"To the family of Dick Crane. I've just learned of Dick's passing. I remember visiting him as a child, with my mother, at his newspaper stand at the post office. She was a friend of his and told me about his fantastic memory of dates, days of the week, even the weather on that day. As an adult, I'd come to see him and when I'd say my name, he'd say,"Yes, Rosemary was your mother," then he'd recite my birthday, the year, the day and even the fact it was rainy that day! Before he retired, I visited him one day with a special reading that I had transcribed into Braille for him. As I left him, I remember how eagerly his fingers read it. I never asked him what he thought of it. Dick had a beautiful voice, and the last time I saw him, I believe, was about a year before he died. My neighbor had died, and he sang at the funeral mass. I spoke with him briefly afterwards. It will be another memory of Dick that I will cherish."
In loving memory of
Richard L. Crane
August 1, 1924 - November 25, 2004
Newport, RI - Richard L. ?Dick? Crane, 80, of St. Clare Home Newport, formerly of Cannon Street, Newport and Seaman?s Institute of Newport, died Thursday, November 25, 2004 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI.He was born in North Kingstown, RI on August 1, 1924.Mr. Crane ran the newsstand in the lobby of the Newport Post Office on Thames Street, Newport for 50 years, retiring in 1998. He was a graduate of the Perkins School for the blind and participated in the student reading programs at the Newport Elementary Schools, day care centers and the public library. He was a an active honorary member of the Kiwanis Club of Newport and a member of the Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus 4th degree General Rosecrans. Dick was a communicant of St. Marys Church in Newport and a member of their choir and also served as a cantor. He served on the Governors Advisory Council for the Blind for 12 years and served as chairman for 9 years. He is survived by two brothers Robert Wilcox of New York City, NY, and Fred Wilcox, a sister Dorothy Walsh of Ashville, NC, and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Thelma Wilcox. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2004, at 8:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian burial at 9:00 AM in St. Marys Church, Spring Street, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.Donations in his memory may be made to the Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.
Tributes
"Dick, You had a hard but a very fruitful life. Loved by all who met you. If not loved, admired. We love you and we pray that you can now see what you thought you couldn't. You really saw with your heart."
"Michael Josephson has a website called CharacterCounts.org and is the author of an essay from which the following is excerpted: How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Dick, you chose to live a life that mattered. Rest in peace, old friend."
"What a remarkable journey you made and how blessed I am to have been a small part of it. Your friends will tell Dick Crane stories that never end. Rest in Peace and know you are loved. Your friend of many years you know how many days! BOB"
"A great friend to the "Corr" Family, Dick will be sadly missed by an entire town. Dick, may you rest in peace. Christine "Corr" Lyon"
"Dick was a special friend to the FLis family, we moved to Fl in 1988 but used to have family get togethers every Summer while we were in Middletown, His humor and his remarkable memory was one special memory we will have. His baseball and football conversations is something we will miss. Rest in Peace Dick"
"Dick Crane, my friend, my hero. I will miss you."
"I remember how Dick used to make me laugh when I was working in the kitchen at St. Claire's while I was in high school. He was a very kind gentleman. I will miss him very much."