Mates Friesel
Mates Friesel | |
---|---|
Mayor of New Square, New York | |
In office 1961 – August 1, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Founding mayor |
Succeeded by | Israel Spitzer |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1924 Poland |
Died | August 1, 2015 (age 91) |
Mates Friesel (c. 1924 – August 1, 2015) was American
Biography
Friesel emigrated to the United States from Poland.[1] He owned and operated a travel business.[1]
Friesel was one of the founders of the village of New Square, New York, which was formed in 1961.
Mates Friesel was elected as New Square's first, founding Mayor in 1961.[2] He was unopposed in each of his mayoral campaigns from 1961 to November 2013, when he won his final election.[1][2] Under Friesel and Grand Rabbis Yaakov Yosef Twersky and David Twersky, the village acquired a former hospital along New York State Route 45, which was converted to village municipal offices and classrooms.[1] The village had also been purchasing land in the Catskills to construct a poultry plant.[1] Friesel met with U.S. President Jimmy Carter on his plane in the late 1970s.[1]
Friesel served as New Square's only mayor until his death in 2015.
New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer succeeded Friesel as the village's second mayor.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lieberman, Steve (August 3, 2015). "New Square Mayor Mates Friesel dies at 91". The Journal News. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Green, David B. (November 20, 2016). "This Day in Jewish History – Cult-like Home to Skver Hasidim in N.Y. Holds First Mayoral Election". Haaretz. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.