Essex County Train Fatality Victim Was An Animal Lover, Avid Gamer

An animal lover. A video game aficionado.

And most importantly, a compassionate young man with a bright future.

This is what the world lost when a NJ Transit train struck and killed Emanuel Friedman, a 28-year-old Lawrenceville resident, as he was standing on the train tracks just west of the Millburn Train Station during rush hour on Aug. 7.

NJ Transit labeled Friedman’s death as a “trespasser fatality” in a travel alert, and has declined to comment on the possible reason why he was on the tracks.

The incident is still under investigation.

Family and friends took to social media the day after Friedman was killed, expressing both shock and grief at the news of his death.

“Yesterday morning, Manny was involved in an accident that cost him his life,” a poster wrote, updating Friedman’s Facebook timeline a final time. “It is a sad, tragic and senseless moment to have lost someone so pure and loving in this world. Thank you for loving or liking or believing in Manny. Please take his unbridled love and compassion with you as you continue through life, as well as his memory.”

“My heart aches knowing he’s gone,” wrote one commentor. “He was such an amazing person… I cannot believe this is real.”

“I knew Manny from many fun times at Blue Man Group,” a friend wrote. “Over the last few years we made great fun memories together in the city for the show as well as dinner and shenanigans. I miss him already.”

“Manny was there for me and my beloved pet Tori when we needed someone most,” a woman wrote. “His kindness and good heartedness was evident from the first moment we met.”

AN ANIMAL LOVER AND GAMER

Friedman was “founder and pet care extraordinaire” of Pet Sitters At Home, LLC, a pet care service that also provides dog walking, playtime and even “pajama parties.”

“Born and raised in the quiet New Jersey suburbs,” Friedman wrote on the company’s website that he’s always had a passion for animals big and small.

“Before coming to realize this passion for animals could actually become a fun and exciting career, I worked for many years in restaurants and retail but neither line of work made me happy,” Friedman wrote. “I recognized I was happiest when I was doing my volunteer work in the animal shelter, surrounded by the love and adoration of so many four-legged friends.”

According to his Facebook page, Friedman previously worked as an arcade technician at Jersey Jack Pinball, as well as a video game department employee at Mosaic in Princeton who “acted as liaison for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Playstation, providing store associates and management with product information and training.”

However, Friedman’s life wasn’t without its darker times. In 2014, Friedman shared the following post via his Facebook account:

“Suicide is very real, and it can be helped. If anyone knows someone who suffers from depression, let them know you are willing to help, suicide is not an answer. I know, I once was suicidal myself, but it gets better, the dark tunnel brightens again with help and time.”

After celebrating his birthday on Jan. 7, Friedman posted an update that seems to perfectly encapsulate what his life was all about:

“Phoo, what a nice and calm birthday it was today. Nothing outrageous, enjoyed a lovely lunch with my Mum, enjoyed some fun with the pooches today, and finished it at the arcade. Then I was able to end it with an absolutely delicious meal of homemade mac n cheese, and watch a cool movie with Elijah Wood and John Cusack. To everyone who wished me here on Facebook, American friends thank you, German friends danke schoen, over in the UK cheers, and to my family, I love you all, to the end of time. Here’s to being 28 years old.”

Photo with permission via Facebook

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