Mar 8, 2008

UC-Berkeley professor dies at age 63

By Andrew McGall / MediaNews

John Freeman, a leader in the field of entrepreneurship and a professor at UC-Berkeley's Haas School of Business, died Monday of an apparent heart attack at his home in Lafayette. He was 63.

Freeman joined UC-Berkeley in 1975 as an assistant professor at the School of Business Administration, according to a UC-Berkeley news release. He went on to serve as the Helzel Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Haas School and was a member of the school's Organizational Behavior and Industrial Relations Group.

In 1997, Freeman founded the Berkeley Entrepreneurship Laboratory, an off-campus business incubator for Haas School students and recent graduates starting their own businesses.

He received the Max Weber Award from the American Sociological Association in 1992 for "Organizational Ecology," a trailblazing book he co-wrote in 1989.

Freeman was fond of fishing, camping, skiing and international travel, his family said.

He is survived by his wife, Diane, and five children: Chris Freeman of Centennial, Colo.; John Freeman Jr. of Iowa City, Iowa; Jennifer Freeman of Denver; Sarah Freeman of West Hollywood; and Amanda Bielskis of Walnut Creek; sister Mary Freeman-Dove of El Granada and eight grandchildren.

A remembrance celebration in Freeman's honor is being planned by his family and the Haas School. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.