Richard Freidah, a longtime visitor to Sag Harbor and one of the founders of the Old Whalers Festival, died August 15 at the age of 78.
Mr. Freidah was born on August 21, 1934, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Freidah and was raised in Jackson Heights, N.Y.
Mr. Freidah attended Bryant College on a basketball scholarship, and had a career in insurance, insuring potato farmers on the East End, and later opening his own business in Patchogue.
Mr. Freidah, and his brother, the late Robert, along with several other local businessmen including John A. Ward, Bene Menaik, Frank Barry and others, were the first to start the Old Whalers Festival in 1963, 50 years ago this year.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and children, Steven, Brett, Kathleen and Richard. He is also survived by grandchildren Nichole, Kaitlin, Joshua and Kara.