Norman E. Friedman

Norman E. Friedman, 89, of New Rochelle, NY, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2023 at home with his son Jason, and daughter-in-law Melanie, by his side after a long illness. Norman was born on May 28, 1934 to Moe and Helen Friedman in the Bronx, NY.

For over 65 years, Norman devoted his career to the care and treatment of children and youth with serious emotional problems. Beginning as a public school teacher in Armonk, NY, Norman built an impressive career as an educator, administrator, counselor, and mental health professional. In 1999, he retired as Executive Director of Hawthorne Cedar Knolls, the largest residential treatment facility in the state.

Over his lengthy career, Norm observed the need for better educational resources and tools for parents and the staff of public and private schools, day care centers, camps, and other congregant care facilities, on preventing child sexual abuse. For over 25 years after retirement, Norm became an acclaimed author, lecturer, trainer, and consultant, and published Inoculating Your Children Against Sexual Abuse: What every parent should know!, a powerful manual for recognizing and thwarting child predators.

In 2000, Norm brought his skills and experiences to the private sector, and joined the A.M. Skier Insurance Agency in Hawley, Pennsylvania, which insures private camps across the country. In his capacities as the Executive Director of A.M. Skier Partners and the Dean of a Safety College, Norman developed and conducted education and training programs for thousands of camp counselors on techniques to identify child sexual abuse.

Well known as a national speaker, Norman has taught as a guest lecturer at Westchester Community College and Fordham University School of Social Work. He has been quoted by the New York Times, Gannett Newspapers, The Washington Post about issues of Inappropriate Intimate Behaviors relating to adults and children in congregate care programs.

In 1998, Westchester County honored Norm's 25 years of service to children, by designating June 30, 1998 as "Norman Friedman Day." County Executive Andrew Spano in 2002 appointed Norman to a Select Committee, "Protect the Kids" to study the issues of Child Molestation and Pedophilia in Westchester County with the stated purpose of recommending improvements to the judicial system of sentencing sex offenders. Norm was also an inaugural member of the The Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, founded in 2002 under County Executive Andrew Spano as a citizens' board to advise the County Executive.

Norman is survived by his children Jason and Melanie of New Rochelle, NY; David and Deanna of York, ME; Valerie and Bruce Cortalano of Garrison, NY, many grandchildren, Evan Friedman, nephew of White Plains, NY; and Beth Friedman, nice, of Oceanside, LI, and his twin brother, Herbert of White Plains, NY.

A private graveside ceremony will be held on December 19 for family only. A Memorial Service will be held at Woodlands Community Temple, White Plains, NY on Sunday, January 14th at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jonah Maccabee Fund c/o Woodlands Community Temple, which funds scholarships for children of temple members to attend URJ camping programs or the Elmsford New York Animal Shelter.