James Robert Friedberg, died peacefully at his home in Dallas, TX on March 6, 2017 surrounded by family after a courageous year-long battle with polymyositis. Born on June 26, 1932 in Houston, TX, he was the son of Hank and Dorothy Friedberg. Jim spent his childhood in New Orleans surrounded by his father's eclectic friends - playwrights, novelists, musicians, poets, and philosophers - who exposed him to a world view beyond that of his homestead. Upon graduation from LSU in 1954, Jim was selected for Officer Candidate School and served in the Naval Air Force as an airborne combat information officer. He credited Master Chief Petty Officer Loren Bailey for encouraging what he saw as Jim's gifts of leadership and teaching when he was a young Lieutenant in the navy. Jim later leveraged these qualities to become an accomplished salesman for National Chemsearch, later NCH Corporation, where he spent 49 years of his career, rising from sales representative to Executive Vice President overseeing the company's international businesses. While at NCH, Jim was mentored by Irvin Levy, who Jim credited as the perfect role model and someone who he tried to emulate. Jim's own role as mentor transcended the workplace, and in addition to serving as a frequent source of counsel to coworkers, friends, and family, he frequently lectured on communication and leadership topics to international students at Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Dallas. Jim had a natural curiosity and spirit of adventure. He loved to travel, both for business and pleasure. Some of his favorite countries included Thailand, China, Australia and his beloved Africa. He loved people and interacted with everyone with respect and interest. He was known to many as a friend and counselor, constantly offering his undivided attention and time to those he encountered. He was a wonderful husband and father and leaves in bereavement his loving wife Sherry, children Jimmy and wife Jean, Julie Friedberg Kuntz and husband Mike, Stephanie Friedberg Bowden, Stephen Friedberg, grandchildren Andrew, Eric, Mathew, Aiden, Brady and Katherine, stepchildren Micah Levin and wife Julie, Brendan Levin and wife Tonya and Erin Levin, and step-grandchildren Miller, Rhys, Merritt, and Eben. Services will be held Monday, March 13 at 10:30am in the Stern Chapel at Temple Emmanuel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the UT Dallas Jim Friedberg ProConnect Opportunity Fund (an endowment: giving.utdallas.edu/Friedberg), Dallas Fort Worth Labrador Retriever Rescue Club or the charity of your choice.

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Published by Dallas Morning News on Mar. 10, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for James Friedberg

Sponsored by The Dallas Morning News.

8 Entries

Mary Beth Whitman Goodrich

March 4, 2022

Missing you, Jim. I find it hard to believe it has been 5 years. You still have a major impact on the way I choose to live my life and mentor and give back to others.

Lisa Davis

March 6, 2018

My deepest sympathy to the family. May you find strength to endure in the God of all comfort. 1Pet.5:7 tells us to throw all our anxiety on him because he cares for us.

March 15, 2017

Jim was my first mentor who encouraged me to be a brave girl in 2015. His love was unconditional. Thank you, Jim. I hope we can meet again in heaven.
- Gina

KELLEY

March 13, 2017

MAY THE THOUGHT OF KNOWING THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF BRING YOUR FAMILY A MEASURE OF COMFORT.PLEASE READ PROV 17:17

Bowen Li

March 10, 2017

Mr Friedberg is a very important mentor to me. He offered great advice to my professional development, especially on relationship building skills. He was also a great resource to Ascend. When I was the President of Ascend in 2014, I invited him several times to come to our events as a speaker. He always gladly accepted my invitation and did a terrific job of helping our members. Beyond that, he was my great friend. We ate lunch together at Rockfish periodically and he would always recommend crawfish to me. He was very compassionate and liked sharing pictures of his two dogs that he rescued. He was also a very fun person and had traveled lots of places. He worked in Dalian China for a few years. Coincidentally, Dalian is my hometown.

I am deeply saddened by my loss of this great mentor and friend. He dedicated his life after retirement to mentoring students and young professionals. That is his passion. I think the best way to honor him is to do whatever we can to empower students to have a solid start of their career life. I wish he be in Heaven and enjoy the serenity of his after-life life.

Mary Beth Goodrich

March 10, 2017

My deepest sympathy to your family and loved ones. You were a light to all who knew you.

Jim Friedberg receiving the "Selfless Heart" Owlie Award for his work with our students.

Mary Beth Goodrich

March 10, 2017

Jim Friedberg was a big part of our UT Dallas community. His advice and support has transformed the lives of many of our students. It is an honor to consider him a friend and mentor. He was such an encourager to me personally and instrumental in challenging me to look outside of the traditional ways to mentor people and approach life.

Lucretia Ensminger

March 10, 2017

Jim Friedberg was a tremendous advocate for UT Dallas students and tirelessly devoted his time and energy to advance their professional development. His genuine friendship and advice was invaluable to the students and myself. Jim will be sorely missed.

My deepest sympathy to his wife and family.

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