Alexander Krygsman, former chief executive of the ports of Pensacola and Stockton, passed away September 12 in Stockton at the age of 83.
Mr. Krygsman, who at the age of 26 was a ship’s captain, immigrated to the United States in 1959. His experience in the succeeding years ran the gamut of the shipping business – vice president of a steamship company, ship and cargo surveyor, engineering superintendent, cargo and marine superintendent, port capital, ship’s chandler, and stevedoring company operator (at the Port of Milwaukee). He later served three years as director of the Port of Pensacola before becoming Stockton’s port director in 1977.
Mr. Krygsman was born as Holland, where as a youngster he worked in the freight forwarding businesses and a seaman freighters and tankers. He also worked at two of Europe’s largest ports, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Among his accomplishments as Stockton port director were the deepening of the Ship Channel to 35 feet, the acquisition of three large gantry cranes, and utilization of more than three million square feet of warehousing. His legacy also includes a new national distribution center and coordinating special legislation that eventually led to the conveyance of the former Rough and Ready Island Naval Communications station to the port. He retired in June 1979. His 22 years make him the longest serving Stockton port director.
Mr. Krygsman served multiple terms on the AAPA board of directors and regularly attended the association’s conventions and conferences. He was also a past president and board member of the California Association of Port Authorities and a lifetime member of the International Association of Ports and Harbors.He is survived by his wife Kyoko and their two children.