Robert Patrick Friel

Robert “Bob” Friel, of Maynard, MA and Tuftonboro, NH, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 4th, after a short battle with cancer. He was 84.

Bob was born on January 23, 1941, in Springfield, MA, to Edna (McFadden) and James Friel. He grew up in upstate New York, living in both Utica and Oswego. He graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

In 1968, Bob married Greta Woodward, and together they raised their three children in Melrose, MA. Every summer, the family spent time at their cabin on Mirror Lake in NH—fishing, swimming, and enjoying "the woods."

Bob dedicated 37 years to teaching high school social studies, with 35 of those years at Stoneham High School. During that time, he earned two master’s degrees—one in history from Salem State College and another in counseling from Northeastern University—and completed two certificate programs at Harvard University. Bob had a deep passion for learning, particularly in Russian history and culture. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he led multiple student trips to Russia and was honored to be the first American teacher sent to Russia on a Fulbright scholarship. In 1992–93, he spent a transformative year teaching high school students in Kaliningrad.

After retiring in 2001, Bob traveled extensively. He volunteered with "Builders for Peace" in Bosnia for 3 summers. He returned to Russia to teach and visit and took a cruise around the world in 2010. He enjoyed every summer at the family cabin in Tuftonboro and spent several winters with his sons in Whitefish, MT. Bob's global travels and experiences convinced him that people are fundamentally the same everywhere, and understanding that is the key to peace.

Bob was a devoted fan of college basketball, especially of UNH men's basketball, where his brother Gerry Friel coached for decades, and in more recent years, he followed BC women's basketball with great enthusiasm.

He was a proud and active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 47 years, helping countless people on their path to recovery. He took life “one day at a time” and found friends of Bill W. wherever he went in the world.

Bob is survived by his children, Michele Mullen (Mike) of Maynard, MA; Ryan and Brendan Friel of Whitefish, MT; and Debbie Bronzo (Alex) of Putnam, NY. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ethan and Jordan Mullen, Alex and Kyle Bronzo; his former wife, Greta Friel of Maynard, MA; his sisters, Kathy Hall and Sr. Mary Friel, SND; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Gerard “Gerry” Friel.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in late spring. Donations in his memory may be made to the Whitefish Review.