Remembering Josh

Post #21

Three years ago today, Josh Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash.  Our community lost a respected corporate leader, a passionate philanthropist, and a devoted husband and father when he died at the age of 42.

He was so young, yet already so accomplished.  Josh had succeeded his father, the legendary Carl M. Freeman, as head of the company known for building homes both in Montgomery County and at the beach in Delaware.  A risk-taker, Carl envisioned Sea Colony as a respite for families during Washington's insufferably humid summers.  The Americana condominiums are still homes for families many decades after their construction.  He also established a family foundation that was dedicated to giving back in the same localities where the company made its money.

Josh built on the record of leadership and quality development set by his father, who died in 1998.  He constructed the Village at Bear Trap Dunes, a golf course community with approximately 600 homes.  He realized a dream with the grand opening of Bayside near Fenwick, featuring a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course that is known as particularly challenging-- even for excellent golfers.

On behalf of his family and the 600+ company employees, Josh expanded the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.  He honored me by hiring me as its first-ever Executive Director.  We enhanced our visibility, held public grant cycles, and conducted site visits with the trustees for the first time.  In order to teach employees about giving back, Josh dedicated his personal funds to matching employee donations to nonprofit organizations of their choice.  He envisioned a Nonprofit Leadership Institute that we created in partnership with Montgomery College.  It offered emerging nonprofit leaders the skills to increase their effectiveness.

It would be impossible to end a tribute to Josh without mentioning his commitment to his family.  He adored his lovely wife Michelle, who provided joy and balance to his life.  To his children, Nick, Benjamin and Juliana, he was a devoted father and loving mentor.  While it is incomprehensibly tragic that they will grow up without their dad cheering them on, they will have memories and hear stories from others about how fiercely their father loved them.

Our entire family and the greater Washington area lost a brilliant, loving and visionary leader three years ago.  I hope that by celebrating and sharing stories about Josh, we can inspire others to carry on his legacy, even in some small way.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Do you have a memory of Josh you'd like to share?  Are you aware of how he touched your life?   Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#21) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.