An internationally recognized leader in eye surgery, died at his home in San Francisco on November 25 at the age of 90. Dr. Friedman was born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1924 and graduated with a joint BS and MD degree from the University of Iowa in 1948. He went on to do an internship and residency at the Los Angeles County Hospital while serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserve. During his residency, Dr. Friedman met Faega Rodin, whom he married in 1950. Together they had two daughters, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Having received further retinal training under Dr. Dorhman Pischel of Stanford, Dr. Friedman moved to San Francisco in 1955 to establish a retinal surgery department at Stanford Hospital. When the University moved its medical facilities to Palo Alto, he joined the Department of Ophthalmology at UCSF where he taught for 40 years, serving as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology. He introduced the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope to the San Francisco eye community and was a leader in procedures developing retinal buckling for retinal detachments.

In 1962, Dr. Friedman was appointed Chief of Ophthalmology at Mt. Zion Hospital, a position he held for fifteen years. He was a member of numerous medical societies, including the American Ophthalmologic Society, the American Retinal Society, and the Gonin Society, an international retinal association. He also served as a member of the San Francisco Ophthalmological Round Table and the Society of Heed Fellows and as President of the board of Prevent Blindness, Northern California.

The last years of his life were spent between his homes in San Francisco and St. Helena. His greatest pleasure was sharing time and ideas with his wife of 64 years, Faega Friedman, his daughters Rickie Ann Baum and Barbra Friedman, their spouses Rick Baum and Doug Loudon, his grand children Daniel Baum, Rachel Vranich, Abigail Baum, Zach Baum, Dylan Loudon and Ethan Loudon, and his great granddaughter Nora Vranich.

Private graveside services were held. The family asks that any donations in Dr. Friedman's memory be directed to the Jewish Home of San Francisco, 302 Silver Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Morton Friedman

6 Entries

CJ Hinke

March 11, 2025

I traveled to Oz with Dr. Friedman! He had a fine collection of modern first editions when he bought the Dougherty Oz collection from the renowned bookseller,Peter Howard, of Serendipity Books in Berkeley. I had the privilege of cataloguing and appraising the 700 rare books in his home, later donated to the University of San Francisco as the M. Wallace Friedman Collection of Oz and Oziana. He had vision to keeping this valuable collection intact.

John Barreto

December 2, 2014

I had the privilege to work with Dr. Friedman for 8 years from 1989 to 1997 as a surgical technician at MT. Zion hospital in San Francisco. What a unique man, a giant in ophthalmology and a perfectionist with a very strong character yet a sweet and gentle smile. I was a young man at that time but Dr. Friedman always treated me with kindness and a gentle heart. I truly enjoyed his mentoring and I will forever be grateful. R.I.P amigo

very friendly and kind to me.€I learned a lot from his mentoring and I appreciate

Barbara Vranich

December 2, 2014

My sympathy to the Friedman family. I met Wally several years ago when my son became engaged to Rachel, his granddaughter. He was a very loving, kind and gentle man and will be deeply missed.

Edwin Shonfeld

December 2, 2014

I had the pleasure of Wally's friendship medically as well as a neighbor both in SF & St Helena. Marcia &I will miss him a great deal. Ed Shonfeld

William Stivelman

November 29, 2014

I was, I believe, Wally Friedman's last in-office Fellow in his clinical practice from 1986-1987. He and I had hoped initially that I would ultimately succeed him in practice, but that was not to be. We had many commmon friends in the specialty and my father was a resident in Internal Medicine at Los Angeles County Hospital during the same years Wally was LACH in Ophthalmology as a resident. Wally exceptional fund of knowledge and his clinical skills and acumen distinguished him. He had a thirst for knowledge that was insatiable and staggering in scope even after thirty-five to forty years in practice, and he was delighted with emerging techologies in vitreoretinal disease, and optics. Despite his seniority he was not in any way superannuated in clinical practice during my year with him, wherea many somewhat younger doctors in the community indeed were, and I was impressed with his medicolegal analysis and report construction skills which was the principal pearl I carried into private practice, from which I retire in 18 days. While never easy, Wally was exceptionally worthy, and his contribution to the field of ophthalmology was appropriately recognized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology twice by way of the Achievement Award and the Senior Achievement Award. I send my regards and condolences to his wife, Faega both of Wally's daughters, their spouses and children.

Joel Porter, M.D.

November 27, 2014

I had the privilege of knowing Wally Friedman when I was a young staff member in the '70s at CPMC's Eye Department. Wally was so full of energy with a great smile and an upbeat personality. I haven't seen him much since I left the Bay Area in 1980. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to all his other friends and family.

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