Richard Newcomb Crawford

Born: 1-12-28 – Died: 6-6-14

Dick was born on 12 January 1928 in Rye, New York. He attended Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut and graduated from Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland. He enlisted in the Navy in 1946 and then attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and graduated with the Class of 1951.

Following graduation, he was assigned to USS Pittsburg (CA 72), a heavy cruiser. In 1954 he was selected for postgraduate training at Webb Institute of Naval Architecture where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering and concurrent Master’s degree in Naval Architecture. He then attended Submarine School in New London CN.

He married the former Barbara Ann Romano of Glen Cove, New York, whom he met while at Webb Institute. They were married on April 19, 1958 at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.

He served aboard many submarines: USS Stickleback (SS 415), USS Tang (SS 563) USS Remora (SS 487) and USS Char (SS 328). He served in USS Tripoli (LPH 10) in Vietnam.

Service with Office of Naval Research and Development and Training Center rounded out his Navy career. He retired from active duty in September 1970. Dick joined Lockheed Shipbuilding Company in Seattle in 1972 until 1986 when the shipyard closed. He then joined Sundstrand Corporation as an internal auditor. He subsequently retired from that firm when the corporation was acquired by United Technologies. He then served as a consultant to Marine Spill Response Corporation through 2000. He did volunteer work in tax preparation and computer skills for senior citizens.

He is survived by his wife of more than 56 years, Barbara, daughters Laura Crawford of Mukilteo, WA, Maureen Nikaido (Michio) of Pleasanton, CA, Claudia Kilbreath (Ken) of Bellevue, WA and Annmarie Lyons (Michael) of Cincinnati, OH and five grandchildren, Mallory and Ethan Kilbreath and Andrew, Sarah and Matthew Lyons.

Dick was a resident of Mercer Island. Dick loved travelling, reading, sports, bicycling, opera, dancing, the symphony, and attending his children and grandchildren’s events. He had a keen intellect, a love of learning, and a great sense of humor – always giving the perfect toast on family occasions. Dick was an officer and a gentleman – a beloved husband, father, and grandfather who we will all miss dearly.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on July 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellevue, followed by military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association or Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland WA