Obituary : Robert Cronig
Robert Cronig died at Windemere on Sept. 1 at the age of 90. Robbie would have been the first to appreciate the irony of leaving us on Labor Day, as he was known to all for his strong work ethic.
Robbie was born in his family home on Center Street across from the Hebrew Center on April 5, 1918, to Samuel and Libby Cronig. His parents were Lithuanian immigrants and were among the first families on Martha's Vineyard to found the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center.
The family business, Cronig's Market, was started by his father and uncles in 1917. Robbie worked in the store as a young boy, and would tell stories of riding his bicycle through many neighborhoods to take grocery orders, and thereby learning a smattering of different languages. He left the Tisbury School in the eighth grade to work full-time in the market. He possessed an innate business sense and ability to deal with a variety of people at a young age. He established the second Cronig's Market on State Road with his brother David in 1976, and sold the market to Stephen Bernier in 1986.
In 1940, he married Elizabeth Turner of West Tisbury. They were happily married until her death in 1984. In 1988, he married Geraldine Davis Cronig, and they would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary next week.
He was the consummate father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who doted on his family and took enormous pleasure in making them happy.
He leaves, besides his widow, two daughters, Nancy Morris (Joseph KrautKramer) and Judith Cronig; grandchildren, Dana Morris, Darren Morris (Meaghan), Kimberly Morris-Wadleigh (Trip), Stacey Morris Porterfield (Christopher), Elizabeth Barnes Lazerus (Randy), and Michael Barnes (Alisha). He leaves, also, Kathleen Sollitto (Joseph), Charles Davis (Norma) and Mark Davis (Carola), Elizabeth Vernon (Jeffrey), Kara Taylor, Cole and Martha Davis, Sara Cupp, and Aaron Davis, and 16 great-grandchildren from three months to 15 years old.
He also leaves his brothers Carlyle and David and his sister Ruth Stiller. He was predeceased by his sister Anne and his son-in-law John S. Morris.
He was a lifetime member of the Oriental Martha's Vineyard Masonic Lodge of and also of the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center. A memorial service will be held at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 12, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Camp Jabberwocky, P.O. Box 1357, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, located on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
