When Myra Kraft, the wife of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, died last week after a battle with cancer, the world truly lost a wonderful person.
Myra, 68, was a loving, sincere, caring and truly giving person, and it seems as though everyone who knew her thought the same.
On Friday, celebrities, athletes, business people and many others packed Temple Emanuel in Newton Centre for her funeral. The list of mourners ranged from Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump to former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and former Cowboys and Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino were also there. Between 1,500 and 2,000 mourners packed inside and outside the synagogue on a day where temperatures reached 100 degrees. It was probably a very uncomfortable experience for those mourners, but it is a testament to what Myra meant to them all.
During the funeral service, Myra’s son, Jonathan Kraft, recalled a time when the family took an “educational” vacation to South Africa during the time of apartheid. He remembered his mother protesting to Johannesburg police officers who were arresting two black men for not having the proper permits to be on the street at dusk. She told them neither did she and held out her wrists and asked them to place the cuffs on her. Jonathan remembered his father saying before he left for the day to not allow his mother to get into any trouble. Remembering those words, he grabbed his mother, a petite woman, and carried her away on his shoulders. She was still demanding the police arrest her.
It was that sense of justice that the world lost last week. Myra Kraft was a world-changer, both in her philosophies and her actions.
She was born into privilege, but used her resources to achieve philanthropic goals.
She didn’t know anything about football until her husband bought the New England Patriots. Once he entered that arena, she went to work instilling her philanthropic values on the players.
Former New England players such as Troy Brown, Richard Seymour, Doug Vrabel and Drew Bledsoe attended the funeral services. Seymour left the Patriots under unpleasant terms when he was traded to the Oakland Raiders two seasons ago. It didn’t matter. He was there.
Vrabel credited Myra for helping him become a more charitable person.
Her death affected more than the Boston and New England region. Israel, too, recognized Myra’s passing. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue attended Friday’s service and remembered a trip to Israel with the Krafts, saying she was an inspiration in the country.
She managed the Robert and Myra Kraft Family Foundation and was president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, which contributed millions of dollars to charities.
The loss of Myra Kraft will be felt not only in the sports arena, but throughout the world, where she was an inspiration to many.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
