Michael Friedhaber, 37, passed away on August 23^rd, six days after a diagnosis of metastatic cancer.   Two social workers brought him from MCV hospital to his adoptive parents, Marc and Karen Friedhaber seven days after he was born.  He grew up in Chesterfield County, Virginia and attended Thomas Dale High School.  He lived on four acres of wooded hillsides where most of his time was spent outdoors.  He loved “helping” his dad work on the car or fix things, playing with his tools, driving the lawn tractor, and mulching the yard with a trailer behind the mower which he could back between the azaleas like a pro.

He enjoyed shooting at anything, first with bow and arrows, then later with a pellet gun.  He also liked building forts in the hills, damming up the creek, and building trails for his motor bike which required replacement parts weekly.  Extreme heat or cold could not keep him indoors or out of the creek.

He spent many happy hours at the family fishing cottage on the Piankatank River where he could wakeboard, ski, and tube until the boat ran out of gas or he ran out of daylight.  He played on his middle school and high school soccer teams as well as travel soccer teams for the Chesterfield Soccer Club.  His favorite part of soccer was socializing at out-of-town tournaments.

He also enjoyed time with his grandparents, Carter and Louise Murphy in Petersburg.  Once he was old enough to drive, he chauffeured them in their Lincoln whenever or wherever they wanted to go.  He helped them with yard work and their gigantic garden, and ate at Granny’s whenever possible much to her delight.

For six years he managed two family-owned SnoYo frozen yogurt shops in Lewes and Milford Delaware.    He bought an enclosed trailer and modified it to take SnoYo on the road for local events.  He drove the SnoYo-mobile in the Christmas parades, happy that no one could identify his mom in the SnoYo penguin suit waddling the parade route.

Ultimately, he returned to Middlesex County where he worked for Dixie Tree Removal and Landscaping, but spent his free time fishing, duck hunting, four-wheeling and eating with his other family, the Laws at their Mobjack Bay property in Matthews.   Michael never married, but he enjoyed family time with Travis, Whitney, and especially Winter Grace who called him Fee-Fee.   Hunter and Kasey Law and Rick and Robin Law completed Michael’s other family.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his uncles and aunts Carter (aka Uncle Bubba) and Gloria Murphy, Morris and Karla Murphy, and Gary and Toshi Friedhaber as well as his four cousins:  Teresa Murphy Andress, Andrea Murphy Weeks, Cole Murphy, and Tucker Murphy.

Michael’s farewell party is scheduled for Saturday, September 7^th at his uncle Morris Murphy’ s home at 1366 Eagles Trace, Lancaster, Virginia at 2:00 pm.  Michael’s passing is undeniably unexpected, sudden, and sad, but please come in your casual clothes ready to share happy memories, funny stories and the joy he brought to all who loved him.

Cremation Society of Virginia is handling the arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed to www.vacremationsociety.com.