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FRIEDA ZAMES
"We celebrate Frieda and her life of service and advocacy. We have all experienced her love, kindness,
generosity, her spirit, humility, vision and quiet yet forceful strength. Frieda's book with her sister Doris,
"The Disability Rights Movement - From Charity to Confrontation" is a testimony to the depth of her knowledge, commitment
and the richness of her life journey and the many people she engaged on the path. Many of the victories in the disability
civil rights movement we all now enjoy can be directly attributed to Frieda. A petite woman, she was a
giant in our midst, truly a national and local treasure."
Anne Emerman
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... Although I was
too young to be allowed into the hospital, I loved standing outside and waving to my sister, Frieda, for to me she was Rapunzel
high up in the tower. When she came home and solved my problems and taught me how to fight back, I imagined myself the hero
for rather absurdly holding up my five-year-old fingers to traffic in the middle of the rather empty streets near our house
as she slowly crossed using her crutches and braces.
… Frieda never
learned that girls didn’t do math. She got a Ph.D. in Mathematics.
… Frieda is
a lesson in employment discrimination against people with disabilities. She constantly heard from potential employees that
they would not hire her because she was disabled. There was no law to stop them. Sadly, today they are less direct, but still
find excuses. Frieda was Associate Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at New Jersey Institute
of Technology when she retired.
…Frieda never
learned that you couldn’t fight City Hall. She did and won.
Doris
Zames Fleischer, Frieda's sister and co-author
∞
I had asked Frieda to be my consultant in writing
a script that had to do with math. In a week she had read the inspiring book and we started our sessions. Few mathematicians
of her caliber can talk math to lay people. She did it beautifully. Finally, when she told me the subject of her Ph.D. Thesis
I said, "Mathematicians are in awe of that."
Frieda Zames said "But I didn't prove a theorem." She wouldn't be congratulated. When I said, "I owe it to you that I can get on the
bus with my wheelchair," Frieda Zames said, "But the taxis are not accessible yet." She wouldn't be congratulated.
"Frieda, these blue
earrings are so becoming to your eyes," I said. She was all smiles. Of course, Michael had gotten them for her.
And yes, I took the above photograph of Frieda's.
Any photographer should be so lucky to be looked at with such a generous spirit. I was. Füsun Ateşer
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When Frieda sang with me I loved her. I sang softly, then. We sang “Peace is
the bread we break / Love is the river rolling / Life is a chance we take / When we make this earth our home / Gonna make
this earth our home.”
And I sang to Frieda “Can’t
help loving my woman". That made her blush.
Wednesday night she woke up, asked for water. I gave it to her. She drank. She said, "I love you." I said, "I
love you, baby." She went to sleep, didn't wake up. I love her.
Michael Imperiale, together for 34 years
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This open, evolving
website is by everybody. It is about discovering Frieda through the tributes. Please share your thoughts, anecdotes,
feelings; and come back to read more.
(Frieda Zames - In Memoriam website will be on this url until a permanent website is developed. The closest people to Frieda who have to be
part of that development need time to deal with their loss.)
TO READ THE REST OF THE PAGES CLICK ON THE
FOLLOWING LINKS:
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