Ina Friedman Starobin

Ina Friedman Starobin, formerly of Bethesda, MD and Brookline, MA, died peacefully at Goodwin House, Alexandria, VA on June 25.

Ina was born and raised in Chester, PA.  After graduating from Penn State U, she married Sol Friedman of Washington, DC.  She raised four children in Bethesda, by whom she is survived, Ronne Friedman (Irene), Wendy Friedman (Adam Bernstein), Lynn Friedman, Loren Friedman (Patricia Rodriguez); she is also survived by a step-daughter, Debra Pullen.  Ina was the author of four young adult books: Black Cop, a biography, and three non-fiction works about the Holocaust, Escape or Die, The Other Victims, and Flying Against The Wind. Ina also wrote a delightful book for young children, How My Parents Learned to Eat, illustrated by Allen Say, for which she won a Christopher Award and a spot on Reading Rainbow.

Ina met Colonel Sam Starobin in the mid-70’s; they were married in 1977 and delighted in one another until Sam’s death in 2019.

In addition to her children, Ina is survived by her sister, Barbara Roberts of Lincoln, MA and four grandchildren, Zachary Friedman (Lilian Tan), Rachel Lerch (Conor O’Hollaren), Amelia Friedman DeSorrento (Tonio), Joaquin Friedman (Alaina Van Slooten), a step-grandson, Phelan Pullen (Joan), three great-grandchildren, Emilio, Tiago and Luca, nieces, Beth Roberts, Susan Lubar (Ken), and nephew, Larry Harris (Phyllis), and their families. She also enjoyed a special relationship with her grand-niece, Allegra Lubar.

Ina’s eldest grandson, Jesse, cited as an editor of one of her books, predeceased her in 2010.

She will be buried next to Sam in a private family ceremony at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY.

Contributions in her memory may be sent to: Jesse S. Friedman Fund, Temple Israel Riverway Project, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02215