Palm Beach Gardens Lving - October 2026

10 PA L M B E A C H G A R D E N S L I V I N G | O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 Bob Friedman BOARD MEMBER - TRUSTBRIDGE HOSPICE FOUNDATION PROFILES OF LEADERSHIP - By Dan Hauser | Photos by Neil Cohen Photography - COVER FEATURE F or Bob Friedman, success has never been measured simply by what he has built for himself, it’s measured by the people he has helped, the relationships he has developed, and the opportunities he has created for others. That philosophy can be traced back to his childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Friedman learned early that nothing comes without hard work. Born in 1953, he lost his father when he was six years old. His mother, who had never run a business, took over the family’s upscale ladies’ clothing business and held it together for the next eight years. “We had no money, but she always volunteered at the synagogue, serving the refreshments after services or anything they needed,” Friedman recalled. “She was there.” His mother’s example stayed with him. Friedman began working as a child, selling newspapers on Saturdays in downtown Scranton. From there came jobs selling TV guides, washing cars and working as a dishwasher in a diner. “I always knew I had to work,” he said. “And now at 73, mentally, I still need to work.” Friedman initially envisioned a career in law enforcement. He earned a degree in criminology in 1975, but vision requirements prevented him from pursuing the FBI or state police. His brother, already working in life insurance, encouraged him to enter the business instead. He began his career with Equitable Life in 1975 and eventually moved through leadership roles in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before being recruited to Palm Beach County. He arrived in 1986 and has remained in South Florida ever since. In 2003, he started his own life brokerage agency, giving him the independence to continue building his business while pursuing the charitable work that had become increasingly important to him. That commitment to service has taken Friedman into countless corners of Palm Beach County. He has served in leadership roles with organizations including the Urban League of Palm Beach County and United Way of Palm Beach County, and his community involvement eventually led him into an unusual volunteer career with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Despite not being able to go into the field as a career, Bob had always maintained an interest in law enforcement. After developing a relationship with Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, he volunteered his time to the department, initially finding