About the Friedmans

Sidney and Pauline (”Pauly”) Friedman and their children, Robert Friedman and Anne Friedman‑Glauber, have been long-time supporters of Penn State University, particularly the Penn State Wilkes‑Barre campus. Their donations established both the Friedman Observatory and the Friedman Art Gallery at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Sidney and Pauline (”Pauly”) Friedman and their children, Robert Friedman and Anne Friedman‑Glauber, have been long-time supporters of Penn State University, particularly the Penn State Wilkes‑Barre campus. Since 1985, the Friedmans have generously contributed to the campus and its students in a number of ways.

One of the projects closest to their hearts has been the Friedman Observatory at Penn State Wilkes‑Barre. By establishing the first observatory in the area in 1990, Sidney and Pauline Friedman felt that they could offer students a rare opportunity to expand the way they understood the universe and themselves. They also believed that an observatory would be important for the wider community, offering an exciting educational resource for students from other institutions, children, and adults. In 2003, as an anniversary gift to their parents, Robert and Anne generously donated funds for the purchase of the Observatory’s current Meade 16" LX200 telescope. Subsequently, the family also donated a specialized digital camera for use with the telescope. Today, the Friedman Observatory hosts frequent open houses for students and the public, holds events celebrating unusual astronomical occurrences, and provides faculty and students with research opportunities in astronomy and physics.

Additionally, with the opening of the Abram Nesbitt Academic Commons in 2008, Sidney and Pauly gifted the campus with the Friedman Art Gallery. The gallery is a space in the Academic Commons where the work of students and local artists, as well as private collections, are exhibited. The gallery is also the venue for the campus’s annual “Celebration of the Arts” event just before the winter holidays.

Pauline Friedman served on the Wilkes-Barre campus advisory board and was the recipient of the Phillip Mitchell Alumni Service Award, which recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the area of public service by sharing or volunteering his or her talent, time and resources on behalf of the University.

Pauline passed away in December, 2008. In 2022, Robert established a Penn State Wilkes‑Barre memorial scholarship in his mother’s memory. And in 2023, he followed in her footsteps and became a campus advisory board member.

The generosity and commitment that the Friedman family has shown towards Penn State Wilkes‑Barre will continue to be felt and appreciated for years to come.