Roberta DeMott Friberg's Obituary
Roberta D. “Bert” Friberg passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025, at her retirement home in Scappoose, Oregon, at the age of 89. Born on June 19, 1936, in Washington, D.C., and growing up on a farm, Roberta led a life defined by intellectual curiosity and scientific achievement, becoming a pioneering professional woman in an era when such paths were rare.
She earned a degree in Biology from Westminster College and went on to receive a master’s degree in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1959. It was there that she met her husband, Bernard. Roberta remained in Ann Arbor for most of her life before relocating to Oregon at the age of 87 to be closer to family.
Roberta began her career conducting research at the University of Michigan before joining the research department at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Hospital. Her work contributed significantly to studies in human genetics, transplantation, and growth hormone research.
Outside of her professional life, Roberta was an avid reader and a passionate traveler who explored much of the world. She was a longtime member of the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club, where she found friendship and connection. A lover of classical music and antiques, she once commissioned a harpsichord that continues to be played by her granddaughters.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard. She is lovingly remembered by her son Kenneth; daughter-in-law Zuzi; granddaughters Abby and Ada; two sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Her legacy endures through her contributions to science and the lives she touched with her intellect and spirit. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.
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