In Memoriam: Daniel Friel

Daniel Friel, an inventor and the founder of EdgeCraft Corp., died Sept. 21. He was 92.

Friel, an engineer, entered the foodservice equipment industry at age 65 after a 39-year career at DuPont, where he retired as the worldwide director of instruments and biomedical products. Frustration with a dull carving knife on Thanksgiving led Friel to invent an electric knife sharpener and launch the ChefsChoice line of knives, knife sharpeners, slicers and other kitchen tools.

He founded Avondale, Pa.-based Edgecraft in 1985 and spent much of his time on research and development. EdgeCraft Pres. Sam Weiner, who worked for Friel at DuPont, attributes nearly every company patent to Friel’s ingenuity.