Amherst, MA – We are sad to share the death of Constance “Connie” Ellen Kruger on May 10, 2026, in Northampton. Although she and her doctors prevailed over breast cancer (2024-2025) and she was being treated successfully for cardiac amyloidosis, she died of sepsis caused by an intestinal puncture.
Connie was born on June 22, 1948 in Brooklyn, NY and adopted by Leon and Aura (Kern) Kruger. Connie grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, with two brothers and a sister and was educated in the Newton public schools through her graduation from high school in 1966. As an adult, she located both of her biological parents and had meaningful relationships with their surviving children.
Connie enjoyed a long and rich relationship with the people and town of Amherst. Arriving in 1966 to start her studies at the University of Massachusetts (B.A. 1970), she met and married Gregory Thompson in 1968. From 1971 to 1974, they were founding members of Ball Farm, a collective in Montague where their daughter, Sarah was born.
Since 1981, Connie enjoyed an early and promising career in energy conservation and affordable housing when neither field was recognized as essential. In 1982, while living in North Leverett, she served as a Housing specialist for Franklin County Regional Housing Authority. Additionally, while working full time as a single mother, she earned a Master’s degree in 1982 in Human Services Administration from Antioch New England Graduate School.
She worked in the Amherst Planning Department as a Associate and then Senior Planner with a specialty in housing from 1986-2002. In her work for the town she brought to fruition a range of affordable housing projects most notable:
Misty Meadows, Stanley St,
Pulpit Hill and Pine St, two of the first co-housing projects in the state,
the unique Pomeroy Lane Co-op Housing,
Butternut Farm, on Longmeadow, a 10 year project due to opposition by neighbors.
From 2002-2010, she worked for the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) as their Community Technical Assistance Manager, where she created their successful Housing Institute for Massachusetts town officials and housing planners running for 19 years to date. In 2005, was admitted to the American Institute for Certified Planners, a career achievement.
In addition to serving for over 20 years on the Citizen Housing and Planning Association’s (CHAPA) Board, she served the Town of Amherst as a Planning Board member, a Select Board Member for two terms, and Commissioner of the Housing Authority.
She was known for her radical belief that all persons deserved safe, affordable housing and food.
Upon retirement in 2010, she committed to the practice of ceramics, taking classes with local potters and studying for several summers at Snow Farm. Amassing a collection of over 150 cookbooks, she also enjoyed cooking gourmet vegetarian meals. She loved gardening, particularly when she could share the bounty of her labor with her beloved friends and family.
She was admired and respected as a loving and caring friend, mother, aunt and grandmother. She was the impresario and a creator of memorable family and holiday events. She was compassionate and kind and tried to make her community a better place.
She leaves her spouse of 28 years, Susan J. Tracy; her daughter, Sarah Thompson (James Dolan) and her three grandchildren, Sean Ashburn, Lia Ashburn, and Jordyn Thompson-Dolan; her brothers, Philip Kruger, (Joan) and Charlesy Kruger; and her sister, Jo Ivester (Jon) and her siblings’ children and grandchildren. And many dear extended family and friends.
Her family is abundantly grateful to the CDH/MGB nurses, doctors, and staff for their kind and compassionate care of Connie.
Donations may be made to the Amherst Survival Center, the Western Mass Food Bank, or the CDH/MGB Cancer Center.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, May 31 from 1-3pm at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N Pleasant St, Amherst, with a reception to follow from 3-6 pm at the Inn on Boltwood.
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