Oral history interview with Norma Friedman conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 19, 2015 and April 06, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Friedman talks about owning Walker Furniture, her family history, and being a member of the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community for over 40 years.
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A group photo of, from left to right, Debra Cohen, Norma Friedman, and Dee Ober at a United Jewish Appeal (UJA) event, most likely in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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It was a scorching Fourth of July, when Norma (n?e Adler) and Leon Friedman rolled into their new home of Las Vegas in 1973. Nevertheless, they were content with leaving Gary, Indiana behind, and starting fresh with the family?s new ownership of Walker Furniture. Norma recalls her first stop in checking out Las Vegas was to visit the synagogue ? Temple Beth Sholom being the only option. Her oldest son would soon become a bar mitzvah. Feeling good about that, she and her sister-in-law who was also relocating to Las Vegas for the furniture business, searched for new homes. Norma settled into the community through volunteer work as well as through employment outside the family business. She worked in the real estate briefly and in a jewelry store at the Dunes. A natural organizer, she immersed herself in religious and civic organizations including the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service Agency, and volunteering at Selma Bartlett Elementary School in Henderson. Norma shares stories of her Jewish heritage and upbringing in Pittsburgh, the decision to move to Las Vegas, making fast friendships during her life in Las Vegas and the joy she has in traveling the world with Leon, who passed in 2004. In 2017, Norma was honored by the Jewish Family Service Agency.
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Debra Cohen once attended a United Jewish Appeal (UJA) event with Norma Friedman and Dee Ober.
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Norma Friedman was born to Rose and Jacob Adler on July 22, 1935 and was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Leon and Norma Friedman, who were married in Pittsburg in 1957, enjoyed civic work, travel and raising their two children, Jodi and Brad. Leon kept active until his passing in 2004.
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