Ira Daniel Friedman,
of Orleans, MA, passed away in peace…
Ira Daniel Friedman, of Orleans, MA, passed away in peace on January 18th, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer and a two-decade-long post-operative infection. Ira was a loving Husband to Bonny; Father to Jesse, Rachel, and Brian; Father-in-Law to Joy, Vincent, and Jessica; and Grandfather to Landon, Grace, and Lucas.
His second love after his family was the Cape, and his heart will forever grace the shores and open waters of Nauset Beach, Cape Cod Bay, and the Atlantic.
Ira was adopted by Jesse and Lillian Friedman on his day of birth, July 31st, 1949, in New York, NY. Ira met and married the love of his life, Bonny, in 1979. Together they bought Ira’s childhood home and raised a family in Queens. Summer vacations to Cape Cod quickly became a family tradition.
Together, Ira and Bonny built and ran Duel Fuel Plumbing & Heating, a very successful business servicing New York City’s five boroughs. As the years passed, Cape’s calling became stronger, and Ira wanted more for his family. Cape Cod offered better schools for his children, safer neighborhoods for his family, and a connection to the ocean and nature that he longed for.
In 1994 Ira built his home on Tonset Road in Orleans and decided to move the Friedman family to the Cape permanently. Ira worked harder than ever for his family, keeping the business running in New York while providing for his family on Cape.
Ira’s New York born family never felt like wash-ashores because of Ira’s charismatic and generous personality. It was clear to everyone that Ira was a native, even if he didn’t have the paperwork to prove it. Ira enjoyed Friday nights under his “Stripers” license plate in his favorite seat at Land Ho. He longed to help others as a volunteer Fire Fighter and EMT on the Orleans Fire Department. And most of all, he loved taking his fishing boat out of Rock Harbor after those stripers, and later in life, bigger and more elusive Tuna.
60 lbs. 12 oz. October 1980, Cape Cod, Ma.
https://www.stripersurfclub.com/clubrecords.htm
Ira taught his children and grandchildren to have an appreciation for nature and the ocean. He will always be remembered for his love and pursuit of the next big catch he could share with his family.
In lieu of flowers please consider making contributions to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, a non-profit dedicated to protecting Ira’s beloved home.
We welcome stories, and condolences in the comments below. Thank you.
If you have photos to share please share a link and we will post to the site, thank you.
very sorry to hear about your loss Bonny. i met Ira several times with the VNA and he was a good man. peace
Dear Bonny – Susan told me about Ira, and reading about him here, I am so sorry I never got to know him while my parents were at Susie’s house. I could feel his love of the Cape coming through his story, and the pictures show the many good times you and the family have to cherish. I’m sorry we lost touch after my dad died and I took my mother to my house. I remember laughing with you about Dad being the Pied Piper of the neighborhood dogs who instinctively knew he had treats in his pocket on the deck!
Wishing you all peace and comfort and happy memories – Gail
Dear Bonny, So sorry to hear that Ira has passed. Love the photos, especially those with the big fish and fairly recent one of the 2 of you on the boat with grandchild! My memory of first meeting Ira was when I came to your house for his mother (back in the 90s?) He was just coming home from a plumbing job. A kind, friendly and handsome man ! Peace, Cynthia Storer
Bonny & Family – I’m so sorry to hear of Ira’s passing. Ira was remembered at St Peter’s Lutheran Church today, in honor of All Saints Sunday. I had no idea he had passed until he was mentioned today. May You All Be Awashed In Good Memories & Moments As You Grieve.
May God Bless You All
I remember ira as a friend, neighbor and boss. He was great at it all. I am soo sorry to read this somehow 2 years later. May he rest in eternal peace. Prayers for Bonnie also a great person inside and out and his children.