2018 -- H 8186

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LC005674

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF FORMER RHODE ISLAND STATE

REPRESENTATIVE DR. ZYGMUNT J. FRIEDEMANN

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Solomon, McNamara, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: May 10, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with profound sadness and regret that this House has learned of the

passing of former State Representative, Dr. Zygmunt J. Friedemann, the beloved husband for

almost seventy-one years to Ruth, and devoted father of Gail Weisberger and her husband, J.

Robert, and Glenn Friedemann and his wife, Merrill. He was the very proud Papa of Alex

Friedemann, Katie Friedemann, Justin Weisberger and his wife, Marinela, and Joseph Weisberger

and his fiancé, Katelyn, and had enjoyed a special bond with Izzy; and

     WHEREAS, Zygmunt Friedemann, better known as "Ziggy" to his family and many

friends, was born in Krakow, Poland, the son of Leon and Lila Friedemann. As a young child, his

life was idyllic, but when the Nazis invaded Poland, the life as he had known ended. He joined

and fought with the Polish Underground until his capture, ultimately surviving the torture and

atrocities of two concentration camps; and

     WHEREAS, Ziggy met the love of his life, Ruth, while working for the United States

Army at the end of World War II. He served as an interpreter and liaison, helping to relocate

some 80,000 other freed refugees; and

     WHEREAS, Ziggy and Ruth emigrated from Poland to the United States in 1948. While

working long hours to support his family, he earned his Bachelor's degree from Boston

University. Continuing his education, he obtained his Masters from Brown, and ultimately

received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. From 1956 until his retirement in 1990, he taught

political science at Providence College, where he served as Chair of the department and was

honored with the Distinguished Faculty Award; and

     WHEREAS, In November of 1974, Dr. Friedemann was elected to the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, serving the people of Warwick for eight terms until the end of 1990.

Earning the respect of his fellow Representatives, he was named House Deputy Majority Leader,

and played a major role in establishing Rhode Island's emergency 9-1-1 system; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Friedemann left a request to his loved ones that his epitaph would read,

"I love my family, I love my adopted country and I love my students." He was an honest and

steadfast gentleman, who enriched the lives of all who knew him and left the world a far better

place because of his life’s endeavors; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby express our deepest sympathies to the Friedemann Family on the

passing of Dr. Zygmunt J. Friedemann. May his memory be a blessing; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Ruth Friedemann and Family.

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