Obituary of William F Crawford

WILLIAM FRANCIS CRAWFORD

MARCH 16, 1954 ~ DECEMBER 9, 2017

William “Billy” Crawford of Upper Montclair, NJ, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2017 with family by his side after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on March 16, 1954 to the late Bernard Keating Crawford and Billie Corn Crawford of Montclair.

A 1972 graduate of Montclair Academy in Montclair, NJ, he attended Ithaca College where he graduated with a BS degree in Business. He joined the family business, Standard Tool & Manufacturing Co., in Lyndhurst, NJ in 1976 where he had worked every summer throughout his college years, and advanced through the company to ultimately be elected President/COO in 1987. Following the company’s closing in 1993, he earned a certificate in computer programming and worked in that field for more than 8 years, first with AT&T Corporation and then Global Crossing. Following the demise of Global Crossing, Billy ventured into real estate. Initially, he utilized his business management, engineering and marketing skills to successfully renovate and market a number of Montclair’s finest properties. Then, in 2014, he and his wife, Erin, a 30-year veteran of NJ real estate sales, established a Keller Williams real estate agency with their partners in Montclair, which quickly grew to become one of the largest and most successful KW agencies in New Jersey.

Billy, Erin and Kelly spent many happy years together at their vacation home on Long Beach Island, NJ. He loved fishing, hiking, camping and was a diehard NY Giants fan.

Billy is survived by his loving wife, Erin Cuffe Crawford and their daughter Kelly Cuffe Crawford, two siblings, Dr. Bernard K. Crawford of Montclair, NJ, and Ms. Margaret C. Bridge of Cornwall, NY, numerous nieces, grandnieces and nephews, and his Labrador Retriever fur babies, Rubie and Ginnie. He was predeceased in 1996 by his brother Thomas C. Crawford and, in 2016, by his sister M. Beatrice Crawford.

A wake will be held at the Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home, 76 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042 on Wednesday, December 13th, 2-4pm and 7-9pm. A  mass of Christian will be held at St. Cassian Church, 187 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 on Thursday, December 14th at 10:00am.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of your choice.  For directions and online condolences please visit www.moriartyfh.com