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Note: N13 Friedlieb, Oskar Peter M.D. Age 85, passed away November 20, 2009, peacefully in his sleep. Preceeded in death by wife Constance, father Siegfried, and mother Rosa. Survived by his sister Ruth and his children Peter (Chris), Helen (Chuck), Victoria, Christine, Jonathan (Nance), Gary (Linda) and Mary and his seven grandchildren Tasha (Jake), Rachel, Giles, Evan, Jace, Lucas and Marcus all of whom loved him dearly. Oskar was born December 9, 1923 in Vienna, Austria, to Siegfried and Rosa Friedlieb and it was the start of a life that reads like a novel. In 1930 his family immigrated to Yugoslavia and 1938 they moved to Beirut, Lebanon to escape the Nazis. During these travels Oskar learned to speak several languages, explored much of Lebanon, and attained a medical degree from the America University of Beirut. At that time it was one of the few foreign universities that could grant a medical degree valid for practice in the US. After he arrived in the US Oskar received additional surgical training at Bellvue Hospital, New York City. He served in the US Army as a surgeon and received a commendation for his work. In 1957 Oskar moved to Minneapolis and practiced at Mount Sinai Hospital. Challenges and opportunities brought him to Virginia Minnesota. There he married his second wife Connie, creating a family of six children. In 1963 they had a seventh child Mary. Oskar flourished professionally and socially in Virginia, taking up curling, hunting and fishing as his favorite pastimes. He excelled as a surgeon, served on the school board and as president of the chamber of commerce, and was a wonderful husband and father. He instilled the importance of education and a strong work ethic in all his children. When Oskar talked to his children about life after high school he didn't ask if you were going to college but where. He also insisted his children work during the summer to help pay for college. One of his proudest accomplishments was that his 7 children all received their college diplomas; several with advanced degrees. Through it all the love of his life was Connie. He loved spending time with her and always had a gift for her when he came back from one of his hunting trips. They were a great team and had a wonderful life together raising their children, traveling, and meeting all of life's challenges head on. In 1978 Oskar took up a new challenge, moving to Ashland KY to become medical director of Our Lady of Bellfonte Hospital. To perform his new duties Oskar went back to school and became board certified in emergency room medicine and utilization review; no mean feat for a doctor in his mid fifties. In the ten years Oskar served in Ashland he transformed the medical care in the region. His accomplishments included hiring over 60 new doctors, creating an emergency medical service essentially from the ground up, and training the paramedics. For his efforts the Governor of Kentucky made him an honorary Kentucky Colonel and the Bellefonte order of nuns that owned the hospital awarded him the Blessed Francis Schervier Award. In 1985 the training Oskar gave the paramedics and doctors he recruited stood him in good stead when, while recovering from triple bypass surgery, a blood clot broke loose and went to his lungs. The paramedics took him to the hospital and Oskar recovered fully, with the expert care of one of the cardiologist he recruited, Dr. Charles Rhodes. Three years later Oskar retired and moved back to Minnesota with Connie to be closer to their children. Retirement was a relative term for Oskar as he continued to perform medical utilization reviews into his seventies. Connie was at his side, his best friend and loving companion, until her death in November of 2008. In his final years multiple strokes took a toll on Oskar, reducing his mental facilities and memory. However he remained gracious and kind and was loved by all who knew him. The words we wrote last year about Connie apply equally to him: His actions resonated louder than his words and through his actions he demonstrated that those who put others above themselves receive more than they give. He will be missed by all who knew him, but never forgotten by all who loved him. He was a loving husband and father who will be dearly missed. Memorials to family. Funeral Service 11:00 AM, visitation one hour prior to service, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, The Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435. 925-924-4100
Published in Star Tribune from November 22 to November 23, 2009
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