Kathleen Marie “Kay” Crawford

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with deep sorrow the death January 30, 2010 of Life Trustee and Honorary Member, Kathleen M. “Kay” Crawford, at her home in Westwood, MA. 

Kay and her late husband, Fred, became WHOI Associates in 1986.  They were elected Honorary Members in 1991.  Kay was elected an Honorary Trustee (now known as Life Trustee) in 1997.   She became of member of the Access to the Sea (formerly Ships) Committee in 2003, and she was a member of the Coastal Ocean Institute Committee from 2003 to 2005.  Kay was also a member of the Paul M. Fye Society. 

Kay was well-known for her sense of adventure.  She participated in sea-going expeditions on the Knorr (through the Red Sea from the Seychelles to Istanbul), Tioga, and the maiden voyage of the Atlantis in 1997.  She also traveled on numerous Associates trips between 1996 and 2003, including one to Iceland when she persuaded several shipmates to go on a stroll through Reykjavik in frigid weather.  Over the years, Kay and Fred hosted many outreach events on behalf of WHOI at her Cotuit, Massachusetts home.  Fred passed away in 1994, and in 1996, as she and Fred had intended, she donated the Cotuit estate known as “Evergreen” to WHOI. 

Kathleen Marie (Saxon) Crawford was born in New York on October 30, 1915.  She received her certificate from Wilcox College of Commerce of Ohio.  Early in her career, Kay worked in Alaska as a secretary for TRW, Inc., later moving to the company’s Cleveland, Ohio office.  In 1978, Kay married Frederick C. “Fred” Crawford, a founder and later President, Chairman, and Director of TRW, Inc.  Kay and Fred were exceptionally close and shared a strong philanthropic spirit.  After Fred’s death, Kay continued to generously support higher education, environmental causes, the arts, and advancements in medicine. 

Waterman Funeral Home is handling arrangements for a private service.  Kay will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, OH.  Those wishing to remember Kay may make a memorial donation to either the Kathleen S. Crawford and Frederick C. Crawford Endowment Fund for the Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland Ohio 44106, or to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MS #40, Woods Hole, MA 02543.