Henry Friedler dies at 27

HENRY FRIEDLER, a creative, funny and brilliant man, who was afflicted with bipolar disorder for a decade, ended his battle with mental illness when he took his own life on December 1, 2020. He was 27.

A New Orleans native, he graduated from Isidore Newman School, where he won the Louisiana State Doubles Championship his junior year. He also attended Lawrenceville Prep School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. After spending a year at Millsaps College, where h was an Academic all-American, Friedler rose to the third position on the intercollegiate tennis team. He returned home to earn his bachelor’s degree in the arts from the University of New Orleans.

Born with an unending curiosity, Friedler engaged his friends and family in every facet of culture, the sciences, politics, food, the arts and music.  A natural romantic, he sought to know the answers to life’s biggest questions and would traveled large distances to find the answers. He particularly cherished his time at Watervale in Michigan, a family resort, where he immersed himself in the beauty of nature and with family members.

Friedler played a powerful brand of tennis with style and grace and he later mentored younger players as their coach and teacher. He had a sweet nature to which his young charges responded in kind.

He frequently sought refuge in music, with a special place in his heart for New York indie rock group The Strokes. Friedler was an independent thinker and curious about the world about him. His sweet and beautiful nature endeared him to those who came to know him. He will be deeply lost by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his grandparents Pam Friedler, Chuck and Lori Hackley, his parents Heidi and Tripp Friedler and his sisters Patti Friedler and Kate Friedler.

The family held a socially-distanced and COVID-compliant memorial in front of their home on Saturday, December 5. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his honor are suggested  to A’s and Aces or Tulane University Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIC-Nola).

Arrangements were by Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemetery.