Geoffrey "Geoff" Kronik

Geoff Kronik 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 for Geoff will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10:30 am at Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI), 20 Nonantum Road, Brighton, MA.

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/).