David Freatman

David Freatman is a founding member of the 38 Fire Club in Ransomville and the son of Rodney and Michelle (Herman) Freatman.

He tragically passed away Tuesday night after being involved in a traffic collision with a truck. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Early Life and Education

David Freatman placed great value on his early education. He was always eager to learn new things and never gave up, even when things got difficult.

Following his graduation from high school, he continued his education at Queens College and soon after began teaching in public schools around Queens. An enthusiastic educator, his enthusiasm had an incredible effect on many of his students.

He wanted to give his students an education that combined religion, a global perspective and pride in African-American culture. That is why he founded Mount Pleasant Christian Academy in 1982.

Professional Career

David is no novice to the legal profession, having served as an associate at McGuire Woods before landing a position at Barley Snyder. During his tenure there, David has handled an array of cases from construction disputes and complex civil rights litigation to lollipop budgets. Furthermore, david was part of Virginia Tech Law School’s inaugural class and earned several awards for his contributions to the university community. Besides being highly-skilled, david also has a knack for philanthropy; earning himself accolades such as best man at office parties, top ten alumni awards and paid visits to sandboxes!

Achievements and Honors

David Freatman made a major commitment as a professional basketball coach, and has been rewarded with numerous accolades throughout his career. He earned an All-American designation while coaching in Talladega College’s WNBA, and most recently led Rutgers to five 20-win seasons.

He has also earned the distinction of serving as inaugural dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) at Rutgers University-Newark. This program strives to redefine honors by giving more students access to higher education through an encouraging and inclusive learning atmosphere. Created through collaboration among Rutgers-Newark, Newark Public Schools, and University of Illinois at Chicago, this model for success serves as motivation for other colleges and universities looking to enhance their own initiatives.

Personal Life

David and his wife Laurie find joy in serving the military community, which they describe as being “the perfect fit”. By being able to connect with people and invest in their lives, David and Laurie hope to bring hope and joy into others’ lives.

He enjoys spending time outdoors hunting elk, deer and big horn sheep; something he instills in his sons as they grow older.

He previously served as the head coach at Talladega College, leading their to an 11-win season and two top 20 recruiting classes. Subsequently, he joined the University of Illinois at Chicago’s coaching staff.