Artist, professor Ben Freedman, 84, dies; last of ‘Freedman triplets’

BEN FRANK FREEDMAN, a professor of art for many years at West Virginia University, passed away peacefully at his home in Morgantown, WV on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. He was 84.

Freedman was the last of the famous “Freedman Triplets,” born on May 24, 1930, at Touro Infirmary. Freedman and his two sisters were the toast of New Orleans, oftentimes making public appearances and having frequent reports featured in the Times-Picayune as they grew up.

He attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he met his future wife, Florence Joelson. They were married in June of 1953.

After receiving his undergraduate degree, Freedman won a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Germany for one year and later completed his military service in the U.S. Army. He continued his graduate work in painting at the University of Arizona in Tucson before moving to Morgantown, where the couple lived for the remainder of their lives.

A professor in the Art Department at West Virginia University, Freedman was a much loved and respected faculty member until his retirement in 1999.

Outside of academia, Freedman enjoyed enormous success as a painter. His works were exhibited in both the United States and Europe and many collectors sought out his pieces both here and abroad.

Throughout their lives, the couple spent their summers in Europe, mostly on the coast of Normandy, where they were adopted into the family of their dear friends, Jean-Michel and Francoise Petit. They befriended Jean-Michel when he was a student at West Virginia University.

The two were also avid collectors of African art and American antiques. During their retirement, they developed a spectacular garden that was featured on the Morgantown community garden tour in 2005. Their home has been referred to as “Natchez on the Monongahela.”

Freedman was predeceased by his wife in 2009. He is survived by his brothers-in-law, Richard Joelson (Roz), Jim Bennett, Stanley Schwam and Albert Regenbogen (Gloria); sister-in-law Josephine Joelson; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

In honoring his wishes, cremation services were provided by the Hastings Funeral Home. Inurnment will be held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No. 3 in New Orleans at a future date yet to be determined and a memorial event is also being planned in Morgantown at another time and date to be determined.

Memorials may be offered to the Amedisys Hospice Care of Morgantown, 5006 Mid Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26508.