Craz died May 2, 2020, surrounded by family. He was a lifelong and dedicated Oregonian who made an exception solely for Princeton.  

A standout athlete in high school, Craz — a lifelong nickname that fit him beautifully — was the first in his family to attend college, and he was immensely proud of his time with us. He pitched for the baseball team, and developed a natural double as a percussionist for the Tiger Band and social chair of Cannon. He fell in love with art history and wrote his thesis on Marcel Duchamp.  

Returning to Oregon and following up with a master’s degree in teaching at Lewis & Clark College, Craz quickly found his bliss in high school teaching, where his love of learning and literature shone through. In addition to introducing students to great writers, he continued with athletics, coaching baseball and girls’ basketball. 

Unsurprisingly to anyone who knew him, Craz adored his two children and three grandchildren, and after 30 years of devoted teaching he retired to travel with his wife of 49 years, Janet, and see them whenever he could. Although a crazed fan of the Trail Blazers and Mariners, he also loved art and music in almost any form, and his last trip to see da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan was among his lifetime highlights.  

Bill is survived by Janet; children Heather Raschko and Brandon Craswell; and grandchildren Ian, Ava, and Hadleigh. We are hugely proud to have known someone who brought so much of life’s joys to so many. 

Undergraduate Class of 1970