On February 4, 2022, Douglas Lyle Cronkright, loving husband, father of two daughters, “Da-Doug” to three granddaughters, former attorney and New York Life executive, passed away at the age of 80.

Doug was born on January 1, 1942 in Flint, Michigan, to Clare and Freda Cronkright. Doug was a stellar student at Michigan State University where he was the president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and earned his B.A. degree in Economics in 1963. Doug went on to obtain his J.D. at Wayne State University Law School in 1967. After a brief stay in White Plains, New York, working with New York Life Insurance Company, Doug relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and began practicing law with Freeman & Hawkins, LLP.  Over the next twenty-five years, Doug developed a thriving law practice in Atlanta focused on estate planning, corporate structuring, and complex commercial litigation (litigating numerous cases through trial and to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court). 

In 1996, Doug was lured back to his roots by New York Life to lead an advanced tax and estate planning group for high-wealth clients. Doug thrived in this advanced planning role, where his exceptional intelligence and passion for helping others were on full display.  Doug relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, during this time period and married Sandra Hellstern in 2009. Through Doug’s leadership, the advanced planning group at New York Life grew from a mere concept to a reliable asset for agents throughout the company. Doug served as a mentor to those agents (who often insisted on working with Doug directly) and an invaluable resource to New York Life’s highest net worth clients.  Doug’s impact at New York Life continues to be felt each day through the agents he trained who help clients achieve success by applying knowledge those agents gained specifically from Doug.  

When not working, Doug could be found playing golf (where he once hit a hole-in-one on his birthday) or tennis (where he was a longtime member of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association), as well as faithfully supporting Atlanta pro sports, albeit with a critical eye.

Over the last 15 years, Doug and Sandy also enjoyed their annual summer trip to Southwest Harbor, Maine. They stayed at The Claremont Hotel, always at the Phillips House; which was a step back in time. The Claremont hosted an annual croquet tournament that Doug refused to miss. He couldn’t wait to cheer on the Fox boys.  This truly was his favorite place. Another passion was his car – he loved driving his BMW convertible (top down, of course) while enjoying the warmth of the sun on a beautiful day. Doug had an incredible intellect, an engaging personality, and a witty sense of humor. The family and friends around Doug were the lifelong beneficiaries of those traits. He will be dearly missed.

Doug was preceded in death by his father, Clare E. Cronkright, his mother, Freda Marie Cronkright, and his sister, Judith Clare Cronkright.  He is survived by his wife, Sandra Hellstern of Norfolk, two daughters (Kimberly Cronkright Raley of Atlanta and Kelly Cronkright Lindauer of Charlottesville, Virginia), and three granddaughters (Clare Sitz Raley, Lucille Evans Raley and Olive Marie Lindauer).

A memorial service for Doug will be held on April 5, 2022, at the Azalea Baptist Church, 3314 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, Virginia, starting at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Norfolk SPCA, www.norfolkspca.com/donate.com.