Paul David Friedman

Paul David Friedman passed peacefully the morning of July 29, 2025, one week shy of his 75th birthday. Born August 6, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio to Joe and Clara Friedman (née Toothman), Paul grew up surrounded by a large family, his older sister Sue and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

As a young man, Paul joined the family photography business in Dayton before getting married, moving to Pompano Beach, Fla, and having his first son. The family of three soon relocated to the Tampa area and added three more sons, who were his greatest source of pride until one day his kids started having babies of their own and he realized grandkids are even better.

Paul had a quick wit and a strong sense of humor, a trait he passed on to his kids. (Well, some of us, anyway.) He was an average bowler and a talented card player and he always enjoyed good-spirited ribbing. When playing cards, if someone took too long he was famous for saying, "Go! Before I'm retired!" After retiring from the Tampa Tribune in 2012, he cheerfully updated his catchphrase to, "Take your time, I'm retired!"

He enjoyed reading, mostly crime, mystery, and thriller novels, and he was excellent at math. He hated cold weather and inconsiderate drivers. He loved campy comedy movies, M&M's, and Florida's oppressive heat. He was an avid coffee drinker, day and night, and always with "a little bit of real milk." He demonstrated questionable judgment when buying used cars and great judgment when surrounding himself with friends. He enjoyed motorcycle trips and loved all dogs, especially the nine dachshunds he had in his lifetime (and very possibly more).

Paul was an honest man who valued loyalty and candor more than most. In a world too often defined by inauthenticity, Paul was always exactly who he appeared to be. He loved dirty jokes and humor of all kind, and he struggled to stay mad if you could make him laugh - something his young sons figured out early and exploited often.

Through it all, Paul would make sure everyone knew that his greatest source of pride and highest achievement was his family, as father to his four sons and "Zayde" to his five grandchildren.

Paul is survived by his sons Mathew (Sarah) Friedman, Joseph (Rachael) Friedman, Samuel (Jennifer) Friedman, and Benjamin Friedman, his grandchildren Eliana, Charles, Isabella, Margaret, and Annika Friedman, his sister Sue (Ron) Sakata, and his loyal dog, Snoop. He is predeceased by his parents, Joe and Clara Friedman, and at least eight more dachshunds.

Paul's family intends to honor his long-established wishes to be cremated and returned to the earth among his many fond boyhood memories in West Virginia.