David Binger ‘48 (K46-48), the founder of the Krokodiloes and the last surviving member of the original quartet, died on July 12, 2026. He was 98 years old, almost 99.

According to his wife, David did not want a funeral or memorial celebration of any kind, and his ashes will be scattered in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. She said that he had many friends and lived a good, long life.

David participated remotely at our 80th Reunion Memorial Service [58:20] in March in addition to recording the “Fireside Chat”, seen below, about the founding of the Kroks.

It is no exaggeration to say that David’s commitment to close-harmony male singing had a direct impact on every single Krok, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of others who have smiled while listening to the Kroks. While he was never shy to express that the group has evolved into something far different and grander than his original vision, nothing that has transpired over the past 80 years would have occurred without him. We are all forever in his debt. Wherever you may be today, please raise a glass and perhaps sing a song in his memory.

Nunc est Cantandum,

Frank DeSimone, K06, 07, 09, President of the Board

Krok Founders 1946
David G. Binger, David S. Biddle, Francis H. Cabot, Arthur B. Nichols III

60th Reunion Banquet
Art Nichols, Frank Cabot, David Binger, and David Biddle – our four founders

History of the Kroks
by David Binger, 1970

Fireside Chat
leading up to 80th anniversary, 2026.

A farewell to David
June 3, 2026
Paul Sagawa, Peter Miller, Steve Dostart and Jeffrey Korn from the Kroks of 1985

David and I reconnected in January this year to talk about the passing of George Lodge and also about whether or not he could attend the reunion. He indicated that he was wheelchair bound but that he would attend the Memorial Service via Zoom, which he did in March with his usual exuberance!

On our call, he spent some time reflecting on his time at Harvard. That he was more of an artist than a student and perhaps he should have gone to the Rhode Island School of Design. And, he talked about how he thought the club system wasn’t good for the mental health of the students – though they set you up with a great social life. He also said “ I wish the Kroks had stayed truer to the kind of music we sang at the beginning. I’ve said it a million times, I know, but I really feel that way. It would be great if, before I die (I’ll be 100 in 2027), they would learn one and come sing it for me!” So, a group of four of us from the Kroks of 1985 decided to visit him at his assisted living facility in Hanover, NH, and drove north from Cambridge on June 3, 2026. Of course, in true Binger style, he asked us to sing some tunes from the Yale Song Book. So, we sourced one through some Whiff buddies and prepared 5 numbers in a self-driving Tesla during our two-and-a-half-hour-journey to Hanover. He absolutely loved it. And after we sang for him in front of his home, we chased after him as he sped over in his power wheelchair to the community center where we sang his favorite, The Old Songs, again for the staff.

While David could often be cantankerous, he had a heart of solid gold, especially for his beloved Kroks. He made sure, many times, to repeat his well-worn story of the founding of the Kroks bound up with his closeness with the Whiffenpoofs of that era, whom he credits with motivating him to start a similar group at Harvard. They made him an Honorary Whiff, and his closest friend from that group attended and was honored at our 60th Reunion.

He had energy right up until he was ready to go. It was a joy to sing with him during his last weeks, and he had all the energy that we had come to know from him since the day we met him at our fall retreat in September of 1984.

And, when he was ready to go, as his Whiff brothers would say, he let himself “pass and be forgotten with the rest.” A modest man, he didn’t want a funeral or gathering of any kind. His ashes will be scattered in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, but there will not be a grave or a plaque or anything public. He will be remembered for having many friends and a good, long life, and for being a firecracker of a human being with an incredible, long-lasting legacy. He was a complete rascal to the end, our founder, and the most defining Krok ever.

Nunc est cantandum to our brother Binger. May you rest in peace.

Steve Dostart K84, 85, with input from Toby Burns K03

He was a great guy, comfortable in his own skin, funny, opinionated, and deeply caring about the Kroks. I know a lot of us have had images, anecdotes, and many arcane and curious CDs sent to us over the years, which I hope we will all share in the near future.

Peter Lerangis K75, 76, 77

Bing was an extraordinary man and I sang with him quite often in Woodstock, VT, with his friend from Dartmouth, Orton Hicks, one of the founders of the Dartmouth Aires. He and his pals were responsible for so much of what has happened to me in my life, by creating the Kroks, and I’m truly grateful that I got to spend time with him and thank him in person.

Max Comins K73

RIP, David! What a fantastic guy and profound legacy.
Loved getting to know him.

Toby Burns, K03

Being 84, I imagine that making it to 98 was not easy, and, with condolences to his loved ones, I thank and congratulate him as well as them for his historic legacy to us all!

Allen Burns, K61, 63, 63

Grateful that you guys made him part of the 80th and that he left with that happy legacy.

Lynn Weigel, K70