Gerald Joseph Kraus

Gerald J. Kraus, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Copake, New York on November 18, a year after his cancer was first diagnosed. His wife Cecele; daughter Janine Elizabeth, and her husband, Joseph Murphy, and granddaughters, Alice Marie and Emily Bryce, of Delmar, N.Y.; his son, Andrew Gerald and his wife, Alexandra Robinson Kraus of Parkdale, Oregon, survive him.

          Born November 1, 1931, in Keokuk, Iowa, the youngest of seven children, Jerry grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River. He graduated from St. Ambrose College and entered the priesthood. A graduate degree in Modern European History from Notre Dame University led to teaching and serving as a high school principal. He studied philosophy at the University of San Francisco.

          Working with young people and families inspired him to complete a course of study in pastoral counseling at the Institutes for Religion and Psychiatry in Manhattan. During this time, he left the priesthood. A deepening of his work came with certification in psychoanalysis at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis in New York City. He maintained his practice on West 9^th Street for forty-eight years, riding his bike through Greenwich Village to his office, and later, commuting from Chatham, New Jersey. For the past 18 years, he traveled from Copake to Manhattan.

          His love of the outdoors began on the Mississippi River with boating and water skiing. Throughout the years Jerry led Cecele, Janine, and Andrew, into adventures—biking, hiking, and skiing. His response to stress was, “Take a walk. You’ll feel better.” Or, “Go work out in the gym.” Now his granddaughters, family and friends live with his life-embracing spirit and the love that accompanies it.

          In his last weeks, Jerry enjoyed watching birds and clouds. After a particularly dramatic cloud-passing, he said, “We have a whole new way of seeing the sky.”

          Until the final weeks of his illness, Jerry swam with The PaceMakers Masters Swim Team at Simon’s Rock College. In lieu of gifts, memorial donations may be sent to the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation, charitable arm of The United States Masters Swimming.

          The family wishes to thank The Community Hospice Foundation, Albany, New York, for their support during his last days.

         A celebration of Jerry’s life will take place on January 13, 2018. For location and time, write to: memorial.gjk@gmail.com.

         Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home of Copake, NY.

         To send an online condolence please visit www.peckandpeck.net.

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