Roger Evans Critchlow Sr.

Roger Evans Critchlow, Sr., quietly slipped from this world on Feb. 24, 2014, at Easton, MD. His passion for life will be remembered. His absence will be felt greatly. Roger was born in Bethlehem, PA, on January 31, 1921, the third child of John Nisbet Critchlow, Sr., and Margaret Critchlow, nee Evans. The family moved to the Eastern Shore in the 1930s, where they lived in St. Michaels and Oxford. He graduated from St. James School in Hagerstown in 1937, attended St. Michaels High School and received his BA from The Citadel in 1943. After graduation from The Citadel, Roger received his commission in the U.S. Navy, and he served aboard the battleship USS New Jersey in the Pacific theater during WWII. Following the war, he continued his service as an officer in the Navy Reserve until 1954. Roger married Mary Jane Lee in 1950, and raised a family of five in New Jersey. He found his vocation, and returned to the sea, working at Allied Yachts and later Sparkman & Stephens until his retirement. He returned to the Eastern Shore in 1980, and remarried to Nancy Armstrong Traub in 1987, to whom he remained devoted until his passing. He spent his final months in the company of the caregivers at Heartfields of Easton and The Pines. He loved big sound-symphony and choirs, a big roaring fire on the hearth, the feel of a yacht beneath his feet, his family, reading, learning how things work, Oxford, the Tred Avon River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Throughout life he had a soft spot for his dog; from his childhood Airedale to his Schnauzer lapdog. He loved woodworking - building toys, a Noah's ark, and kitchen cabinets- as well as tearing things apart and in time (maybe) fixing them. Roger was always ready for a cold beer, good food, and new experiences. A Sunday never went by without his attention to the N.Y. Times crossword puzzle; occasionally, he might be stumped and give you a chance at the last word or two. His sense of humor and irreverence were his defining characteristics. He is survived by his sons, Roger, Jr., John and Richard; his daughters, Susan Nelson and Sara George; and seven grandchildren. And he is missed already. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church in Easton on March 22 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers of Easton, 7 South Park Street, Easton, MD 21601.

Roger Evans Critchlow Sr.

January 31, 1921 - February 24, 2014