Virginia Beach—Edward Kraus, 95, passed away on January 8, 2021.
Edward Kraus was born in Cambridge, Mass. and lived much of his early life in the Boston area. He spent 12 years in the Navy and met his late first wife, Audrey Hite, in Norfolk, Va., then settled in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas, where he lived for many years with their two daughters. During this time, Ed developed an incredible love for dogs and had several, mostly collies, which he doted on and enjoyed for many years. He then moved back to the Boston area and married his wife Margaret Blevins Kraus in 1983, where they lived for several years before moving to Virginia Beach.
In his earlier years, Ed was a prolific salesman in the insurance industry, winning awards and doing presentations on telephone sales techniques. He later used his skills as development director at the Italian Home for Children in Boston, and as city manager for Norwood, Mass. where he used his techniques and creative fundraising ideas to revitalize and expand the business community. Later in Virginia Beach he would work for The Sentara Health Organization running a senior HMO and doing presentations for the hospital. Then there was his fundraising and advertising effort for the Simon Family JCC and Jewish News.
Ever since the 1970s, in his spare time, Ed had always come up with creative and grandiose ideas for projects he was planning, like the railroad he envisioned that could go from Boston up to Bethlehem, New Hampshire leading to an all-inclusive retirement community with assisted living facilities and activities that could involve all ages, arts and music. The entire community, through his Senior Planning LLC would be a first, before retirement communities were even being planned at that time. His final, most recent project idea through his Senior Planning LLC was for the “Noteworthy Tower,” with what would be a Norfolk Arts Residence Tower with musicians and artists on the upper floors and retail on the lower floors. He was indefatigable in writing proposals, meeting with architects to do drawings and find suitable lots and government officials to obtain permits and funding, but unfortunately the projects never came to fruition.
The main joy of his life, aside from his wife Margaret herself, was singing with her in choir and at Jewish Community Centers, and traveling with a large elder hostel choral group to perform at Penn State every year. Following Margaret’s death, he became very involved with the Samaritan House, whose mission is to help those affected by domestic violence.
He is survived by his daughter Sandra Kraus of Oceanside, Calif.; stepdaughters Megan Shipman of Marshfield, Mass; and Laura Beth Brotman of Burton, Ohio; stepbrother David Blevins; and grandchildren Jacob and Sasha Brotman, and Liam and Gwyneth Shipman. No local service will be held as his burial will be in Marshfield, Mass. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Samaritan House.