Edward Stanton Freedman

Dr. Edward S. Freedman, a Lancaster dentist who advocated on behalf of the indigent and uninsured, died Thursday, September 16 at Hospice of Lancaster County after a four-month battle with cancer. He was 80. Freedman opened a practice at 416 North Duke St. in 1983 and was working as recently as May of this year. His son, Dr. Matthew D. Freedman, joined the practice in 1993.Earlier, Freedman practiced at 311 E. Orange St. and on Manor Street. Freedman, of Lancaster, had a great concern for people who were unable to afford dental care, and he worked to expand access to care in the Lancaster community. Most recently, Freedman founded and chaired a nonprofit group called DentiStars, Community Volunteers in Dentistry. Its mission was to establish a clinic that primarily served the uninsured working people and senior citizens of Lancaster County. The effort to meet that need remains an ongoing work in progress. His passion to pursue this project was in part initially fueled when Lancaster General Hospital closed its outpatient dental clinic in 1998. He encountered many obstacles throughout the community, but remained engaged in the effort until he became ill. Dr Freedman was a member of the Lancaster County Dental Society, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, The American Dental Association and was a member of the Department of Dentistry at Lancaster General Hospital. In 1980, Freedman spearheaded a 24-hour local hot line for emergency dental care. In 1985 he joined with other dentists in purchasing portable dental equipment to treat homebound patients. In 1975, Freedman joined the faculty at University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine. He received a promotion to clinical assistant professor of restorative dentistry in 1982. Over the years, Freedman received recognition from his peers for his work in dentistry. In 1988, Freedman achieved his Mastership designation with the Academy of General Dentistry, recognizing his commitment to continuing education. He joined the Academy in 1966 and was named a Fellow in 1971. He also was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists. Freedman served as president of the Lancaster County Dental Society in 1981-82 and received the organization's Herbert K. Cooper Award in 1999 for outstanding service to the dental community. A Philadelphia native, Freedman was the son of Abraham and Doris Freedman. He was a 1953 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine and a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia. After graduation from dental school, Freedman served for two years as a Major in the U.S. Army Dental Corps at the American Hospital in Paris, France. On returning to the United States, Freedman opened a practice in Lancaster in 1956. He was recalled to the service during the Berlin Crisis and then returned to Lancaster. He was a member of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, and during his years on the board of the Lancaster Jewish Community Center he worked to acquire its Oregon Pike facility. Freedman followed the Philadelphia Phillies and in 2005 spent a week at Phillies Phantasy Camp, receiving the Tug McGraw Inspiration Award. He enjoyed cooking and taught a class called "Fast and Fancy" at Chef's Bazaar Cooking School. Freedman is survived by his wife, Natalie (Rothman-Lichtman) Freedman; three children, Dr. Matthew, husband of Stacey Freedman, of Lancaster, Sara Freedman of Viroqua, Wis., and Bruce, husband of Denise (Wash) Freedman, of Merion Station, Pa., and three stepchildren, Robin, wife of John Antista, of Margate, N.J., Stefanie Cutler of Radnor, Pa., and Cheryl Cutler of Albrightsville, Pa. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Peter Hugh Freedman, and a brother, Barry Freedman. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 E. James St., with Rabbi Jack P Paskoff officiating. The family will receive friends at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim from 9 a.m. Monday until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 E. James Street, Lancaster, PA, 17602, and Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17608-4125. Interment will follow the service at Roosevelt Memorial Park in Trevose, Pa.

Edward Stanton Freedman

September 17, 2010