Byron S. Krantz ’57

Byron S. Krantz ’57 died on July 1. Byron graduated from Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High School. At Dartmouth he majored in biology and was in Gamma Delta Chi and went on to earn his law degree from Western Reserve Law School. Byron began in the law firm of Howard Metzenbaum in Cleveland. In 1965 he joined the staff of Sen. Stephen M. Young (D-Ohio) during the creation of Medicare and the enactment of the Civil Rights Act. Byron was involved in the campaign of Carl Stokes, who became the first Black mayor of a major city (Cleveland). After Sen. Young’s term ended, Byron returned to the Metzenbaum firm. In 1984 he, Bob Jackson, and Lee Kohrman founded KJK law firm, which continues today. Sons Marc ’82, who died in a skiing accident in 2014, and Brett ’85 became lawyers at KJK. From assisting the NAACP and the ACLU (after which a cross was burned on his front lawn), to saving a Black man who was beaten and buying a house for a Black couple, Byron stood strong in belief in causes. He never forgot his responsibility to do tikkun olam, the concept that Jews bear responsibility for the welfare of society at large. Byron was proud to receive the Centennial Medal, the highest award bestowed upon a graduate of his law school. He served Dartmouth many years as class agent and local club president. Byron is survived by Brett and six grandchildren.