John Fried.
WAUWATOSA, Wisc.—John Fried, a longtime optical industry executive, passed away peacefully in his home here on April 8 due to complications stemming from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was 71 years old. Fried was born on April 7, 1951 in West Point, N.Y. to Ladislaw and Ida Marie (Smith) Fried. Most of his childhood was spent in Louisville, Ky. As an army brat and in the middle of a family of ten children, he developed resilience and negotiation skills throughout his childhood, his family said.
 
Those qualities, along with a keen curiosity and leadership potential, led to a career in the ophthalmic manufacturing industry beginning in the early 1970s. His first job was making contact lenses at a small lab in Louisville. He later worked for SCL Laboratories, Memphis, Tenn. (1973-1976); Tex-O-Con Optics, Dallas, Tx. (1976-1985); Optical Radiation Corp., Azusa, Calif. (1985-1987); Coburn Optical Industries, Dallas, Texas (1987-1988); Satis Vacuum Corp. (1988-1991); Loh Optical Machinery, Milwaukee, Wisc. (1991-2005) and A&R Optical Machinery, Milwaukee, Wisc. (2005-2016).
 
Fried enjoyed road racing and made videos of races. Learning the technology to make racing videos opened the door to create storytelling videos of family events and family biographies. When racing and creating videos were no longer possible because of his illness, his need to create was expressed in writing a book, an allegorical tale of his struggle with ALS.
 
He is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Denise; their three children and their spouses Trent and Julie, Marie and Brandon, and Lizzie and Paul. He leaves eight brothers and sisters and their spouses, two sisters-in-law and spouses, many nieces and nephews, plus two granddaughters, a grandson and a great-grandson.
 
An in-person and virtual service will be held at Krause Funeral Home in Brookfield, Wisc. on May 7. Visitation is 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with the service to follow. More information is available on the Krause website.
 
Contributions can be made to the ALS Association of Wisconsin.