Gerald Gray Friedel

Gerald Gray Friedel, 64, of Trappe, MD, formerly of Salisbury, MD, passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2016. Born on November 3, 1951, in Milford, DE, he was the son of Mildred Brown Friedel and the late Charles Gray Friedel. Graduating in 1973 from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering, he went on to obtain his professional engineering license in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. He later founded Davis, Bowen, and Friedel (DBF), a full service architectural and engineering (A&E) firm, in 1983. Rated the #33 top A&E firm in the country, DBF employed 170 employees at its peak and has offices in Salisbury (MD), Milford (DE), and Easton (MD). The firm also acquired Andrews, Miller, and Associates in 2006, which specializes in marine surveys. A well-known figure in the community, Jerry Friedel was town engineer of Easton for 10 years and a member of the Chamber of Commerce for six years. He was treasurer, and volunteer, of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) mentor program; a national program that mentors high school students interested in pursuing engineering; and a board member of the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, MD. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Jerry Friedel also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at an early age. With his strong spirit of service and dedication, he became a Scout leader for several years, continued to help many others and contributed to the community throughout his life. Jerry Friedel’s hobbies included hunting, skeet shooting, decoy carving, golf, classic car restoration, classic gas pump restoration, fishing, boating, and crabbing. An avid craftsman, he enjoyed many projects, one of which was restoration of the historic Dorothy Lee, a 1933 dovetail workboat which led the Cambridge Power Boat Regatta as pace boat and which provided much enjoyment with family and friends while pursuing his crabbing and fishing hobbies with them. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Susan Baldwin Friedel; son, Michael Gray Friedel and his wife Shalini of Alexandria, VA; daughter, Laura Friedel; and his first grandson, Nolan Gray of Easton, MD. He is also survived by his mother, Mildred Brown Friedel of Salisbury, MD; sister, Jennifer Kay Friedel from Salisbury, MD; and brother, James Edward Friedel of Seaford, DE. A beloved husband, father, son, uncle, and friend, he is also survived by his many nieces, nephews, and extended family, who loved him deeply and were greatly inspired by his generosity, spirit, and kindness. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 28, at 2:00 PM, at Saints Peter and Paul Church located in Easton. Please send any flower donations to the church on the 28th. Donations may be made in his memory to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, MD 21663.

Gerald Gray Friedel

November 3, 1951 - August 13, 2016