Alvin Kracht ’49

“Chick” Kracht, our soul mate, class secretary emeritus, and class historian, met his last deadline June 13, 2011.

Chick came to Princeton from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y. He majored in English, was national ad manager of The Nassau Sovereign, held a variety of on-campus jobs, belonged to Key and Seal Club, and played intramural sports.

After graduation, he began a 40-year advertising career, initially with The Sporting News, then in top management of advertising agencies.

In 1989, Chick founded Limerick Lane Poetryworks and was recognized by The Wall Street Journal for providing businesses and individuals with humorous light verse to help honor their special celebrations, work he enjoyed to the end. He published Limericks New & Naughty! in 1997.

Chick was ’49’s enthusiastic class secretary for 33 years, retiring at our 50th reunion. He proved invaluable in pulling a war-torn World War II class together (members were part of 16 Princeton graduations) with his friendly PAW columns, letters, phone calls, and Tigers’ Tale ’49 newsletter. He compiled our 25th and 50th yearbooks.

Chick was devoted to, and is survived by, Barbara, his wife of 59 years; their children, Karin, Geoff, and Howard; and their families. To them all, we extend our utmost sympathy for the loss of our dedicated classmate.