Edwin Krawitz, 91

Former Lawrence High School principal Edwin Krawitz, who also served as the general studies director for the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), died on Oct. 17. He was 91. Four months ago, Krawitz was diagnosed with melanoma.

Originally from Seagate, Brooklyn and then Cedarhurst, he was born on Dec. 28, 1924. Krawitz graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1942 and four years later from Brooklyn College with a degree in education. He then earned a master’s degree in history and education from Columbia University.

Krawitz began his career in education as a history teacher at Smithtown High School. He then taught the same subject at Bethpage High, where he founded the school’s ski club and served as the tennis coach. He became an administrator and first served as the principal of Plainedge and Wyandanch high schools.

From 1968 to 1980, Krawitz was the principal at Lawrence High. Roseanne Epp, now one of the two assistant principals at Lawrence, was a high school student when Krawitz was principal. She graduated in 1977 and has worked at her alma mater since 1983. “He lived in the district and his children went to school with us so we felt a connection to him,” Epp said, of his relationship with his students.

He served as the director of general studies at HAFTR from 1980 to 1985. “When HAFTR bought the Number Three School, they needed an experienced educator to get them on the map,” said Steve Krawitz, Edwin’s son. “He helped them become one of the finest yeshivas in New York.”

Krawitz was a teacher and administrator for 35 years. He was a past president of the Rotary Club, member of the Board of Directors of the School Administrators Association of New York State, treasurer of the Nassau County Secondary Schools Principal Associations, past president of Lawrence Public Schools Association of Administrators and Supervisors, honorary life member of the Distributors Education Club of America and chaired the Middle States Association for Secondary Schools.

Krawitz retired in 1985. He enjoyed traveling around the world and playing golf and tennis with his wife, Ann, who predeceased him in 2009.

“Ed was an important part of the fabric of our community,” Jay Spector said. “I had the privilege of knowing Ed through my close relationship with his children.”

Krawitz is survived by his children, Steve and Susan. Steve’s family includes his wife Faye and their children Jason and his wife Jennie, and Tali, and her husband Erik Zimerman. Great-grandson, Ryan Zimerman is almost seven months old.

“He was a warm, loving individual, a role model father and left a lasting impression on anyone he met,” Steve Krawitz said.