STEVEN BARRY KRODMAN - 1952 - 2019

KRODMAN, Steven Barry Krodman, 66, Woodstock, GA died Friday evening, January 11, 2019 from a rapidly moving form of ALS. He was lovingly surrounded by his family. Steve was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1952, son of Eli and Bernice Krodman, and spent his formative years in Massapequa, Long Island (down the street from the Baldwin brothers). Steve taught himself to read at three, stapled his thumb at four, and at age 14 built a model rocket that took pictures of his town. Steve graduated from Princeton University cum laude in 1974 with a BSE in Chemical Engineering. Looking uncannily like Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, Steve went on to work in Plastics, "Toiling away in 'the Great Corporate Salt Mine"' of the petrochemical industry (Exxon, later ExxonMobil). Steve's first job brought him to Houston, TX where he met his beloved wife, Donna, on a New Year's Eve blind date in 1975. They went on to have two girls Melissa and Jocelyn who grew to inherit Steve's offbeat sense of humor and artistic impulses. Steve enjoyed a fruitful career for over 35 years, moving his family to several different states in both the south and northeast. He travelled for work extensively, throughout the US and internationally, fueling his love of global culture and interesting people. But it was after his retirement in 2009, that Steve blossomed. It was then that his already invested-in interests were able to be fully enjoyed. He was an avid cook (whose culinary abilities rivaled professionals), and a prolific writer whose blogs (Blog d'Ellison, Lost in the Cheese Aisle, and The Concentrated Mind) enjoyed a vast and committed audience, and he occasionally wrote for Like the Dew and McSweeny's. Blogging, which began as a hobby in 2004 became a passion and source for community, with Steve becoming close "IRL" friends with many fellow writers. Steve was heavily involved with Jewish life for many years. In Georgia, as a member of Etz Chaim, Steve attended morning services daily (and subsequent breakfasts at Bagelicious), was a Gabai on Saturday mornings, and served as a member of the synagogue's board. Steve's biggest Jewish life passion was the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, serving as president of the synagogue's chapter president of the Anshei Darom region, was on the board of directors for FJMC, chairman for the Leadership Development Institute, and was co-chairman for the 2019 FJMC Biennial Convention. His beautiful voice lit up congregation Etz Chaim as chazzan (canter) for high holiday services as recently as this October when he led a portion of Rosh Hashanah and chanted the Kol Nidre. In addition to his accomplishments, Steve had a passion for his family and friends. He was the kind of man, who with genuine interest, would talk to anyone about anything. He cultivated a lifelong eclectic love of music, cartoons, science fiction and other Arts & Culture output. He was a voracious reader and seeker of knowledge. He radiated warmth and was filled with humor and vitality. Survivors include his family: wife, Donna Krodman; daughter, Melissa Krodman, (Emmanuel Taati), Philadelphia, PA; daughter, Jocelyn Krodman, (Andrew Molleur), Kingston, NY; brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Erica Krodman, Wantagh, NY; granddaughter, Naomi Taati-Krodman; mother-in-law, Cecilia Canter, Fort Worth, TX; brother-in-law, Aaron Boardman, Fort Worth, TX; brother-in-law, Morry (Rebecca) Boardman, Denton, TX; niece, Madison Boardman and nephew, William Boardman, as well as a large and varied community of devoted friends. Pallbearers will be Aaron Boardman, Morry Boardman, Steve Dix, Gary Feinberg, Sid Milstein, Andrew Molleur, Emmanuel Taati, Eric Simonds, and honorary pallbearer Don Zugel. Sign online guest book at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Steven Krodman Men's Club Scholarship Fund. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2019 at 11:00 am at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30068. Rabbi Daniel Dorsch officiating. A private, family only committal service will be held at Arlington Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 451-4999.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan. 13, 2019

BYE FOR NOW

Dear Esteemed Readers,

Here's a post we dreaded writing. Last night at 5:55pm, just as the sabbath (the day of rest) was arriving, our fearless leader took his Great Rest. We surrounded him, holding his hands, expressing our love as he took his final breaths. "Expressing our love" just doesn't capture it. There are no words to articulate how much we loved/love our dad. Whether you've been a long time reader of his posts and never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, or whether you had the privilege of being both a reader and a friend, you can imagine why we consider being born into the world with him as a dad as the most amazing gift, and why losing him is beyond painful. 

Our father spent so many hours of his adulthood working in (his words) "the great corporate salt-mine," but he had the spirit, mind, and gifts of an artist. When he discovered writing as an outlet, his passion took over. Things were never the same again. Suddenly - and finally! - a repository for all of his warped humor and twisted rants. Suddenly - and finally! - an audience for his schtick beyond his nuclear family. Over the years this creative outlet grew from a little hobby (rightly self-proclaimed as "exercises in time-wastage and self-aggrandizement") into a fertile space for him to mould his rich internal life and tremendous stores of knowledge into beautiful and humorous pieces. We believe he got to know himself more greatly through writing this blog. It, along with family, friends, and Jewish Life, gave him purpose. We also believe that he was/is a man worth knowing, and so we are glad he found a way to generously share himself.

Esteemed Readers, thank you for being as entertained by our Dad as we always have been. Thank you for caring for him and for adding to the meaning of his life. 

For any of you who are interested, the funeral will be held Monday in Marietta, GA. Details can be found in his obituary which we will post tomorrow. 

Our Hero bids farewell to the life he's known so well

And charges forward toward the Great Unknown. A most magnificent and wondrous place. 

Yours,

Elder Daughter and The Mistress of Sarcasm