With a mile wide smile that lit
up the room and melted every heart, Andy communicated his love of
life and of us without words. Those privileged to receive hugs and
hand and hair kisses from Andy are forever changed for the better.
Andy grabbed us by the hand and led us to see the world as he saw and
enjoyed it.
Andrew Paul Freedman, beloved son of Frank and
Diedra Freedman, was born August 22, 2001 in Plano, Texas and the
next year moved to the West Valley of Phoenix, Arizona settling in
Avondale in 2004 in time to begin developmental preschool. Andy began
intense early intervention supports and services from the Arizona
Division of Developmental Disabilities at age 19 months, and then
attended Chrysalis Academy and was a student at ACCEL High School.
Andy was an inspiration to all who knew him as he worked hard his
entire life to explore the world, communicate with us and live his
life to the fullest. With all of his challenges, Andy always found a
way to explore the world while communicating his needs and wants
teaching and inspiring those privileged to work with him as much and
sometimes more than they taught Amazing Andy. His first iPad in 2010
further opened the world to Andy as he taught himself to explore the
internet, especially YouTube, using his unique abilities and skills.
And yes, he very quickly figured out how to kill all ads and pop-ups
that annoyed him, except the ones he found interesting.
While
Andy's lifetime challenges remained beyond the knowledge and skills
of medical and education professionals, he proved himself to be God’s
own miracle child in so many ways. Andy never allowed anyone or
anything to limit his potential and spent his life enjoying each day.
Andy grew into a man of simple pleasures and genuineness. He had a
wide range of expressions that were his alone; you knew when he was
playing you as he enjoyed being a ball buster. When he was able, Andy
loved climbing and for several years climbed the Ability360 rock wall
six or eight times a session and once even did so freestyle. He also
was an avid people watcher, really enjoyed meeting new people,
greeting them in his own unique way. He (and we) met some pretty
interesting people that way. Like most Arizonans, when he was able
Andy spent summers in his backyard swimming pool and later the hot
tub. Andy especially loved long car rides including cross-country
trips across his native state of Texas to visit his Burghard
grandparents in Alabama.
Andy is survived by his parents,
Frank and Diedra Freedman, and his grandmother Marie Burghard along
with Aunts and Uncles Armand Burghard, Vince Scarafino, Ed and
Claudia Burghard, Jim Burghard and his fiancee Caryn Soto, Ruth and
Ed Cina, Jan and Scott McCulloch, Steve Freedman, Louie Freedman,
Chris Freedman, Mary and Gunnar Schweitzer and many cousins including
Michael Wyzykowski, godmother Sue and Bob Brooks, and Laurie and
David Hilfiker. Andy also is survived by his adopted Arizona Aunts
and Uncles and their families: Vickie Lancaster and the Richards
family; Elaine Berkley and the Dawson family; Ann, Mark and Jack
Monahan; Barb Brent and Brian Lensink; Gabby, Jose, Joshua, Jordan
and Jacob Orozco; Victoria Carrillo; and Zaida Silva. Andy was
predeceased by his grandparents Paul Burghard, with whom he had a
special bond; Hal and Dorothy Freedman; and Andy’s aunt Debbie
Wyzykowski.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in
Avondale
https://www.hcccem.org/ on Saturday, March 13th at noon (corner of Thomas RD and 99th Ave). A private (due to covid restrictions) Memorial Mass will be
said at the St. Joseph's Hospital Chapel at 1200 on Wednesday 17th of March followed by a gathering of friends and family in the healing garden at 1230. A Celebration of Andy's life with us will be held at The
Experience Church
https://te.church/ at 5014 W Marlette Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301 on Saturday, May 8th at noon.
The
Andy Freedman and Debbie Wyzykowski Student Fund is being established
at ACCEL to honor Andy and his Aunt Debbie who was a Special
Education Teacher. The fund will be used by ACCEL to endow the
existing SOS Committee that provides for ACCEL students in need of
emergency assistance including grocery store gift cards during school
breaks for those who rely on the ACCEL Nutrition Program as their
primary food source. In lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations be made to ACCEL's Andy Freedman and Debbie Wyzykowski
Student Fund
www.accel.org or your favorite charity.