Karl Bernard Friedman was born on May 23, 1924, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Max and Sid Friedman and died on April 5, 2018. He was the younger brother of Elaine Friedman Royal (Arnold) and the elder brother of Micky Friedman Rubenstein (Stanley). He was raised on the Southside, where he attended the Lakeview School and graduated from Ramsey High School at the age of 15. While his childhood home was filled with love, culture, and social activity, his family was poor, but not nearly as poor as his black neighbors down the street in the housing project that lacked running water, indoor plumbing, and electricity. This inequity was a lifelong concern for him. His primary home was with his family: his teenage sweetheart and wife, Gladys Marie Cohen, to whom he was married from September 5, 1948, until she passed away on April 13, 2010, and his children, Mark "Spud" Friedman, Tracy Friedman Stein (Gary), and Lolly Friedman Miller (Stuart). This home is where Gladys entertained friends and family and hosted the extended family's Passover Seder and annual open house on New Year's Day to watch the college bowl games. He loved the Crimson Tide. The house was always open to the friends of Mark, Tracy, and Lolly, whether to listen to Mark's band, play basketball or tetherball, feast from the candy drawer, or just hang out. It was also where he met with leaders in the black community as they organized to take their place in the power structure of Birmingham. A bullet hole in the front window remains as evidence of the mixed popularity of his efforts. Karl's homes-away-from-home included Temple Beth-El, where he was a Sunday School teacher, its youngest president, and a mentor to future presidents, and the Young Mens Hebrew Association, which became the Levite Jewish Community Center, where he was also a young president, a handball player, and a biddy basketball coach. But Karl's most important second home was his law firm, which he joined after serving as a fighter pilot during World War II and graduating from the University of Alabama law school in 1948 as a member of the Order of the Coif. The Firm became known as Sirote, Permutt, Friend, and Friedman when Karl was made a partner in 1952. He became the manager of the Firm before he made partner and served in that position for over 30 years. Sirote's tribute to him, published in full on its website at Sirote.com, says "Karl was more than one of the founders of our firm. For generations of Sirote's attorneys and staff, Karl was an inspiration and a role model. For his clients, he was a passionate advocate who, more times than not, became a personal friend." Karl practiced law for over 70 years. He was a consummate businessman's lawyer, and his areas of expertise included business and financial services, creditors' rights, and estate, gift and trust law. Karl was a president of Goodwill Industries of Alabama and the Birmingham Jewish Federation, an organizer of the Birmingham Crisis Center, Alabama State Chairman for the Anti-Defamation League, and Chairman of Religious Emphasis Week. He was an advisory board member to the president of UAB, a spokesman for United Way, and a member of Jewish War Veterans, 608. He was honored by the National Conference for Community and Justice, and was the recipient of the 2007 Golden Eagle award by the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Commission. Karl was a prolific writer. In addition thousands of legendary letters and numerous articles and editorials, he wrote a novel, The Professor, which largely drew on his own life experiences. He was a brother in the Kappa Nu fraternity, which later merged into Zeta Beta Tau, and was one of 11 "Menschen" in the first class of inductees into ZBT's Hall of Fame at its 100th anniversary in 2016. In addition to his children, Karl is survived by his five very special grandchildren: Sam Friedman Stein, Ellie Friedman Stein, Ben Friedman Stein, Melanie Kara Miller, and Josh Aaron Miller. He is also survived by cherished sister and brother-in-law, Micky and Stanley Rubenstein, and his beloved companion, Charlotte Corenblum. The family would like to give special thanks to Margaret Bailey, Cheryl Austin, Kisha Cohill, and Taura Evans, who provided loving care to Karl over the last several years. Karl's funeral took place on Sunday, April 8. Serving as pallbearers were his grandsons and his nephews and nephews-in-law: Melvin Buck, Arthur Serwitz, Stuart Royal, Ed Royal, Richard Kirby, Forrest Rubenstein, Michael Rubenstein, Sam Rubenstein, Jerry Seligman, Michael Seligman, and Steve Royal. Karl was a lover of people and a lover of life, and his memory will forever be held in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he touched. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Gladys and Karl Friedman Fiduciary Fund of the Temple Beth-El Foundation, Gladys and Karl Friedman Fund of the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, Gladys and Karl Friedman LJCC Fund, Alabama Goodwill Industries, the Birmingham Crisis Center, or the charity of your choice.