JAMES M. FRIERY SR.

ONEONTA – James M. Friery Sr., died Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta after a long illness.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathryn Griffin Friery; two sons, James Michael Friery Jr. of Oneonta and Mark Stephen Friery of Newburyport, MA; two grandsons, James B. Friery and Jonathan M. Friery of Oneonta; two granddaughters, and their husbands, George and Katharine Hattem Crozer of Richmond, VA and Eric and Kara Hattem Ballict of Tucson , AZ. His beloved daughter, Patricia predeceased him.

He is also survived by his sister, Catherine Friery of New Mexico; a brother-in-law, William Devine of Santa Barbara, CA; three nephews, Sean Devine, Timothy Devine, and Brian Devine and a niece, Sheila Devine, all of California; two nephews, Edward Friery of Utah and Jon Friery of Rochester. He was predeceased by sister, Elizabeth Devine and his brother, Edward Friery.

Mr. Friery was born in Oneonta on October 9, 1924 and graduated from Oneonta High School in 1941 at the age of 16. He attended Union College in Schenectady as an electrical engineering student for three years prior to volunteering for the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot trainee and cadet. His experiences in the Air Corps engendered a love of flying that continued throughout his life; eventually he acquired commercial, instrument and multi-engine licenses. At the end of World War II, Mr. Friery returned to Oneonta, was married in 1946 and completed his education at Hartwick College, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in business administration.

Upon his graduation, Mr. Friery launched his business career. He was employed first with the Linn Division of Greater American Industries. Eventually he rose to be the divisional comptroller with offices at the company's Chestnut Street facility in Oneonta. During this period Mr. Friery found the time to create Oneonta's first cable television system, a cooperative effort in the Eastland Heights area in the city. In 1953 Greater American Industries decided to close their Linn division and Mr. Friery created a successor company, LynCoach and Truck Co. to purchase its assets. Beginning with two employees in a small building on West Broadway Street in Oneonta, LynCoach was formed in order to continue Linn's manufacture of custom coaches and mobile medical units. In a single year's time LynCoach obtained enough business to reoccupy Linn's former Chestnut Street facility. Mr. Friery was owner, chairman, CEO and president of LynCoach and its affiliated companies for many years. At the height of his tenure LynCoach was the largest manufacturer of medical, dental, x-ray and electronic mobile units in the world, employing some 1400+ people with branch manufacturing plants in Troy, AL and Santa Alta, CA. Many citizens of third world countries and residents in remote locations in the United States owe their first contact with modern medicine to the innovations and dedication brought to this industry by Mr. Friery and his company. Through the years LynCoach operated in every state of the union and dozens of foreign countries all over the world.

Mr. Friery's enterprise was also a major defense contractor supplying such familiar defense vehicles as the M10, ¾ ton, m20, and 2 ton bomb trailers. Additionally, LynCoach contributed sophisticated mobile control units and trailers to the Army, Air Force and various NASA rocket programs. In 1958 LynCoach's custom unit production was complimented by the purchase of the assets of R.J. Reynolds Company's aluminum truck body subsidiary. This product line resulted in the tens of thousands of Hertz and Ryder rental trucks that were a familiar sight to a generation of Oneontans. The company's third product line supplied "Lyncoach Airvans" to the light trucking and step van industry. These vehicles can still be seen occasionally delivering bread or fitted out as fire rescue units throughout the United States. Although Mr. Friery sold his business in 1970 and entered semi retirement after leaving the company in 1972, LynCoach's legacy can still be seen locally as its medical product lines, plans and innovations were turned over to another local company by its new owners.

Never able to relax completely in his retirement, Mr. Friery started and operated various local businesses, served in several organizations and became involved in Democratic Party politics. His businesses included, JMF Associates, Twin Star Travel, Twin Star Real Estate, The Hobbit House Steak House, and the Bookhout-Friery Building on Dietz Street. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary's Church and The Elks Club and was a board member and trustee of the NYS Catskill Mountain Educational center. In the 1970's Mr. Friery was in turn the chairman of the Oneonta City and Otsego County Democratic Party. During his chairmanship Mr. Friery's personal relationships with Congressman James Hanley, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Governor Hugh Carey resulted in many opportunities for Otsego County and Oneonta. He was listed in Who's Who and Leading Men in America. Nationally, Mr. Friery was a member and director of the American Ordinance Association and on the board of the National Defense Executive Reserve of the United States Department of Commerce. At the height of the cold war Mr. Friery was designated to head all defense manufacturing in the northeastern United States with the rank of Major General in the event that actual war broke out.

In recent years, Mr. Friery divided his time between his residences in Jupiter, FL and on his beloved Otsego Lake near Cooperstown, NY. In Jupiter, Mr. Friery was active as a volunteer in area hospitals and thrift shop charities. Hartwick College, Mr. Friery's alma mater, honored him in 2004 by presenting him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 19, 2006 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home in Oneonta.

A memorial mass will be on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oneonta, with the Reverend Joseph Benintende, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.

Contributions may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 1 Birchwood Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lhpfuneralhome.com

The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home at 51 Dietz Street in Oneonta, is serving the family.