Obituary: Steven Barry Krodman

Steven Barry Krodman, 66, Woodstock, died Jan. 11, 2019, from a rapidly moving form of ALS. He was lovingly surrounded by his family. Steve was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1952, the 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 14, built a model rocket that took pictures of his town. Steve graduated from Princeton University cum laude in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science 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 Exxon-Mobil).

Steve’s first job brought him to Houston, Texas, where he met his beloved wife, Donna, on a New Year’s Eve blind date in 1975. They had two girls, Melissa and Jocelyn, who grew to inherit Steve’s offbeat sense of humor and artistic impulses. Steve enjoyed a fruitful career for more than 35 years, moving his family to several different states in both the South and Northeast. He traveled for work extensively, throughout the U.S. 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 other 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. 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 Congregation Etz Chaim, Steve attended morning services daily (and subsequent breakfasts at Bagelicious), was a gabbai 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, as president of the Anshei Darom region, on the board of directors, as chairman for the Leadership Development Institute, and as co-chairman for the 2019 biennial convention. His beautiful voice lit up Etz Chaim as chazzan for high holiday services as recently as this October, when he led a portion of Rosh Hashanah services 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 and culture. 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, N.Y.; brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Erica Krodman, Wantagh, N.Y.; granddaughter, Naomi Taati-Krodman; mother-in-law, Cecilia Canter, Fort Worth, Texas; brother-in-law, Aaron Boardman, Fort Worth, Texas; brother-in-law, Morry (Rebecca) Boardman, Denton, Texas; niece, Madison Boardman; nephew, William Boardman; as well as a large and varied community of devoted friends.

Pallbearers were Aaron Boardman, Morry Boardman, Steve Dix, Gary Feinberg, Sid Milstein, Andrew Molleur, Emmanuel Taati, Eric Simonds, and honorary pallbearer, Don Zugel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Steven Krodman Men’s Club Scholarship Fund. Funeral services were Jan. 14, 2019, at Etz Chaim with Rabbi Daniel Dorsch officiating. A committal service was held at Arlington Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, 770-451-4999. Sign online guest book at www.edressler.com.

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