Robert Bruce McCrea ’57

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Bob was born in Minneapolis, Minn.

At Princeton, Bob pursued studies in engineering and philosophy and graduated in 1957 with a degree in economics. He enjoyed seeing Broadway plays in New York City, was president of the Princeton Flying Club, and was able to attend some of Albert Einstein’s lectures.

To further pursue his love of flying, Bob enlisted in the Marines during his senior year of college. During his duty years, he was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, flying transport missions in Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. He completed 20 years of service and retired in April 1977 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Bob’s civilian career began at Munsingwear in 1962, but by 1966, he returned to his love of flying by accepting a position with World Airways, training to fly Boeing 727s. The company declared bankruptcy before he completed his training. Bob’s career included sales of Jet Commander aircraft and financial management positions with T.G. Evenson, Dain, Kalman & Quail, Dain Bosworth, sales of partnerships at Dyco Petroleum, and in his later years, work as an investment adviser. He was a chartered financial analyst and earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota.

After caring for his wife, Marianna, during her battle with cancer and after an emergency surgery and hospitalization, Bob moved to the Diamondcrest Senior Living facility in Rogers, Minn. He died July 4, 2016.

Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years.

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