Longboat Key temple celebrates multigenerational family

Suzan Friedman said she and her husband, Barry, always used to laugh at how her parents were constantly going out for the evening to explore all the educational and entertaining programs on Longboat Key. Now, they find themselves doing the exact same thing, and that involvement has earned them new commendation from the community they love.

Temple Beth Israel named the Friedmans as this year's honorees for its 47th annual gala on Feb. 22. 

The pair led careers in the legal world before retiring to Longboat Key, where they live when they're not busy spending time with friends in Maryland.

At the temple, Suzan is the vice president for membership, and Barry is the chair of the Endowment Committee.

"We really didn't know too many people when we were just visiting my parents, and what we found at Temple Beth Israel was just the most welcoming community," Suzan said. "People were extremely friendly."

She said she appreciates how the temple offers faith-based services but also functions as a community center for all residents.

Especially after members did so much to welcome them, Suzan said she now enjoys planning plenty of membership events, helping with the newsletter and otherwise contributing to outreach.

"It's truly a labor of love," she added.

She was proud to note that membership increased by 50 people this season.

Barry said he is glad to assist with keeping operating funds in good condition, especially for a barrier island community that may contend with a natural disaster at a moment's notice.

"You have to always be prepared to deal with the consequences," he added.

The Friedmans said they have always appreciated being able to contribute to the community and were flattered to receive the recognition.

Journey to Longboat

They are both from the New York City area, and they met in law school.

"A classmate of mine's brother was a classmate of Barry's, and they cooked this up," Suzan said.

They both had plans to work in Washington, D.C., and their classmates' intuition proved fruitful. They moved to the D.C. area, married and both embarked on their legal careers. Suzan worked with the Federal Communications Commission and Barry was primarily with Thompson Hine, a full-service business law firm based in Cleveland.

Besides finding kinship in their career paths, they both appreciated a trip to NYC for a show or museum visit and engaging with one another to discuss politics and other news.

Suzan's parents, Albert and Nora Balk, moved to Longboat Key in 1989, to a condo at the Islander Club. Eventually, she and Barry followed, and they all found a community at Temple Beth Israel.

"I know my parents would not have moved here if there was not a synagogue actually on Longboat Key," she said. "I think they had the impression this was not a predominantly Jewish area. It was important to them."

Though her parents died in 2015 and 2016, the family decided to stay in the community they loved.

Barry and Suzan both liked what they saw as they got to know their neighbors, and they went on to serve as TBI board members. They officially became full-time Florida residents last year.

The pair attends as many cultural events hosted by the temple, The Education Center and other organizations as they can, including lectures and musical events. Some of Barry's favorite programs involve learning more about residents' former careers.

"We always intended to keep the condo here," she said. "What we didn't expect was how much we would love it here."