Donald E. Friedrichs

Donald E. Friedrichs Livonia educator and recipient of the 1976 First Citizen of Livonia award for outstanding community service, passed away peacefully at home Thursday evening, August 24th. Born in Bath, Maine on June 10, 1920. Don is survived by his wife of 63 years Esther (Reid) of Burlington, Vermont, their six children, fifteen grandchildren and one great grandson. He is also survived by his 3 brothers, Robert, Gordon and Edward, their spouses and many nieces and nephews. The six Friedrichs sons and daughters are Thomas (Kathryn), David (Kathy), Anne (Stefany), Mark (Julie), Sarah (Rob), and Linda (Craig). Professionally. after 18 months of WWII service in the Navy as Executive Officer on LSM138 in the South Pacific, he undertook his first teaching job in Brandon, Vermont in 1946. After earning his doctorate at Columbia University in 1953, Don served six years as secondary school principal in Scotia, New York, before being hired by Livonia Public Schools (LPS). He remained with LPS until his retirement in 1985, serving first as principal of Bentley High School (1959-1965), then in secondary administration (1966-1975), and finally for ten years as Director of Adult and Community Education. Among the many accomplishments of Don’s 26 years with Livonia Public Schools were the move to multiple high schools (Franklin, Stevenson and Churchill), the development of citywide initiatives in community education and the opening of the Whitman Center. Don was a strong public school advocate who urged both parent and early childhood education programs. In 1966, he spearheaded the financial drive to build the Family YMCA, serving as the Y’s first chairman. He was an active member of Livonia Rotary Club, serving as President in 1972-73 and receiving the association’s Distinguished Service Award after 25 years of service in 1988. He was a charter member of the Friends of the Library and actively involved in Citizens for Livonia Libraries. After the group’s work led to passage of the millage that made the Civic Center Library possible, he served on the city’s Library Commission from 1988-99, focusing on budget and services. Don contracted Parkinson’s disease in 1984, and the disease compromised his latter years. His brain has been donated for research to the University of Michigan and his body cremated. A visitation will he held at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd. in Livonia from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday, Sept 7, with a Celebration of Life service to be coordinated by the family the next day, Friday, Sept 8th at 2 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Farmington, 25301 Halsted Rd. in Farmington. In lieu of flowers or gifts, charitable contributions to the American Parkinson Disease Assn, 135 Parkinson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305 are suggested. Please share a memory of Don with his family by signing the online guest book Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154