James W. Friedman

James W. Friedman

September 25, 1936 - February 17, 2016

Chapel Hill

James W. Friedman, 79, died at home on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 after a brief illness. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Marcia (Sherman) Friedman, his son Robert Friedman and his wife Laurie Friedman, his daughter Nancy Friedman and her partner Virginia Brown, and four grandchildren. He loved his family and took special joy in spending time with his grandchildren, Paul, Kimberly, Adam, and Daniel.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Bay City, Michigan, the son of Gertrude and Theodore Friedman, he has lived in Chapel Hill since 1985.

Mr. Friedman graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and received his doctorate in Economics from Yale University in 1963. He was a professor at Yale, University of Rochester, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and was Kenan Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill until his retirement in 2001. He also received an honorary doctorate in 2004 from the University Pantheon-Assas, Paris II. He was the author of numerous books and research papers in the fields of game theory and industrial organization, and was a fellow of the Econometric Society.

An avid lover of the arts, Mr. Friedman attended many performances of music, opera, and dance. He loved baking, cooking and good wine, and enjoyed travel, visiting many countries over the years. He also enjoyed the outdoors, especially camping, hiking and boating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Duke Hospice (https://www.gifts.duke.edu/daa, designate "Duke HomeCare and Hospice"), or Carolina Performing Arts (https://se cure.dev.unc.edu/gift/Default.aspx?p=CPAR).