Claudia Nemeth
August 5, 1953 - August 14, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Claudia Ann Fridinger of Pawcatuck on Aug. 14, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Aug. 5, 1953, in Teaneck, N.J. and was raised in Paramus, N.J. She graduated from Paramus High School in 1971, and from York College in Pennsylvania in 1975. She also earned a master's degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Sixth Year Professional Diploma from Southern Connecticut State University.
Claudia married Timothy Fridinger on July 16, 1977, and moved to Connecticut in 1978. In addition to her beloved husband Tim, she is survived by her sons, Timothy and his wife Marianna of Oxford, Adam and his wife Ashley and granddaughter Adley of Waterford; her siblings, Patricia and her husband Neil Courtney of Camden, Maine, George and his wife Sheila Nemeth of Rio Rancho, N.M., Victoria and her husband John Potter of Bluffton, S.C. She also had many dear friends especially Fran, Judy and Leslie.
Claudia was a dedicated and beloved educator for 29 years for the Groton Public Schools. She taught at both Eastern Point and S. B. Butler elementary schools. Claudia was honored several times as a teacher of the year and was inducted into the Groton Educators Hall of Fame on Aug. 9, 2022. As an avid reader herself, Claudia became a reading specialist and loved teaching children to read.
Claudia enjoyed her leisure time gardening, painting mandala dot rocks, travelling, visiting wine country, and camping. She always looked forward to her regular Book Club meetings and her annual shopping spree with her friends to Freeport, Maine. Claudia was also an active member and volunteer for the Mystic Woman's Club.
Claudia will be especially remembered for her kindness, sensitivity, generosity, organizational skills, and of course, her love of family and friends.
A celebration of Claudia's life will be held in the Autumn of 2022.
Claudia's battle against cancer brought awareness to the limited research and funding for her specific type of cancer. In her honor, donations can be made to Endometrial Cancer Research, online "MSK".
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theday/name/claudia-fridinger-obituary?id=36349062
Dennis Maher (1969)
I am so sorry to hear of Claudia's passing. My friends and I spent a lot of time at her parent's house in High School, her sister Pat was in my graduating class. It was a warm and happy household and full of many fond memories of her parents, as well as her younger brother (Jige - really not sure how he spelled his nickname) and sister (Vicky). In fact we watched the first moon walk at their house. Claudia was always very friendly with a great sense of humor. I will always remember her smiling face and how she would call us "Fool", of course only in good nature. Rest well, you will be deeply missed.
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