robert l. crane, sr. Retired director at Harvard

Robert L. Crane, Sr. died Feb. 13, 2013 surrounded by his wife of 65 years, Margaret Owens Crane, his son Robert L. Crane, Jr. (Robyn) and his son Jonathan O. Crane (Kerrie) at his home at Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson.

Mr. Crane was born Dec. 20, 1922 in Youngstown and had recently celebrated his 90th birthday with his family. He was predeceased by his parents, Lewis W. Crane and Elsie H. Crane; and brothers John Crane of Detroit and Donald Crane of Youngstown. In addition to his two sons, Mr. Crane leaves four grandchildren, Katherine Trook (Joshua), Kristin Payne (John), Ward Crane and Sara Snider (Doug) and two great grandchildren, Jack and Henry Trook.

He attended the University of Arizona, the University of Washington and graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in physics and mathematics. He completed postgraduate studies in physics at the University of Akron and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Northwestern University.

During World War II he served as a First Lieutenant in the Air Corps assigned to the European Theatre. One of his responsibilities included studying and reporting weather conditions for wartime flight operations. In 1947 he joined the staff at Youngstown University as an assistant professor teaching mathematics and physics in the engineering school.

From 1950 to 1977 Robert held a variety of management positions at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, retiring as corporate director of training and executive development. In 1977 he accepted a position with Harvard University as administrative director of the advanced management program at the Harvard School of Business. He also began a consulting practice in executive education that continued for 20 years. In 1984 he and his wife moved to Illinois where he served as director of the executive development center in the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

The couple retired to North Carolina in 1993 and moved back to Ohio in 2002 to be near their children and their families. They lived at Laurel Lake Retirement Community, where they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2012 and where his wife remains in residence.

Mr. Crane was involved with the United Way, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts and in the promotion of economic education including lecturing at the American Management Association and at the Management Institute at the University of Wisconsin. In 1976 he was selected Ohio's "Man of the Year" by the Ohio Council of Economic Education.

There will be no calling hours. A private memorial service will be at a later date and he will be interred at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman. The family desires no flowers or donations. Please visit www.johnson-romito.com to share memories and condolences.