John Friedly

On February 14, 2019, John D. Friedly passed away at Munson Medical Center after a short bout with cancer, his two children at his side.
John was born on May 12, 1942, in Pontiac, Michigan, the second child of John and Helen (Workinger) Friedly. John graduated from Waterford High School in 1960 and received his B.S. in Business from Oakland University in 1966.
On February 3, 1967, John married Marilyn K. Friedly of Utica, Michigan. Later that year, John was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam as a cable splicer for one year, returning in July of 1969, having earned various medals and awards including the Bronze Star.
From 1969 to 1974, John and Marilyn lived in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where John worked for IBM. During this time, they visited and fell in love with the town of Charlevoix, Michigan. In 1974, John and Marilyn moved to Charlevoix, eventually landing their young family in a small home on Belvedere Avenue, which they lovingly restored.
John co-founded the computer consulting company, Systems Management, Inc., where he and a small staff worked to bring hospitals and many Northern Michigan businesses into the computer age with hardware and software installations. John finished his career with his own consulting company, Friedly & Associates.
Over the years, John helped to shape Charlevoix and preserve its character by serving on the Planning Commission and participating briefly on the board of Northwest Michigan Academy, now Charlevoix Montessori Academy for the Arts. John was particularly active in his local sailing community. He was a longtime member of the Charlevoix Yacht Club, serving many years as their treasurer. John cruised the Great Lakes and North Channel with his family and actively sailed in both Harbor Springs and Charlevoix, in countless weekday races and weekend regattas as well as several Chicago and Port Huron to Mackinac races. John was a member of his most recent crew for over 15 years. He was most proud of his time and efforts on behalf of Sail Charlevoix (Lake Charlevoix Mariners, Inc.), an adult and junior learn-to-sail program where he served as a board member and treasurer for many years.
John is preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife of 21 years, Marilyn, in 1988, and his sister, Shirley A. Friedly, in June of this past year.  He is survived by his twin brothers, Richard and David Friedly, son (Jonathan) Webster Friedly (Cara Mulder), his daughter Megan (Friedly) Cassada (Josh Cassada), and his four favorite people, his grandchildren, Sydney and Sailor Friedly and Quinn and Graham Cassada, for whom he made countless root beer floats during many visits throughout the year. John was a great friend to many, and he will be greatly missed.

An informal memorial gathering will take place on Saturday, February 23rd from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Winchester Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, John and his family would be grateful to have donations directed to the Sail Charlevoix program to support their acquisition of new sailboats that will serve the important purpose of carrying on John’s sailing legacy for many years to come.  Please use https://www.sailcharlevoix.org/support-us and comment “in honor of John Friedly.”

Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.