Robert L. Friedlander, MD

Robert L. Friedlander, MD, 82, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2016, in Albany, NY. Bob was born in Detroit on November 9, 1933, to Samuel David and Esther Engel Friedlander, and grew up surrounded by first and second generation family from Germany and Romania. After graduating from Wayne State University (1955) and Wayne State University College of Medicine (1958), Bob completed a medical internship at Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco and began his residency at Chicago Lying-In Hospital, where he met his future wife, Mary Louisa Cloon, a Northwestern University and Wesley Memorial Nursing School graduate, and clinical nurse at Chicago Lying-In. Bob and Mary Lou were married in Ironwood, MI, on November 27, 1960, and settled immediately in Norfolk, VA, where Bob, a naval medical officer serving with the 6th Fleet, rejoined his ship the USS James C. Owens, then touring the Mediterranean. After two years’ active service, Bob and Mary Lou moved to Albany, NY, when a former mentor asked Bob to join him at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Bob served as instructor and chief resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology before taking a leave of absence to accept a post-doctoral fellowship in steroid biochemistry at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Returning to Albany, Bob’s obstetrical-gynecological practice and professorship specialized in managing difficult pregnancies and fertility enhancement – he was instrumental in helping couples have children. He was exceptionally proud of this work, and of his work with medical students and young physicians. In 1974, Bob was named an Assistant Dean at the Albany Medical College, and in 1980 Dean and President of the College, a role he held for nine years. Bob also contributed to the growth of and held several roles in the nascent Albany Medical Center, and later served as Vice Chancellor of Union University and on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Bob loved spending time in Cooperstown; he initially knew more people than his daughter Suzan because of his colleagues and former students at Bassett Hospital, and he loved following the incredible swimming career of his daughter Rebecca. Bob was a talented and avid photographer from a young age, loved the early Tigers, adored the arts, and had an incredible sense of humor. Predeceased by his brothers-in-law Joe Cohen and Bill Cloon, Bob is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Lou, his daughters Suzan and Rebecca, his sister Margaret Cohen, sister-in-law Nony Cloon, nephews Dan (Wendy) Cohen, David (Michelle Kaplan) Cohen, and Greg (Missy) Cloon, and niece Alicia (Jeff) Lynn. Bob was especially proud of his great nephews Phillip Lynn, Griffin Lynn, Joshua Cohen, Sam Cohen, William Cloon and Robert Cloon, his great niece Olivia Cohen, and canine great nephew Rocky; he really enjoyed their time together. Bob and his family would like to thank the physician’s assistants, nurses and technicians at St. Peter’s Hospital Intensive Care Unit, 4 McAuley and Community Hospice. Donations to honor Bob and his commitment to young professionals may be made in his name to the Albany Medical College Dean’s Discretionary Fund [Albany Medical College, 43 New Scotland Avenue, MC 119, Albany, NY 12208; attn. Molly Nicol; nicolm@mail.amc.edu] or to the Glimmerglass (Opera) Festival “Friedlander Fund for Young Artists” [The Glimmerglass Festival, PO Box 191, Cooperstown, NY 13326; attn: Corey Catton; ccatton@glimmerglass.org]. The family will be planning a celebratory gathering sometime in the future.