Bernice Friedland, Businesswoman and Philanthropist (1925-2025)

Bernice Friedland is a former high school teacher (Fort Hill) and retired Cumberland small business owner. Along with her late husband, Arthur Friedland, Bernice was the owner of “Tots to Teens” until her retirement in 1989. 
 

On April 5, 2017 Bernice Friedland received special recognition and was honored at the Sixth Annual Allegany County Women’s History celebration conducted at Allegany College of Maryland. Active in a variety of efforts to better the community over many years, from 1984 to 1998 Friedland served on Allegany College of Maryland's (ACM)’s Board of Trustees, including seven years as vice-chairwoman and two years as chairwoman. She also served on the ACM Foundation Board of Directors.

Friedland further served on the Maryland State Commission for Women and chaired its Hall of Fame committee. She was a founder of the Allegany County Commission for Women, the Allegany County Women’s Refuge, the Adult Literacy Council and was also a member of the Allegany County Child Abuse Task Force and Allegany County Library Board of Trustees. She was also the first woman to serve as president of B’er Chayim Temple in Cumberland, was a major donor to the Allegany Museum and supporter of Music at Penn Alps and Frostburg State University music programs where she received her Masters Degree in Modern Humanities at the age of 72.