- Date Of Birth: March 27, 1917
- Date Of Death: June 26, 2013
- State: Florida
Howard William Crusey, Sr., engineer by trade, sailing enthusiast, and woodworker in his spare time, peacefully passed away in his home on June 26, 2013 with his son, Howard William (Bill) Crusey, Jr. Howard was an avid competitive sailor and enjoyed this sport on Lake George and the Long Island Sound (where he was frequently the Thistle and Ensign Fleet Champion throughout the 1960’s) and in Florida where he continued his avocation as an active member of the Space Coast Model Sailing Club to within weeks of his passing. Howard was a loyal member of Meals on Wheels and the Rotary Club, serving as the long time treasurer of the latter’s Cocoa Beach chapter. Howard’s creative legacy is embodied in the handcrafted wood toys that he made for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the model boats he built and raced.
Howard was the loving husband of Martha Dailey Crusey, who passed away in 1997, and father to Bill and the late David, Thomas, and Roger. Howard leaves three grandchildren Kimberly, Matthew, and Lea, and great-grandchildren Aidan and Natalie, and many nieces and nephews including Beth La Rose, Bruce Jiminez, Joan Rosen, Kathy Graham and Tom Brenner, as well as each of their families. Howard shared many years of close friendship with the late Pege O’Toole. Howard also leaves his best friend and “honorary son,” Art Lent. The Crusey family is especially grateful to Peggie Ross and her team of caregivers who enabled Howard to fulfill his wish to live out his days in his beloved home along the Banana River in Cocoa Beach. The Crusey family would also like to thank the Melbourne branch of Vitas Health Care of Florida for the excellent hospice care they provided Howard until his passing.
Born on March 27, 1917 in Dayton, OH, Howard was raised in FL. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1939 by way of the University of Florida, where he was a proud member of the Theta Chi Fraternity. Howard’s improvement of the process of bonding aluminum to stainless steel garnered him a U.S. Patent in 1969 and served as the foundation of Bi-Braze Corporation, which provided essential parts for the cyrogenics and aerospace industries. Howard, together with Martha, successfully operated Bi-Braze from Glen Cove, NY until 1987, when they retired and relocated to Cocoa Beach.
