Stuart Kramer

second of three sons, Stuart grew up in the Bronx before the Kramer's moved to Brooklyn when

he was sixteen. He graduated from Coney Island's Lincoln High School in 1950 and immediately

became involved in the Kramer family business of hat making.

In 1953, Stuart was drafted to serve in the US Army and sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Upon

completing basic training, he was deployed to Alaska where he oversaw the base's athletic

facilities and refereed basketball and baseball games between his fellow soldiers. At the end of

his service, he was invited to try out as a Major League Baseball umpire on behalf of the US

Army but declined the opportunity. He had good reason to stay in Brooklyn. He had met Eileen

Goldstein, who would be his wife and life partner.

Stuart and Eileen were married on February 22, 1958, and shortly thereafter, their first daughter

Ellen, and their second daughter, Beth were born. Throughout his life, Stuart emphasized the

importance of family values and was an attentive husband to Eileen and a loving father to his

two daughters, Ellen and Beth. Stuart and Eileen lived together happily off Ocean Parkway until

the beginning of 2024, and a few months before his death, they moved to the Upper East Side of

Manhattan. Their life partnership and 66-year marriage was a representation of an inseparable

bond, built by love and care. Stuart's love extended to his two daughters, Ellen and Beth, and

their husbands, Barry and Robert. It was such a joy for Stuart to have two daughters who he was

extremely proud of. Stuart felt blessed to have two sons-in-laws, who he thought extremely

highly of, and felt that they gave so much love to his daughters.

Stuart primarily worked at Ski Stop in Rockville Centre, Long Island where he retired at the age

of 75. He loved working as a manager at Ski Stop, it was such a pleasure for him to help

shoppers with all of their sporting goods needs. Throughout his life, Stuart was an avid sports fan

and was a devoted fan of baseball's New York Giants, and later the Mets. Though he loved the

Mets and all of the New York sports teams, watching almost every game, he had great admiration

for Willie Mays. His whole life, he remained in awe of Willie Mays, consistently remarking on

his greatness. Stuart asked to have a baseball card of Mays placed in the pocket of his suit when

he was laid to rest. In an instance of "divine will" or perhaps fate, Willie Mays passed away the day after Stuart was buried on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024, the day after the request was honored.

After retiring from Ski Stop, Stuart devoted his time to Eileen, his children, and his

grandchildren, Justin, Paige, Jessica, and Jordan. Stuart's grandchildren will always remember

his positive disposition, his kind-hearted nature, and his humor. Stuart was an incredible man,

although he lived to 91, we all truly felt he had much more time left. May his memory be a

blessing, and for all who knew him, may we carry a piece of his memory with us.