Michael Aaron Freilich, 30, of Oneonta, N.Y., formerly of West Hartford, died Friday, Dec. 17  from natural causes. Born in Louisville, Ky., he was raised in West Hartford, where he attended Hebrew Academy and Hebrew High School of New England. He was always a great big brother, a terrific friend and a fine athlete. He studied in Israel during a gap year prior to beginning UCONN as a voice major. He transferred to Eastern Connecticut State University where he began his men’s basketball coaching experience managing the team and coaching AAU travel basketball for the East Hartford “Roughriders.” After graduating from Eastern, he received his Masters’ degree and served as graduate assistant/assistant coach at LaGrange College in Georgia. He later became assistant coach for SUNY Oneonta and, most recently, Hartwick College men’s basketball programs. In his brief career, Michael helped many young men find their way to a college education through participation in sports. He recruited talented and high character players and then provided them with mentoring, coaching, friendship and insisted on correcting their college papers. In Michael’s spare time, he worked as a property manager and had his own house renovation business, Freilich’s Property Services. Humor and fun were always a big part of Michael’s life. He met his wife, Megan Harris, while in college. The couple were married this past July. In addition to his wife, Michael is survived by his loving parents, Sharon and Martin Freilich; his younger brother (and very close pal) Eli Frielich; his grandmother Clairelila Freilich; his in-laws Lisa and George Harris; his sister-in-law Emily Smith and her husband Kevin; his nieces, Ella and Ryann; and many family and friends throughout the U.S. and Israel. The funeral was held Dec. 20 at Beth David Synagogue. Calling hours will be at Beth David on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 21 and 22, at the completion of the evening service between approximately 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Donations in Michael’s memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New England Jewish Academy (NEJA) or Beth David Synagogue.