Friday, April 27, 2007

Grandma's obituary

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Roslyn Goldman Freiberg helped unwed mothers
Social activist loved animals, cooking and travel
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Roslyn Goldman Freiberg helped pregnant, unmarried women at a time when they were largely ostracized by society.

It was typical of the work she did for progressive and Democratic causes throughout her life.

"Dismay and outrage at the consistency of Republican thuggery - that of local scoundrels as well as national mendacious quislings and incompetents like Joseph McCarthy, Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and Bush - drove her to get involved with the Democratic Party as an antidote to fascism," said her daughter, Susan Freiberg of Wenatchee, Wash.

Mrs. Freiberg, 92, died April 2 at her home in St. Louis Park, Minn.

A lover of the natural world and a believer in civil and human rights, she served as president of the Nature Center and a docent at the Cincinnati Zoo. She was a past president of the International Visitors Center, taught ceramics to children at the United Cerebral Palsy Center and worked with women at the Booth Memorial Home for Unwed Mothers "at a time when they were pretty much pariahs," her daughter said.

Mrs. Freiberg was also president of the Great Rivers Girl Scout Council and was involved with the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Linton Chamber Music Series and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

"She had a knack for witty repartee," her daughter said. "She also was an unrivaled cook and entertainer who loved friends, family, and animals - especially cats of all sizes and wild birds."

Mrs. Freiberg loved to travel to the American West and instilled in her children an appreciation for natural and cultural history, art and classical music.

Born in Cincinnati on Nov. 21, 1914, she was the daughter of Gisela and Bernard Goldman. She graduated from Hughes High School and studied geology at the University of Cincinnati. She married Albert M. Freiberg - an attorney in Cincinnati for more than 50 years - in 1937. He died in 1998, and Mrs. Freiberg moved to St. Louis Park five years ago.

In addition to her daughter, Susan, survivors include three sons, David of Novato, Calif., Daniel of Golden Valley, Minn., and Jonathan of San Rafael, Calif.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Mrs. Freiberg's remains were cremated.

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