Esther Kominz Friedmann

Esther Kominz Friedmann of Clarks Green, PA, died on April 30, 2026. She was 99 and her passing leaves a big hole in our hearts.

Esther was a force of life – energy, curiosity and intellect, courage and moral integrity, love, compassion and humor. Born in Rochester, New York, she was the daughter of Dr. Jacob Kominz and Mrs. Emily Rosenbloom Kominz. She graduated from Vassar College and pursued advanced studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Marywood University, and the University of Scranton, and did additional coursework at Misericordia College, Penn State Scranton, Drexel University and SUNY-Binghamton.

A 68-year resident of Clarks Green, Esther was devoted to her family and maintained a passion for learning, culture and community. Her love of family and adventure was abundantly shared with her children and grandchildren. When her daughter was in middle school, Esther organized educational summer field trips for her daughter and other children of the same age. A generation later, she took each of her grandchildren on wide-ranging trips to destinations as diverse as Disney World, the Grand Canyon and Costa Rica.

As an educator, she taught mathematics and science at area public and parochial schools including Lackawanna Trail High School, Northeastern Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit #19, Our Lady of Peace School and Scranton Hebrew Day School and Torah Academy. She earned a certificate in Library Science and served many years as library director at Johnson College of Technology in Scranton. She also was a member of numerous professional associations.

She was a good friend to many, and in retirement she organized book clubs and poetry clubs, moving them online during the COVID pandemic, and developing her own writing skills. In her 80’s, she studied the women leaders of Alaska’s Native Corporations and traveled solo to Alaska twice to experience the winter above the arctic circle and to interview the women who headed these billion-dollar enterprises. Upon returning home she wrote a paper and lectured on her findings.

She was elected to the Clarks Green Borough Council, served on the Board or volunteered with numerous organizations throughout the Scranton area, including the Abington Community Library, the Everhart Museum Association, Temple Hesed, the United Way of Lackawanna County, Lackawanna Historical Society, Lackawanna Arts Council, Lackawanna Audubon Society, Visiting Nurse Association, Abington Heights Elementary PTA, Scranton Philharmonic Orchestra, Big Sisters and The Gathering Place in Clarks Summit. As a younger adult, she was active in the Junior League of Scranton, served as its president, and helped organize Young People’s Concerts by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, recruiting WEJL-AM to broadcast the concerts to even wider audiences.

She followed news and politics closely, loved the arts, was an avid photographer, took lessons in painting, enjoyed sports, travel and new experiences, and was a champion golfer at Glen Oak Country Club, where she enjoyed many summer days with family and friends, and served on its board.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to dear friends Deanna McConnell and Joanne Giello for their support and kindness over many years and to the staff at The Pines of Clarks Summit.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband Henry and brothers Herbert and David. She is survived by her children Gary Friedmann (Glenon), Pete Friedmann (Karen Laner) and Kathy Roberts (Jim), grandchildren Hanni Sarr (Ian), Shelley Friedmann (Eli Rubin), Tyler Roberts (Sara Downie) and Kyle Roberts (Samantha Liebensohn) and great-grandchildren Abram Friedmann and Willow Sarr.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, May 3rd at 12:30 p.m. at Temple Hesed, 1 Knox Rd., Scranton, by Rabbi Daniel Swartz.  Family and friends will be received from noon until the time of service.  Interment will follow in Temple Hesed Cemetery, Dunmore.

There is no local shiva.

Esther was a generous contributor to many organizations, and memorial donations can be made to any of her favorite charities, including Temple Hesed, Scranton, PA (https://templehesed.org/), the Countryside Conservancy, La Plume, PA, (https://countrysideconservancy.org/) and the Abington Community Library, Clarks Summit, PA (https://lclshome.org/libraries/abington-community-library/).