Merle Friedman, March 2, 2018.

Dear son of the late Michael “Mitchell” and the late Pearl Friedman; beloved husband of the late Anneda Friedman; dear father and father-in-law of Dr. Lee (Z”L) and Mary Elizabeth Friedman and Michele and Patrick Siler; dear grandfather of Major Dr. Nicholas and Kim Friedman, Dr. Megan Friedman and Dr. Muneer Hameer, Abigail Friedman, Jessica Friedman, Matthew Friedman, Miranda Siler and Michael Siler; great-grandfather of Amelia Friedman; dear cousin, uncle and friend to many.

Merle was a simple man who fought heroic battles for the health and well-being of his family, his friends, his community. Merle, a respected shoe merchant, began selling shoes at the age of 18 for his future father-in-law, John Albert until his retirement at the age of 80. While in Wellston at John Albert’s Shoe Store, Merle was committed to the dignity and preservation of the Wellston Community through the 1970s. A member of the Wellston Chamber of Commerce, Merle also Chaired the Citizen’s Community Police Relations Group, was an original “Old Newsboy”, helped to organize “Operation Clean Sweep” and as a member of the “Aunts and Uncles” custom fit and donated high quality shoes to neighborhood children in time for Easter each year. Merle received multiple commendations for his “Outstanding Aid to Law Enforcement” from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Merle’s method of lifting up the neighborhood was by making personal and respectful connections with people. In addition to Albert’s Shoes, Merle worked for his dear friends at the Gravois Bootery and Seliga Shoes.

Funeral service Sunday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road. Interment follows at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road. Memorial contributions preferred to the Adult Day Center at the J, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, 63146 or Congregation Shaare Emeth. Please visit bergerememorialchapel.com for more information.

BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE