Obituary of Henry Krieger

Henry Alan “Hank” Krieger of Claremont has passed away at the age of 86. Born to Benjamin and Anne Krieger in Denver Colorado in 1936, Hank attended Denver’s North High School and then Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1957. Immediately after graduation, Hank married Rita Kerber of Rockaway Beach, New York. Hank then served in the US Navy, first while commissioned in Manchester, England as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Manchester, then at the Naval Submarine Base in New London, Connecticut for three years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He then obtained a Ph.D in Applied Mathematics at Brown University. In 1964, Hank and Rita moved with their children, Elaine and Jeff, to Southern California, spending four years in Altadena as Hank worked as a post-doctorate researcher and instructor at California Institute of Technology. Hank and Rita then spent the next 52 years in Claremont where Hank was a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College until his retirement in 2005. During his tenure at Harvey Mudd, Hank chaired both the math department and the HMC faculty. Hank and Rita spent numerous sabbaticals outside of California, as Hank served as a visiting professor at three different universities in Israel and two in Australia, as well as at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Hank loved nearly all sports, but his particular passion in that realm was the sport of tennis. Hank played varsity tennis both in high school and college. In 1975, Hank became the head coach of men’s tennis at Claremont Mudd Scripps Colleges (CMS), in addition to his full-time job as a math professor. He led the CMS program until 2000, winning a Division III national team title in 1981, coaching four national champions in singles and three national championship doubles teams. He also earned two national coach of the year awards while also serving on numerous national and regional collegiate tennis committees. Finding time to be active in the community, Hank served as president of both Temple Beth Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, and on many other community and educational boards. As of his passing, Hank was serving as the volunteer Chief Financial Officer of CLASP (Claremont After-School Programs) while also tutoring elementary school students through CLASP. Hank has been a mentor and role model not only to his family, but also to his math students and tennis players, as well as others in the community who benefitted from his humility, wisdom and genuine interest in helping those around him be the best version of themselves. Hank is survived by his wife, Rita, his two children, Elaine Greenwald (David) and Jeffrey Krieger (Wendy), his four grandchildren, Deborah Krieger, Louie Greenwald, Benjamin Krieger and Hannah Greenwald, and his brother, Ronald Krieger. Funeral services will take place at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. The date and time will be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to www.clasp4kids.org.