David Scott Friedman, 40, died unexpectedly on Monday, January 5, 2004 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y. David was born in New Hyde Park, N.Y. on October 17, 1963 and was the son of the late Gilbert Friedman and Mary V. Scuderi Friedman. He resided in Central Islip, N.Y. until the death of his father, at which time he relocated with his mother and sister to Gansevoort, N.Y. David was a graduate of Saratoga Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School and furthered his studies at Plattsburgh State University and later at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he remained for three years until an illness interrupted his studies. While at Berklee, David formed friendships and roomed with musicians Austin A.J. Nester and Delfeayo Marsalis. He maintained these friendships throughout the years. David was a talented trumpeter and enjoyed playing the keyboard. He had several brief employment stints, selling cars, working for AT&T and Hermes Music before accepting a position with Northeast Music in Latham, N.Y. where he was employed for the past 11 years. As a musician, David was a founding member of the Empire Jazz Orchestra and played with several local bands including The Joey Thomas Big Band, City Rhythm, New York Players, The T.S. Ensemble and Alex Torres and the Latin Kings, with whom he toured throughout Puerto Rico. It is with Alex Torres and the Latin Kings that he opened for multi-Grammy award winners Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. David also played with other notable Latin artists in Boston and Philadelphia. His talent provided him with an opportunity to play with the Jordainaires, the back-up group to Elvis Presley. David was often sought after to play with back-up bands to stars appearing in the local area at venues such as the Starlight Theater, Proctors Theater and the Van Dyke. He also enjoyed playing during holidays and at special events in various local churches which included St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Albany and First Church in Albany, Reformed. Although David's first love was music, he also enjoyed working around his home, which had been in his wife's family for six generations. He took great pleasure in cars, electronics toys, chocolate, shopping for hours at the Home Depot and being with his dog, Pagliacci. His family will forever remember David for his friendliness to others and for his caring and generous spirit.

          David was the loving husband of Elizabeth Martin Friedman, who he met in the fall of 1980 and to whom he has been married for 11 years. He was the cherished brother of Robin L. Burnash and her husband Dale A. of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; the dear nephew of Nancy DeSalvo Borucki of Stuart, Fla., with whom David lived from an early age and thought of as his mother, following the death of his own mother; the son-in-law of David Kendall Martin and Patricia R. Martin of West Chazy, N.Y.; the brother-in-law of Anne Kennedy Wallace and her husband Eric of Brentwood, N.H., David Kendall Martin and his wife Mimi Lane of Wilmington, N.Y., Peter Stockwell Martin and his wife Laura Green of Doha, Qatar, and Rosalyn Martin of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; lifelong and best friend of Gerald Levine of Boston, Mass. David is also survived by one niece and five nephews; an uncle; several aunts and many cousins.

          The funeral service, a musical celebration of David's life, will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. in Trinity Episcopal Church, 1336 First Avenue, Watervliet, N.Y. All are invited to attend. The family will greet friends at a reception following the service in the Parish Hall. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, N.Y. There are no public calling hours. The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 or to the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY, 12205 in memory of David Scott Friedman.