Bernard (Bernie) Fried, was born in New York City, graduated from New York University with a B.A. degree in Biology in 1954, earned a masters in zoology at the University of New Hampshire in 1956, and received his PhD from the University of Connecticut in 1961 under Professor Lawrence Penner. He was a NIH post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biology at Emory University from 1961 to 1963. Dr. Fried was a Professor of Biology at Lafayette College from 1963 until retiring in 2000. Among his professional memberships, Bernie was a long-time member of HelmSoc, the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, where I first met him, the New Jersey Society for Parasitology and the American Society of Parasitologists.  He held the distinguished Lafayette College Kreider Professor of Biology Chair from 1975 until his retirement in 2000.

Bernie maintained a scholarly career, publishing and editing over 450 academic articles, chapters, and books, collaborating with colleagues both within the college and elsewhere and his undergraduate students.

He is most well-known for his experimental work on echinostome trematodes using morphometry, thin layer chromatography, differential staining, light and electron microscopy and ion analysis of body fluids in studies of the effects of different rearing conditions on these parasites, and malacology of some of their medically important intermediate snail hosts many of which were published with his undergraduate students. His research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Clark Foundation, Research Corporation, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Chuck Holliday, professor emeritus of biology, met Fried when the professor interviewed him for a position as an animal physiologist at Lafayette in early 1982:
    "I was impressed with his dedication to involving undergraduates in his research and resolved to follow his excellent example. At the time, Lafayette was increasing its commitment to undergraduate research involvement, and Bernie and our colleague Shyamal Majumdar led the way as examples of faculty who involved five to ten undergraduates a semester in their research programs, including co-authorship of publications by their research students.
    Bernie's many research students well remember the intensity of his interest in the biology of parasitic worms, particularly trematodes. He always had several research projects ready for a willing student to take on, and many of his former research students have told me that Bernie’s excitement about and involvement in research was the reason that they became research scientists. Bernie will be remembered by generations of Lafayette biology majors as a deciding factor in their research careers."

Bernie's many research students well remember the intensity of his interest in the biology of parasitic worms, particularly trematodes. He always had several research projects ready for a willing student to take on, and many of his former research students have told me that Bernie’s excitement about and involvement in research was the reason that they became research scientists. Bernie will be remembered by generations of Lafayette biology majors as a deciding factor in their research careers.

He will be remembered fondly for his blue bucket hat, NY Mets shirt and NY Giants sweater.  He was always an enthusiastic person, a delight to know, and a great gentleman.

Dr. Fried is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Grace Evans; sons: Neil Fried of Atlanta, GA and David Evans of Allentown, PA.

By Sherman S. Hendrix
Professor of Biology Emeritus
Gettysburg College

Sources:

Remembering Bernie Fried - Lafayette Today · Lafayette Today · Lafayette College
Bernard Fried Obituary (1933 - 2021) - Easton, PA - Morning Call (legacy.com)
Bernard Fried · Biology · Lafayette College
The Journal of Parasitology: Interview with Bernie Fried - YouTube