Obituary: Leonard Kringold
The 94-year-old was a gentle giant and Army veteran who made a living in the garment trade.
Leonard “Lenny” Kringold, 94, passed at his home in Atlanta on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, comforted by his loving family.
A gentle giant loved by all and a founding member of the Do Nothing Club, he passed in the same way that he had lived: with style and grace. Lenny was born in the Bronx, N.Y. His father died when Lenny was 3, after which he spent a good part of his childhood growing into the man of the family. He accomplished this partly by reaching the height of 6-foot-5 by the age of 15. At the age of 22 he enlisted in the Army. As one of the tallest members of his unit, he played on the base basketball team and served as a staff sergeant in Guam. After leaving the service, he worked in New York for his stepfather, who manufactured coats and suits. Lenny met the love of his life, Laurette Essex Kringold, when she stopped by his company’s showroom to interview for a modeling job. They began raising their two children in New York while Lenny continued to gain expertise in managing garment production lines. In 1956, Lenny moved the family to Miami Beach, where he managed production for several ladies’ ready-to-wear dress manufacturers.
Lenny and Laurette shared a unique love and affection for each other that was admired by all who came in contact with them. They loved to travel, laugh and enjoy a cocktail together at the end of the day. He was the light of her life, and she was his. Lenny’s kindness and generosity were surpassed only by his quick-witted sense of humor. Lenny and Laurette cherished their retirement years, during which they moved to Boynton Beach, Fla., and then to Atlanta.
He was preceded in death by Laurette, his wife of 66 years. He is survived by his children, Gail and Michael Habif and Steven and Debra Kringold; grandchildren Lauren and Ben Barden, Craig and Julie Habif, and Rebecca and Eric Kaplan; great-grandchildren Lola, Sam, Jacob, Allen and Lily; and siblings by marriage Roz Drucker, Muriel Jacobs, and Harold and Johanna Essex.
Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Weinstein Hospice. Funeral services will be held at Arlington Cemetery on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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