Norman D. Crane
4/28/18 - 6/6/02

Norman Douglas Crane, age 84, passed away Thursday, June 6th, 2002 at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Martinez. He was born in Oakland and graduated from Oakland High and San Francisco State (where he was a cheerleader and ran track). While at SF State he met and fell in love with Arlie Dorothea 'Dot' Franklin. They were married in 1942. He flew B-25s during World War II while serving in the Army Air Corp. Norman worked in the furniture and interior design business but made time for Moraga Rotary, Campolinda Parents Club, Moraga Parks & Recreation Foundation and especially enjoyed serving many years as the Mayor of Hetfield Place (the street where he and his family lived for 38 years).

Norman enjoyed collecting stamps, working on small-scale railroads, playing solitaire and a good Manhattan. Dot and Norm were married 59 years and through those years were able to travel to all 50 states before Dot became ill with Alzheimer's disease and had to move into Alhambra Convalescent Home in Martinez. Recently, due to illness, Norman also moved into the same wonderful assisted care home and was once again reunited with Dot. Norman always had a great sense of humor and loved to tell a good story.

Survivors include his wife, Dot; son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Steve, Donneta and Mara Crane of New Jersey; daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Marsha, Ed and Bronson Sias and Tammy Kearney.

Neptune Society will be performing a private family service on Wednesday, June 19th but a celebration in honor of Norman will follow at 6 p.m. at Betty's Girls Restaurant, 823 Main Street, Martinez. Contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association, 2065 W. El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94040.