Richard Henry Friedman

Richard Friedman, the last World War II veteran to work in the Houston Chronicle newsroom, died Friday, December 20, 2024. He was born April 8, 1926, in St. Louis, MO. He completed a two-year pre-journalism course at Washington University before being drafted in 1944. Dick was his army battalion’s clerk because he was the only one who could read and write. After Germany surrendered, Dick’s battalion was going to be sent to Japan as part of an invasion force. They were told that they should not expect to survive, and they were sent home to get their affairs in order. While home on leave, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan, leading to its surrender. He always credited President Truman’s decision to bomb Japan with saving his life. After his discharge, he obtained a journalism degree at the University of Missouri. A job as a reporter and humor column writer at the Galveston Daily News took Dick to Texas. He soon was set up on a blind date with Harriet Levy, a Born on the Island (BOI) Galvestonian. They married Aug. 1, 1953. Linda, Nancy and Leslie followed over the next seven years. He was hired as night city editor at the Houston Chronicle in 1961 and retired from that position 44 years later at age 78. He loved his job, and many people expressed that no one could edit articles like he could! In fact, one person said she knew that when she turned in an article to him, it would be just right. Dick worked at night, which enabled him to coach Leslie's softball team and drive Harriet or his daughters to their appointments and after-school activities. After retiring, he volunteered at MD Anderson and edited the Beth Israel Bulletin. In 2017, he moved to Belmont Village Hunter's Creek to be closer to Harriet, who had moved there for memory care. Many who saw them together were touched by their love and his devotion to her. After his family and his job, Dick’s third greatest joy was sports. He played tennis in high school and baseball in the Army after the war ended. He enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, mostly the Astros and the Rockets, and he shared that with Harriet and his daughters. Known for his outgoing, social personality, he liked to get to know people and he always had a joke or a story to share. At Belmont, he enjoyed playing bridge every week, even on the day before he died, and watching nightly movies. His family meant the world to him, and he truly lived life to the fullest. Dick is survived by Linda and Mike Sheff, Nancy Friedman and Mark Taub, and Leslie Friedman. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 22, 2024, in the Proler Chapel at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden. A recording of the service will be available by 4:30 PM following the conclusion of the service: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczNDczMzcwNTM0MjE3NiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Richard Henry Friedman

April 8, 1926 - December 20, 2024