Edith Fried

Frau Fried, as she was known to her language students, was my first German teacher. That was at SFSU in 1979. I emigrated to Germany from Oakland in 1995. I teach English in German colleges now, and I sometimes recount incidents from those first German classes with Frau Fried. She had a memorable wisdom about teaching and a vivacious energy and intellect that I still recall warmly. She added to my life, as she did for so many others.

Edith and I knew each other for 30 years. We taught for the German Department at San Francisco State University, shared on office and became very good friends despite our age difference. And perhaps it was precisely that difference that brought us together! She always said to me 'when you're old you need a young friend, when you're young you need an old friend'. She had such wisdom of life and I benefitted greatly.

Our time was also the time before I-phones, twitter and...

We should no longer speak of Edith as if she were gone. Edith, you are not gone, only transformed into a being who can now accompany, support and nourish each of us, at any time. If we merely stop and reach out, there we will find you. If we look within ourselves for those qualities that are valued, there we will find you. And if we engage with others who were also close to you, there we will find you.

To Harriet and Madelyn, I feel privileged to have known your mother. She was my German literature professor at SFSU. She was born into a turbulent world and lived to see so much change. Rest in peace. -Maria Dichov

From the family down under our deepest condolences to Madilyn and Harriet.
Be comforted in the fact of a life well lived.
Hugs and kisses to our family in the US.