Milton Nora Kriger passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, July 13, 2024. Born in 1936, he was the youngest child of Samuel and Rebecca G. Kriger. The longtime Sharon resident is survived by his children, Miryam and Ryan Kriger, and his grandson, Jakob “Kirby” Puchala-Kriger, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews, and his sister-in-law Maxine Trainor. His once and future daughters-in-law, Dorota Puchala and Jenny Blair, were among the many loved ones who were with him in his final days. He was pre-deceased by his older sisters Beatrice Gondelman and Irene Feldman.
The son of immigrants from Ukraine, Milt grew up in Dorchester and played basketball at Boston English High, then graduated from Northeastern University. In 1968, he married Leslie Mould and they remained happily married for 40 years until she passed in 2009. Milt was a gregarious, fun-loving character with a zest for life. He enjoyed spending time with friends at Doyle’s Cafe, Maxie’s Deli and the VFW, and he loved betting on the horses, though usually unsuccessfully. He played handball and golf well into his 80s, including competing in the World Handball Championship in Ireland in 2012, during which he almost missed his second match because he was out drinking until 3 AM. He also served his country as a supply officer in the Navy Reserve, including a 1962 Pacific stint with the Seventh Fleet on the aircraft carrier Hornet and a voluntary return to active duty at the age of 55 at the rank of Commander to serve in Bahrain during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91.
He will be greatly missed — the people whose lives he touched were as lucky to know him as he was unlucky at the track.
The funeral will be held at Framingham/Natick Jewish Cemetery on Sunday, July 21st, at 11 AM. Shiva to follow at 330 South Main St., Sharon, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Leslie Kriger Memorial Scholarship are welcomed: Send checks made out to “Town of Sharon – Commission on Disabilities Donations” with “Leslie Kriger Memorial Student Scholarships” in the memo line or cover letter to Diane Wyman, Treasurer, Town of Sharon, 90 South Main Street, Sharon, MA 02067.
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