(with no apologies for cross-posting) 3/20/2019 Dear friends, Laura's obituary appeared in the local Princeton weekly paper today, Town Topics (3/20/2019). http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/category/obituaries/
*Laura Kruskal* Laura Kruskal, renowned and beloved creator and teacher of origami, died on February 6, 2019 at the age of 95. Laura was a sparkling personality, who drew people to her and impressed them with her unique charm. She wrote and sang origami songs, like the “International Origami Anthem,” and performed origami raps as she taught her original paper fold models, whether to students in schools and libraries or to origami enthusiasts at conventions. Laura received her undergraduate degree with a biology major and chemistry minor from Hunter College, and her master’s degree from New York University. She was introduced to origami by her mother-in-law, the late Lillian Oppenheimer, who popularized origami in the United States. It was also through Lillian that Laura was introduced to her husband of 56 years, the late Martin David Kruskal. Laura literally thought outside of the box, as she created origami models which could be folded from a rectangle rather than from the traditional square. She started this technique as she traveled the world, often to exotic places, with Martin David, a world-famous mathematician and physicist. It wasn’t always easy to find origami paper, but letter-sized computer paper was plentiful, and her creations worked equally well with pages from magazines, which made them very accessible. Laura taught her original origami models for years in the Princeton area and around the world, not only at origami conventions, libraries, and schools, but also in prisons, in restaurants, in buses, and anywhere where people were intrigued by her and her art. Laura is survived by her three children, Karen Kruskal (and daughter-in-law, Sheera Strick), Kerry Kruskal, and Clyde Kruskal; five grandchildren, David Strick (and his wife, Jennifer Levy), Emma Kruskal, Alexander Kruskal, Justin Kruskal, and Rebecca Kruskal; and two great grandchildren, Ryan Strick and Lyla Strick. *(Photograph by Andrew Cribb)* ===== If you have photos or examples or diagrams for Laura's Crowns, please send them to Wendy Zeichner. wzeich...@gmail.com OrigamiUSA wants to make a collection of all the OrigamiUSA Convention Crowns Laura created for us over the years: Thanks! Karen Karen Reeds (carrying on Laura's fun in Princeton NJ) Princeton Public Library Origami Group Affiliate of Origami USA, http://origamiusa.org/ We usually meet 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8pm, First Floor, Quiet Room. Free! We provide paper! All welcome! (Kids under 8, please bring a grown-up.) Princeton Public Library info: 609.924.9529 https://princetonlibrary.org/ Celebrating 13 years of paperfolding in Princeton! from Karen Reeds karenmre...@gmail.com
