Obituaries

Frieda died peacefully, just a few hours after a severe stroke, on Nov. 24, surrounded by a circle of friends. She was 75. She had been in the hospital for a week, and was recovering well from having a stent placed in the carotid artery. 

She was born in Garmisch, Germany in 1939. Her family moved to a remote mountain village during WWII, to be away from the bombing, and after the war, they lived in Munich. She and her two younger brothers were raised by a single mother. 

She came to the U.S. in the ‘60s to go to graduate school, married David Gordon, an American, and stayed. The marriage later ended amicably. Their daughter, Miriam, who had great enthusiasm for life, died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 14. Frieda always said that she “cherished every moment” of Miriam’s short life. 

Frieda tutored at the UC Berkeley Learning Center, and later, for many years, she worked as part of Berkeley’s renowned Cheese Board Collective, where you can still get unsurpassable Christmas stollen based on Frieda’s mother’s recipe, every holiday season. Frieda left the Cheese Board after more than 20 years and crafted a career for herself as a translator. 

Singing in the Berkeley Community Chorus was one of Frieda’s great passions. She was also an excellent cook, a serious reader, a passionate gardener, a fine (albeit undiscovered) memoirist, and a generous, loyal friend. 

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about 4 years ago, Frieda found a new community with PD Active, a support group for people with Parkinson’s. During the last year of her life she served as president, a big responsibility. In spite of the Parkinson’s and other health problems, she remained independent, stalwart, and curious to the end. She was quick to help others, slow to ask for help. 

Frieda is survived by her brother Ruediger, her nieces Claudia and Leah, and the many close friends who formed her family in the U.S. 

Memorial service: January 18, 3–5 2-4 pm, Crowden School Auditorium, 1475 Rose St., Berkeley. Donations invited in Frieda’s name, to “PD Active” at https://pdactive.wordpress.com/.