Richard John Freiberg

Richard John Freiberg

Greenfield - Passed away peacefully at home on January 30, 2021 at age 71. Beloved husband for 27 years to Kerry (Bublitz) Freiberg. Loving uncle of Therese Freiberg and Saul Newton. Dear brother-in-law of Mary Catherine Freiberg. Dear son-in-law of James and Bonnie Bublitz. Lifelong friends Tom and Deborah Andera. Preceded in death by his wonderful brother, Raymond, and parents Roy and Cecilia Freiberg and his favorite dog, Typhoon. Also survived by other family and friends. Rick believed in a Catholic education. He attended Holy Assumption Grade School and graduated from Pius XI High School, Milwaukee, in 1968. He graduated in 1972 from Marquette University with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech. He was a proud officer of the MU Blue and Gold Club and attended MU basketball games since 1968 and was a season ticket holder for most of those years. Go Warriors! Following graduation, he worked for a short time on the assignment desk at Channel 6, WITI. In 1975, he worked for the City of Milwaukee Bicentennial Commission and was instrumental in planning and facilitating this 200th celebration for the community. Rick joined the Milwaukee Exposition and Convention Center and Arena (MECCA) in 1976 and served in executive roles throughout his 38-year career. Early in his career, he booked entertainment in the Arena. He was proud to have brought Frank Sinatra and also Luciano Pavarotti for performances to Milwaukee. His touch on the entertainment world spanned from Elvis to Eddie Murphy to Bruce Springsteen to Olympic skaters and tennis professionals. He was on the team that negotiated contracts with the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Admirals, Milwaukee Wave, Marquette University Basketball and UW-Milwaukee Basketball. Teams that all played in the Arena. Rick was integral to establishing the Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame - the permanent memorial to Wisconsin's outstanding athletes - located on 6th Street, outside the then US Cellular Arena. He also facilitated the naming rights of the US Cellular Arena. Rick was behind the scenes closing deals and generating new revenue streams for MECCA now the Wisconsin Center District. It was a job he loved and he has left a legacy of integrity and hard work. Rick was a larger than life person - always with fun stories to share with friends and family. He organized outings for his close friends - gatherings that fostered laughter and cherished memories. Thank you to Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin for Rick's extraordinary care and Horizon Hospice for walking with him and his family on his final days. Memorials to Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Foundation scholarships or St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Visitation for family and friends will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (12700 W. Howard Ave.) in New Berlin, WI on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 10AM until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 12PM. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery.