It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Susan Kraut, a loving mother and friend to many. Susan’s courageous battle with Alzheimer’s came to an end on Wednesday July 15th, 2026 at the age of 82. Susan enjoyed painting, playing the piano, tennis, skiing and traveling. She donated to many causes, such as Seeds of Peace and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and in her spare time, she enjoyed tutoring children in math.
Susan was born on December 27, 1943, in Lawrence, Long Island (New York), to Samuel and Grace (Koffler) Rein. After graduating from Woodmere Academy, she earned a degree in mathematics from Beaver (later Acadia) College in 1965. She began her career as a computer programmer at IBM, in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she met Richard Kraut, whom she married in 1966. After moving to the Washington, DC area, Susan and Richard welcomed two children, Peter and Elizabeth, and Susan joined the Genasys Corporation (later Keane), where she spent her career working on the federal contract that built and maintained the database that the US Drug Enforcement Administration uses to catalogue seized narcotics. After her divorce in 1987, Susan later found lasting companionship with Eric Benderson, with whom she shared the next 30 years.
Susan was predeceased by Grace Cohen and Samuel Rein and is survived by her two children Peter Kraut and Elizabeth Kotek, Eric Benderson, her sister and brother in law, Marjorie and William Schlosberg, her son-in-law Elliot Kotek and her grandchildren Samuel & Zoe Kotek and Gabriel & Benjamin Kraut.
The funeral will be held at Hines Rinaldi Funeral Home on Tuesday August 11th at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzhemer’s Association, Seeds of Peace, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or planting a tree in Israel in her honor through the Jewish National Fund.
