GEOFF KRONIK Obituary

KRONIK, Geoff Of Brookline, MA, born in New Hartford, NY, died at age 62 on May 13, 2025 in Ipswich, MA. He was the beloved husband of I-Min Lee, brother of Theresa Wrobel (Jay), uncle to Julia Wrobel (Ben) and Greg Wrobel (Christiana) and great uncle to Mason Wrobel. He was predeceased by his parents John Kronik and Eva (Weinberg) Kronik. After graduating from Cornell University, Geoff spent many years in marketing, first for Quad Graphics and then as the owner of an advertising business, where he enjoyed visiting military bases across the country. In midlife, Geoff returned to his lifelong talent for writing, earning an MFA at Warren Wilson College and publishing fiction, essays, opinion pieces and book reviews in a variety of outlets. In the mid-2000's, through German restitution law, Geoff became the owner of German properties formerly owned by his great grandfather to which he put his business skills to work. He determinedly learned German with such aptitude and diligence that he became fluent, so much so that he was frequently mistaken for a native speaker during his many travels to Germany. He developed lifelong friendships there and brought stories of his parents' experience fleeing the Holocaust to German and Austrian schoolchildren. He also translated the work of his ancestor Siegfried Lichtenstaedter (the German author whose writings forecast the Holocaust). Geoff's facility with words was renowned within his family, where fierce Scrabble and Boggle battles were legion. He loved nature, especially birds, and was an accomplished photographer. Geoff generously volunteered his time as a language teacher to recent Chinese immigrants at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC). He also volunteered his services as a photographer at Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) Thoughtful and generous to his friends and family, Geoff lives on in the hearts of those who loved him. A Memorial Service will be held on September 13, 2025 with details to be announced at a future date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Geoff's honor can be made to MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center (www.mspca.org) or Iain Nicholson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (https://rowe.audubon.org/) Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapels.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from May 16 to May 18, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for GEOFF KRONIK

7 Entries

Anu Kandikuppa

June 9, 2025

Dear Min,

My deepest condolences to you on your great loss. I met Geoff during my first residency at Warren Wilson years ago, and he was one of the few alums I stayed in touch with off and on. I think I met you, too, maybe at one of the alumni readings or at Warren Wilson. I even heard back from him in response to an email about a reading just three days before his passing. He was as thoughtful as ever, mentioning he´d be away on the reading date. I am in such shock. Whenever I reached out, he responded with such warmth and generosity. I´ll remember him with great fondness and respect.

Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

Warmly,
Anu

Stella Nina Michaelis

May 31, 2025

Dear Min,

Oh no, I'm so sorry!! I've never even met Geoff, but I felt like a friend, because he shared so much with me and I guess with so many of us through his beautifully written emails. It was easy to love him even if you hadn't met him in person! His generosity came across in his emails, for sure! And he had sent me a beautiful selfie of himself with my dear friend Josef Eisinger, who's now 101!! I am just so sorry for your loss - and I had so looked forward to finally meeting him - and you! - later on this year. And I know that you were just in NYC with him right after I had left. Honestly, can't wrap my head around this at all! My sincere condolences to you and the family! He was such a wonderful writer, and I obv. also loved the photos he shared - sunrises and photos of birds! What a huge loss!! This made me cry despite the fact that I had never even met him in person! But he was so generous and open - so it was super-easy to feel connected to him!

Lee Prusik

May 28, 2025

Dear Min,
I am so saddened by this news. I met Geoff at Warren Wilson and we shared many conversations about writing, his family, and our mutual interest in Holocaust history. He was unfailingly kind and thoughtful. The world is much, much poorer without him.

Tracy Winn

May 27, 2025

Dear Min, and Geoff's beloved sister and kids,
The richness of Geoff's perspectives, experiences, and humor -- his contributions to the fabric of all of our lives is missed, terribly. I am so grateful that he left his writings and his photographs to remind of what a remarkable person he was. My heart goes out to you all.

Sonya Larson

May 23, 2025

Oh no-- oh my goodness. Geoff was always so thoughtful and warm and I will always remember the amazing cookies he'd fashion up to bring to readings in the Boston area-- they seemed so impossibly intricate but somehow Geoff made them seem easy and joyful, as he did with so many things. I knew him because we were both writing students at Warren Wilson College, and he loved our community and was always so very supportive of fellow writers. I feel so saddened by this news, and I am sending his family and loved ones all my love and support.

Jayne Benjulian

May 23, 2025

Min,
I am sorry. I am one of the friends and colleagues who loved and admired his wit and warmth.
Jayne

Debra Spark

May 23, 2025

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Geoff's death. I knew him because I taught at Warren Wilson College when he was a student there, and then he stayed involved with that community. I remember just having great, animated conversations with him over time. I am learning things about him in his obituary that are extraordinary (about the German reparations) and his engagement with the country. I am Jewish, too, and how I would have loved to have a conversation with him about this instead of learning about it in this way. My heart goes out to his wife and family. I am so so sorry.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results