Elinor “Ellie” Rosenthal Kraut, 91, died Sunday at her home in Aventura, Florida.
Born in Princeton, NJ, she grew up in Princeton and lived in the Trenton area for most of her adult life.
Elinor graduated from Princeton High School in 1946, where she captained the basketball and baseball teams.
She graduated with a degree in psychology from Smith College in 1950, where she was captain of the baseball team and president of its Hillel Chapter. After graduation she worked as a social worker for the State of New Jersey.
In 1954 she married Dr. Irving Kraut, a successful orthodontist in Trenton. The couple lived above his office on West State Street for several years, then moved to Lawrence in 1957 shortly before the birth of their third child. There, the family grew to eight children, and in 1969 they moved to Ewing, where the family was completed with the birth of a ninth child. The family were members of Adath Israel Congregation.
She learned tennis from her father, the late Samuel Rosenthal, while in her teens and the sport would become a lifelong passion. She played and coached tennis until the age of 90. She won numerous tournaments in Trenton, Princeton, and Mercer County throughout in the 1950s and 1960s in both singles and doubles, including in partnership with her sister Marilyn Rosenthal.
In 1962 she began teaching tennis at the Trenton YWCA and also taught at the Ewing Adult School and on her own court in Ewing. She instilled a love for the game in all of her children and in the hundreds of players she coached through the years. In 1968 the family was featured in World Tennis Magazine. In 2016 the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) of Trenton honored her at their annual gala as one of a group of “Women who rock.” In 2018 her children and tennis friends presented her with an award commemorating 56 years of coaching tennis.
After the death of her husband in 2001 she increasingly spent time in her winter home in Aventura, FL, eventually making it her permanent residence while returning to Ewing each summer.
Daughter of the late Samuel and Ida Rosenthal, she is predeceased by her husband Dr. Irving Kraut, her eldest son Dr. Jon Kraut and by her brother Donald Rosenthal.
She is survived by four daughters Robin Kraut Zell of Tekoa, Israel, Carin Kraut Cohen of Vorhees, NJ, Lesley Kraut Schwarzman of Princeton, NJ, Wendy Kraut of Aventura, FL, four sons Dr. Bruce Kraut of Lawrenceville, NJ, Gary Kraut of Paris, France, Dr. Eric Kraut of Pikesville, MD, Dr. Robert Kraut of Orlando, FL, 28 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and counting, and a sister Marilyn Rosenthal.
Funeral services are Wednesday 12:30pm, July 3 at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing Township. Burial to follow at Fountain Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton, (njtloftrenton.org), and to Greenwood House, (greenwoodhouse.org) a network of senior living, care and service based in Ewing.
Ellie Kraut was an amazing woman and will be missed dearly by many. I have so many fond memories of playing tennis at Boxwood under Ellie’s instruction. She brought the tennis community together and that will not be forgotten.
Sincere condolence to Dr Robert Kraut and his family. May she rest in eternal peace
We’ve only known Ellie for a relatively short time, we being fortunate enough to have her agree to help us to learn to play better tennis. After ten short years we’ve not only become better tennis players but better in many respects thanks to her guidance and examples.
Ellie was the perfect coach, passionate about helping others to improve. She was always kind, patient, and sincere. Besides teaching us to keep our eyes on the ball, bend and follow through, she set an excellent of tennis etiquette and sportsmanship. We also had the good fortune to meet so many wonderful people and to make new friends at boxwood.
We will sadly miss Ellie. But she will always be with us. Every time we miss a first serve or double fault, we will hear her firm but kind voice “take your time, throw the ball up high in the air, throw the racquet out high over your head and follow through. You can do it!”
We were all winners at Boxwood. Thank you Ellie and a fond farewell.
Don Tripp and Denise Jarvis
Wendy,
Your Mom was a strong woman who lived for her family. I will keep you all in my prayers in the days to come. May God give your family peace and comfort during this difficult time.
The West Family (Wayne, Alisia, Hunter & Lacey)
Memories, memories of our tennis games at the clay courts in Trenton just blocks
from both our homes! Then our paths went different directions but when we
both were in Florida we had some happy times with Ellie and Wendy at Aventura.
Our sympathies to all the children and of course her sister Marilyn with hopes
that when the sadness subsides, you can enjoy all the memories you have of your
Mother.
She sounded absolutely amazing Robert! I wish I got to meet her, but I feel like I did through the stories you have told us. Let those memories live on. Condolences from the Balzers. XOXO