Morris Freilich

Dr. Morris Freilich- Scholar, teacher, loving husband and father.

With heavy hearts but profound gratitude for a peaceful end of life, we announce the death of Morris Freilich on January 11, 2025. He was in his 97th year. Following his dementia diagnosis 4 years ago, Morris received ongoing care at home from Mirjana, his wife of 43 years, and more recently, his son Michael, with a team of professional staff from Hebrew Senior Life Hospice.

Morris leaves behind his beloved wife Mirjana, cherished sons Harry, Steve, Michael, treasured daughters-in-law Vicki and Sara, and grandchildren Jason, Miles, and Carly. He was predeceased by his dear sister Toby.

Morris had a very full, rich life, punctuated by many fresh starts. Born in Poland, he emigrated to London at age 4 with his parents. As a young pre-teen he was greatly affected by the trauma of WWII, and the bombing of London. In anticipation of German air raids, Morris and his 4-year-old sister were amongst many children who were evacuated from London in 1939 and billeted with host families in the countryside. By mid-1940, Morris and Toby had returned to their family home, shortly before an actual bombing began. It was an emotional and uncertain time. Even so, Morris developed a wonderful sense of humor and years later enjoyed telling the story of his experience during the bombing of London. One night during the blitz when the air raid sirens went off, he was roused by his parents who, with his very young sister, made their way to the bomb shelter thinking Morris was following closely behind. In the chaos of the night, he continued to sleep, only to awaken to the sound and vibration of bombs falling nearby. It was too late to do anything other than hide under the bed. Thankfully, the family home was spared, but his ability to sleep through almost anything was a bonus that continued through to his precious last days!

As a young man, Morris studied bookkeeping and accounting, and secured work at a London firm. Several years later, he accompanied his family when they pulled up roots and moved to America. Morris would later joke that his decision to become an accountant was an odd one, considering the lingering challenge he had balancing his own checkbook.

Settled in America, Morris graduated from Brooklyn College. He served in the army during the Korean conflict, fulfilling his duty to the army stateside, as an accountant. After discharge, thanks to the GI bill, Morris was able to enroll in graduate school at Columbia University where he graduated with a PhD in Anthropology. He embarked on his own fieldwork journey to the West Indies with his first wife, Natalie. His thesis, based on his research in a remote Indian village in Trinidad, later becoming the basis of a book on the topic of fieldwork in Anthropology. Marginal Natives, Anthropologists at Work was widely recognized as a valuable, and at times, humorous resource for anyone contemplating fieldwork. Other books and scholarly articles on topics as diverse as triads in human relationships, structural steel work, police discretion and medicine followed.

Morris’ lifelong love of cultural anthropology, research, and teaching led him to his 30-year career as a tenured professor at Northeastern University in Boston. His classes were challenging, lively, and engaging. He inspired students to further develop critical and creative thinking. He so enjoyed teaching and getting to know his students that for many years he would invite a few of his foreign students, who had nowhere to go at Thanksgiving, to join in his family’s celebration. In conversations, he was an attentive listener, who could reach into the deepest places and offer insightful thoughts and observations.

An avid athlete, Morris played competitive squash and racquetball and ran in 5k road races. He also loved his time spent playing tennis with his boys outdoors.

He appreciated many genres of music and song. We will miss the spontaneity of his booming voice, whether singing in a choir or at Temple, sharing a humorous limerick or otherwise simply singing solo, enjoying the moment, as a choir of one.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Morris' name to Temple Israel of Natick, www.tiofnatick.org/donations or to a charity of your choice.

Services are private.