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VIDEOS: LEVAYA of Dr Richie Friedman Z”L, Medical Director of Central Hatzolah, Struck & Killed By Vehicle in Lawrence


Tragedy has struck the Lawrence community on Motzei Shabbos as word spread of the tragic death of a prominent community member and one of the most important members of Hatzolah in New York.

Dr. Richie (Nochum Tzvi) Friedman Z”L, known in Hatzolah as ES-72 (East Side 72), was walking home from Shul after Shabbos, when he was struck by a vehicle at Washington and Broadway in Lawrence, NY. He was 56.

He was rushed to the hospital in traumatic arrest, but was unfortunately Niftar moments after arriving.

The Niftar was the medical director of Hatzalah of New York City (all 5 boroughs), Rockland (Monsey) as well as the Catskills. Additionally, before moving to Lawrence, he was an East Side Hatzolah Member, and was one of the founding members of Hatzalah of the West Side over 30 years ago.

[Statement From Hatzolah On Tragic Passing Of Dr. Richard Friedman, Longtime Medical Director]

The levayah will take place at the Bobover Beis Medrash in Boro Park, 15th Ave and 48th Street, at 11:45 Sunday morning. It will then continue to Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, 257 Beach 17 Street.

Statement from Hatzalah

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)



17 Responses

  1. Bde.

    Dr Richard Friedman Z”L was a special man. I knew him personally as a patient and a friend. He devoted his life to chesed and most of all to hatzala. He had a heart of gold. Was there for everyone and anyone. He was completely selfless. True oved hashem. I used to watch him daven. He wouldn’t speak ever during davening. He just loved doing chesed.

    What a terrible tragedy and loss for klal Yisroel, hatzala. The world will never be the same without him.

    May hashem bestow nechama to his entire family, parents and may we know of no more tzar

  2. Less than a mile away from a tragic death by getting hit by a car about a month ago. Something needs to change in the neighborhood and FAST. BDE

  3. A terrible tragedy and even more so that someone who has directly and indirectly saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives, many in these kinds of accidents, is himself the victim.

  4. Less than a mile away from a tragic death by getting hit by a car about a month ago. Something needs to change in the neighborhood and FAST. BDE

    That’s right,

    Maybe Nassau county can change the rule to no turning on red

  5. I only knew him when there was a emergency in my family on Shabbos, he was the first Hatzalah member to arrive reassuring us that everything is under control and was there until my family member left on the ambulance. He was the textbook person of someone that was only there to help other people. May he memory be a blessing to his family and all of Klall Yisroel.

  6. BDE
    Terrible and sad tragedy! How someone whos whole being was to save people and did save thousands of lives, he himself fell victim to a tragedy. it just shows us how נסתרים דרכי השם. ברוך דיין האמת

  7. Dr. Richie Friedman, who was affectionately called Morah Richie in Camp Ma-Na-Vu in the late 70’s, was the quintessential איש חסד. What a loss to Klal Yisroel.

  8. Please everyone go online and buy reflective vests or belts. Wear them every time you walk at night. Put it over your suit or coat on Shabbos. Teach your children to wear them also. It can save your life. Bd’e to thos wonderful man and condolences to his family

  9. pilpel harif ,נסתרים דרכי השם. ברוך דיין האמת
    ==============================
    Please let’s not blame HASHEM for all out tragedies,
    God gave us BECHIRAH free choice ,and gave us an amazing tool to make those choices “it’s called a brain”
    if we make the wrong choice,tragedies will happen,sometimes it’s the driver who makes that bad choice and sometimes it’s the pedestrian,but please let’s not blame HASHEM,God wants every human being to live a long fruitful life ,it is us human beings who mess up.
    For example,if someone would be smoking a pack a day for 20 straight years and burned up his lungs and died of cancer at the age of 45 and leaves a young widow with 8 or 10 YESOMIM ,would we also blame God or would we blame this guy for literally committing suicide .

  10. BD”E
    Dr. Richie Friedman, who was affectionately called Morah Richie in Camp Ma-Na-Vu in the late 70’s,
    Avi, any idea in what capacity he was at Ma-Na-Vu? I was there from year 1 and I think I had a Friedman as a counselor my first year in bunk Pey.

  11. Yosis: You say “this is not someting normal”…

    Not sure what you are talking about but pedestrian deaths from vehiclular accidents are sadly very normal and occur with great frequency in the NYC metropolitan area. i cannot publish a link but the NYT did a lengthy story on January 8th this year on the issue of pedestrian deaths and safety. Stop trying to make some big issue out of a tragic accidental death of someone who was himself so moser nefesh for the tzibur. Read Yaya’s posting about what can affirmatively be done to reduce the frequency of such tragedies

  12. Very very sad–not sure if he was wearing a reflective vest–does it guarantee safety?-no–does it vastly increase your chances?-YES!!!

  13. chugibugi – I assume you are a erliche, well meaning person, but what you posted is blithering Ameratzus.
    There are Pesukim and Gemaros that openly contradict what you suggest.
    You seem to want to leave Hashem out of the picture, to give yourself a feeling of more control in your life.
    As this is not a forum to educate, please have a discussion with your Rebbi/Rav to clarify this issue
    ובילע המוות לנצח ומחה ה’ דמעה מעל כל פנים

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