Victoria Smith Friedman

Dr. Victoria Smith-Friedman, MD, MPH, of Chestertown, MD, formerly of Albany and Kinderhook, NY, passed peacefully in her home on June 25, 2009. She was 87. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico, her medical degree from Laval University of Quebec, and a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She was a resident in psychiatry at the Albany Medical Center from 1961 -1964. Over the next 30 years, Dr. Smith held various positions in her field. She served as Director of Mental Health Services for Greene County, NY; New York State epidemiologist; clinical physician at the Wilton Developmental Center; Director of the New York State Employee Health Service; Physician III at the Capital District Psychiatric Center; and as a consultant with the Whitney Young Health Center and the New York State Department of Social Services. She also maintained a private psychiatric practice in Albany and Kinderhook, NY, from 1964 -1994. In 1976, Dr. Smith received the Redway Award from the New York State Medical Society for her work on Reyes Syndrome. She was a life member of the American Psychiatric Association. A resident of Kinderhook, NY, for 35 years, she was a member of the Kinderhook Garden Club, the Columbia County Historical Society, and an honorary member of the Old Chatham Hunt Club. She was a fabulous cook who enjoyed entertaining. She and her husband moved to Chestertown in 2002. She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Smith. Dr. Smith is survived by her husband of 48 years, Herbert Friedman, Sr. of Chestertown; a son and his wife, Herbert and Sue Friedman, Jr. of Clifton Park, NY; two daughters and their husbands, Anne and David Singer of Chestertown and Ivette and Carlos Alvarez of Livingston, NJ and theirdaughter, Yvonne Ramos of Miami Beach, FL; a brother, John Smith of Rio Piedras, PR; five grandchildren, Rick Hackett, Charles Alvarez, Ashley Singer, Benjamin Friedman and Zachary Friedman; and a great-grandson, Rick Tyler Garcia Hackett. A memorial service will be held on Monday June 29, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Chester River Hospital Center, 100 Brown St., Chestertown, MD 21620 or to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Victoria Smith Friedman

October 12, 1921 - June 25, 2009