41 Responses

1. Is this the Dr. Fries who used to daven in Landau’s Shul (L & E.9th st.)?

2. Yes it was.

3. Dr. Fries was an amazing, intuitive doctor, who cared so much for all of his patients and their families! He davened for my daughter when she kept having recurring ear infections and may have needed surgery. No words can do true justice to his stature as a professional and, more importantly, a Yid. My oldest child has been devastated since finding out last night…

   May he be a Maylitz Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.

4. dr. fries was an extraordinary person and doctor. he didn’t only take care of his patients’ physical needs but their emotional needs as well. i remember as a teenager going to take a culture and he asked me how i am – and he sat and discussed all my situations and feelings with me for an hour!!! as if he had nothing else to do with his time. this happened many times!!! he cared so much that sometimes if i felt i needed to speak to someone, i would go visit him!!! he had no airs about him and always acted like a kid among the kids to make them feel good and happy!!!!
   i also know he used to wave copays for many people that couldn’t pay.
   when my brother had shigella one time, he kept calling, even from his vacation to see how he was doing.
   he was a truly special person and the world will be missing that much without him. i am personally very sad even though it’s been so many years. yehi zichro boruch

5. He was Hashem’s personal sheleach to pediatrics.

   He was an exceptionally gifted diagnostician, and more. It wouldn’t do his memory justice to say he dedicated his life to his patients, because he was more than just a doctor, and his patients were more to him than just patients. He loved every one of them like they were his own children. I know, because my 2 children were his patients, too. My wife and I trusted him like no one else …

   If I would have said these things in front of him, he would have given me a look, because he was an onov, a real nistar.

   There has never been, nor will there ever be, another pediatrician like Dr. Fries. No one can tell me anything different. I don’t have words for the loss I feel.

   May his memory inspire all of us to truly and completely dedicate our G-d given talents to Kiddush Hashem, just as he did.

6. Reb Shira,

   I agree with EVERY WORD you wrote wholeheartedly. My husband and I tried so many doctors before we found Dr. Fries, and since that day, we considered ourselves blessed. I never questioned his judgment, and he was ALWAYS right. I believe this is because he cared so much and practiced his craft from his heart, with love for each child. Each patient’s case was important, each situation got his undivided attention, as if his own, biological child was concerned. Also, his intuition was unsurpassed. He just knew what was wrong, what to do about it -or not to do. He saved my daughter from possible repeated surgery. I don’t think I can ever trust another doctor like I trusted Dr. Fries. Also, his personal approach made kids feel good about seeing him. He got down to their level and they loved it!!!

   So true that he would give anyone who said these things a look -I once called him “our favorite doctor,” and he just rolled his eyes and made one of his jokes.

   Last night, as we all tried to absorb the news (which I still cannot believe), my six year old said, “Mommy, I know we need to find another doctor, but we can only find someone good, because Dr. Fries was the only one who was GREAT.” Absolutely true-there is not any pediatrician NOR PERSON like him, and our loss is incalculable.

7. i never heard of him untill right now, and yet after reading these posts i feel like i lost a great deal today.
   baruch dayan emes. there should be many more who lead there lives like him.

8. I remember as a child, I actually looked forward going to the doctor because he made the visit so much fun. While everyone is commenting on what a good doctor he was, I would like to make mention that Dr. Fries was not only a Tzaddik bein adam l’chavero, he was also a very religious person, alot more than the eye can tell. I remember seeing him davening in Landau’s, it was trully a moving experience. He was always searching for more for his avodas hashem, taking the best from different groups (chasidish, bnei yeshiva etc). May he be a meilitz yosher to his patients & to all klal yisroel.

9. Does any one have any recommendations for a replacement Dr. Where can we find such a caring doctor who will take the time for us and our kids?

10. the words that have been spoken are beautiful but in my opinion are just not enough and anyone who knew dr. fries knows what i am talking about

11. Someone, I don’t think it is realistic to look for someone even close to Dr. Fries, he was one and only, both as a doctor and pediatrician, but Dr. Fries himself used Dr. Joseph Wahba as his replacement when he was not around, so that’s probably a good place to start. According to the message on the office number, Dr. Wahba is now covering the patients…
    I also found this site, http://www.ratemds.com, where you can search by specialty and read what other patients are saying about their pediatricians. Again, no one can come even close…

    Kosherman, you are absolutely right, no words can do justice to the greatness of this man, but since words are all we have to experess ourselves in writing, we were all just trying our best to express our sorrow and our love and respect for Dr. Fries As another person said, his memory should serve to inspire us all to reach our potential and use Hashem’s gifts for the benefit of Klal Yisroel.

12. where was his office?

13. quentin rd in flatbush

14. On Quentin Road, between East 9th and East 8th.

15. I’m sitting here in a state of shock. All day yesterday I couldn’t stop thinking of our tremendous loss. In my mind I still see this vibrant, FUNNY, dedicated physician who was just so full of LIFE. I agree with everything Reb Shira wrote about him; in addition, he had this special gift of making each & every child and parent feel as though they were one of his favourites. I once asked him if he was always a jokester or did he ever have serious moments. His answer to me was “you don’t want to see me serious”. I understood then what that meant. My children are devasted, especially my 22 yr old. My son still used him as his DR even though the insurance didn’t cover him anymore due to his age. I didn’t care, I was willing to pay whatever the cost to have my son see him. When my son would offer to pay for the visit, Dr Fries would say “get out of here!! I’ll see you by Landau’s” From that alone we can see that he wasn’t a physician for the money or prestige. He TRULY, TRULY loved children, on both an emotional & physical level. My son felt that he could talk to him about anything and everything and he did.

    When we moved away, I told him I’d still be back. And I did go back. I didn’t trust any other DR to give my children their annual physicals. He was a phenomenal diagnostician, from determining what my kids heights would be (scary how right he was) to many other assorted matters. In all the years I used him, he literally never made a mistake/misdiagnosis. I could go on & on, but I’d be typing forever.

    I feel like we not only lost a wonderful physician and humanitarian, but we also lost a very dear and beloved friend. May he be a Meilitz Yosher for his family and all of Klal Yisroel.

    YEHI ZICHROH BORUCH

16. He was special! When we moved away, we drove in 1 1/2 hours to continue seeing Dr Fries we kept it up for a year, and even after never felt any pediatrician could replace him.

17. I’ve never heard of him either. All I can say after reading all this is WOW!!!

18. Dear Dr. Fries

    I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking such wonderful care of my family. You made each and every one of us, parents and children, feel special and well taken care of. There will never be another like you. You will be missed tremendously by all who knew you.

19. My family has used Dr Fries for the past 20 years. It has extended our families next two generations. If it was not for Dr Fries My oldest son would not be here! I credit him with saving his life! But as was mentioned Dr Fries was there for anything and everything. My children looked forward to the tounge depressor fights in the office, not to mention the breakfast appointments we had. He loved children (no matter what he said) I think because at heart he was one. That is why the children loved him (even when they got shots). He would love to also drive Clare crazy, but we knew she loved it! He would forever tell us “Go Home Already” but he was always glad to see us! We will miss him. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

20. No, there is no replacement for Fries, he is and will always be sorely missed. I’d like to start a gmach l’iluy nishmasoh, does anyone have any ideas, our family and extended family feel so lost with out him, I guess i want to express our gratitude to him in a concrete way. Please help me think of some type of gmach in his name that would give him nachas.

21. I’ll never forget how I first met Dr. Fries A”H. I was at my brother in law’s wedding (his picture with Dr. Fries was in the ‘pink room’ at his office) and we were up to sheva brochos. My husband pointed out the famous family doc. and I was straining my eyes to find the person he was directing me to. “Which one? I don’t see any doctors over there!” “Yes you do, he’s the one sitting next to x.” “You mean the one flinging forks across the (empty) dance floor?” Yup, that’s Dr. Fries!

    I was trying to figure out why everybody was okay with this, but nobody seemed to see my problem. After all, there are no popsicle sticks at a chasunah, so what SHOULD he fling, right? My husband introduced me. I asked him his advice on an issue I was having with my daughter. His answer to me was so clear and on target, I knew immediately I wanted to use him as my pediatrician. (I owe him so much for practically saving her life with his guidance and direction.) We made an appointment for a consult so he could meet my daughter, and yes, we switched our kids to his practice. That’s right, we drove in to brooklyn from lakewood to see Dr. Fries. And we never ever regretted it (even when we got stuck in traffic and tumbled into his office only to be told to “go home!”…)

    Dr. Fries gave doctoring his whole heart. And his heart was very very large, with endless room for everyone. It is with a broken heart that I say on behalf of my extended family, “Dr. Fries, we’ll never forget you.”

22. Has anyone printed these out for the family? If not, I am planning on doing so IY”H. If anyone wants to add something privately, you can email me at [email protected].

23. Lakewoodish,
    I just came back from the shiva and Dr. Fries’ kids do have this post. So someone did print it out, but it is missing the latest few comments. However, the family now knows where to find the post.

    For a minute there, I thought your email address said “Friesless…” Guess I am just projecting how I feel…

24. judi1320, I agree with you re doing something significant in Dr Fries’s memory. Be it a G’mach or something that the family would like, I would invest much time & effort into it; I can never repay Dr. Fries for all he’s done for me & my family. He was a true Ba’al Chesed in every sense of the word.
    I addition, I reside in Monsey, so whatever would be done could be set up in areas outside the 5 boroughs. I believe in being Makir Tov, though I doubt I’ll ever be able to fully repay him. I still cannot believe he’s gone; I will miss him terribly and know that I will never trust a physician as much as I trusted him. Nor do I feel that I will ever have a true & trusted friend that Dr Fries was.

    I have yet to come to terms with this most devastating loss.

25. I think a gemach is a great idea. Someone mentioned starting one at the levaya, though I don’t have any specific information. Not that any of us who were privileged to know Dr. Fries need a confirmation, but our shiva visit to his kids last night only confirmed how much this wonderful man loved kids (despite his often-made “I hate children,” and “Take your ugly kids home” remarks…). So it seems that most appropriate for his memory would be a child-oriented gemach, perhaps one that helps with medical expenses for sick children…
    I, too, would be more than willing to be involved in whatever way needed. Please let me know how to contact you, judi1230, if you’d like to brainstorm together or need any other help.

26. DR FRIES WAS MY CHILDREN’S PEDIATRICIAN , HOWEVER HE WAS ALOS MY WIFES AND MY DOCTOR FOR THE LITTLE THINGS, SUCH AS A SORE THROAT OR A BACK INJURY OR JUST IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANY HEALTH MATTER. I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS SOMEONES GRANDCHILD IN LAKEWOOD WHO WAS SEEN BY MANY DOCTORS AND WHEN HE WAS CALLED UP BOUT IT , HE WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IMMEDIATELY THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST WAYS TO CURE THE PROBLEM. TO THIS VERY DAY , WHEN HE MEETS THE GRANDFATHER OF THIS CHILD WHO BY THE WAY WAS NEVER SEEN BY HIM, HE USED TO ASK “HOW IS SHE AND SHOW CONCERN FOR THE GRANDCHILD” . HE NEVER LIKED THE FACT THAT DOCTOR’S TODAY “DO NOT GIVE THE CARE THEY SHOULD TO A PATIENT ” OTHER DOCTOR’S DO NOT EXPLAIN THE ILLNESS AND TAKE TIME TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH THE MOTHER OR FATHER’S ,ETC AND ESPECIALLY HE NEVER LIKED THE HMO’S THAT USED TO DEMAND THAT DOCTORS SEE MORE PATIENTS IN ONE DAY, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE LOSING MONEY, AS THE MOTTO GOES _ SEE AS MANY PATIENST IN A DAY AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEM IN AND OUT – ONE TWO THREE.
    NO THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT – DR FRIES.
    DR FRIES OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS HAS BEEN SENDING HIS PATIENTS THAT NEEDED THE CURING BY A CERTAIN CHIROPRACTOR, BY THE NAME OF DR VIOLE. I KNOW DR VIOLE PERSONALLY AND AS A CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN FELLOW, HE HAS BEEN SICK OVER THE FATC THAT HIS GOOD FRIEND DR FRIES HAS PAST AWAY. HE HAS STORIES AND STORIES RELATING TO DR FRIES, BUT THIS ONE IS UNBELIEVABLE. ]
    DR FRIES USED DR VIOLE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE FOR HIMSELF TO GET AN ADJUSTMENT AND APPROX 6 MONTHS AGO, DR VIOLE CALLED DR FRIES AND SAID HE HAD A SMALL PROBLEM MEDICALLY AND WHATEVER IT WAS, DR FRIES TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
    ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT PHONE CALL , BY CHANCE DR FRIES WENT FOR AN ADJUSTMENT AND IN TALKING DR VIOLE TOLD DR FRIES THAT HE WAS RIGHT AND THE MEDICAL PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND UPON HEARING THAT, DR FRIES SAID “THAT’S GREAT AND I CAN TAKE YOU OFF OF THE TOP OF THE TIER”. DR VIOLE DI NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT AND ASKED DR FRIES WHO DID NOT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT AFTER PUSHING AND ALSO BEING A VERY GOOD PERSONAL FRIEND HE TOLD DR VIOLE THAT HE HAS A LIST WITH DIFFERENT TIERS AND THE PEOPLE ON TOP HE PRAYS FOR MORE AND AS THE LIST OF NAMES ARE LOWER ON THE LIST HE PRAYS FOR THEM ACCORDINGLY BASED ON THEIR NEEDED REFUAH’S (HEALINGS), SINCE DR VIOLE WAS BETTER HE WAS GOING TO PUT HIM ON THE LOWER PART OF THE LIST OR TAKE HIM OFF THE LIST COMPLETELY.
    IT BLEW DR VIOLE’S MIND THAT A JEWISH DOCTOR, FRIEND,PEDIATRICIAN, WOULD PUT HIS NAME ON TO HIS PERSONAL TEFILAH LIST FOR A REFUAH.
    THAT WAS DR FRIES WHO NOBODY EVER REALLY KNEW.
    ALSO MY WIFE WITH A FEW PEOPLE INVOLVED WOULD LIKE TO PREPARE A BOOK OF STORIES RELATED TO DR FRIES TO BE AVAILABLE BY THE SHLOSHIM TO GIVE TO HIS CHILDREN- ARI,MARA & JENNA !
    YOU CAN SEND THEM TO “LANG 1648 E 8TH STREET BKLYN, NY 11223 – 718/375-0413 “

27. I used Dr. Fries for my children twenty years ago. After my own daughter had a baby I suggested that she use him because he was a fabulous diagnostician. I came with her on many of her visits with my grandson. Dr. Fries truly had never changed. He had the same sense of humor and passed his joking remarks all the time. When he was serious , he was Serious. Dr. Steven Fries was a one of a kind pediatician. There could never be another to replace the quality of person that he was and we will all truly miss him. It is quite difficult to digest this most upsetting news.

28. My children were second generation Dr. Fries Patients. I cannot put into words how devastating this is. Every time i get into my car, i am reminded of him. (there are a bunch of tongue depressors in the back seat, my kids always collected them) just last week when i brought my children there for a check-up he asked me if i brought my hipflask. i said “doc? in the office?” he said “we can always bend the rules for a shot of good scotch”. many a time at a simcha or kiddush we would sit over a good bottle and schmooze. the stories he had were UNBELIEVABLE!! however, every story would end with “i just have siyata dishmaya. Hash-em just seems to give me a hand whenever i need it” he never took credit for his ability to diagnose even based on the smallest symptoms. it was always “hash-em made me his shliach, i could never do it without him”. i echo what every one of his patients have said and feel. he is irreplaceable. i will never be able to trust another doctor as i trusted him.
    may he be a mailitz yosher for his family, his patients, friends, and all of klal yisroel!!

29. hipflasker reminded me of what went on when we came for a visit. First words out of Dr. Fries’ mouth (after “go home” of course) were “where’s my chicken nuggets? you didn’t bring me chicken nuggets?” Dr. Fries attested that mine were the best in the world. (He aslo told me that my twins were beautiful, not ugly, so I guess I’m really special!) The chicken nuggets are such a potchke to make, but I’d give anything to turn back the clock and be able to bring him just one more batch… I have to keep reminding myself that even if I don’t think we told him enough, he really knew how much we admired and appreciated him. He knew, right?

30. I’ve been trying for days to write about how much Dr. Fries meant to us. I couldn’t stop crying the first few days and am at a loss to know where to go from here. He knew my phone number by heart. He gave my son his cell phone number just in case “he wanted to talk” He never sweated the small stuff and in that way made all of our lives easier. He stopped my pnemonia after I had fever for 13 days. He cured my sons night terrors in one night. He got rid of his planters wart with an asprin and a band aid.
    Yet we trusted him never to miss the big stuff even over the phone! He diagnosed my kids with cellulitus, pnemonia and dehydration with only a few sentences! I was always amazed! I asked him anything and everything and he always has solid advice that helped me. At the same time I wasn’t living at the doctors office even with 9 childen under 11 because if he felt he didn’t need to see you and you could get by with some practical advice he didn’t make you come in! It was amazing the doctor I used before him when I had three children I felt I never left the doctors office! I truly hoped he knew how much we treasured him as a pediatrician and a friend.

31. I really feel like we need to form a Dr. Fries bereavement support group.
    Although they sympathize, none of my friends can understand why I talk about Dr. Fries so much, and how lost I feel without him. I just began searching for another doctor for my kids and I am horrified because I know no one will be like him. More than this, though, I just cannot believe we’ll never have the chance to hear his words of wise advice and counsel, his jokes, and feel his care for our children and our families…

32. Like I wrote before. I’d like to start a gmach in his memory. I run a digital baby scale gmach I now have eight of them to lend out to anyone who needs. I just bought another one which now bears Dr. Fries’s hebrew name on it as a zechus for his neshoma. Please spread the word that these scales are available for anyone who needs. I am interested in starting something else as well and am asking for ideas, I can be contacted Judi Braun 718-915-6612 or email [email protected]

33. To all patients of Dr Fries.
    Let me begin by just saying what we all know already and that is that there will never be another Dr Fries.
    He was a diagnostician par excellent and was able to tell anyone who called him or went to his office exactly what was wrong amd how to cure the problem.
    He was an unbelievable Pediatrician who will surely be missed by us all.
    He was outspoken and gutsy and did not care what anyone said , as all he was interested in was to cure the illness, period.
    A meeting was established by the patients of Dr Fries yesterday at a local Shul and the family of Dr Fries ,namely his children Ari,Maya,Jenna with the help of his ex wife Debby and his wonderful secretary ,Sara Bella Kranz have worked out to have Dr Jack Sadoka (not sure of correct spelling of name), who presently is working at Miamonides Hospital in Pediatrics.to come into the office and take over
    the office. The people that have met with Dr Sadoka feel very confident that he seems to be able to fit the shoes of Dr Fries as well as possible. The files will remain in the office and the Patients will be able to meet with the new doctor in coming days so that they can alone make a decision of hopefully staying on as a patient which will ultimately help the family and the practice that Dr Fries has built up over the past 20+ years
    It is your right to do as you please and go anywhere you want to go with your children for their medical treatment

    Dr Fries in Shomayim (Heaven) has definitely been working the miracles for the past 10 days that have been described yesterday at the meeting, in order for this transformation to finally happen .

    I hope that Dr Sadako has the siyata dishmaya that Dr Fries had and that Hashem guides him to help the patients of the past , present and future I’YH and the practice continues as best as physically possible.

34. Has anyone read the article in the Yated? Has anyone met dr. sadako yet? I feel so out of it all the way down here in jersey…

35. Dr. Sadacka has not yet started seeing patients in the office, although I was told by Dr. Viole (the chiropractor who was very close to Dr. Fries and is now close to the whole situation) that he may be making house calls. Certainly, he is available for phone consuls as Sara Bella gives out his pager number on the answering machine. I am checking in with the office every few days to try to make an appt to meet Dr. Sadacka ASAP. If no one else posts before then, I will leave a comment.

36. I am still very upset over the loss of or beloved Dr. Fries. Im not sure if its proper for me to post here so late, but I called the office this week in order to make a check up appointment for my son and found a complete twist of plan. I found that Dr. Sadacka isnt the doctor taking over for Dr. Fries. Another doctor in a completely different local has been assigned to Dr. Fries’ patients. I made the appointment with this new doctor (Dr. Bekar) but was in total bewilderment as to the happenings of Dr. Sedacka. I attended the meeting Dr. Fries’ family and friends held and felt confident with the information that was presented. I just dont know what happened and am writing here to find out if anyone has any information. Im not even 100% sure this new office has my son’s records. Feel free to email me privately. [email protected]

    Dr. Fries is sadly missed in my family.

37. It’s almost a year since we heared that bitter and sad news that Dr. Fries nebach passed away, we still think about him every day, especialy when 1 of our children dont feel so well, and we have nobody to ask for the PERFECT diagnoses, we miss him so badly, since the day he was niftar we still light a candle every day L’Eilu Nishmuso, R’Shimon Yitzchok Ben Avrohom, and my kids know that well, they still talk about him very emotinaly, Ye’hei Zichro Burich

38. It’s been over a year and a half since Dr. Fries was niftar and I still think about him alot. My son who is 19 has been having a medical problem that the drs. can’t seem to get to the bottom of and I know that Dr. Fries would have helped him already. I also have a daughter 18, who has been having issues (unfortunately like so many religious teens today)with depression and being off the derech and I know in my heart that Dr. Fries would have taken care of her with the physical and emotional stuff. I feel so lost without him and hope that in his zchus that Hashem helps my kids and all others that need help.
    LBK

39. It feels like a lifetime has gone by since Dr. Fries was niftar. My heart still feels very scarred and heavy every time I think of him. I agree wholeheartedly with what people wrote on this site who knew him. He truly loved my children and was my pediatrician as well. He made every person feel very important to him. His diagnostician skills were unreal and impeccable. His Ahavas Yisroel was legendary. I suffer from a rare condition that has excruciating painful chronic pain from a C-Section. He always asked me how are you, Minna Rivka bas Chana Fradel? I KNEW that anyone would could rattle my name off like that was truly praying for me; not that I ever doubted it. He had a list of people who he prayed for and cared for. May he be a Mailitz Yosher for all of us and help bring the Geulah.

40. can any one tell me when his yeartziet is and where is he buried. I am making a siyum on mishnayos in his name and would like to make it on the day of his yeartziet. thank you

41. His yurtziet is ו’ טבת and his קבר is in long island