Mr. Friedlich was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1919, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1941, and received a master's degree in meteorology from New York University. He was a captain in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as a fighter control director in the Pacific theater.
After the war he commenced a long and productive career in advertising in New York City. He worked for many years at Time, Inc., after which he was co-founder of Henderson and Friedlich, an advertising agency. Mr. Friedlich was an active alumnus of Dartmouth, serving as his class president and as a lifelong member of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. He was also a director of the Boys and Girls Club in New York City for many years. He was a longtime member and supporter of the Nature Conservancy, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club.
He sold the advertising agency and retired in the late 1980s. Upon retirement Mr. Friedlich and his wife Karla split their time between Shelter Island and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Along with his wife he was active in various local volunteer projects in both communities. Among the projects he was most proud of was a residence for adults with traumatic brain injury they helped build in Santa Fe. It was the first facility of its kind in the state of New Mexico. They were also instrumental in ensuring that a new LIPA pipeline crossing Shelter Island would not be filled with toxic oil.
He was an avid outdoorsman who greatly enjoyed skiing, hiking, tennis, gardening and walking in Mashomack and on Shelter Island's beaches. He especially enjoyed spending time with his extended family and his many friends of all ages.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Karla Luddecke Friedlich; by his sons from a first marriage and their spouses, William and Deborah Friedlich, Donald Friedlich and Judith Mitchell, and James Friedlich and Melissa Stern; by his grandson Max Friedlich; by his step-children and their spouses, Courtenay O'Sullivan and Pierre Champigneulle, Wylie O'Sullivan and Robert Armstrong, and Sean and Elizabeth O'Sullivan; and by his step-grandchildren Henri, Oscar and Margot Champigneulle and Will O'Sullivan. He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Katherine Langsdorf Friedlich, his twin sister, Kate Witkin, and his older brother, Alan Friedlich.
He will be sorely missed by his family and friends, who will remember him for his generous, loving and vibrant spirit, a member of his family wrote.
The family will hold a private memorial service in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Mashomack Preserve, P.O. Box 850, Shelter Island 11964.