Lee Friedman | Chemical engineer, 89

Lee Friedman, 89, of Rittenhouse Square, a chemical engineer and a Navy veteran of D-Day, died of complications of a stroke Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Born and raised in Logan, Mr. Friedman graduated in 1935 from Olney High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1939 from Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in science in 1940 from Texas A&M College.

He worked as a chemical engineer for Phillips Petroleum Co. in Cushing, Okla., from 1941 until he joined the Navy in 1943.

Mr. Friedman was an engineering officer on a tank-landing ship that transported troops and tanks to the beach at Normandy on D-Day. He was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant.

After World War II, Mr. Friedman was an executive for Houdry Air Products & Chemicals Inc. and traveled the world overseeing the construction and renovation of chemical plants.

He married Judith Stalberg in 1950, and the couple raised two children in Bala Cynwyd.

In retirement, Mr. Friedman used his scientific knowledge as a member of Gov. Richard Thornburgh's Commission on Environmental Action.

"He enjoyed being a bad classical pianist, a mediocre tennis player, a good puzzle-solver, an omnivorous reader, and the world's most devoted family man," son-in-law Hugh O'Neill said. "He was once described as a singular mix of sweetness and science."

In addition to his wife and son-in-law, Mr. Friedman is survived by a son, Joshua; a daughter, Jody; and two grandchildren.

Services were private. His body was donated to science.