Schools

Friedlander Tragedy Inspires Community Fund

Friends of Amy, Molly and Gregory Friedlander have created The Forever Molly and Gregory Fund in honor of the two young children and their mother, victims of a murder-suicide last October.

The untimely deaths of a young family in Cross River broke the hearts of many in the Lewisboro community and beyond—some of whom are still processing the

It's unlikely that family or friends will ever fully recover from the loss of Amy, Gregory and Molly Friedlander, or from the news of at the hands of Samuel Friedlander, but two women have found a way to to ensure that their memories will live on.

Jodi Solomon, of New York City, and Lisa Cohen of South Salem have founded a new community fund that will support the pursuits closest to Amy, Molly and Gregory's hearts in the areas of academic, artistic and athletic achievement, said Solomon.

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Amy, who was 46 when she died, had recently , called John Jay Prep; Molly, 10, is remembered as a student with natural artistic talent and Gregory, 8, was a strong student and athlete whom many said epitomized good sportsmanship.

"Amy loved to watch her students blossom and grow in the area of academics, and her students described her as a caring, warm person who would not hesitate to go the extra mile to help them achieve their goals," said Cohen, who met Amy when their children attended the same summer camp four years ago.

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"We hope the fund will ensure that Molly and Gregory will continue to spread their wondrous joy, kindness and compassion for others while making an everlasting impact on the lives of those who were touched by them," she said.

The K-L Foundation will administer the fund, and award grants to applicants within the Katonah-Lewisboro community to support programs or purchase equipment, supplies and services.

Solomon and Cohen met on Facebook just two months ago and quickly connected over their desire to help the grieving community.

They forged a friendship over their mutual love and respect for Amy and her children. Solomon—who met Amy when they both worked at Chase Bank in the 1990s—said she believed Amy sent Lisa to her "as a final act of love for, and dedication to, her children."

The two women concluded that Amy would have preferred to focus on Molly and Gregory and therefore did not include Amy's name formally in the fund name—but those who look carefully at the ampersand in the logo will see that she is gracefully acknowledged.

The fund's website also features a guestbook page, intended to become a "living" tribute to the children and their mother.

"It's a healing mechanism, where all who loved them can share their memories and feel closer to them by reading about the special memories others have of them," said Solomon.

Recipients will be selected based upon how closely their applications align with the shared mission of the Forever Fund and the KL Foundation, which is to enrich the academic, artistic and athletic pursuits of the children in the Katonah-Lewisboro district.

Donations to the Forever Molly and Gregory Fund can be made in the following ways:

  • Visit the web site www.mollyandgregory.org
  • Checks can also be made out to the KL Foundation: Note that the money is for the Molly and Gregory Fund on the check and mail to KL Foundation, c/o Rich Rosenberg, 75 Quicks Lane, Katonah, NY 10536


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