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I didn't know Craig in high school, but enjoyed getting to know him as members of the reunion committee. Such a genuinely nice guy. There will not be a service according to family.
Ron Chauvel has been kind enough to provide additional information about our classmate:
Craig was very private. He did not want to bring anyone down with his problems.
He had cancer and fought it for 3 years. When it was diagnosed he was given just several weeks. He carried on his life as normal, taught aeronautics school at San Jose State, and stayed in touch with his family. Again, he was always upbeat and positive as he did not want to bring his family or anyone else down with his condition.
I recently did some work for his family and spent time on the phone with Craig and Rick. Craig never mentioned his health status and always sounded great on the phone. I know Craig did not want me to bring up his cancer condition and I did not. So, I was surprised when I heard of his passing.
Rick went to Cal and Craig to Stanford. They constantly joked with each other about their respective schools. Good natured practical jokes were an ongoing battle between them.
Several weeks before Craig’s death, when he was totally bedridden, Rick left his car at Craig’s house for several hours. Somehow Craig got out of bed and replaced Rick’s license plate holder with a Stanford one.
I knew Craig well in High School. Aside from all the other wonderful things I could say about him, I never realized his grades were so high. He was very humble. He went to Stanford on an Air Force ride and spent at least 6 years in the Air Force. He was selected to fly the stealth fighter jets, and they only take the brightest and best for those assignments. He ended up based in Texas and was assigned to test the Generals and high level Air Force people who once a year have to get recertified to fly the jets.
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Dan C. ("Don") Freeman
Really bummed to learn of Craig's passing. He and I had fun times on the Key Club (and our paper drives for C.A.R.) and various classes. At our last big reunion, he and I spent time laughing and reminiscing about the fun time in our lives. Unfortunately, we didn't stay in touch between reunions, but he was a really good guy, principled and dedicated. He's a real loss.
Dan ("Don")
Arlene Wong
Thank you, Ron, for such a nice post on Craig.
He was a such a nice guy; in high school we played tennis and sometimes went to a friend's house to play bridge. He gave me a hard time about going to the 'Farm' at UC Davis, while he headed to Loyola Marymount. As Ron noted, he went to the Air Force and finished at Stanford. Yes, cream rises to the top. He was a pilot for Northwest Airlines, often flying to Japan. He became president of the Pilot's Union, was in the midst of negotiating a new contract during one of our reunions. He loved teaching aeronautics to the ;kids';at San Jose state.
I was so sad when he wrote to tell me of his terminal cancer diagnosis. It was metastatic by the time they found it and he was doing the best he could on the medications prescribed and took each day with gratitude. He was so sad not to be able to be on the planning committee for our delayed reunion because of the fatigue. He said his extended family was so supportive. He was so proud of his son becoming a Navy physician who did his training at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, then stationed in Okinawa.
I will really miss him.
Arlene
Bob Lenox
Craig and I reconnected over aviation, of course. After he retired from Delta, he wanted to "give back" to the community, so we met to discuss the SCC Airports Commision (thanks Joe!), San Jose State Aeronautics, Cal Pilots, etc. As mentioned, what an accomplished, articulate and modest gentleman! He is sorely missed.