Doris (Dori) Toltz Friedman

February 3, 2021

Doris Toltz Friedman of Tarrytown passed away suddenly on February 3, 2021. Born on December 16, 1932 to Frances z’l & Harry Toltz z’l in Chelsea, Massachusetts, she grew up surrounded by an extended family in a city she loved. A proud member of Tufts University’ class of 1954, Dori was in her first year at Boston University School of Law when on a blind date she met the love of her life, Samuel Joseph Friedman, a Harvard law student. Married 9 months later in Boston, they each graduated law school in 1957 and moved to Arlington, VA. where Sam started his legal career. In 1960 Dori and Sam moved to Westchester County. They ultimately settled into their Cottontail Lane, Irvington, NY home in 1963 where they raised their three daughters, Ruth, Laura & Jill. They also acquired a home they loved in the Berkshires which was designed to welcome extended family and lifelong friends. Dori and Sam adored traveling the world, time in the Berkshires, the arts, meals by the fireplace and time together until Sam’s untimely death in 1997. Dori continued to travel, visiting India, Antarctica and other locations while embracing her passions for reading, theater, dance and music, cooking, politics and Boston-based professional sports teams. Dori loved being a lawyer. After volunteering in numerous community activities, especially with the Community Opportunity Center of the Tarrytowns, Dori sat for the New York State bar exam in 1970. She practiced law in NY for almost 50 years, representing both criminal and civil parties, assisted in initiating a civil division in the local Legal Aid Society, and then developed a matrimonial practice that lead to a commitment for mediation. She was a founder and principal of the NY State Council on Divorce Mediation. She served as acting justice of the Village of Tarrytown for 16 years and capped her judicial career as Senior Judge of the Town of Greenburgh, serving from 2000 through 2011. Upon ‘retirement,’ she loved teaching legal studies at Mercy College, continued her law practice and at the time of her death remained a member of the Greenburgh Ethics Board. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Quay, the community she moved to and loved after leaving her Irvington home. Dori was a trailblazer, a passionate advocate for causes of equity and justice. But most important to her were family, friends and colleagues who became family. She is survived by her daughters Ruth (Barry Wasserman) Friedman of Orange, CT, Laura (Barry Gertz) Friedman of NYC & Copake, NY, Jill (Daniel Zdanoff) Friedman of White Plains, grandchildren Elisha (Michael) Nelson, Megan (David) Cardenas, Steven & Samuel Wasserman, Rebecca, James & Jessica Zdanoff, great-grandchildren Mackenzie & Madilyn Nelson and Alexander & Derek Cardenas, extended family members and dear friends too numerous to count. Memories of her twinkling blue eyes and infectious smile will help carry her memory forward. Due to current COVID restrictions, a Zoom memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 7 at 1 p.m. via Zoom followed immediately by an extended shiva. A Zoom shiva minyan will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 8. Please contact family members for Zoom links at [email protected] Contributions in Dori’s memory may be made to CureSMA.org, My Sister’s Place (White Plains, NY), or an organization supporting the expansion and protection of voter’s rights.