Funeral Details

Richard "Rick" Friedman, 64, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Rick was born on September 15, 1960, to the late Howard and the late Kay Levinson Friedman and grew up in Morton Grove, with his older sister and brother, Beth and David (Sarah Phillips).

Rick and Carol married in Columbus, Ohio, in 1987, and together they built a family with strong foundations in the Chicago suburbs and beyond. Rick was the father of three sons that he took a tremendous amount of pride in: Aaron (Elisha), Gabriel (Thúy-Lan Võ Lite), and Daniel (Kiandokht Amiri).

He was also the adored grandfather, Papa Rick/Papa Ricker, to Zev, Rose, and Benjamin; Levi and Noa. Rick will be missed by all of the Neubauers, his cousins, and his many nieces and nephews.

Rick was an active member of the Temple Judea Youth Group (aka the Acme Burning Bush Company) in Skokie, as well as in Habonim, where he was a participant in the 28th Habonim Workshop program at Kibbutz Ginnigar, Israel, in 1978-79.

After graduating from Skokie's Niles West High School in 1978, Rick was an English major at Bradley University in Peoria, IL, where he met Carol Neubauer at the Bradley Hillel chapter. He graduated from Bradley in 1983.

Rick and Carol have been active members of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation for the past 37 years and often call JRC their second home. More recently, Rick participated in weekly events at the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign senior center.

Professionally, Rick was an options trader for many years until he became an accomplished realtor and insurance salesman. In 2002, Rick battled back from a traumatic brain injury with the support of his close-knit family and remained an avid volunteer and beloved community member at both Jewish and secular institutions, engaging friends and strangers alike with dad jokes and witty banter. He loved camaraderie and being a member of his men’s group and other social groups.

Funeral services will be held at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Avenue, Evanston, on Sunday, March 23, at 11 am, followed by a shiva reception at the same site until 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation or Chicago Mitzvah Campaign. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.