ohio in September 1940. He lived most of his early life in Chauncey Ohio, graduating with a BS from Ohio University in 1962, majoring in Russian language studies. He was the son of Edith Ida and Daniel Leonard Friedberg who preceded him in death in 2001 and 1997 as well as his brother Stanley in 2001. 

In college, he was a member of the ROTC. After college, he successfully completed coursework as an Intelligence Research Officer at the U.S. Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, Maryland and received his diploma at the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, California, becoming fluent in Japanese. He went on to serve as a Captain in the US Army in Korea and Vietnam in the years 1962 to 1968 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal Certificate for Meritorious Achievement. 

Following his military service, he entered the insurance industry and was Vice President of Underwriting for Granada Insurance Company of Coral Gables, Florida until his retirement in 2002 to South Carolina. He cherished his coworkers and friends in the industry and continued to serve on the Board of Directors until a few weeks before his death. 

In the intervening years, he spent many happy hours as a member of the Key Biscayne Music & Drama Club. He married Carol-Ann onstage in 1994 in the Calusa Playhouse on Key Biscayne as the last act of the last performance of Love, Sex, and the IRS which he directed. All the audience were invited guests who dressed as their favorite characters. He performed in many other memorable performances, about 22, on stages in Miami Beach, Kendall, and later in Spartanburg as a member of the Spartanburg Repertory Company and the Little Theatre of Spartanburg. Some of his favorite roles were as Daddy Warbucks in Annie, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and the Mikado in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. He also directed about 30 productions. 

Richard lived his life to the fullest and his goodwill, compassion for others, and great sense of humor will be sorely missed. Friends are invited to make donations in his name in lieu of flowers to a Veterans Support organization. Private services will be held. He will be interred at the Beaufort VA Military Cemetery, Beaufort SC, January 22, 2021 with full military honors.