A man from Port Washington died Sunday in an apparent drowning, police said.
Brett Friedberg, 22, was pronounced dead late in the evening after he apparently drowned in a swimming pool in Springs, New York, according to Capt. Chris Anderson of the East Hampton Town Police Department.
Friedberg was staying with a group of acquaintances at a home at 117 Waterhole Road in the Clearwater neighborhood, according to the East Hampton Star. Police received a call at 11:09 p.m. when people at the house found Friedberg unresponsive in the pool.
He was transported to the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital by a Springs Fire Department ambulance. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Anderson told the East Hampton Star that an investigation into the death was ongoing, although there was no indication of foul play or that Friedberg had hit his head.
A funeral service for Friedberg was held on Wednesday at the Riverside-Nassau North Chapel in Great Neck, followed by burial at the Wellwood Cemetery in Farmingdale.
On a web page set up in Friedberg’s memory, dozens of friends, family members and associates posted their condolences and remembrances.
“Since the day I really got to know you when I was in 10th grade, you’ve had my back,” wrote Chris Castillo, a classmate of Friedberg’s at Paul D. Schreiber High School. “You always reached out to me with support and showed nothing but love, all while wearing the biggest smile.”
Friedberg’s willingness to work hard while maintaining an easygoing demeanor was praised by Anthony Schettino, his wrestling coach at Schreiber.
“[Friedberg was] the kind of person any coach would love to have on his team not only for his successes on the mat but, for the outstanding person he truly was,” he wrote.
According to the obituary on the web page, Friedberg was born on March 19, 1996. After graduating from Schreiber, he attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. Efforts to reach his family were unavailing.
Reach reporter Luke Torrance by email at ltorrance@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 214, or follow him on Twitter @LukeATorrance
