I think about Brett every year at this time. I should have left a note sooner, but he helped me navigate transferring and pushed back against my idea of what HWS could be for me. 

Brett wasn’t just a friend but brother in a relentless pursuit of being the best and most impactful he could be. I miss the fierceness in his eyes when he knew he was onto something.. 

I’ll never forget his opening the Econ lab doors for me, which was the only reason I graduated. 

Port tack the heavenly fleet, 
Andrew

I was a year older than Brett, but we were still very close. No matter what the situation was. Brett always had my back and gave me full support. Something I took for granted back then. At such a young age, it’s hard to recognize how good of a friend or has person one has in their life. Brett was one of the most generous and genuine friends I ever had and I miss all the times we had together. Seems just like yesterday that Brett and I were getting ready for the upcoming school year and 2012 football season. It was my senior year and Brett’s junior year. We were conference champs. First time Port won the conference since 1976. I remember how happy Brett was the day we won. He always gave it his all in every sport he participated in. A selfless young man that the world lost too soon.  My youngest brother started his senior year yesterday and it just brought back a lot of memories. Brett adored my youngest brother and I know he will be watching over him this year. We miss and love you, Brett!

Brett--

I distinctly remember us meeting at the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club Pixel regatta when we were younger. You were always so much fun to be around, and truly embodied the spirit of the JSA. I have fond memories of seeing you at Larchmont Raceweek from 2010-2018.

I will miss your friendly, outgoing face in the sailing community and you will always be remembered by all of us on the Long Island Sound.  

Rest easy.

Kindly,
Carly Risom

I met Brett when I was either 12 or 13 at our sailing program at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. Years later as we sat in different high schools, I got a Facebook message asking about HWS. He said he was considering going and I was so excited and surprised. He would be a familiar face at college. 

It's funny to think about the few people that fall into both spheres of your life. Not from home not from school, but both. He was always there if I needed a ride back to Long Island. He was always bouncing around Port Washington Yacht Club, talking to me about his latest Thirsty Thursday race. Brett was the most excited about everything. If he saw me driving my car down Northern Boulevard he would try and have a five second conversation at the next red light. Just to say hi. We would joke about home things anytime I saw him in the library or downtown at school. 

I think about my last day of work at Port Yacht Club when he showed up at the snack bar about to go sailing. We went to school together but I have so many more memories of him here. Of five minutes away. Of junior sailing. Of me driving towards the bookshop or the deli or Port docks and wondering if Brett would drive by and give me a wave. The nod of a friendly face. I will miss you from here on out. And I will always be thinking of you.

I still can’t wrap my head around this man. Never in a million years would I have thought Thursday would be our last time speaking to each other. I will never understand how someone so genuinely kind hearted and loving can be taken away from us at such a young age. Brett, I can never fully express how great of a friend and all around person you were to me and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing you. Since the day I really got to know you when I was in 10th grade, you’ve had my back. You always reached out to me with support and showed nothing but love, all while wearing the biggest smile. You were selfless and a one of a kind friend. From the football field, to the wrestling mats, to the boat rides, and everything in between, I will forever cherish our time together and all the memories that we made. I’ll never forget your integrity and willingness to get better in sports. Seeing you win a match or make a big play never failed to put a smile on my face because I know how hard you worked for those moments. I will always carry you with me and try to follow your kindness and generosity towards others. Your parents truly raised an incredible young man. I know your brother will always continue to look up to you because you are a picture perfect role model. Until we meet again brother. I love you, Brett.

“Cuz you know how I am, once I get going I’m all in or nothing so need to find something like that” 


A text that you sent me a few weeks ago after you took the time to reach out and congratulate me on the new job, followed by a conversation of our futures. Brett, to celebrate your life this soon does not make sense to me and is difficult to wrap my head around but I think that text message really embodies your character. 

Whether it was your endless passion or endless friendship it was apparent to me (and I am sure to all others) that you were truly something special. 

We met one of our first weeks at Hobart freshman year in the halls of Durfee. From that first year we bonded over our interests of the markets, squash, and just going out for a good time. Four years went by with your memorable friendship. 

Your energy and good-hearted nature were remarkable, extremely rare to come by. Just an incredibly positive person who could brighten a day with a refreshing conversation or an infectious laugh. You were driven beyond belief with the hours of grinding in the Stern econ lab that you made your second home… Not only working on the econ curriculum but going above and beyond with your Novo Model.. something I did not fully understand in its depth but had absolute belief in with your inspiring passion and confidence. 

I think my favorite quality of yours was your ability to be a very real, authentic person. Never afraid to go off the beaten path to be yourself and have incredible passion for what you found interesting. But even more impressive was your ability to share that with others. Our one-on-one conversations, whether it be some new research that you wanted to share or openness to talk about life, always left me with a better outlook and I thank you for that.

Love you brother. 


	I think that it’s an impossible task to try to make sense of tragedy.  Reason provides direction and without reason, it seems like we become lost.  I am thus at a loss for what to do, what to say, what think.  The only thing I can do, is remember our dear friend, Brett, and find solace in reflecting upon what he taught me.  Thus, I want to share a memory that best illuminates how special of a friend Brett was.  One morning I was on a break from my waitressing job at HWS, and was wondering around Geneva aimlessly.  It just so happened that Brett was inside a café I had walked by and was having coffee with another friend.  Upon seeing me walk by alone, he jumped up out of his seat, and ran all the way out the street, just to invite me in to sit down with him and his other friend.  It would have been so easy to have let me walk by, and remain seated inside.  However Brett chose to do the exceptional: he did what most people wouldn't have because that is who he was.  In fact, he did what no one else has ever done in my experience.  He came all the way outside into the cold, brutal December air because he had the kindest heart.  He didn't need the company, but somehow he knew that I did.  I was so touched that day and I followed him inside the café where for the remainder of my break, he listened earnestly to my woes and offered meaningful advice because he cared about others, always.  What made Brett exceptional, beyond his brain power, was that anecdotes like these show that his kindness was endless because his heart was unwaveringly warm.

Brett, words cannot describe how much you will be missed. You have so many great qualities about you but one of my favorites was your ability to go above and beyond for your friends; whether it was setting an air mattress up in your apartment so we didn't have to walk from downtown Geneva to our dorms or making a gourmet breakfast for all of us before an event. I will never forget the encouragement and support you gave me, especially this past year when I questioned my future as we sat at a table in the library while you were developing some crazy model that was beyond my understanding. I will never forget all of us sitting in your apartment before going out and dying of laughter while watching The Office. I never met a person with so much positive energy and determination, your smile was contagious. It is weird to think we just talked last week about me making a trip out to NYC soon, I wish I would have done that sooner. You will be missed by your friends, you will be missed by the HWS community, you will be missed by so many and you will never be forgotten. I know I speak for many when I say you have touched several lives and I am so blessed and proud to have called you such a great friend. Rest easy, Bretty. xoxo

The thought of even writing this, still feels surreal. Words cannot describe how much you will be missed Brett. Heaven gained a young, ambitious, sincere and genuine angel. I've always looked up to your diligent effort on and off the fields and even wrestling mat. No matter the situation, you were the one working the hardest. Thank you. Thank you for always being the one to offer to be by your side, and being the first at that. I'm happy to say our last texts will show exactly what an exceptional man you were, offering to drive me out to the Hamptons without knowing I would be in Indiana. You always looked out for others, even before yourself. I will always try to follow your work ethic and your generosity towards others. I will miss you deeply Brett, until next time friend... love you.

Last week; I saw you last week. And for you to be taken from us only days later must remind us how precious life is, how beautiful your life was. The morning after you slept over I felt a handshake from my bed was a goodbye that sufficed. I'm missing that moment the most right now. Why didn't I get up and hug you?  Why did I feel so comfortable and confident that'd I see you again? And why do we have to lose you for me to see presence entirely different? After I left freshman year of HWS, it was tough seeing each other while you continued studying and I became busy working in New York. But after you graduated, it was as if we had never spent those three years apart. And it spoke volumes to your character how you were the exact same person. Forget the time of day, you continued to be the guy that I could call. That would immediately pick up. That would genuinely listen. And that would instantly come if I needed love, help and support. Your love was unconditional and your heart was full of good intentions. It was no surprise you wanted to use your drive and intellect to make a positive impact on the environment, despite your ability to do absolutely anything else. You were more than a friend. You were the brother I never had. I miss being out on the water with you. You were a master of the sail and that's where you were truly happy. On a boat in pure tranquility.  I know that's where I'll meet you again. Where I'll meet the same guy who always remained true to himself and the love he had for us all. “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.” We miss you. We love you. And we won't ever forget you Brett Friedberg.

He was a machine in the library. He was a machine in the gym. He knew how to have fun. For the four years that I knew him, I never heard him say anything negative. Everything he said was positive and his optimism rubbed off on everyone that he spent time with. It was obvious that Brett was on your team, even if you didn’t know him. He was never selfish and he cared about you, no matter who you were. Brett, I’m going to miss you a lot brotha. Something tells me you’re smiling up there. I can’t wait to see you again one day, thanks for leading by example, and we all love you.  


I didn’t know Brett as well as a lot of other people from Hobart, but I will always consider him a great friend. We both bonded over our love of sailing. Every time I saw him in the dining hall, around campus, or on a Saturday night he would always flash me that great smile and say hi. Coming from such a small community like Hobart, you get close to people and this news really hits home.  I will miss you Brett. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this hard time. 

Brett, I didn’t know you for long, but was truly appreciative of the time we spent together this past summer. Your upbeat, can-do attitude was something I really admired about you. Your selflessness and ability to make people feel welcome amongst any company is just one trait of yours I strive to improve upon everyday. I was lucky to have known you, and your beaming smile is something I’ll remember every time I go out for a sail. I’ll miss our wakeboard rides and all of the great times we had on Placebo. The crew will never be the same without you. Rest easy.

Man... I don’t even know where to start. Brett I know we drifted apart as we got older, but I miss you brother. From when we met at Daly, you were always a friend to me. Such a well mannered kid, who was raised the right way by amazing parents. One of the few kids that you could always count on, if you ever needed a friend. One of the kids my parents would tell me to model myself after because his love and smile could brighten anybody’s day. I feel like I have so many things left unsaid to you and I’m sorry for that. You will forever be a part of my life. Heaven gained an Angel. I love you bro. I miss your smile already

I had the pleasure of coaching Brett in wrestling at Schreiber High School. You get to learn a lot about individuals that walk through those wrestling room doors six days a week to give all of themselves. You learn even more of what these young men are made of when going to battle together during matches and tournaments. Like many I'm sure, I will always remember Brett for his incredibly fun, passionate, and hardworking demeanor while always being an incredible team player, and teammate to all. Sometimes hard on himself while putting in the work to perform at his best, yet Brett always had a big infectious smile on his face. The kind of person any coach would love to have on his team not only for his successes on the mat but, for the outstanding person he truly was. I am heartbroken and this world has lost an incredible young man. All our love, thoughts and prayers to the entire Friedberg family.

With Sympathy,
Coach Schettino

I met Brett at HWS. I graduated with Brett. Junior year, he was my neighbor. We both lived in rowing houses downtown. Brett quickly became a very close friend. Because of Brett’s devotion to his school work, he was usually in the library working. His passion for the environment was so mind blowing. He would tell me about his latest work he was doing in regards to the environment. I never fully understood it because of the complexity of it, but I always admired his raw passion for what he was doing. Anyways, I ALWAYS knew brett would want to hang out on Saturdays. As he always said, Saturday’s were his one day to just chill and have fun. I remember he came over with eggs and toast one Saturday morning junior year. Then we realized we wanted bacon so we trecked down to a gas station down the street, in a pouring rain storm, to get the bacon. We cooked the breakfast iteams and talked and laughed. Senior year, Brett cooked breakfast again for a group of us in his apartment. I always remembered that he never asked for something in return, he just made us breakfast out of the kindness of his heart. This act of kindness mirrored the way Brett treated his friends at Hobart. He was always there for you if needed something, and he always made an effort to be an amazing friend, even by just simply texting you and asking “how are you?” You don’t come across genuinely nice guys like Brett all that often. Really, you don’t. Most people in college are not interested in how someone else’s day was, but Brett actually was. Brett, I miss you today, I will miss you a year from now, and I’ll miss you many, many years from now. I will never forget you, and I will continue to remind myself to treat my friends the way you treated yours. 

OBITUARY

Brett Andrew Friedberg

March 19, 1996 – September 3, 2018

Riverside-Nassau North Chapels

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