The communities of Longboat Key and Washington, D.C., are mourning the loss of Joel R.
Feidelman, a man whose life, spanning 91 years (February 11, 1934 – October 14, 2025), was defined by sharp intellect, profound generosity, and an infectious enthusiasm for his passions.
A Longboat Key resident and retired Senior Partner at the international law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Mr. Feidelman was remembered by loved ones as “a gentleman with a beautiful smile, infectious laugh, quick wit, and a compassionate and generous heart.”
The Pantheon of Passions
Mr. Feidelman was a man of intense, eclectic enthusiasms that shaped his personal and social life:
A Devoted Sports Fan: His loyalty spanned eight decades, starting with the New York Yankees in childhood. He was a lifelong fan and season ticketholder for the Syracuse Men’s basketball team (his alma mater), the Commanders (formerly Redskins), and the Wizards (formerly Bullets). He was known for his dedication to securing “good seats… and even better parking!”
A Music Aficionado: Above all, Mr. Feidelman loved music. He amassed a personal library of over 4,500 CDs and was a regular at venues ranging from the high culture of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to the intimate setting of the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. His tastes were broad, encompassing opera, Broadway musicals, American and Irish folk music—a genre he supported by helping produce the albums of the Maine-based folk trio, Schooner Fare.
The Collector: He was a true bibliophile who maintained an extensive library and was an enthusiastic collector, saving the Playbill from every show he ever attended and amassing sports memorabilia, especially Yankees artifacts.
A Legacy of Law, Service, and Social Progress
Born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Feidelman was a highly decorated student, graduating magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 1955 and earning his J.D. from Yale University Law School in 1958.
Following law school, he served as a Captain and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1961, during which time he discovered his love for folk music.
His legal career was spent entirely at Fried, Frank, where he rose to become Co-Chairman of the Litigation Department in Washington and the Partner-in-Charge of the Government Contracts Practice Group.
Beyond his professional life, Mr. Feidelman was a dedicated community leader:
He was an active member and former President of the UJA Young Leadership Cabinet of Greater Washington, and the first recipient of the Greater Washington UJA Young Leadership Award in 1969.
In a move ahead of its time, during his term as President of the Woodmont Country Club (1983-1984), he famously rewrote the club’s bylaws to ensure stronger legal protections for women members.
A Storied Final Chapter
In retirement, Mr. Feidelman shared what his family called a “storybook marriage” with his wife of 38 years, Jan. Together, they satisfied his passion for travel, visiting all fifty states, eighty-five countries, and six of the seven continents. Their adventures included hot air ballooning over Turkey, Myanmar, and Australia.
Mr. Feidelman is survived by his loving wife, Jan, his two daughters, Nancy Feidelman and Karen Hamlin, and five grandchildren. He was a member of Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key and maintained his connection to his childhood synagogue in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
A Celebration of Life for Joel Feidelman will be held on Friday, February 7, 2026, at 3 PM at the Plymouth Harbor Retirement Community Chapel, 700 John Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) or UJA (United Jewish Appeal).
