SALEM- Eliot W. Friend, 97, husband of the late Gertrude (Suwinska) Friend, of Salem, died Monday afternoon at the Radius Healthcare in Beverly following a long illness.
Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Frank B. and Mary Jane (Wasser) Friend.
Prior to his retirement in 1973, he was employed for 15 years as an commercial and industrial salesman for New England Electric System, Gas Division in Beverly.
A lifelong resident of Salem, he was a member of Liberty Lodge, AF & AM of Beverly, the Scottish Rite, Valley of boston and Salem and the Aleppo Temple Shrine in Wilmington. During the 1930's, he was a member of an American Legion Scottish Bagpipe Band.
Mr. Friend is survived by one daughter, Susan J. and her husband Thomas Hunter of Twinsburg, Ohio, three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a dear friend whom he looked upon as a son, Ross Panacopoulos of Salem.
His funeral service will be Friday, May 6, 2005 at 11 am in the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Visiting hours are Thursday, 5 to 8 pm. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Burial is in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. For those who desire, donations may be made in his memory to Beacon Hospice, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 222C, Beverly, MA 01915. For directions and on line guestbook, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.