Arnold Guy Kramer, lovingly referred to as Arnie, age 82, departed this life on June 7, 2013 in Elkins, West Virginia. Arnie was the beloved husband of the late Ann Cohn Kramer and father of Judith G Kramer (Judy) and the late Eric (Ricky) Kramer. Brother and brother-in-law of Jessica and Michael Friedlander of St. Louis, MO, uncle of David and Sheryl Friedlander and their children Noah and Rafael of Kensington, MD and Rachel and Neil Tichner and their son Jonathan of Silver Spring, MD . He was a devoted son to the late Belle Goldberg Kramer and Jacob Kramer of Yonkers, New York.
Arnie was born on January 19, 1931 and spent his first 7 years of his life living in Brooklyn, NY. He attended a Yeshiva primary school for his first grade. In 1938, Arnie and his family moved to Fleetwood, Mount Vernon NY and there he attended Pennington Elementary School, Wilson Junior High School and A.B. Davis High School where he graduated at the top of his class. Arnie received a full tuition scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) earning a BS degree in engineering physics in 1952. He was then awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Fellowship for graduate work and received his MS from MIT in 1954. He worked at the Research Laboratories of Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, CA, Raytheon and the Mitre Corporation as a lead systems engineer.
Arnie and his beloved wife Ann made their home in Lexington MA for 47 years. Throughout the course of their marriage they celebrated life with their two children. Together they enjoyed good food, laughing, singing, attending opera, music, the arts, dancing and travel. After Ann’s passing in 2006, his daughter gave him a miniature schnauzer who quickly became his new best friend. Rivka, named after Arnie’s grandmother was rescued from a puppy mill. Arnie and Rivka loved taking long daily walks in the woods which lifted Arnie’s spirits above his loneliness.
In 2011 Judy brought Arnie and Rivka to Elkins, WV to live with her. Arnie’s charm and wit quickly attracted many Elkins residents to embrace him as family, including him in gatherings and helping care for him throughout his illness. Arnie’s sister, nephew and great nephew would regularly sing Jewish prayers to Arnie through Skype creating a sense of peace during his illness. As Arnie’s illness progressed, he moved to an assisted living facility, Colonial Place. There he developed meaningful relationships with the staff and several hospice employees. Arnie was particularly close to his hospice nurse Terry, whom he fondly named “Sue”.
Funeral services will be held at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington MA on Wednesday June 12 at 1:30p.m. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery, Lexington. At a later date the family will have a celebration of life for his family and friends in the Elkins area. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of donations to Mountain Hospice Inc., 1600 Crim Avenue Belington WV 26250. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Arnold Guy Kramer. Condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com
