Ms. Debra Lotz

Debra Ruth Newman Friedman Lotz, of Green Brook, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 30, 2023. She was 91 years “young”. Born in New Brunswick, Debbie grew up in Highland Park and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1949. She then attended Douglass College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1954. She married Gordon Friedman, z’l, also of Highland Park, in 1952. While in high school and college, Debbie was a thespian, where she spent “wonderful hours at the “Little Theater” at Douglass College, including playing Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. She also helped her family at the Knitting Shop.

Debbie worked at Douglass College from 1970-1971 as an event coordinator for guest speakers. We were honored to have Pete Seeger and also Dick Gregory join us for dinner in our home so they could enjoy one of her home cooked meals. She later worked for Chicopee Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, as a Sales Operations Manager, and then as an Office and Human Resources Manager. She was J&J’s Membership Advisor for the Advancement of Women in 1977. She was the editor in chief of Chicopee Horizons. Volunteering played a large part in her life. She was on the Board of Managers of the American Cancer Society from 1960-1968 and sat on the Board of Trustees for Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick from 1969-1975, and also served as President of AEMT’s Sisterhood.

She was an avid reader, talented artist, excellent cook, and baker, and loved spending time at Beach Haven over the summers with family and friends. Later in her life, she enjoyed traveling to Israel, Europe, and the US West Coast.

Debbie was a beloved daughter, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend to many. She is survived by her children, Jamie and his significant other Orli of Kibbutz Hatzerim, Israel; Randi and Daniel of Green Brook, NJ; her beloved grandchildren, Shir Friedman of Be’er Sheva, Israel; Gefen Friedman and his wife Ester of Kibbutz Hatzerim, Israel; Rebecca Friedman of Arlington VA and Ashley Friedman of Green Brook, NJ; as well as three former sisters in law, her nieces and nephews and their spouses and children, Orli’s two daughters Britt, Shoval and her husband Tonu and their two children; and her primary caregiver/companion of many years, Crucita “Cookie” Lopez, who we all regard as a member of the family. She is predeceased by her parents Leon and Rebecca Newman, z’l; and brother, Alan Newman, z’l; her in-laws Abraham and Esther Friedman, z’l; her former brother-in-law Philip Friedman, z’l; her niece Ferne Friedman, z’l; and her nephew Dean Michael Friedman, z’l. Her family and especially her grandchildren meant the world to her.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30AM Sunday, February 5, 2023, Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, 222 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, North Brunswick. The funeral service will be viewable online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg3jn99ngl8 Arrangements entrusted to Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Max Marder Fund at AEMT, the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer’s Foundation. The family would like to thank Evelyn, Brenda, Liliana, and Marilyn of Compassionate Care Hospice for their caring and kind attention, particularly over the past few weeks.