Jeff Robert Freirich

FREIRICH-Jeff Robert The President and CEO of the Julian Freirich Co., died October 14, 2007, at the age of 61 at his home in Salisbury, NC, after a two-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. Jeff was born July 29, 1946 in Long Island, NY, he was the son of Jerry Freirich of Long Island, NY and the late Constance Benson Freirich. Jeff earned his Bachelor's in Business Administration from Dartmouth College, and he attended the Business School at Columbia University where he earned his Master's in Business Administration, while serving his country in an airborne division of the New York National Guard. Together with his father Jerry, he grew the family meat business, founded by his grandfather Julian in Long Island, NY in 1921, into one of the most respected and successful small meat processors in the industry. He was responsible for the acquisition of Regal Chef, a Brooklyn-based meat processing company, and later relocated Freirich Foods to Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1985, where he continued to successfully expand the business, developing new products and marketing strategies, and broadening the client base to include nationwide customers in the food service sector. By 2003, the company had quadrupled sales volume from the late seventies. An active member of several industry organizations, he held a seat on the Board of Directors of the American Meat Institute. Jeff was loved and respected by his friends, colleagues, and peers in the meat industry and will be dearly missed. His stepson, Paul Bardinas, will continue stewardship of Freirich Foods. Jeff was a philanthropist, donating to medical research at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. In North Carolina, he served on the Boards of the Salisbury Academy, Waterworks Art Gallery, and Temple Israel, and contributed to all. He was a participating member of Temple Israel for 22 years. A man of uncommon intelligence and wit, courtesy and curiosity, he was an avid reader, a self-educated historian, and an archeology buff. He loved to dance with his wife, Digna, and play tennis and golf, and computer and board games, with his children. Above all, Jeff was devoted to his beloved family. He is survived by his loving wife, Digna Pruna Freirich, his father Jerry Freirich; three children and two stepchildren and their spouses, Rabbi Jonathan and Ginny Freirich of Stateline, NV, Paul and Carrie Bardinas of Salisbury, NC, Elizabeth Freirich and Saul Kaiserman of New York, NY, Daniel Bardinas of Salisbury, Tanya Freirich of Salisbury; his three siblings and their spouses, Stephanie and Gordon Taylor of Long Beach, CA, Roy and Debrah Freirich of Malibu, CA, and Amy and Paul Curtis of Seattle, WA; and his grandchildren, Noah William Bardinas and Judah Ilan Reel Freirich. Visitation will be from 23:30pm Tuesday at Summersett Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 3:30pm in Summersett Memorial Chapel, with Rabbi Andrew Ettin, officiating. Burial will follow in City Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245 or at www.pancan.org. Summersett Funeral Home of Salisbury,